ORANGE, NJ — Orange North Ward Councilwoman Tency Eason will be recognized as an “Outstanding Woman in Government” on Wednesday, Nov. 14, at the New Jersey State League of Municipalities Conference for Women in Municipal Government 2018 Networking and Awards event.
The 103rd NJLM Conference will be at the Atlantic City Convention Center from Tuesday, Nov. 13, through Thursday, Nov. 15. This year’s theme is “Municipalities Leading the Way” and will focus on “inspiration to plan for the future.”
Eason and four other prominent women working in municipal governments across the state are being recognized for having “dedicated their time and energy to the advancement of women in municipal government.” The other women are: Jillian Barrick, the former East Orange business administrator and current Morristown business administrator; Janice S. Mironov, the East Windsor Mayor and a past NJLM president; Carol Bianchi, a Bernards Township committeewoman and Susan Jacobucci, the Paulsboro Borough business administrator.
According to its website, the NJLM is a voluntary association created to help communities do a better job of self-government through pooling information resources and brain power. It is authorized by state statute and, since 1915, has been serving local officials throughout the Garden State.
All 565 municipalities are members of the league, according to its website. More than 560 mayors and 13,000 elected and appointed officials of member municipalities are entitled to all of the services and privileges of the league, which recognizes their efforts with Halls of Fame and awards presented throughout the year.
According to the NJLM website, the The Outstanding Women in Government Award was created in 2003, recognizing contributions and dedicated service toward the advancement of women in government. Previous award recipients have included Stephanie R. Bush-Baskette, director of the Irvington Health Department and an aide to the mayor who was also majority whip of the New Jersey General Assembly; former Plainfield Mayor and current NJLM Executive Board member Sharon Robinson-Briggs; Newark City Council President Mildred Crump; former Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno; Paula Franzese, a Seton Hall University law professor and former chairwoman of the NJ State Ethics Commission; and Caren Franzini executive director of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.
Orange City Council President Kerry Coley said Eason being honored by the NJLM with the 2018 Outstanding Women in Government Award was news to him but well deserved.
“I’m glad to see that Councilwoman Eason will be recognized and honored for all her years of public service,” said Coley on Tuesday, Nov. 6. “I hope that this is her first of many. Councilwoman Eason is well-deserved of this honor and recognition.”
“It’s a wonderful and well deserved honor for her two-plus decades of service and her leadership throughout that tie,” agreed current Orange business administrator Chris Hartwyk on Tuesday, Nov. 6. “Her career of community leadership is a wonderful example of community engagement and public service for other leaders to aspire to.”
Eason said she is happy and humbled that the NJLM chose to honor her this year. She was re-elected to her fifth consecutive term in office earlier in 2018.
“I was really surprised, because I wasn’t expecting this,” said Eason on Monday, Nov. 5. “I really feel honored that they are honoring me. I guess it’s because I’ve always been vocal and outspoken about the issues and concerns of mostly minority cities and communities like Orange over the years, whenever I attended the annual League Conference and participated in different panels, forums and events. I’m always vocal and fighting for urban districts.”
At large Councilman Chris Jackson, who was elected to Orange City Council in 2016, said he appreciates Eason’s long record of service and outspoken advocacy. He also said she has been a great mentor since he joined the governing body.
“Councilwoman Eason is the longest-serving member of our body and is part of the women’s majority in our chamber,” said Jackson on Tuesday, Nov. 6. “Recognition by the NJLM is timely, in consideration of her service to Orange, and I both congratulate and thank her for continuing to represent my hometown and the North Ward.”
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