Mayor Hawkins on state reapportionment: Regrets removal of Orange from Senator Codey’s district, welcomes new legislators

Statement by Mayor Eldridge Hawkins, Jr.

• “In the new state legislative reapportionment announced yesterday, Orange was removed from the 27th Legislative District and added to the 34th. We were saddened to learn that next year, we will no longer be represented by Former Governor Richard Codey, our State Senator, who has always had a special relationship with Orange. For more than thirty years, Senator Codey has represented Orange in the state legislature. He was born here and grew up in our city. For nearly two generations, when residents of Orange sought help of any kind, they have turned to him. On behalf of the people of Orange and personally, I want to thank Senator Codey for all he as done for our city.
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• I also want to thank Assemblywoman Mila Jasey for her diligent and effective representation of Orange. Ms. Jasey, in particular, not only went to bat for us often, but was a frequent participant in community meetings/ rallies, school events, and celebrations.
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• The reapportionment will be bringing new legislators to Orange. I want to welcome our new legislators in the 34th District: Senator Nia Gill, and Assembly Members Sheila Oliver and Tom Giblin. I have found each of them helpful in the past when I have needed help for Orange. I expect to be meeting with the three legislators in the coming weeks to introduce them to our community and discuss with them our agenda for help from state government. All three are influential in Trenton, and I look forward to working with them as our legislators after January 2012.”