[00:00:07]
WHAT'S GOING ON A LONG TIME, AND YOU'RE JUST GONNA BRING UP THE MINISTER, WHICH IS RIGHT HERE, AND I'LL JUST GET THE PAPER FROM YOU.
HE'S JUST GONNA ANNOUNCE THESE THINGS.
AND THEN I HEAR ABOUT THERE'S NO NOTHING ABOUT, ALL RIGHT, SIMPLE.
THIS IS A VERY, VERY NICE OCCASION WHERE WE'RE GONNA SWEAR IN OUR DEPUTY, OUR NEW DEPUTY CLERK, KATHY BROWN, OUR LAST DEPUTY CLERK WAS HERE FOR HOW MANY YEARS? 45 YEARS.
AND YOU WORKED WITH HER FOR HOW MANY OF THOSE, ALMOST 20 OF THOSE YEARS.
SO YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SLIDE RIGHT IN, BE ON THE TOP OF YOUR GAME.
BUT NO, I JUST WANT TO WELCOME EVERYONE, THANKFUL FOR COMING OUT, UH, TO WITNESS THIS.
UH, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING WHEN YOU, UM, WHEN YOU PUT IN THE WORK AND, UH, YOU GET TO, TO, TO THAT, THAT LEVEL WHERE YOU WANT TO GO, YOU KNOW, YOU ASPIRE TO BE, AND TO ACTUALLY ACHIEVE IT IS A BEAUTIFUL THING.
WE DON'T ALL GET TO DO THAT IN LIFE.
SOMETIMES WE, UH, ASPIRE TO A CERTAIN LEVEL OR A PLACE WE WANT TO BE.
AND FOR WHATEVER REASON IN LIFE THROWS YOU A CURVE BALL AND YOU DON'T GET THERE.
UH, AND I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA DO A WONDERFUL JOB.
YOU GOT ALMOST 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE, SO CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK EVERYONE.
AND I'M GONNA HAVE TO APOLOGIZE.
I, I HAVE A CONTRACTOR MEETING, A VENDORS MEETING THAT I HAVE TO GET TO BECAUSE SOME OF MY FOLKS DIDN'T REGISTER ONLINE, AND I GOTTA MAKE SURE THEY LET 'EM IN.
BUT CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME EVERYONE.
OH, I GOT WAY, I GOT, I, I HAVE ONE OTHER CHORE.
I HAVE SOMETHING ELSE I GOTTA DO.
UM, I WANNA, UH, CALL UP REVEREND THOMAS RANKIN JR.
CATHEDRAL OF FAITH, BAPTIST CHURCH, FOR OPENING PRAYER.
FATHER GOD, WE COME BEFORE YOU TODAY TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR GRACE AND YOUR MERCY.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING US THROUGH ALL LIFE TO THIS POINT OF LIFE.
WE ASK YOU ANOINTING UPON THOSE THAT HAVE ASSEMBLED HERE, TO ENCOURAGE MY BABY SISTER AND ALL THE OTHER FRIENDS THAT WE KNOW.
AND WE KNOW THAT IF WE GO FORTH BY FAITH, YOU ARE STILL THE WAY MAKER AND THE DELIVERER.
I DON'T CARE HOW BAD THINGS GO, YOU ARE STILL A GOOD GOD.
SO WE'RE GOING FORTH TRUSTING IN YOU AND GIVING YOU THANKS.
THESE THINGS WE THANK YOU FOR IN JESUS' NAME.
LET'S YOUR, THE LORD WITH A HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH, HALL.
SO YOU ARE THE BENEFICIARY OF THE CHOIR.
THE KATHY BROWN CHOIR, HUH? AH, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON.
UH, ON BEHALF OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD, SINCE HE HAS A, UH, AN IMPORTANT EVENT THAT HE NEEDS TO ATTEND TO, TO BENEFIT THE CONSTITUENTS, TO GET OPPORTUNITIES
[00:05:01]
IN ESSIS COUNTY, I WILL INTRODUCE THE, UH, THE PERFORMERS WHO ARE GOING TO DO THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER.UH, AND THEY ARE THE CHILDREN OF KATHY AND MARLIN BROWN.
SO LET'S BRING UP AMBER LEAH AND MARLON BROWN JR.
TO PERFORM THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER.
WHAT? SO PROUDLY, WE AT THE TWILIGHT LAST LEAVING WHO'S BROUGHT STRIPES AND RIGHT STARS THROUGH THE, OR THE DREAMING THE NIGHT THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE.
AND, AND HER MOM AND THEIR MOM CAN SING TOO.
UM, I'M DEBORAH DAVIS FORD, UH, CLERK TO THE BOARD.
AND I'M HONORED, UH, TO BE A PART OF THIS PROGRAM.
AND SO, UH, I'M GONNA PUT MY GLASSES ON BECAUSE I'M SUPPOSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, UH, UH, DIGNITARIES AND OTHER PEOPLE.
YOU ARE ALL IMPORTANT, BUT CERTAIN PEOPLE I'VE BEEN CHARGED TO ACKNOWLEDGE.
SO LET ME PUT MY GLASSES ON SO I CAN SEE.
UM, SO I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE ROBERT JACKSON, THE ADMINISTRATOR, UH, TO COUNT.
HE IS THE FINANCIAL DIRECTOR, TREASURER, UM, THE PERSON WHO KEEPS EVERYTHING GOING FINANCIALLY FOR THE COUNTY.
WE HAVE A PERSON WHO RECENTLY RETIRED, WHO HAD BEEN HERE FOR 45 YEARS.
UH, DEBORAH MARVEL, WHO WAS THE DEPUTY CLERK FOR 45 YEARS.
AND WE HAVE THE UNCLE OF CONGRESSMAN PAYNE, BILL PAYNE.
UH, HE IS ALSO AN ADMINIS DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE COUNTY OF ESSEX.
UM, WITH US ALSO ARE OUR COMMISSIONERS.
OUR COMMISSIONERS ARE ROMAINE GRAHAM, COMMISSIONER AT LARGE, UH, FORMER PRESIDENT AND COMMISSIONER, BRENDAN GILL, COMMISSIONER RICARDO.
UH, WE HAVE OUR COUNCIL, MICHAEL POLLO.
AND, UM, OH, VIC, HIDING OVER THERE.
COUNT COUNCILMAN FROM IRVINGTON.
[00:10:01]
ALSO HAVE CARNET HALL, UH, WHO IS THE DEPUTY CLERK, AND SHE'S RUNNING FOR ASSEMBLY, REPLACING, UH, MILA JC, WHO RETIRED WHILE NOT REPLACING MYLA JC ASSEMBLYWOMAN.MYLA JC HAS DECIDED NOT TO RUN AGAIN, AND SHE HAS BEEN SELECTED BY THE DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE, UH, TO RUN, UH, FOR ASSEMBLY WOMAN.
SO ALL OF Y'ALL IN HER DISTRICT.
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU SUPPORT HER.
UH, I WANNA RECOGNIZE, UH, THE PERSON WHO WILL BE, UM, AUTHORING OR SWEARING, UH, KATHY IN, AND THAT IS THE BEST CLERK IN THE NEW JERSEY IN, IN, IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND, UM, UH, IF, IF I, UH, FORGOT YOU, UM, UH, PLEASE, UM, DON'T HOLD ANYTHING AGAINST ME, I'LL BLAME IT ON THAT.
AND, UH, OH, CARL HURT THE C I O.
AND SO HE KEEPS, HE KEEPS US SAFE, UM, WITH OUR TECHNOLOGY AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.
WE, WE, WE WANNA, UH, ALSO WELCOME AND RECOGNIZE HIM.
BUT, UH, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I HAVE TO MENTION, I MENTIONED THE SIBLINGS WE'RE HONORING KATHY, UH, BUT THEY WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT THEIR FATHER AND KATHY'S HUSBAND, MR. MARLIN BROWN.
UM, SO I'M GONNA IMPOSE ON YOU, MR. ADMINISTRATOR JACKSON, UH, ON BEHALF OF, UH, THE COUNTY, UH, ON, UH, AND JO D WOULD YOU COME FORWARD AND, AND SHARE A FEW WORDS, A FEW REMARKS? THANK, UH, THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
UM, YOU KNOW, I SPENT SOME OF MY TIME AS IN THE POLITICAL REALM.
SO THEY ALWAYS SAY, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SPEECH IN YOUR HEART, RIGHT, YOU SHOULD HAVE ONE IN YOUR POCKET.
SO, UM, I DON'T HAVE EITHER, ACTUALLY, I DO HAVE ONE IN MY HEART TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH.
UM, I'VE KNOWN, UM, MARLON AND KATHY FOR AGES AND THE KIDS, AND WE'RE ALL MONTCLAIR AND BRENDAN'S OVER THERE.
UM, AND, UH, OH, THAT'S RIGHT, CAR.
WELL, YOU KIND OF MO YOU MOVE, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T REALLY
YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB OVER THE YEARS, UH, WORKING UNDER, UH, THE CLERK AND THE DEPUTY CLERK.
THIS IS, THIS SPOT IS MADE FOR YOU.
AND, UH, WE IN THE ADMINISTRATION, LOVE WORKING WITH YOU.
WE LOVE WORKING WITH THE WHOLE TEAM.
IT'S JUST GONNA MAKE IT THAT MUCH BETTER.
I'M SURE I KNOW THE, THE KIDS.
AND I, I, WHAT A SINGING, UH, I GOT AN AGENT THING WORKING FOR ME.
I, I, I LIKE THAT YOU GUYS ARE FANTASTIC.
UM, BUT I KNOW IT COMES NATURALLY.
CAN YOU SING MARLIN? I DON'T KNOW.
I KNOW THEY DON'T PUT YOU OUT FRONT.
I JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THAT WAS ALL ABOUT.
BUT ANYWAY, I'M JUST SO PROUD OF YOU.
GOD BLESS, AND LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
I'M PULLING THIS DOWN, AND I HAVE THREE INCH HEELS ON
UM, SO AT THI AT THIS POINT, UM, I'D LIKE TO, UH, TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE A FEW REMARKS MYSELF, UM, JUST TO SAY HOW HONORED AND PROUD I AM, UH, THAT THIS, UH, CEREMONY IS HAPPENING TO SWEAR KATHY IN.
I WILL BE HERE 13 YEARS IN THIS ROLE, UH, COME JUNE.
AND, UM, ONE OF THE REASONS I I'M SUCCESSFUL IN THE TRANSITION FROM THE CORPORATE WORLD INTO, UH, PUBLIC SECTOR, WHICH IS REALLY, REALLY QUITE A SHOCK BECAUSE THE CULTURES ARE SO DIFFERENT, WAS, UM, UH, WITH THE WELCOMING AND SUPPORT OF CHRIS TAYLOR, UH, DEBBIE MARBLE, WHO I CALLED MY RIGHT BRAIN, AND KATHY ALONG WITH, UH, DEBBIE AND CHRIS, WHO, UH, ALLOWED ME TO GROW INTO THIS ROLE AND WHO ARE THE ULTIMATE PROFESSIONAL.
UM, UH, SHE IS NOT ONLY TALENTED AS A SINGER, UM, SHE IS A GREAT PROFESSIONAL.
SHE HAS INCREDIBLE WRITING SKILLS.
AND DURING HER TIME OF WORKING AND BEING A MOTHER OF THREE AND A WIFE, SHE ALSO WENT BACK TO SCHOOL.
SHE HAD ALREADY HAD HER BACHELOR'S DEGREE, BUT SHE WENT
[00:15:01]
BACK TO SCHOOL AND GOT A MASTER'S IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION.AM I CORRECT? SO THIS IS A PERSON WHO REALLY, REALLY, UM, EARN THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE SWORN IN FOR THIS ROLE.
NOT SOMETHING JUST TO GIVE GIVEN TO HER, AND THAT SHE'D BE A SEAT WARMER, UH, BUT AS SOMEONE THAT WE DEPEND ON TO HELP, UH, THE, THE OFFICE RUN, TO SUPPORT THE BOARD, UH, THE BOARD MEMBERS, UH, AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD, THE VICE PRESIDENT, AND ALL THE BOARD, SO THAT THEY CAN, UH, PERFORM WELL IN THEIR ROLE, AND THAT WE DO THINGS CORRECTLY SO THAT THEY CAN LOOK GOOD WHILE THEY'RE SERVING THEIR CONSTITUENTS.
AND ALSO, UH, MAKE SURE TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITIES, THAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM TO SERVE, UH, THEIR CONSTITUENTS.
UM, SO WITH THAT SAID, I'M GONNA KEEP MY REMARKS SHORT, UH, BECAUSE REALLY THIS IS ALL ABOUT SWEARING, UH, KATHY R.
AND SO WITH THAT, I LIKE THE WELCOME, THE BEST CLERK, UH, IN THE STATE AND IN THE COUNTRY TO COME BEFORE US AND
UM, KATHY, YOU'RE JUST SO TALENTED.
I COME FROM SUCH A TALENTED FAMILY.
AND THIS IS, UH, INDEED AN HONOR TO PRESIDE OVER YOUR SWEARING IN, UH, WE HAVE ENTERED SPRING, UH, AND THOSE VOICES SOUND SO MUCH BETTER IN SPRING, RIGHT? UM, UH, YOU KNOW, SPRING IS A NEW BEGINNING.
UH, SPRING IS A RENEWABLE, UH, JUST AS SWEARING IN, UH, IS A NEW BEGINNING.
UH, IT IS A RECOMMITMENT, UH, TO OUR HIGHER IDEALS, A RECOMMITMENT TO OUR CONSTITUTION.
UM, KATHY, WE ARE ALSO PROUD OF YOU.
UH, YOU HAVE EARNED THIS PRIVILEGE TO SERVE THE PUBLIC.
PLEASE COME UP TO THE FRONT AND WHOEVER YOU'D LIKE TO COME UP WITH HER, LET'S GO.
DO YOU WANT SOMEONE TO HOLD THE BIBLE FOR YOU HERE? HOW DO YOU WANT TO, SHOULD I TAKE THIS OATH? YEAH.
SO YOU'RE GONNA DO, UH, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND, RIGHT? YEAH.
SO YOU WANNA COME OVER HERE? HERE'S WHAT WE'LL DO.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR DOWA SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION.
THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE CONSTITUTION, AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
AND I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH, AND I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE.
TO THE SAME, AND TO THE GOVERNMENT'S ESTABLISHED AND TO THE GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES, IN THE UNITED STATES, AND IN THIS STATE, AND IN THIS STATE, UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE PEOPLE, UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE PEOPLE, AND THAT I WILL PERFORM, AND THAT I WILL PERFORM DUTIES OF THE DUTIES OF DEPUTY CLERK TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, DEPUTY CLERK TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, FAITHFULLY, FAITHFULLY, IMPARTIALLY, IMPARTIALLY, UNJUSTLY, AND JUSTLY TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES.
SO HELP ME, GOD, CONGRATULATIONS.
NO, I HAVE SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT TO, WE CHANGED HER NAME,
OH, SHE SAID, LOOK THIS WAY,
[00:20:01]
IT DID JUST GET REALLY WARM IN HERE,FIRST, I'D LIKE TO JUST THANK MY LORD AND SAVIOR, BECAUSE WITHOUT HIM, NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE.
I, UM, AM JUST SO EXCITED AND ELATED.
I WANNA THANK, UH, PRESIDENT RICHARDSON IN HIS ABSENCE, AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
UH, I JUST APPRECIATE YOUR, UH, SUPPORT.
UH, I APPRECIATE THE, UH, APPOINTMENT, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN AFFIRMING ME, UH, FOR THIS AWESOME TASK.
I WANNA THANK THE CLERK OF THE BOARD, DEBORAH DAVIS FORD, FOR HER SUPPORT AND REALLY FOR HER MENTORSHIP.
UM, SHE DID KIND OF SAY THAT SHE HAD BEEN HERE FOR THE LAST 13 YEARS, AND SHE HAS BROUGHT A WEALTH FROM THE, UH, CORPORATE WORLD INTO THE GOVERNMENT WORLD.
AND SO I'VE, UH, LEARNED A LOT FROM HER.
AND, AND I APPRECIATE, UH, EVERYTHING THAT SHE HAS DONE TO SUPPORT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US.
AND, UH, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT THANK THE STAFF THAT I WORK WITH EACH AND EVERY DAY.
WE, UH, UH, SUPPORT ONE THE OTHER, WE COMMISERATE TOGETHER, AND THEN WE COME OUT ON TOP AS, UH, WORKING AS A, UH, TEAM.
AND, UM, WITH THAT, I WOULD REALLY BE REMISS IF I DID NOT THANK THE OUTGOING DEPUTY CLERK.
AND, UH, THAT IS MS. DEBRA A MARVEL.
CAN YOU, AND I'VE SAT NEXT TO, UH, DEBORAH FOR THE LAST 19 YEARS, AND, UH, THE CLERK SAYS SHE'S THE RIGHT BRAIN.
AND I'D LIKE TO THINK SINCE I'M LEFT-HANDED, THAT MAYBE I'LL BECOME THE LEFT BRAIN.
UM, BUT, UH, DEBBIE, UH, HAS HAS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE.
AND I, I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM HER, AND I'M SO GLAD THAT THERE IS SPEED DIAL BECAUSE I DEFINITELY WILL BE CALLING HER, UH, IN TIMES OF QUESTION.
UM, AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S A COLLECTIVE EFFORT, AND THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT I JUST WOULD LIKE TO MENTION AND THANK, UH, DEFINITELY THE ADMINISTRATION, UH, MR. JACKSON ALREADY SAID IT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THAT RELATIONSHIP.
UH, MR. MUHAMMAD IN THE BACK, AND MATT AND CARL, UH, ALL OF YOU HAVE BEEN, UH, SO, SO HELPFUL AND SUPPORTIVE IN, UM, IN THIS TRANSITION.
AND THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT HAVE REALLY SURPRISED ME THAT ARE HERE.
UH, THERE'S STAFF MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE THAT WERE PART OF THAT 19 YEAR JOURNEY, BUT HAVE MOVED ON TO BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS, AND INCLUDING, UH, DEBORAH MARVEL.
I SEE CHRIS TAYLOR, JUST WAVE YOUR HAND OUT THERE.
AND LILIAN TORRES, UH, WAVE YOUR HAND OUT THERE.
UH, WE'VE ALL BEEN IN THE GRIND TOGETHER, SO, UH, I APPRECIATE THEM TAKING THEIR UNDIVIDED TIME AND, UH, COMING TO SHARE THIS MOMENT AS WELL.
AS MANY OTHER OF YOU THAT ARE STILL WORKING HERE, THAT TOOK TIME TO COME HERE.
AND I APPRECIATE YOU FROM, FROM THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
AND I SEE PEOPLE FROM MY CHURCH FAMILY, MY CHURCH FAMILY, JUST WAVE.
UH, SO I, I APPRECIATE YOU ALL.
I APPRECIATE, I HAVE HIGH SCHOOL FRIENDS HERE.
I HAVE PEOPLE THAT GRADUATED WITH ME FROM HIGH SCHOOL.
SHARON, YOU CAN WAVE YOUR HAND THERE TOO.
SO THEY, THEY HAVE KEPT UP WITH ME AND PEOPLE ALL AROUND, AROUND THE BUILDING.
AND, UH, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I WOULD, I WOULD JUST BE REMISS IF I DID NOT MENTION, OH, AND I'VE GOT NEIGHBORS HERE, MY NEIGHBOR RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET.
MY NA NEIGHBORS FROM MONTCLAIR.
WE WE'RE, WE MIGHT TAKE THAT IRV NEW THING AND SAY, MAR MONTCLAIR STRONG.
WE MIGHT, WE MIGHT DO THAT, BUT ALSO, SO THEY ARE HERE AS WELL.
AND SO I THANK THEM SO, SO VERY MUCH.
UM, BUT I ALSO WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T TALK ABOUT MY IMMEDIATE FAMILY.
I HAVE MY SISTER WHO THOUGHT IT NOT ROBBERY, TO COME FROM THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, FROM THE WINDY CITY, FROM CHICAGO.
GLORIA PLAYS OUT AND JUST WAVE YOUR HAND.
SHE, SHE SAID SHE WAS HERE TO REPRESENT MY PARENTS, AND THEY
[00:25:01]
HAVE GONE ON TO GLORY, BUT WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE LOOKING DOWN, SMILING.AND I'M SO GLAD THAT MY SIBLINGS ARE HERE.
MY BROTHER, THE REVEREND THOMAS RANKIN JR.
JUST WAVE YOUR HAND, WHO GAVE THE OPENING PRAYER AND HIS SON, MY NEPHEW, THOMAS III T3, WHO IS HERE, AND, UH, YOU WILL HEAR HER A LITTLE BIT LATER.
BUT MY SISTER, UH, UH, IDA TOWNSEND AND HER HUSBAND, REVEREND SILAS TOWNSEND, WHO CAME FROM BURLINGTON COUNTY.
THE, THE FAMILY IS, IS, IS IN THE HOUSE.
AND, UH, YOU HEARD FROM MY CHILDREN EARLIER, BUT THEY ARE TRULY MY WHY.
THEY ARE THE REASON THAT I DO WHAT I DO, UH, DAY TO DAY.
UM, THEY ARE HERE TO SUPPORT THEIR MOM, AND, AND THEY JUST GIVE ME THE ENCOURAGEMENT THAT I NEED.
AND OF COURSE, IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING, MY HUSBAND, MARLON BROWN, WHO HOLDS ME UP, WHO, WHO, UH, TALKS ABOUT ME WHEN I'M UP TOO LATE AND ON THE COMPUTER.
UH, BUT, BUT HE, HE'S THERE TO TELL ME, OKAY, YOU NEED TO IRON THAT BEFORE YOU LEAVE, BECAUSE YOU, YOU MAY HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BIT TOO TIRED AND, YOU KNOW, AND THEN, UM, UH, I DON'T WANNA FORGET.
I ALSO HAVE COUSINS FROM NEW YORK STATE PART, AND ANTHONY BROWN, JUST WAVE YOUR HAND.
THEY ARE THE MOST RELATED FAMILY THAT WE HAVE.
IT'S LIKE A CHRIS DIRKEN STORY.
SO, UH, I'LL TELL YOU, I'LL TELL YOU THAT LATER.
BUT THEY, THEY ARE DEFINITELY RELATED.
BUT, UM, AS THE CLERK MENTIONED, UM, WITH THE SUPPORT, I WAS ABLE TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL.
AND I FEEL LIKE, UH, I'VE GONE FULL CIRCLE.
AND THAT NOW IS MY TIME TO GIVE BACK TO THE COUNTY IN THE CITY WHO POURED INTO ME.
I WENT TO WEEK WAKE HIGH SCHOOL.
I GOT MY UNDERGRADUATE AT SETON HALL UNIVERSITY, AND THEN I WENT ON AFTER YEARS AND GOT MY MASTER MASTER'S FROM RUTGERS.
SO IT HAS BEEN ESSEX COUNTY ALL THE WAY.
IT HAS BEEN THE CITY OF NEWARK, THAT IT'S A WONDER THAT THIS LITTLE BLACK GIRL FROM THE SOUTH WARD WOULD BE STANDING IN THE COUNTY SEAT.
SO I THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND SHARING, AND I'M GONNA TURN THE MIC OVER, UH, TO MY SIS FOR THIS ALL.
I I, I'M USED TO BEING ON THE OTHER SIDE, SO I'M GONNA SIT DOWN AND BE HONORED.
SO THIS, UH, SWEARING IN, UM, CELEBRATION IS TRULY A FAMILY AFFAIR.
A WHOLE FAMILY COULD HAVE DONE ALL OF THIS, YOU KNOW,
UH, AND NOW WE'RE HAVING, UH, UH, ONE MUSICAL SELECTION THAT WE'VE PUT IN THE PROGRAM BECAUSE THIS IS A MUSICAL FAMILY.
SO WHY NOT? AND GUESS WHAT? GUESS WHO'S GOING TO SING? IDA TOWNSON, HER SISTER.
SO IT'S TRULY A FAMILY AFFAIR.
SO, UH, SISTER IDA TOWNSON, WOULD YOU COME FORWARD? DO YOU WANNA STAND HERE OR YOU WANNA, CAN I SAY THANKS? FOUR THINGS YOU HAVE DONE FOR ME SO UNDERSERVED TO PROVE FOR THE VOICES I OF A MILLION
[00:30:07]
EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE THAT I, AND HOPE TO, I HOPE IN ALL FOR THE HE HAS WITH HIS, HE HAS.THANK YOUR BEAUTIFUL, YES, I SAY THE TALENT RUNS DEEP IN THIS FAMILY.
UM, BESIDES, UH, THEIR MUSICAL TALENT IS ALSO THEIR LOVE AND SUPPORT FOR, FOR EACH OTHER.
AND THAT'S A MODEL THAT WE SHOULD ALL, UH, ASPIRE TO IF YOU'RE NOT ALREADY HAVE THAT TYPE OF MODEL IN YOUR LIFE WITH YOUR FAMILY.
SO, WITH THAT SAID, UM, I'M GOING TO INVITE, UM, THE REVEREND, UH, THOMAS RANKING, UH, JUNIOR BACK UP FOR CLOSING PRAYER.
AND THEN, UM, I'M GOING ASK, UH, OUR COMMISSIONER BRENDAN GILL TO GIVE CLOSING REMARKS.
SO, UM, FIRST OF ALL, UH, LET'S GIVE IT UP AGAIN FOR IDA TOWNS, AND PLEASE, THAT WAS SPECTACULAR.
UH, AND, UM, WITH ALL OF THE TALENT THAT'S BEEN SHOWN, UH, I CAN'T SING
SO I FELT LIKE, I FELT LIKE I SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT IT
[00:35:01]
WANNA SEE THAT, UM, EITHER.UM, BUT, UM, I'M HONORED, UH, KATHY, TO BE HERE, UH, WITH YOU TODAY.
UH, I KNOW WE HEARD FROM OUR COLLEAGUES.
UH, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW ME, MY NAME IS BRENDAN GILL.
I SERVE ON THE S COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, UH, HERE WITH, UH, COMMISSIONER MECADO, COMMISSIONER GRAHAM.
UH, YOU HEARD FROM OUR PRESIDENT, UH, BEFORE, BUT I KNOW ALL THE COMMISSIONERS, UH, WHO ARE WITH YOU, EVEN THOSE WHO AREN'T HERE TODAY, UH, IN, IN SPIRIT.
AND TWO THINGS THAT I WANTED TO MENTION AND, AND TOUCH UPON.
UH, THE, UM, SOMEONE MENTIONED HOW THINGS, UH, SOMEWHAT, UM, COME, UH, FULL CIRCLE.
AND, UH, YOUR FAMILY IS WELL KNOWN IN, IN MANY PLACES, BUT PARTICULARLY IN THE COMMUNITY OF MONTCLAIR.
BUT KATHY, BEFORE I MET YOU, I MET MARLON.
AND YOU, YOU MAY MAY NOT KNOW THIS, OR MAYBE YOU DO, BUT, UH, MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, UH, THE WAY MARLON AND I MET IS I VOLUNTEERED, UM, TO PARTICIPATE IN A PROGRAM, UH, CALLED CONVERSATIONS ON RACE.
THAT THAT WAS BEING DONE IN THE LATE NINETIES, UH, IN MONTCLAIR.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THE WAY, UM, THE WAY GOD BRINGS SOMETIMES PEOPLE TOGETHER, UM, IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
UH, MARLIN AND I WERE IN THE SAME GROUP.
THAT'S HOW WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO MEET.
AND THEN, UH, FROM THERE, WENT ON TO MAINTAIN A FRIENDSHIP AND A RELATIONSHIP FOR MANY YEARS.
UH, WENT ON, OF COURSE, TO MEET YOU, YOUR THREE BE BEAUTIFUL, UH, CHILDREN, UH, MANY OF YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS AT YOUR, UH, BIRTHDAY, I BELIEVE BIRTHDAY, UH, CEL, UH, CELEBRATION.
UH, YOU HAVE, UH, INVITED ME, UH, INTO YOUR CHURCH.
UM, AND, UH, AND, AND THAT SAYS A LOT.
I THINK ABOUT THE TYPE OF PERSON, UH, THAT YOU ARE.
UM, AND, UH, AND YOU'RE SO DESERVING OF NOT ONLY THIS PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITY, BUT ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO COME YOUR WAY, UH, BASED ON HOW YOU TREAT, UH, PEOPLE EACH AND EVERY DAY.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE, YOU KNOW, JUST FOR, JUST FOR THAT.
UM, HE LIKES TO, I, HE, HE REMINDS ME TO SAY, UH, FORMER MAYOR
UH, BUT, YOU KNOW, UM, HE ALSO, UH, TOUCHED ON IT.
THERE WERE, UH, OFTENTIMES, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, KATHY, PREPARES, UH, OUR PREPARED REMARKS, UH, THAT WE GIVE, UH, AS ELECTED OFFICIALS.
AND SHE IS A FANTASTIC WRITER.
UM, AND YOU CAN, UH, OPEN UP THOSE REMARKS, SITE ON SITE UNSEEN, AND KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, TO YOUR, TO YOUR POINT, MARY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THE, THE IN YOUR POCKET, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE HAD KATHY DOING THAT FOR US.
AND, UM, AND, AND IT SOMETIMES DOESN'T GO, UM, RECOGNIZED OR IT'S UNRECOGNIZED.
BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW, AND I THINK I CAN SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MY, MY COLLEAGUES, WE KNOW HOW LUCKY WE ARE, UH, TO HAVE YOU, UH, BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
AND, UH, TO MAKE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US, UM, YOU KNOW, LOOK LIKE WE CAN ACTUALLY CONJUGATE A VERB.
NOW,
IT'S NOT, NOT A, NOT AN EASY THING TO DO, UM, BUT THAT IT DOESN'T GO UNNOTICED.
SO, YOU KNOW, SO NOT ONLY, YOU KNOW, SO TO YOU, TO YOUR FAMILY, UH, TO HOW YOU CARRY YOURSELF, UH, EACH, UH, AND EVERY DAY, UH, TO DEBBIE MARVEL.
WE'RE GONNA GET TO YOU ON FRIDAY, DON'T WORRY.
SO YOU'LL HAVE, YOU'LL HAVE YOUR
WE'RE JUST SO THRILLED, UH, TO BE WITH YOU, TO BE HERE WITH YOUR FAMILY, AND TO CELEBRATE, UM, THIS VERY WELL DESERVED, UH, ACCOMPLISHMENT.
SO GOD BLESS YOU AND, AND EVERYONE WHO IS HERE, UH, TONIGHT, UH, JUST BEFORE, UM, WE BRING UP, UM, THE CLOSING BENEDICTION, WE ARE GONNA HAVE A LIGHT DESSERT RECEPTION IN 5 0 1.
SO WE ASK EVERYONE TO ALSO ENJOY SOME FELLOWSHIP WHEN THIS, UH, WHEN THE PROGRAM, UH, IS DONE.
SO, UH, MADAME CLERK, I'LL TURN THE PROGRAM BACK OVER TO YOU, OR DO WE WANNA BRING UP I, I WISH YOU WOULD DO THAT.
COMMISSIONER MECADO AND COMMISSIONER GRAHAM ALSO, PLEASE, SHE DIDN'T PREPARE, SHE DIDN'T PREPARE HER OWN YOUR OWN REMARKS TODAY.
SO YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO
UM, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE AND TO WITNESS THIS.
I'M SO, UM, ELATED TO BE HERE AND TO HONOR YOU ON THIS SPECIAL OCCASION, AND TO SAY THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU, ALTHOUGH WE'VE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER, BUT IN A DIFFERENT CAPACITY.
[00:40:01]
ANGELS.I, I WISH I CAN SING, BUT I CAN'T.
SO I'M GONNA STAY IN MY LANE RIGHT HERE.
THE CLERK ASKED ME IF I WANTED TO SAY SOME REMARKS, SO I DIDN'T COME PREPARED
BUT, UM, I AM, YOU KNOW, AFTER WITNESSING THIS TODAY, UM, IF YOU KNOW ME, YOU KNOW THAT FAMILY IS NUMBER ONE.
AND, AND THIS IS SUCH A WONDERFUL VIEW RIGHT HERE WITH FAMILY CELEBRATING, YOU KNOW, KATHY AND HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
UH, I AM ONE THAT KATHY, UH, I HAVE HER ON SPEED DIAL
UM, SHE'S WRITTEN, UM, UH, MANY OF MY REMARKS AND SHE DOES A FANTASTIC JOB.
WE HAVE SO MUCH IN COMMON, YOU KNOW, SHE HAS AN MPA FROM RUTGERS, AND SO DO I.
AND AS WE TALK THROUGH OUR, UM, UH, UH, UH, WHEN WE WORK, UH, WE TALKED ABOUT FLORIDA, AND I TOLD HER WHERE I WENT IN FLORIDA, AND THAT'S WHEN I WENT TO STEWART AND STEWART.
WAIT A MINUTE, I KNOW STEWART.
I WOULD'VE KNOWN, I NEVER WOULD'VE THOUGHT THAT ANYONE KNOWS WHERE STEWART IS AT IN FLORIDA.
BUT, UM, THAT'S A PLACE THAT I VACATION.
UM, AND, AND SHE KNOWS IT'S DEAR TO HER HEART AND, AND, AND HER AND HER HUSBAND'S HEART.
SO, UM, KATHY, UH, THIS IS SO DESERVING.
UM, YOU'VE HAD SOME FANTASTIC TEACHERS AND YOU STILL DO.
UM, ON BEHALF OF THE REST OF THE COMMISSIONERS, YOU KNOW, WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU.
AND, UM, UH, THIS IS A BLESSING.
SO I WANT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY THAT YOU HAVE.
AND THANK EVERYONE FOR SHARING IN TODAY'S, UH, EVENT.
I THINK, UH, COMMISSIONER MERCADO, UM, YOU SAID IT BEST WITH A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY, BUT ALSO THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR FAMILY, YOU KNOW, WITH ALL OF US.
UM, SO WE, WE APPRECIATE THAT AS WELL.
SO WITH THAT, I'M GONNA ASK REVEREND RANKIN TO COME BACK TO THE MICROPHONE.
AND, UH, FOR OUR, FOR OUR CLOSING PRAYER, UM, I'M ACTUALLY A PARISHIONER AT, AT, UM, ST.
DURESS OF CALCUTTA, FORMERLY IMMACULATE CONCEPTION.
THIS, I MISSED MASS THIS SUNDAY, BUT I FEEL LIKE THIS, I FEEL LIKE TODAY MADE A, MIGHT HAVE MADE UP FOR
SO IF YOU SEE FATHER BENNY, TELL HIM I WAS AT KATHY'S CEREMONY
SO WITH THAT, UH, REVEREND RANKIN, THANK YOU.
COULD WE ALL STAND? I WANT ALL THREE OF MY SISTERS TO COME STAND BY ME.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME TO SAY THANK YOU.
YOU'VE BEEN A MIGHTY GIVER IN OUR LIVES, RIGHT? THANK YOU FOR THE JOY THAT WE HAD HERE TODAY, THAT MY SISTERS AND OTHER FAMILIES ARE GOING FORTH, SHOWING THE POWER OF GOD IN SPITE OF THINGS THAT ARE GOING NEGATIVE.
WE ASK NOW THAT AS WE PREPARE TO LEAVE THIS PLACE, THAT YOU WILL KEEP US SAFE, AND THAT WE WILL GO FORTH TRUSTING IN THE LORD BECAUSE HE IS OUR WAY MAKER, OUR BLESSING AND PROVIDER.
LET THE LORD HALL WITH A HALLELUJAH HALL.
OKAY, WE'RE GONNA ASK THE FAMILY TO STAY FOR PHOTOS.
EVERYONE ELSE GO OUT THIS DOOR AT THE BACK AND TO YOUR LEFT, STRAIGHT AHEAD, UH, TO THE, UM, UH, 5 0 1, WHICH IT SHOULD BE OPEN FOR DESSERT.