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DO[00:11:20]
YOU REMEMBER THE WHEN THE, WHEN THE TIME.I'M LOOKING TO SEE WHERE MY SEAT IS.
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GOOD EVENING.MY NAME IS DEBORAH DAVIS FORD, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
I WOULD LIKE TO WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR AND WELCOME YOU TO THE 2024 SWEARING IN CEREMONY FOR THE ESS COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND THE COUNTY SURROGATE.
I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE RISE AND HELP GIVE ROUSING.
WELCOME TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSIONER, BOARD COUNTY SURROGATE AND IDAAS GUESTS LED BY THE ESSAS COUNTY SHERIFF'S HONOR GUARD.
THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE SHAWNEE ELK COOPER, BRENDAN W GILL, ROMAINE GRAHAM, LEONARD LUCIANO, ROBERT MERCADO, A DORIAN MURRAY THOMAS CARLOS PARAMUS, WAYNE L. RICHARDSON, AND PATRICIA SIEBEL.
THE COUNTY SURROGATE IS ALT KINNEY.
FOLLOWING THE COMMISSIONERS ARE HONORED DIGNITARIES WHO WILL BE INTRODUCED LATER IN THE PROGRAM.
UNFORTUNATELY, DISTRICT ONE COMMISSIONER ROBERT MERCADO, IS UNDER THE WEATHER AND UNABLE TO ATTEND TODAY.
HE WAS SWORN IN EARLIER TODAY AND WE WISH HIM A SPEEDY RECOVERY.
EVERYONE PLEASE REMAIN STANDING TO LEAD US IN THE SALUTE TO THE FLAG.
IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE BABA.
HE AME, UH, STUDENT COUNCIL PRESIDENT AT DONALD M. PAYNE SENIOR SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY.
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I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE STATES OF AMERICA IF WE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD IN ELIZABETH WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.I AM NOW HAPPY TO INTRODUCE OUR TALENTED MUSICAL GUEST, VALERIE ADAMS, MANNA GAULT OF THE DIMENSIONS BAND WHO WILL PERFORM THE NATIONAL ANTHEM.
OH, SAY, CAN YOU SEE BY THE DAWNS EARLY LIGHT WHAT'S SO PROUD WE WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND THROUGH THE SO THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT I WAS STILL THERE.
AND THANK YOU, VALERIE, FOR THAT LOVELY PERFORMANCE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU AGAIN LATER IN OUR PROGRAM.
WE WILL NOW CONDUCT THE INVOCATION, WHICH WILL BE PRESENTED BY TWO ESS COUNTY CLERGY.
FIRST WE WILL HEAR FROM THE REVEREND EDWIN LEHE HEADMASTER OF ST.
AND THEN FROM RABBI MAX EDWARDS FROM TIP BENET ABRAHAM AND LIVINGSTON.
OH LORD, OUR LORD, WE GATHER TONIGHT IN REJOICING IN CELEBRATION, AND WE ASK A DOUBLE PORTION OF YOUR SPIRIT ON THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN SELECTED FROM AMONG US TO BE OF SERVICE TO US, THAT THEY MAY ALWAYS, UH, BE ABLE TO BE A LIGHT IN THE LIVES OF THOSE OF US WHO LIVE IN THIS COUNTY.
THEY MAY MAKE DECISIONS IN OUR BEST INTEREST ALWAYS, AND THEY MAY IN THE END, UH, REALIZE, UH, YOUR GIFTS THAT HAVE BEEN SHARED WITH THEM AND THEIR OBLIGATION TO SHARE THEM WITH US.
WE MAKE OUR PRAYERS ALWAYS AND YOUR MATCHLESS NAME THAT ALL IN ACCORD SAY AMEN.
THERE'S A JEWISH TEACHING IN THE NAME OF RABBI SIMHA BUNUM.
HE TAUGHT THAT A PERSON SHOULD ALWAYS CARRY AROUND TWO SLIPS OF
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PAPER, ONE IN EACH POCKET.THE SLIP WOULD READ, THE WORLD WAS CREATED FOR ME.
AND IN THE OTHER POCKET, THE SLIP WOULD READ I AM BUT DUST AND ASHES.
IN MOMENTS OF HUMILITY AND IN MOMENTS OF PRIDE, HE WOULD REACH INTO HIS POCKETS TO REMAIN HIMSELF, TO REMIND HIMSELF TO BE AT ONE WITH THE WORLD.
AS WE SWEAR IN AND HONOR OUR DISTINGUISHED LEADERS THIS EVENING, WE ASK THAT GOD GIVE THEM STRENGTH AND COURAGE TO DISPATCH THEIR DUTIES WITH PRIDE, WITH HUMILITY, AND WITH DIGNITY.
AS OUR WORLD SPINS IN WAYS WE CANNOT PREDICT, WE PLACE OUR HOPES IN OUR HOME, ESSEX COUNTY TO BE A SANCTUARY OF SAFETY.
OUR GOD REQUIRES OF US THAT WE PRAY ON BEHALF OF OUR GOVERNMENT.
SO WE PRAY, MAYOR, OUR BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND OUR COUNTY SURROGATE MOVE FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH.
MAY THEY BE PROTECTED IN THEIR POSTS AND SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES AS PROTECTORS THEMSELVES.
MAYOR COUNTY, BE A MODEL SOCIETY UNDER THEIR LEADERSHIP, A SOCIETY BUILT AROUND JUSTICE, RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND COMPASSION.
A SOCIETY THAT VALIDATES AND HONORS EACH INDIVIDUAL AND EVERY INDIVIDUAL MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD.
MAY WE ALL MERIT TO BE AT ONE WITH YOUR WORLD AND WE SAY IT TOGETHER.
THANK YOU TO OUR ESTEEM CLERGY.
NEXT ON OUR PROGRAM TO INTRODUCE OUR D GUEST IS THE COUNCIL FOR THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, MICHAEL
IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH YOU AND HAVING THE UNENVIABLE TASK OF INTRODUCING DUS GUESTS AND OTHER GATHERED DIGNITARIES.
UH, LET ME START FIRST PLEASE WELCOME GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY.
CONGRESSMAN DONALD M. PAYNE JR.
CONGRESSWOMAN MIKEY CHERYL, OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
JOSEPH DI VINCENZO, FORMER COMMISSIONER JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT, JIM PELLI OR CLERK CHRIS DURKIN.
FATHER EDWIN LEAHY, WHO YOU'VE HEARD FROM, AND AS WELL AS RABBI MACK EDWARDS.
ANITA WRIGHT, IMAM SHARIF STATE SENATOR RENEE BURGESS, THE WORLD'S FINEST SHERIFF, ARMANDO FONT, A REGISTRAR.
JUAN RIVERA, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, ROBERT JACKSON, ESSEX COUNTY PROSECUTOR TED STEVENS, OUR NEW JERSEY STATE AND ESSEX COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CHAIRMAN, LEROY JONES.
WE HAVE ASSEMBLYWOMAN ELECT ALEX IN CSOS, GI ASSEMBLYWOMAN ELECT, ROSIE BOGGO, ASSEMBLYWOMAN ELECT, GARNET HALL AND ASSEMBLYWOMAN ELECT CARMEN, MORALE OF MAYOR FROM NORTH CALDWELL.
JOSH RAYMOND, COUNCIL PRESIDENT FROM IRVINGTON JAMELA BEASLEY, COUNCIL PRESIDENT WEST ARMS. TAMMY WILLIAMS, COUNCILMAN FROM BLOOMFIELD.
COUNCILMAN FROM LIVINGSTON, MICHAEL VIEIRA AND SEAN KLEIN.
COUNCILMAN FROM NEWARK DUPREE KELLY COUNCILWOMAN FROM ORANGE TVIA HILBERT AND ALSO FROM ORANGE COUNCILWOMAN.
ADRIAN WOOTEN FROM VERONA COUNCILWOMAN.
UH, I MISSED MY FRIEND FROM BLOOMFIELD.
COUNCILMAN TED GAMBLE, WHO'S ALSO HERE.
I SEE COUNCILWOMAN JENNY MONDELL AND SARAH CRUZ.
I GOT THE WHOLE BLOOM LINE COUNCILWOMAN ANDREA HYATT FROM HILLSIDE IN THE FIRST BOARD, UH, IRVINGTON MUNICIPAL CHAIR BY SEMA BEASLEY NEWARK, COURT OF PRESIDENT HASANI COUNCIL.
UH, ASSEMBLYMAN THOMAS GIBLIN, I THINK WAS HERE.
EAST ORANGE MAYOR TED GREEN, EAST STAR, UH, MAPLEWOOD MAYOR.
DEAN D ESSEX COUNTY CHIEF OF STAFF.
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I MISSED YOU EARLIER.PHIL EJA, UH, DEPUTY CHIEF JACKIE JONES, DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF.
BILL DEAN, UH, FROM VERONA, CHRISTINE MCGRATH FROM EAST ORANGE KASEM GOMEZ.
UH, FROM NEWARK, LOUISE ROUNTREE.
ALSO, UH, BE FRIENDED COLLEAGUE LARRY CRUMP FROM NEWARK.
BOB RUSSO FROM MONTCLAIR, UH, COUNCIL FROM NEWARK, AND ALSO FROM THE SEA OF NEWARK.
IF I MISSED YOU, I'M VERY SORRY.
WE DO NOT ENVY THAT JOB AT ALL.
I AM BACK, YES, AT THIS POINT IN THE PROGRAM, I'M HONORED TO INTRODUCE OUR VERY SPECIAL GUESTS WHO WILL OFFER WELCOMING REMARKS.
FIRST, I'M DELIGHTED TO HAVE OUR TWO RATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES FIGHTING FOR THE INTEREST OF ESS COUNTY FAMILIES IN WASHINGTON.
I'M PROUD TO WELCOME THE HONORABLE CONGRESSWOMAN FROM THE 11TH DISTRICT.
IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY ALONGSIDE SO MANY NEW JERSEY LEADERS, INCLUDING OUR GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY, OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE, JOE DI VINCENZO, CONGRESSMAN PAYNE, CHAIRMAN JONES, AND ALL OF THE OTHER DIGNITARIES HERE TONIGHT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVITING ME TO JOIN YOU AND SHARE A FEW WORDS.
I LOVE SWEARING IN CEREMONIES.
I THINK THEY ALWAYS REMIND ALL OF US WHO ARE PUBLIC SERVANTS ABOUT THE DUTIES THAT WE HAVE UNDERTAKEN AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT WE HAVE TO THE CITIZENS OF OUR GREAT STATE.
I LOVE TO HEAR TALK OF THE CONSTITUTION THAT WE VOW TO SERVE.
AND CONGRATULATIONS OUR IN ORDER FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE RENEWING THEIR COMMITMENT TO SERVICE TONIGHT.
TODAY WE CELEBRATE COMMISSIONERS KUMARS AND COOPER AS THEY ASSUME THE ROLES OF PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE ESSEX BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO IN 2024, BUT I KNOW UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER WONDERFUL YEAR HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY.
I ALSO WANNA THANK COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.
YOU HAVE BIG SHOES TO FILL GUYS BECAUSE HE HAS DONE SUCH AN INCREDIBLE JOB AS OVER HIS TENURE AS PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD AND HIS COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE REALLY SHOWN THROUGH.
UM, I WANNA RECOGNIZE COMMISSIONER JOHNSON AS HE CONCLUDES HIS LONG SERVICE ON THE BOARD.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR YEARS OF HARD WORK ON BEHALF OF ESSEX COUNTY.
YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS BOARD HAVE BEEN TRULY INVALUABLE.
IT'S SO EXCITING TO SEE A DORIAN MARIE THOMAS SWORN IN TODAY.
I'M SO GLAD I I CAN BE HERE TO SUPPORT HER.
IT SEEMS, IT SEEMS LIKE SHE DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS OR SUPPORT AT HOME, SO WE ALL CAN GIVE HER A LITTLE EXTRA BOOST.
NO, IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE EVERYONE HERE TONIGHT AND WONDERFUL TO HAVE YOU JOINING THE BOARD WITH YOUR FRESH ENERGY AND YOU ARE JOINING A GREAT TEAM.
AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THAT TEAM, TO COMMISSIONER SIEBOLD, GILL GRAHAM, LUCIANO, AND MEDO AS YOU TAKE THE OATH TONIGHT TO CONTINUE YOUR LAWN SERVICE THAT HAS BEEN SO VITAL TO OUR COMMUNITY IN SO MANY WAYS, BOTH BIG AND SMALL TIME.
AND AGAIN, ESSEX COUNTY HAS TRULY BEEN A ROLE MODEL IN OUR STATE.
YOUR APPROACH TO SOLVING THE ISSUES THAT TOWNS ARE FACING, FOSTERING A COMMUNITY OF INCLUSIVITY AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL RESIDENTS IS A MODEL THAT SO MANY OTHER COUNTIES STRIVE TO FALL FOLLOW.
WE'LL NEVER FORGET YOUR EFFORTS TO KEEP RESIDENTS SAFE DURING THE PANDEMIC.
2023 WAS FULL OF MANY GREAT SUCCESSES IN CONSTITUENT SERVICES, FROM OPENING DOORS TO OPPORTUNITY WITH THE NEWLY RECONSTRUCTED ESSEX COUNTY COLLEGE IN WEST CALDWELL, TO SUPPORTING THE SENIOR POPULATION WITH COMMUNITY CENTERS OPENING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
SO WHETHER IT'S CELEBRATING THE DIVERSITY OF THE COUNTY OR BOLSTERING THE BEAUTY OF OUR OPEN SPACES, ESSEX COUNTY LEADS THE WAY THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY SURROGATE IMPACT AND APPROVE THE LIVES OF ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS DAILY.
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TO EVERY MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY SURROGATE KENNY.AS YOU ARE SWORN IN TONIGHT, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING CLOSELY WITH ALL OF YOU AND I'M SO GLAD THAT THE PEOPLE OF ESSEX COUNTY HAVE YOUR LEADERSHIP TO RELY ON TOGETHER.
WE CAN CONTINUE TO ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS IN THE SERVICE OF OUR CONSTITUENTS ACROSS ESSEX TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES A BETTER, SAFER, AND MORE AFFORDABLE PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, AND RAISE A FAMILY.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TONIGHT.
TAKE CARE AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN.
CONGRESSMAN, I HAVE TO INTRODUCE YOU PROPERLY.
BUT YOU CAN'T JUST WALK UP ON HERE WITHOUT AN INTRODUCTION, MY LORD.
FIRST LET ME THANK CONGRESSWOMAN.
AND NEXT I'D LIKE TO WELCOME THE HONORABLE CONGRESSMAN FROM THE 10TH DISTRICT AND THE SON OF THE LATE GREAT MAN WHOSE NAME HANGS ABOVE US, THE ESTEEMED CONGRESSMAN DO PAYNE.
JUNE, MADAM CLERK, THANK YOU FOR THAT WONDERFUL INTRODUCTION,
UH, IT IS REAL HONOR AND PRIVILEGE FOR ME TO STAND BEFORE YOU IN MY CAPACITY AS A CONGRESSMAN FROM THE 10 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY.
AND IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE FOR THE SWEARING IN CEREMONY OF THE ESSEX BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND ESSEX COUNTY SURROGATE.
I'M HONORED THAT YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO HOLD THIS PRESTIGIOUS EVENT AT A FACILITY NAMED AFTER MY FATHER, THE LATE DONALD M. PAYNE SENIOR IN THE DONALD PAYNE SENIOR SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY.
AND I'M PROUD TO REPRESENT THIS GREAT COUNTY IN CONGRESS.
UM, I HAVE, UH, SERVED WITH SEVERAL OF THE MEMBERS THAT ARE BEING SWORN IN TONIGHT.
UH, COMMISSIONER SIBO, COMMISSIONER GILL AND COMMISSIONER LUCIANA, UM, ARE, UM, PEOPLE THAT I SERVE WITH AND SERVED WITH DISTINCTION.
AND I'M NOT SURPRISED THAT THEY STILL HAVE THE CONFIDENCE OF THE PEOPLE OF ESSEX COUNTY AND TO THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS WHO I HAVE NOT SERVED WITH.
I HAVE WATCHED FROM AFAR IN THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE AND, UM, THE COUNTY VOTES WELL WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP.
AND I ENJOYED BEING A PART OF THE CEREMONY BECAUSE THEY'RE SO CRITICAL TO CRITICAL TO DEMOCRACY BECAUSE YOU SEE THE ELECTED OFFICIALS SWORN IN TODAY ESTABLISH THE FACT THAT THEY ARE SERVANTS FOR THE PEOPLE AND WILL NOT BE A DICTATOR ON THE FIRST DAY.
THEY PROMISE TO UPHOLD THEIR DUTY TO THE COUNTY AND THE COUNTRY.
THEY PROMISE TO PUT ASIDE PERSONAL AGENDAS TO WORK IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS.
AND I SUPPORT THEIR EFFORTS IN CONGRESS EVERY DAY.
I SECURED HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUE MIKEY CHERYL, IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THIS COUNTY LAST YEAR.
AND I'VE WORKED AND I LOOK TO SUPPORT LOCAL COMMUNITY PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
THESE PROJECTS SUPPORT EVERYTHING FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO THE ARTS, AND I CAN SAY ESSEX COUNTY HAS EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP.
UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO, UM, ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, ANOTHER YOUNG MAN THAT I SERVE WITH AND IS LEAVING, UH, RUFUS JOHNSON, WHO WAS, UM, A GREAT PARTNER, UH, TO ME WHILE ON THE COMMISSIONER BOARD.
AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE LIVE IN A GREAT COUNTY HERE IN ESSEX.
WE ARE THE LEAD COUNTY IN THE STATE.
PEOPLE LOOK FORWARD TO US FOR LEADERSHIP AND DEMONSTRATING HOW GOVERNMENT CAN WORK IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE.
UH, ONE OF THE GREAT EXAMPLES THAT I'M VERY PROUD OF IS WHEN, UM, THE CITY, THE COUNTY, THE STATE, AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ALL GOT TOGETHER TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE WATER SITUATION IN NEWARK AND RECTIFY IT.
AND NOW HAS BECOME, HAS BECOME THE MODEL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
I HAVE MORE, UM, MORE TO DO WITH PUTTING,
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UM, DOLLARS IN TO ERADICATE, UH, THAT SITUATION ACROSS THE NATION, BUT IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE EXAMPLE HERE IN NEW JERSEY THAT WE DEMONSTRATED THAT ALLOWS US TO BE IN THE FOREFRONT.SO I'M JUST DELIGHTED ONCE AGAIN TO BE ABLE TO STAND HERE IN THIS CAPACITY AND CONGRATULATE AND WITNESS THE SWEARING IN THE, THE ESSEX COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND SURROGATE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS A MAN WHO'S BEEN PUTTING THE GOVERNOR'S GOTTA LEAVE AND I WANNA MAKE SURE I SAY THE RIGHT THINGS BECAUSE ESSEX COUNTY'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL AND HE IS BEEN A GREAT LEADER.
NOT FOR ESSEX COUNTY, BUT FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN THE COUNTY EXEC FOR THE LAST 22 YEARS AND IT HAS, IT HASN'T BEEN MYSELF.
IT'S BEEN A GREAT TEAM FOR 22 YEARS, INCLUDING MY ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM, THE COMMISSIONERS, THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS, BUT MOST IMPORTANT, THE 3,500 COUNTY EMPLOYEES THAT TRULY MADE A DIFFERENCE.
THERE'S NO QUESTION IN 22 YEARS WILL YOU SEE IN ESSEX COUNTY, FROM NEWARK TO MILLBURN, TO NUTLEY TO LIVINGSTON, EVERY TOWN WE ARE IN, WORKING VERY, VERY HARD TO MAKING SURE ALL OUR RESIDENTS GET THE BEST OF THE BEST.
YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, WAYNE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR SUPPORT.
YOU'VE BEEN A GREAT FRIEND, CARLOS RIS AND TY COOPER, CONGRATULATIONS.
AND TO MY OTHER THREE HOLDERS, THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT THAT YOU'VE GIVEN ME.
THERE'S NO WAY THESE THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN DONE WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT.
YOU KNOW, YOU GO AROUND THE COUNTY AND YOU SEE, UH, THIS SCHOOL, THE ONLY REASON THIS SCHOOL IS A NEW SCHOOL, WEST CALWELL IS A NEW SCHOOL.
AND NEWARK TECH IS WHEN A RENOVATED SCHOOL.
AND THEN YOU SEE ON BLUE PHIL AIR VIEW, THE COLLEGE, ALL A BEAUTIFUL COLLEGE IN THE WEST ESSEX THAT REPRESENTS US ALL.
YOU GO AROUND, YOU SEE ALL THE PARKS, WHAT'S BEEN DONE THERE, YOU SEE THE INFRASTRUCTURE, WHAT'S BEEN DONE.
YOU SEE THE PROGRAMS THAT WE RUN.
BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE RIGHT TEAM IN TRENTON.
AND FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS WE'VE HAD GUTTER MURPHY WHO REPRESENTS THE STATE, BUT I KNOW IN HIS HEART HE PUTS ESSEX COUNTY FIRST ALL THE TIME.
MURPHY IS, GIMME A GREAT HONOR, AND I HOPE I GET SOME POINTS FOR THIS TO INTRODUCE OUR GOVERNOR, MY FRIEND GOVERNOR MURPHY, SEND MORE MONEY.
HOW ARE YOU BUDDY? I HAD HOPED.
UH, I HAD HOPED TO BOTH GET THAT GUSHING INTRODUCTION FROM JOE, WHICH I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR.
BUT I ALSO HEARD DEBORAH HAD A 25 MINUTE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION, UH, GOING OVER MY LIFE'S ACCOMPLISHMENT.
SO I'LL HAVE TO TAKE A RAIN CHECK ON THAT
UH, BUT IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, JOE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR FRIENDSHIP.
I'M INCREDIBLY HUMBLE TO BE HERE.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO SAY HELLO TO YOU EARLIER AND YOUR FIRST LADY, GOD BLESS YOU GUYS, AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING, UH, AMEN TO THIS EXTRAORDINARY, UH, GROUP, UH, UP HERE ON THE DEUS WITH ME.
AND THEN FRANKLY, SPRINKLED THROUGHOUT THE AUDITORIUM.
JUST INCREDIBLE PUBLIC SERVANTS, FAITH LEADERS, MEMBERS OF THE JUDICIARY, UH, MEMBERS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT EDUCATORS, BOY ESSEX COUNTY, UH, HAVE SAID THIS BEFORE AND IT'S HAPPENS.
I I HAVE, UH, CREDIBILITY AFTER HAVING BEEN GOVERNOR NOW ALMOST SIX YEARS IN SO MANY RESPECTS AS ESSEX COUNTY GOES SO GOOD, THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
SO I'M INCREDIBLY HONORED TO BE HERE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE GROUP WHO ARE GONNA BE SWORN IN TONIGHT FROM PAT RIGHT ON DOWN.
IT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY GROUP OF COMMISSIONERS.
I ECHO THE THANKS TO MY DEAR FRIEND WAYNE, WHO'S BEEN AN EXTRAORDINARY LEADER OF THIS GROUP.
AND TO CARLOS AND TY WISHING YOU THE, THE VERY BEST, UH, IN YOUR LEADERSHIP
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TO YOUR GREAT SURROGATE, UH, ALRICH.THE REASON I HAVE TO LEAVE IS I'M DOING A, A BUNCH OF THESE THIS WEEK.
THIS IS ONE OF ONE OF THESE WEEKS WHERE YOU HAD THE HONOR OF BEING, AND I AGREE WITH, WITH BOTH WHAT MIKEY AND DON DON SAID ABOUT SORT OF REFRESHING DEMOCRACY AND REMINDING YOURSELVES WHY WE'RE, WHY WE'RE IN THIS LINE OF BUSINESS.
BUT I WANTED TO ASK, UH, DORIAN A A FAVOR, IF I COULD BORROW YOUR FAN BASE IN, UH,
I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING, BUT YOU, YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT.
UH, I, I JUST SAY BEFORE I, I LEAVE YOU, I I DON'T WANT TO HOLD YOU UP 'CAUSE I KNOW YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF EXCI EXCITING ELEMENTS OF THE AGENDA AHEAD OF YOU.
SO I SPENT THE DAY TODAY REALLY DOING TWO THINGS.
ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES WAS KILLED YESTERDAY IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT.
LOUISA CARMEN, 25 YEARS OLD, UH, IN THE PRIME OF HER LIFE IN THE FIRST COUPLE OF HOURS OF THE NEW YEAR.
SO I RAISED THAT PURELY TO ASK YOU FOR PRAYERS FOR HER MEMORY AND FOR HER FAMILY.
SHE WAS A SWARTHMORE GRADUATE.
SHE WORKED IN BRENDAN, I THINK HAD CROSSED PATHS WITH HER MANY YEARS AGO.
SHE WORKED IN OUR HEALTHCARE AREA.
IT WAS REALLY EXTRAORDINARY APPLYING TO LAW SCHOOL.
I SAY THAT AGAIN FOR YOUR PRAYERS, BUT ALSO IT'S A REMINDER THAT YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHAT'S AROUND THAT NEXT CORNER.
UH, AND SO JUST PRAYING, NOT JUST FOR HER MEMORY, BUT FOR ALL OF US COLLECTIVELY IN THIS EXTRAORDINARY STATE.
AND THE SECOND THING I SPENT A LOT OF TIME DOING TODAY WAS WORKING ON THE STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH THAT I WILL HAVE THE HONOR OF DELIVERING A WEEK FROM TODAY.
AND I MENTIONED THAT FOR A DIFFERENT REASON.
AND THAT IS TO SAY IN ESSEX COUNTY, BY THE WAY, IS RIGHT CENTER STAGE, UH, IN THIS REALITY.
AND THAT IS, WE HAVE DONE SO MUCH TOGETHER OVER THE PAST SIX YEARS.
IT'S EXTRAORDINARY WORKING WITH YOU, WORKING WITH THE LEADERS UP HERE, WITH CHAIRMAN JONES COUNTY EXECUTIVE JOE D AND ALL OF THE OTHER LEADERS.
WE HAVE REALLY TRANSFORMED SO MANY ELEMENTS OF THIS STATE.
AND IT'S SOMETHING YOU, YOU, YOU NEVER WANNA, UM, TEAR YOUR ROTATOR CUFF PATTING YOURSELF ON THE BACK, WHICH IS NOT WHY I BRING THIS UP.
UH, BUT TO ACKNOWLEDGE FROM TIME TO TIME YOU GET A STEP BACK AND REALIZE HOW MUCH WE HAVE DONE TOGETHER.
AND AGAIN, IT'S NOWHERE MORE EVIDENT THAN IT IS HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, AND LOOK AT HOW COMPLICATED AND TREACHEROUS AND FRAGILE THE WORLD IS RIGHT NOW.
EVERYTHING FROM TWO WARS TO INFLATION, HIGH INTEREST RATES, UH, YOU NAME IT.
IT'S ALSO A REMINDER THAT WE HAVE A LONG WAY STILL TO GO ON OUR JOURNEY TOGETHER.
AND I WOULD JUST SAY THAT BECAUSE I WANNA MAKE SURE YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN HONORED TO BE YOUR PARTNER FOR THE PAST SIX, UH, PLUS YEARS.
WE, WE GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER VERY WELL IN THE YEARS BEFORE THAT.
I PROMISE YOU, I WILL HAVE YOUR BACK AS THIS COUNTY AND WE WILL SPRINT THROUGH THE TAPE TOGETHER.
WE'VE GOT JUST OVER TWO YEARS TO RUN.
AND I WILL TELL YOU, I WILL NEVER, EVER, EVER RELENT FROM THAT NOTION THAT I STARTED WITH THAT I'LL END WITH AS ESSEX COUNTY GOES.
SO THE SO GOES THE GREAT STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
AND NOW TO CLOSE OUT OUR HONORED GUEST, I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME BACK THE BRILLIANT VALERIE ADAMS MANAGUA BACK TO THE STAGE FOR ANOTHER ENCHANTING PERFORMANCE.
AND WHILE SHE'S COMING TO THE MIC, I WANNA TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE FIRST LADY THE CITY, GREAT CITY OF NEWARK, LINDA JUMA BARACK.
I BELIEVE THE CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE.
TEACH THEM WELL SHOW THEM ALL THE BEAUTY INSIDE.
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TO MAKE IT EASIER, IT REMIND US HOW WE TO BE EVERYBODY SEARCHING FOR A HERO.I NEVER FOUND ANYONE WHO FULFILL TO.
I, IF I THE GREATEST NEVER WOULD'VE MADE, I NEVER COULD HAVE MADE WITHOUT YOU, LORD, I WOULD HAVE LOST IT ALL.
BUT NOW I SEE HOW YOU WOULD THEREFORE BE AND I SAY, WOULD'VE MADE, LORD, I NEVER COULD HAVE MADE YOU, I WOULD'VE LOST YOU ALL.
BUT NOW I SEE HOW YOU WERE THERE.
ME AND I CAN SAY THAT I'M STRONGER, I'M WISER.
THANK YOU AGAIN VALERIE FOR THAT WONDERFUL SELECTION.
BEFORE I CONTINUE, I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, JOINING US FOR THIS CELEBRATION IS SENATOR STATE SENATOR ELECT BRITTANY TIMBERLAKE.
AT THIS POINT, WE WILL BEGIN THE SWEARING IN OF THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND THE COUNTY EX SURROGATE.
I WILL NOW ASK THE REELECTED AT LARGE COMMISSIONERS TO COME FORWARD.
I WILL ASK YOUR LOVED ONES TO JOIN THEM SO THEY CAN BE PRESENTED WITH THE CERTIFICATES OF ELECTION BY OUR COUNTY CLERK, CHRIS DURKIN.
AND THEY ARE COMMISSIONER BRENDAN W GILL,
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COMMISSIONER ROMAINE GRAHAM, COMMISSIONER WAYNE L. RICHARDSON, AND COMMISSIONER PATRICIA SIEBEL.WILL THE FAMILY MEMBERS PLEASE COME UP TO THE STAGE
I WOULD LIKE TO WISH EACH OF YOU A HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR STATEMENT OF THE DETERMINATION OF THE BOARD OF CANVASSERS RELATIVE TO AN ELECTION HELD IN THE COUNTY OF ESSEX ON THE SEVENTH THEO NOVEMBER IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD.
2023 FOR THE ELECTION OF ESSEX COUNTY COMMISSIONER AT LARGE FOR THE COUNTY OF ESSEX, STATE OF NEW JERSEY FOR THE ENSUING TERM.
ACCORDING TO LAW, THE SAID BOARD OF CANVASSERS DO DETERMINE THAT AT THE SET ELECTION, PATRICIA SEABOLD, BRENDAN W GILL, REMAIN GRAHAM AND WAYNE L. RICHARDSON WERE DULY ELECTED.
COMMISSIONER AT LARGE I, CHRISTOPHER J DURKIN, CLERK OF THE COUNTY OF ESSEX DO HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE FOREGOING IS A TRUE AND CORRECT STATEMENT IN RELATION TO THE ELECTION OF COMMISSIONER AT LARGE.
AND AS THE SAME REMAINS IN THE FILES OF MY OFFICE.
WE'RE BEING REMINDED EVERYBODY THAT SHOULD SMILE.
SO IF YOU'RE UP HERE, PLEASE SMILE,
IF WE HAVE BIBLES, THINGS LIKE THAT, WE'RE GONNA REST OUR LEFT HAND ON THE BIBLE.
WE'RE GONNA RAISE OUR RIGHT HANDS.
AS FOR THE COMMISSIONERS, WHAT I, NOT ME.
I WAS JUST A PRACTICE AND RIGHT GUYS, YOU'RE GONNA REPEAT AFTER ME.
SO WHO THEY SHOULD HAVE SAID DO SOLEMNLY AFFIRM, DO SO, SO, AND I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE AND I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE.
AND TO THE GOVERNMENT'S ESTABLISHED.
ESTABLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES.
THIS STATE, I STATE YOUR NAME.
HAVING BEEN ELECTED AT LARGE, COMMISSIONER HAVING, I'M BEEN ELECTED AT LARGE, COMMISSIONER IN AND FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY IN FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
DO SOLEMNLY PROMISE AND SWEAR, DO SOLEMNLY PROMISE AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY, FAITHFULLY I'LL FAITHFULLY, IMPARTIALLY, IMPARTIALLY I AND JUSTLY PERFORM AND JUSTLY PERFORM ALL THE DUTIES OF THE AT LARGE COMMISSION.
ALL THE DUTIES OF THE AT LARGE COMMISSION COMMISSIONER AND IN FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, IN AND FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
NEW ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES AND UNDERSTANDING, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES.
[01:00:20]
OKAY? YES.SO, UH, YES, PLEASE, UH, WELCOME TO THE FRONT OF THE STAGE, UH, T SHAMI COOPER, THE HONORABLE T SHAMI COOPER, LET'S HEAR IT.
THE HONORABLE LEONARD M LUCIANO.
LET'S HEAR IT FOR LEONARD AND THE HONORABLE CARLOS RIS AND FAMILY.
STATEMENT OF THE DETERMINATION OF THE BOARD OF CANVASERS.
LET'S HAVE A FAMILY COME UP PLEASE.
HARRY, YOU'RE GONNA HOLD THE BIBLE THIS TIME.
STATEMENT OF THE DETERMINATION OF THE BOARD OF CANVASSERS RELATIVE TO AN ELECTION HELD IN THE COUNTY OF ESSEX ON THE SEVENTH DAY OF NOVEMBER IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD.
2023 FOR THE ELECTION OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT ONE ROBERT MERCADO, DISTRICT THREE TO SHAMIEL COOPER, DISTRICT FOUR LEONARD M LUCIANO IN DISTRICT FIVE, CARLOS M POIS, WERE DULY ELECTED.
DISTRICT COUNTY COMMISSIONER I, CHRISTOPHER J DURKIN, CLERK OF THE COUNTY OF ESSEX.
DO HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE FOREGOING IS A TRUE AND CORRECT STATEMENT IN RELE IN RELATION TO THE ELECTION OF COMMISSIONER DISTRICT.
AND AS THE SAME REMAINS IN THE FILES OF MY OFFICE.
CONGRATULATIONS, I SWEAR TO GOD.
IF, IF YOU DO HAVE A BIBLE WITH YOU, WE'RE GONNA PLACE OUR LEFT HAND ON THE BIBLE.
NOW WE'VE ALREADY SEEN THE OTHER TEAM GO.
SO NOW THIS SHOULD GO VERY SMOOTHLY LIKE WE USED TO DO IN CLASS
I STATE YOUR NAME, I CARLOS KAMAR.
DO SOLEMNLY AFFIRM, DO SOLEMNLY AFFIRM.
AND I'LL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
THAT I'LL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH IN ALLEGIANCE AND I'LL BEAR TRUE FAITH IN ALLEGIANCE.
AND TO THE GOVERNMENTS ESTABLISHED AND TO THE GOVERNMENTS ESTABLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES AND IN THIS STATE AND THE UNITED STATES.
I STATE YOUR NAME I, CARLOS GAMAR, HAVING BEEN ELECTED, HAVING BEEN ELECTED DISTRICT COMM COMMISSIONER.
COMMISSIONER, AND AND FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
AND FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
DO SOLEMNLY PROMISE AND SWEAR SOLEMN PROMISE.
I WILL FAITHFULLY THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY, IMPARTIALLY, IMPARTIALLY AND JUSTLY PERFORM AND JUSTLY PERFORM ALL OF THE DUTIES OF DISTRICT COMMISSION.
ALL THE DUTIES OF DISTRICT COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER, AND, AND FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AND THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, ABILITY, AND UNDERSTANDING.
GIVE A HUG, GIVE PAPA, HUG HIM.
[01:05:01]
TO THE FRONT OF THE STAGE, ESSEX COUNTY, DISTRICT TWO, COMMISSIONER AIAN MURRAY THOMAS.SO I COME HERE AND THEN FOLKS ARE AROUND.
IF WE COULD JUST SLIDE BACK AND TRY TO GET A LITTLE LIGHT ON EVERYBODY.
STATEMENT OF THE DETERMINATION OF THE BOARD OF CANVASSERS RELATIVE TO AN ELECTION HELD IN THE COUNTY OF ESSEX ON THE SEVENTH DAY OF NOVEMBER, IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 2023 FOR THE ELECTION OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT TWO FOR THE COUNTY OF ESSEX, STATE OF NEW JERSEY FOR THE ENSUING TERM.
ACCORDING TO LAW, THE SAID BOARD OF CANVASSERS DO DETERMINE THAT AT THE SET ELECTION, A DORIAN MURRAY THOMAS WAS DULY ELECTED COUNTY COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT TWO I, CHRISTOPHER J DURKIN, CLERK OF THE COUNTY OF ESSEX, DO HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE FOREGOING IS A TRUE AND CORRECT STATEMENT IN RELATION TO THE ELECTION OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT TWO, AND AS THE SAME REMAINS IN THE FILES OF MY OFFICE.
READY? OKAY, THIS IS OUR THIRD TIME, SO THIS IS GONNA BE PERFECT.
DO SOLEMNLY AFFIRM, DO SOLEMNLY AFFIRM THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
THAT I'LL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH, THAT I'LL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME.
AND TO THE GOVERNMENT'S ESTABLISHED.
AND TO THE GOVERNMENT'S ESTABLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES.
IN THE UNITED STATES, AND IN THIS STATE.
HAVING BEEN ELECTED, HAVING BEEN ELECTED DISTRICT TWO COMMISSIONER.
DISTRICT TWO COMMISSIONER, AND AND FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
AND, AND FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
AND SWEAR AND SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY.
THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY, IMPARTIALLY, IMPARTIALLY AND JUSTLY AND JUSTLY.
PERFORM ALL THE DUTIES OF DISTRICT TWO, COMMISSIONER OF DISTRICT TWO.
COMMISSIONER IN AND FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, IN AND FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES.
ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES.
AND UNDERSTANDING AND UNDERSTANDING.
[01:10:19]
SO MY MOTHER VERY EXPLICITLY SAID, DON'T START THE NOTES UNTIL I GET TO MY CHAIR.OR DON'T START YOUR SPEECH UNTIL I TO MY CHURCH.
CAN WE GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE IN THE MEANTIME FOR EVERYONE BEING HERE? YOU ALL LOOK SO BEAUTIFUL.
ONLY 60 SECONDS IN IT FORCED UPON ME.
DIDN'T CHOOSE IT, DIDN'T SEEK IT, DIDN'T CHOOSE IT.
CAN YOU MAKE SOME NOISE FOR YOURSELVES? FOR BEING HERE IN THIS MINUTE? YOU COULD HAVE BEEN ANYWHERE ELSE, BUT YOU'RE HERE.
FIRST, I WANNA GIVE HONOR TO GOD THE ONE WHO MAKES ALL THINGS NEW, WHO HAS OFFERED THE STORY OF MY LIFE IN A WAY I COULD HAVE NEVER IMAGINED.
SI WANNA BEGIN OF COURSE, BY JUST CONGRATULATING ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES.
CAN WE GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO THIS INCREDIBLE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, THIS INCREDIBLE COUNTY SURROGATE, MY BIG BROTHER AL KIT.
YOU'VE BEEN ROCKING WITH ME SINCE DAY ONE.
IT'S SUCH AN HONOR TO SERVE WITH YOU IN THIS CAPACITY AND TO ALL OF MY BOARD COLLEAGUES, TO OUR ESTEEMED STATE, COUNTY, AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS.
CAN WE JUST MAKE SOME NOISE FOR OUR CONGRESSMEN, OUR CONGRESSWOMAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE, OUR COUNTY CLERK, OUR CLERGY, OUR GOVERNOR, AND TO MY FAMILY, MY GRANDMOTHER WHO CAME UP HERE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA BECAUSE SHE STILL DON'T WANNA FLY.
SHE SAID, I'M NOT FLYING RIGHT NOW.
AND SHE TOOK THAT TRAIN ALL THE WAY JUST TO BE HERE 10 YEARS AGO.
TODAY SHE WAS IN AN OPERATING ROOM AND TODAY SHE WAS HOLDING THE BIBLE AS I GOT SWORN IN.
SO TO MY GRANDMOTHER, I LOVE YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TO MY MOTHER WHO IS HERE.
TINA GIRL, MY BEST TEACHER, MY GREATEST FRIEND, THANK YOU.
THE BEST PARTS OF ME ARE A REFLECTION OF YOU AND I STAND 10 TOES DOWN.
AND THE FACT THAT I REALLY BELIEVE THAT HALF OF THE BLESSINGS I GET HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH ME AND EVERYTHING TO DO WITH YOU AND WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES IN NEWARK AND ESSEX COUNTY AND ACROSS THE STATE.
SO I LOVE YOU AND I THANK YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE AND WHO YOU GET.
TEACH ME TO BE TO MY GRANDMA ANNETTE, WHO IS HERE, WHO IS JUST SUCH A LIGHT IN MY WORLD AND MY LIFE.
NOT JUST IN THE ORANGES, NOT JUST IN EAST ORANGE, NOT JUST AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT AS SOMEONE WHO LOVES ME, WHO CARES FOR ME, WHO MAKES THE BEST CURRY, GOAT, CURRY, CHICKEN, ANYWHERE IN THE UNIVERSE.
AND TO ALL OF MY FAMILY, MY AUNTS, MY GOD SISTERS, MY UNCLES, MY PASTOR, PASTOR TIM FROM BETHANY BAPTIST, I KNOW YOU'RE HERE.
JAMES TO ALL OF MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS, EVERYONE WHO IS HERE JUST TO LOVE AND SUPPORT ON ME AND, AND FRANKLY EVERYONE WHO'S HERE TO LOVE AND SUPPORT ON YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR BEING IN THIS ROOM TO MY CO CAMPAIGN MANAGER AND BROTHER DAVE KOMAN.
SONYA WHO COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY 'CAUSE HE'S NOT FEELING WELL.
BUT I THINK I SAW MARK AND LESLIE OVER THERE, THE WHOLE COMA FAMILY.
I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH AND I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND YOUR SUPPORT THROUGHOUT MY ENTIRE JOURNEY AND TO THE FAMILY THAT HAS COME INTO MY LIFE IN DIVINE PURPOSE IN OTHER WAYS BY WAY OF PUBLIC SERVICE.
FIRST TO THE LEADER OF THIS GREAT CITY, THE HONORABLE MAYOR RASH, JAY BARAKA AND THE ENTIRE TEAM BARAKA FAMILY TO ALL OF MY NEWARK ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE IN THE BUILDING TO OUR STATE AND ESSEX COUNTY CHAIRMAN, CHAIRMAN, THE HONORABLE LEROY JONES TO OUR FIRST LADY OF THE COUNTY, JACKIE JONES AND THE FIRST LADY OF THE CITY, LINDA BARAKA TO MY SHE WIN SCHOLARS AND ALL OF MY NEWARK YOUNG PEOPLE, ANY YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE BUILDING, ANY YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE BUILDING, I CAN'T SEE ALL THAT.
THAT'S SO, I'M JUST SO PROUD OF ALL
[01:15:01]
MY YOUNG PEOPLE, THOSE WHO I KNOW, THOSE WHO ARE IN MY LIFE, WHO TEACH ME FAR MORE THAN I TEACH THEM.AND TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO STARTED AT SCHOOL TODAY.
I KNOW THAT PAYTECH ACTUALLY HAS SCHOOL TODAY AND SHOUT OUT TO Y'ALL.
'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF I COULD HAVE DONE IT BACK IN MY DAY.
BUT IT'S JUST A BLESSING THAT WE HAVE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE JUST BEING ABLE TO SHOW UP IN THE ROOM.
AND THEN OF COURSE TO MY FAMILY, WHO IS MY CHOSEN FAMILY, MY FRIENDS, MY MENTORS, MY TEACHERS, UH, PEOPLE WHO MAYBE CAN'T CAST A VOTE FOR ME BUT THEY LIKE AND SHARE ON FACEBOOK.
I SEE SO MANY OF YOU HERE SHARING ON FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, TIKTOK, WHO TEXT ME PRAYERS AND TELL ME THAT BLACK GIRL MAGIC IS COOL, BUT SO IS REST AND PRAYER AND SLEEP AND WATER WHO ENCOURAGE ME TO TAKE CARE OF MYSELF.
I THANK YOU TO MY BOARD, NEWARK BOARD OF EDUCATION COLLEAGUES AND EDUCATORS AND ADVOCATES, UH, TO EVERYONE WHO HAS HELPED ME GET TO WHERE I AM FROM MY FAMILY IN THE WHITE FOUNDATION TO MY FAMILY.
FROM THE NEWARK AXO NAACP TO MY FAMILY FROM NEW JERSEY, NLC TO UNION THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.
I SEE Y'ALL UNION, I SEE Y'ALL CAME OUT HERE ALL THE WAY FROM NEW YORK TO ONE OF MY BESTIES.
COURTNEY FROM BALTIMORE WHO MADE HER WAY UP HERE TO MAYA.
KEN EMERGED LEADERSHIP, NEWARK SWARTHMORE COLLEGE, LOCAL PROGRESS SCHOOL BOARD PARTNERS ELECT WOMEN AND JAY MILLENNIALS FROM NEW JERSEY, PAMS LIST, NEW JERSEY, YOUNG DEMOCRATS, 32, BJ, SEIU.
EVERYONE WHO HAS MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO STAND RIGHT HERE BEFORE YOU TO THE STAFF OF THIS BEAUTIFUL SCHOOL AND OF THE COUNTY WHO MADE TONIGHT POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
THE DIVINE IRONY OF THIS MOMENT THAT I'M OCCUPYING A SEAT THAT WAS ONCE CALLED THE COUNTY FREEHOLDER A TERM GOING BACK TO THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, WHICH QUITE LITERALLY TELLS YOU IN THE NAME THAT THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO HOLD THIS SEAT OR PUBLIC OFFICE IN GENERAL WERE FOLKS WHO WERE WHITE MALE OWNERS OF DEBT FREE LAND.
IT'S NOT LOST ON ME THAT WHEN THE FOUNDING BOARD OF FREEHOLDERS OF ESSEX DESIGNED THE STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT, THEY CERTAINLY DID NOT SEE THE SEAT WITH THE LIKES OF ME IN IT.
NOT A WOMAN, NOT A YOUNG WOMAN, NOT A YOUNG FIRST GENERATION AMERICAN GUYANESE AMERICAN WOMAN.
CERTAINLY NOT A YOUNG BLACK WOMAN BORN ON THE NUMBER BLOCKS RAISED IN THE MIGHTY SOUTH WARD WEEKLY SECTION TO BE SPECIFIC.
THEY DIDN'T SEE BLACK FOLKS, BROWN FOLKS, WOMEN, IMMIGRANTS, LGBTQIA PLUS PEOPLE, JEWS, MUSLIMS, ITALIANS, THE IRISH CATHOLIC, ALL PEOPLE CONSIDERED OTHER.
AND AS THE YEARS PROGRESSED WITH THE DOORS OPENING EVER SO SLIGHTLY, WE SAID WE'LL MAKE ROOM FOR OURSELVES.
AND TODAY WE STAND HERE NOT JUST MAKING ROOM, BUT KICKING THE DOOR WIDE OPEN.
SO THAT'S THE BEAUTY, RIGHT? THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF MOMENTS LIKE THIS.
MOMENTS WHERE ONE OF THE LARGEST AND MOST DIVERSE COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY CAN COME TOGETHER AND ELECT A BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND A COUNTY SURROGATE WITH STORIES OF DIVERSITY AND BEAUTY AND HUMILITY.
THAT LOOKS LIKE THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
OF COURSE THEY DIDN'T IMAGINE THAT THIS DAUGHTER AND GRANDDAUGHTER OF IMMIGRANTS AND EDUCATORS, FARMERS, SHARECROPPERS, WAVE MAKERS, SELF-STARTERS AND CHAIN BREAKERS AND LAND STRETCHING FROM SOUTH AMERICA TO SOUTH CAROLINA TO GUYANA WOULD ASCEND TO THIS PLACE.
THEY WOULDN'T HAVE IMAGINED IT THAT THE GREAT GREAT GREAT GRANDDAUGHTER OF SAMUEL KNUCKLES, A MAN BORN ENSLAVED IN SOUTH CAROLINA, WHO BECAME ONE OF THE FIRST BLACK STATEWIDE ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE SAME STATE WHERE HE WAS ONCE IN CHAINS.
AND THEN HE RISKED HIS LIFE TO GO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE BLACK AND RECENTLY ENFRANCHISED AND THEN BEING ATTACKED BY THE KKK IN CONGRESS GRANDFATHER.
DID YOU KNOW, DID YOU IMAGINE THAT I WOULD IN MY OWN SMALL, SMALL WAY, WALK SO HUMBLY IN THE PATH THAT YOU ARE FAMILY AND OTHERS LIKE YOU HELPED CLEAR FOR ME.
SO WE ARE THE REALIZED DREAMS OF OUR PARENTS, OUR AUNTS, OUR UNCLES, OUR FAMILY, OUR FRIENDS.
WE ARE THE EVIDENCE OF ANSWERED PRAYERS.
IT'S NOT LOST ON ME THAT ALL OF US IN THIS ROOM WERE HERE FOR A REASON AND WE WERE CALLED FOR A TIME SUCH AS THIS.
SO AS I BEGIN TO CLOSE, I ASK US, BECAUSE WE ARE HERE ON PURPOSE, WHAT WILL WE DO WITH OUR MINUTE?
[01:20:02]
DO WE USE IT AS JUST ANOTHER GREAT TIME TO TAKE PICTURES AND MAKE GREAT POSTS? AND THAT'S GREAT, RIGHT? 'CAUSE WE NEED TO CELEBRATE LIFE WHILE WE HAVE IT.BUT DO WE ALSO SEIZE THE MOMENT, DO SOMETHING WITH IT, UNDERSTANDING THAT IT'S OUR DUTY TO PLANT TREES WHO SHADES WE MAY NOT EVER SIT UNDER BECAUSE WE ARE THE DAUGHTERS AND SONS OF PEOPLE WHO PLANTED TREES, WHO SHADES THAT WE SIT UNDER TODAY.
WE SAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS OF THE SHEILA OLIVERS FROM THE NEWARKS FROM THE EAST ORANGES WHO GAVE HER LIFE TO MAKE SURE THAT A YOUNG BLACK GIRL LIKE ME COULD NOT JUST RUN BUT WIN.
COULD NOT JUST LIVE BUT LEAVE.
WE STAND ON THE GREAT SHOULDERS OF ORDINARY PEOPLE, LIKE ALL OF US, ORDINARY PEOPLE, REGARDLESS OF TITLE AND POSITION WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO EXTRAORDINARY THINGS.
AND SO AS WE STAND HERE, WE ENTER WITH THE SPIRIT OF PEOPLE LIKE MAYOR RAJA BARAKA, A MAN WHO MET ME AT KING'S RESTAURANT AT 21 YEARS OLD, JUST GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE, BRINGING YOUNG PEOPLE TO COME MEET HIM SO HE COULD DISCOVER THEM AND POUR INTO THEM.
AND THEN HE POURED INTO ME AND ASKED ME TO RUN FOR OFFICE.
AND BECAUSE OF HIM, I BECAME THE YOUNGEST WOMAN EVER ELECTED AT 23 YEARS OLD TO SERVE ON THE NEWARK BOARD OF EDUCATION.
WE ENTER THE SPIRIT AND THE SPIRIT OF FOLKS LIKE CHAIRMAN LEROY JONES, A MAN WHO MET ME MORE THAN 20 YEARS AGO AT MY FATHER'S FUNERAL WHERE HE FIXED MY DRESS.
AND WE HAD NO IDEA THAT 20 YEARS LATER WE WOULD MEET IN AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT PLACE IN THE SPACE OF PUBLIC SERVICE.
AND HE WOULD ASK ME TO RUN BECAUSE HE SAW THE LIGHT OF ME JUST LIKE THE MAYOR OF BARAKA DID.
JUST LIKE MY MOTHER, JUST LIKE MY GRANDMOTHER, JUST LIKE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME BEFORE ME, MY GRANDMOTHER LIKES TO SAY A LOT THAT EVEN THOUGH SHE'S SAVED AND A WOMAN OF GOD, SHE IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
AND SO LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IN THAT SPIRIT, I SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE I STAND HERE TODAY, NOT JUST AS A DORIAN MURRAY THOMAS, COMMISSIONER ELECTIVE DISTRICT TWO, I STAND HERE AS A DAUGHTER OF NEWARK, A DAUGHTER OF GREAT WAY MAKERS AND WOMEN AND MEN WHO'VE COME BEFORE ME STAND HERE COMMITTED TO DOING MY SMALL PART OF PAYING IT FORWARD WITH THE PRECIOUS MINUTES THAT I HAVE.
SO THAT IN THE HUMBLE SPIRIT OF MY GRANDMOTHER, I CAN MOVE THROUGH DISTRICT TWO AND ESSEX COUNTY AND THE WHOLE STATE WITH MY CONSTRUCTION HAT ON, WILLING TO GET MY HANDS DIRTY SO THAT WE CAN BUILD A CITY, A COUNTY, A STATE, A COUNTRY THAT ALL OF OUR ANCESTORS PRAYED FOR, THAT THEY FOUGHT FOR, THAT THEY ACTUALLY DIED FOR.
AND SO THAT WE COULD DO OUR PART IN MAKING IT TRUE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF MY STORY.
THANK YOU EXTRA TIME ON YOUR FIRST SPEECH.
PUT THE AT THIS TIME, UH, LET US GIVE A WARM ESSEX COUNTY WELCOME TO THE FRONT OF THIS STAGE TO OUR SURROGATE AL KENNY, WHAT'S YOUR AND FAMILY PLEASE? YAY WAY.
THE FIRST ONE'S UP WITH THE OH MY GOD, HE IMAGINE.
I DO THIS STATEMENT OF THE DETERMINATION OF THE BOARD OF CANVASSERS RELATIVE TO AN ELECTION HELD IN THE COUNTY OF ESSEX ON THE SEVENTH DAY OF NOVEMBER IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 2023 FOR THE ELECTION OF SURROGATE FOR THE COUNTY OF ESSEX, STATE OF NEW JERSEY FOR THE ENSUING TERM.
ACCORDING TO LAW, THE SAID BOARD OF CANVASERS DO DETERMINE THAT THE SAID ELECTION, AL TARIQUE KENNY WAS DULY ELECTED SURROGATE.
I, CHRISTOPHER J DURKIN, CLERK OF THE COUNTY OF ESSEX DO HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE FOREGOING IS A TRUE AND CORRECT STATEMENT IN RELATION TO THE ELECTION OF SURROGATE.
AND THAT'S THE SAME REMAINS IN THE FILES OF MY OFFICE.
[01:25:05]
ELIJAH.YOU CAN DO IT LIKE THIS IF YOU WANT.
WITH GOD'S NAME, THE MERCIFUL BENEFACTOR OF THE MERCIFUL REDEEMER.
DO SOLEMNLY AFFIRM, DO SOLEMNLY AFFIRM THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME.
AND I WILL BEAR FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME AND TO THE GOVERNMENT'S ESTABLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES AND IN THIS STATE.
AND TO THE WE REPEAT THAT ONE TIME PLEASE.
AND TO THE, AND TO THE GOVERNMENT'S ESTABLISHED AND TO THE GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES.
IN THE UNITED STATES AND IN THIS STATE.
I STATE YOUR NAME, I ALEK KINNEY HAVING BEEN ELECTED SURROGATE, HAVING BEEN ELECTED SURROGATE IN AND FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, IN AND FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
DO SOLEMNLY PROMISE AND SWEAR, DO SOLEMNLY PROMISE AND SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY AND PARTIALLY AND JUSTLY THAT WILL FAITHFULLY, PARTIALLY AND JUSTLY PERFORM ALL THE DUTIES OF THE SURROGATE AND PERFORM ALL THE DUTIES OF THE SURROGATE IN AND FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, IN AND FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES AND UNDERSTANDING, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES AND UNDERSTANDING.
GOD BLESS YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS.
SOME ODD REASON ELIJAH AND GAVIN AND EISHA TONIGHT.
FIRST I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU, UH, TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTY OF ESSEX.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE OF CONFIDENCE.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING A DECISION THAT OUR ADMINISTRATION DESERVES A SECOND CHANCE.
WE TRULY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE AND WE HOPE TO HONOR THE COMMITMENTS THAT WE MADE FIVE YEARS AGO.
CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK THAT WE PROMISED TO DO.
I WANT TO THANK, UH, MY BEAUTIFUL, LOVELY, TALENTED, AMAZING WIFE, JAREN KENNY, UM, FOR SHARING ME WITH THE COUNT ESSEX AND SUPPORTING ME AND PROVIDING ME GUIDANCE, UH, PROVIDING ME SUPPORT WHEN SELF-DOUBT CREEPS IN.
AND ALSO PROVIDING ME THE SORT OF, UH, VOICE I NEED WHEN THERE'S MOMENTS.
SO THANK YOU TO MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE, UH, AND HER 85 SISTERS FROM DELTA, SGNA THETA, I'M SORRY, 83.
THANK YOU TO MY KIDS, TO ELIJAH AND YASMINE.
FIVE YEARS AGO I ACTUALLY HELD ELIJAH IN MY ARMS AND, UM, CAN'T DO THAT ANYMORE.
AND SPOKE FOR MAYBE 10, 20 MINUTES.
WELL, THAT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO.
SO, AND NOW HE'S SIX YEARS OLD.
AND MY DAUGHTER IS NOW A 9-YEAR-OLD, OPINIONATED YOUNG LADY.
AND, UM, IT'S AMAZING THAT BECAUSE AS WE GROW IN THIS OFFICE, I'VE SEEN THEM GROW AND I'VE SEEN THEM SHARE AND I'VE SEEN THEM WATCH ME LEAVE THE HOUSE AT NIGHT TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THE COUNTY OF ESSEX.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SHARING ME WITH THIS BEAUTIFUL, AMAZING COUNTY.
I CAN'T SAY ANYTHING WITHOUT MENTIONING OUR STAFF.
UH, I THINK WE HAVE SOME OF THE MOST AMAZING STAFF IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
UM, PLEASE STAND UP TO SURROGATE COURT, ED YAMA DEVERO, DEBORAH TNA, EVELYN WILLIAMS, EVELYN RIVERA, WHO'S BEEN SERVING OUR COURT FOR 40 YEARS.
AND WE ALSO HAVE THREE AMAZING LADY LADIES THAT ARE WORKING IN THE FRONT DESK.
SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.
AND I WANT TO JUST SAY THIS, THERE WAS A QUOTE ABOUT, UH, MY FRIEND HASSAN, WHO SAID, YOU CANNOT GO, YOU CAN GO FAR, LEMME BACK
[01:30:01]
THIS UP.YOU CAN GO FAST BY GOING ALONE, BUT YOU CAN GO FURTHER GOING TOGETHER.
AND SO I, I WANTED TO SAY THAT FOR A REASON IS BECAUSE THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANTED TO SHARE.
MORE THAN 30% OF RESIDENTS IN THE COUNTY, IN THE STATE, SORRY, IN THE COUNTRY, HAVE DIED WITHOUT A WILL.
BABY BOOMERS REAL ESTATE EQUALS EIGHT $18.3 TRILLION.
MILLENNIALS AND GEN X ARE EXPECTED TO INHERIT $84 TRILLION BY THE AGE OF 2014.
70% OF AMERICA'S WEALTH IS TYPICALLY YOUR HOME.
UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN WE LEAVE, WE DON'T LEAVE ANYTHING BEHIND, PARTICULARLY IN BLACK COMMUNITIES.
BLACK LAND LANDOWNERS OWNED, I'M SORRY, BLACK LANDOWNERS LOST 90% OF THEIR PROPERTY.
1910, WHICH MEANS 16 MILLION ACRES OF LAND.
THE PATHWAY TO ECONOMIC PARODY IS NOT ONLY BUYING YOUR OWN HOME, BUT PRESERVING YOUR PROPERTY.
MAKE SURE YOUR PROPERTY CAN GO FROM YOUR GENERATION TO THE NEXT.
MORE THAN 18, MORE THAN 1.3 MILLION ADULT GUARDIANSHIP CASES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY ARE PROBATED OR ARE IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE COUNTRY.
UNFORTUNATELY, 60%, 60%, 60% OF YOUNG PEOPLE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 22 HAVE AN ADULT GUARDIAN.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WHAT DOES THAT DO? WHAT, WHAT DOES THAT, WHAT'S THE REASON WHY WE'RE SAYING THIS SORT OF STUFF? THE REASON WHY WE HAD THESE SORT OF CONVERSATIONS, WE WANTED TO DEFINE PURPOSE IN WHAT WE DID.
NOT ONLY DID WE WANT TO JUST SERVE THIS OFFICE, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE ARE GOING SERVE, WE ARE GONNA DO RIGHT ON BEHALF OF PEOPLE.
WHEREVER YOU ARE, WHEREVER YOU LIVE.
WE DIDN'T WANT TO SKIP A ZIP CODE.
WE ALSO WANTED TO TALK ABOUT ADOPTION AS WELL.
AND WHERE WE HAVE 400,000 CHILDREN THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY WHO WILL LANGUISH AND ADOPT IN FOSTER CARE.
AND 113,000 ARE WAITING TO BE ADOPTED.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? WE ASKED OURSELVES A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
WE FOLLOWED A TREMENDOUS GIANT IN LEGAL COMMUNITY.
TED STEVENS, WHEN HE SERVED IN HIS OFFICE.
HOW DO WE BUILD ON HIS SHOULDERS? WHAT CAN WE DO? DOES THE PUBLIC KNOW WHAT WE DO? HOW CAN WE MAKE OUR OFFICE MORE RELEVANT TO EVERYDAY CITIZENS? HOW CAN WE PROTECT THE DOCUMENTS THAT WE HAVE AND ENSURE PEOPLE FROM GENERATIONS THAT ARE YET ON BOARD SEE AND KNOW WHO THEIR FAMILY IS? WHAT CAN WE DO? I THINK ABOUT TIMES THAT MY MOM AND MY BROTHER, WHO I LOVE DEARLY, WHO AT TIMES GIVE ME TO ACT RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU FEEL YOURSELF AND YOUR MOM AND DAD.
MOM AND MY BROTHER SAYS, I KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
MAKE SURE I CORRECT YOU WHO YOU ARE 'CAUSE THEY LOVE YOU SO MUCH.
BUT THE QUESTION BECOMES, WHAT DO WE DO WITH THE TIME THAT WE HAVE? HOW DO WE PRESERVE THE WEALTH THAT WE CREATE? HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO WERE PROPERTY ARE ABLE TO GAIN PROPERTY AND THEN PROTECT PROPERTY? AND SO THIS MISSION BECAME IMPORTANT FOR US.
AND SO WE DECIDED TO GO ON A CAMPAIGN THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY TO TALK TO EACH AND EVERY ZIP CODE THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY PUT OUR HANDS ON BEFORE COVID HIT.
THE FIRST HOME THAT WE STARTED IN WAS MIS BAY.
AND WE STARTED A COFFEE CLUTCH AND WE TALKED TO ALMOST 30 RESIDENTS IN THAT HOUSEHOLD ABOUT PRESERVING YOUR WEALTH, ABOUT TRUST.
AND WHAT BECAME IMPORTANT TO US WAS THAT WE REALIZED THAT WE DON'T HAVE YOU SORT OF HARD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT MORTALITY.
WHO WE ARE, WHAT WE LEAVE BEHIND TO MAKE SURE GENERATIONS YET UNBORN ARE ABLE TO GET SOMETHING OUTTA LIFE THAT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR OUR OWN.
AND SO WE PARTNER WITH OTHER SURROGATES THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
WE PARTNER WITH PASSADE COUNTY SURROGATE, BERNICE TOLEDO.
WE PARTNER WITH THE LATE JAMES LACOT.
WE MADE SURE WE FOUND PARTNERSHIPS BECAUSE AGAIN, TOGETHER WE'RE ABLE TO TRAVEL FURTHER.
AND WE FOUND THOSE PARTNERSHIPS TO MAKE SURE THAT MESSAGE OF WHAT WE DO IN OUR, IN OUR COUNTY IS ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ABLE TO PROTECT RESIDENTS TO BUILD ON THE WEALTH THAT YOU CREATED.
SO WHEN I LOOK AT MY CHILDREN, I COULD SAY TO MYSELF, I DID NOT LEAVE THEM BEHIND.
AND SO WE HAD THESE CONVERSATIONS.
WE ALSO WORKED WITH TARA ELL GROUP AND WE MADE SURE THAT WE HAD EDITORIALS IN THE NEW JERSEY STAR LEDGER.
WE HAD EDITORIALS IN BLACK ENTERPRISE MAGAZINE.
WE EVEN HAD A CONVERSATION ON WPIX TALKING TO THE ENTIRE REGION ABOUT ESTATE PLANNING.
[01:35:01]
'CAUSE THAT WAS THE GIFT AGAIN, THAT KEEPS GIVING.AND SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT CONVERSATION WAS RELEVANT AND REAL BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT TO SERVE OFFICE.
WE WANTED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHILE WE'RE IN OFFICE.
AND SO WE RECRUITED ATTORNEYS, AFRICAN AMERICAN ATTORNEYS IN PARTICULAR, TO TALK TO COMMUNITIES THAT WERE OFTENTIMES OVERLOOKED AND WAS OFTENTIMES MISSING FROM THE CONVERSATION.
WE WENT INTO NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WERE OVERLOOKED BECAUSE THOSE COMMUNITIES WERE SAID, YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH WEALTH.
WE WON'T EVEN HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH YOU ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE.
WE ALSO DECIDED TO TALK TO INDIVIDUALS ABOUT CREATING WHAT THEY CALL CLES TO TALK TO TRY TO TALK TO ATTORNEYS ABOUT IDENTIFYING YOU TO BE A PERSON, TO DEAL WITH ADOPTIONS, TO DEAL WITH GUARDIANSHIP CASES.
AND SO WE DID THOSE SORT OF THINGS.
AND I, I'M THINKING THAT FOR A REASON.
BECAUSE AS WE SIT HERE ON STAGE AND SWEAR THAT WE'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING ON BEHALF OF PEOPLE, WE HAVE TO DO IT.
WE HAVE TO MAKE OUR WORK, WE HAVE TO SERVE, WE HAVE TO DELIVER, AND WE HAVE TO EXECUTE.
AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE IN THIS ORDER.
THANK MY CHAIRMAN, THE HONORABLE CHAIRMAN, LARRY.
I'M LOOKING AT MY CHAIRMAN, LEROY JONES, MY CHAIRMAN, LEROY JONES, WHO SERVES AS MIGHTY, MIGHTY STATE OF NEW JERSEY FROM AS HIGH AS MONTE TOWNSHIP TO ALL THE WAY DOWN TO SEA GT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING US IN THIS PROCESS.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING US A VOICE.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY MAYOR, THE AWA MAYOR.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING US OUR OPPORTUNITY.
THANK YOU TO THE FIRST LADY, TO MY COUNCILMAN OF THE MIGHTY, MIGHTY SOUTH BOY, PATRICK OU.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE LEADERSHIP.
AND TO LARRY CRUMP, THANK YOU AS WELL.
THANK YOU AS WELL, MS. ROUNDTREE.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I DON'T WANNA STOP YOU FROM GETTING DINNER OR LUNCH.
I WANT TO GET OFF THE STAGE, BUT I ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ALLOWING US TO SERVE ANOTHER TERM.
WE LOOK TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO GET IN EACH AND EVERY COMMUNITY TO TALK TO YOU, TALK TO YOUR FAMILIES, TALK TO YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT HOW WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE USING OUR COURT, USING OUR OFFICE, WHETHER IT'S RIDING BIKES OVER A BRIDGE, RBG FAMILY OR GOING TO WEWE PARK SPORTS AUTHORITY WITH DOUG FREEMAN.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE GO EVERYWHERE WE COULD POSSIBLY FIND.
THANK YOU TO MY COMMISSIONERS.
YOU SO WHAT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS CONCLUDES THE SWEARING IN PORTION OF THE PROGRAM.
WE WILL NOW BEGIN THE 2024 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ORGANIZATION MEETING.
UH, THE, THE RECEPTION WILL FOLLOW THE ORGANIZATION MEETING AND THE RECEPTION WILL BE HELD AFTER THIS MEETING IN THE ATRIUM.
THAT'S WHAT, AND YOU SAY IT ALL THE TIME, NOT PLUGGED.
IT'S PROBABLY PRETTY SHORT THOUGH, RIGHT? BESIDES YOUR SPEECH.
WHAT'S THAT? THIS IS VERY SHORT.
UM, AT THIS TIME, AT THIS TIME, UH,
[01:40:01]
I'D LIKE TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.AND THIS MEETING HAS BEEN CERTIFIED, UM, BY THE CLERK OF THE BOARD.
AND I'D LIKE TO CALL, UH, THE ROLE OF THE COMMISSIONERS COMMISSIONER T SMI COOPER HERE.
UH, COMMISSIONER ROBERT MERCADO.
ABSENT, COMMISSIONER DORRY MURRAY THOMAS.
COMMISSIONER WAYNE L. RICHARDSON.
I'D LIKE TO, UM, CALL FOR THE NOMINATIONS FOR THE ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD.
COMMISSIONERS AT THIS TIME, MANY LOCAL CHARITABLE GROUPS.
CARLOS
ALL OF THESE REASONS ARE WHY I AM SO PLEASED TO HELP MAKE HISTORY AND HONOR MY GOOD FRIEND CARLOS RIS.
COMMISSIONERS, ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL NOMINATIONS FOR PRESIDENT? SEEING NONE.
THERE ARE NO FURTHER NOMINATIONS FOR THE POSITION OF PRESIDENT.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE NOMINATIONS? MOVE.
DO I? SO LET'S CALL A VOTE TO CLOSE THE NOMINATIONS.
SO COMMISSIONERS, DO I HAVE THE SAME, UH, NOMINATIONS TO CLOSE? YES.
WE WILL NOW VOTE ON THE NOMINATION
[01:45:01]
OF COMMISSIONER PALMARIS AS PRESIDENT.HAVE TO VOTE TO CLOSE THE NOMINATION.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT PALMARIS.
AT THIS POINT I WILL ASK JUDGE HAGAN TO ADMINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE TO COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT OMAS.
DO SOLEMNLY AFFIRM, DO SOLEMNLY AFFIRM I'LL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION UNITED STATES, THAT I'LL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH, THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME, AND TO THE GOVERNMENT'S ESTABLISHED, AND TO THE GOVERNMENT'S ESTABLISHED AND THE UNITED STATES.
IN THE UNITED STATES, AND IN THIS STATE.
AND IN THIS STATE, I STATE YOUR NAME, I, CARLOS SANOMAS, HAVING BEEN ELECTED, HAVING BEEN ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, PRESIDENT OF THE ESSEX COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, IN AND FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AND FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
YOU SOLEMNLY PROMISE DO SOLEMNLY PROMISE.
AND SWEAR AND SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY, THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY, IMPARTIALLY, IMPARTIALLY AND JUSTLY AND JUSTLY.
PERFORM ALL OF THE DUTIES OF PRESIDENT OF THE ESSEX COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF PRESIDENT OF THE ESSEX COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, AND IN FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AND IN FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND UNDERSTANDING.
CONGRATULATIONS, COMMISSIONER POMAR.
CONGRATULATIONS MY FRIEND,
WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO CONTINUE? YES, PLEASE.
UH, NEXT NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF VICE PRESIDENT COMMISSIONERS.
AT THIS TIME, I WILL ENTERTAIN NOMINATIONS FOR THE POSITION OF VICE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD FOR 2024.
COMMISSIONER MADAM CLERK, COMMISSIONER LUCIANO.
I'D LIKE HIM TO MAKE A NOMINATION FOR VICE PRESIDENT AND THAT WOULD BE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TAMI COOPER.
JUST A BRIEF MOMENT OF A FEW WORDS.
UM, COMMISSIONER COOPER IS A LEADING FIGURE IN EAST ORANGE WHERE SHE SERVED ON THE CITY COUNCIL.
SHE ALSO SPENT TIME AS THE CHIEF OF STAFF IN THE CITY OF ORANGE TO MAYOR DWAYNE WARREN AND A CEO OF THE CAMDEN EMPOWERMENT CORPORATION.
SHE'S AN OUTSTANDING WIFE, MOTHER, COLLEAGUE,
[01:50:01]
AND TO MANY OF US HERE IN THIS ROOM AND AT HOME.SO IT IS MY PLEASURE AND HONOR TO NOMINATE HER TO SHAMI COOPER.
COMMISSIONERS, DO I HEAR A SECOND ON THE NOMINATION OF COMMISSIONER COOPER AS VICE PRESIDENT COMMISSIONER GRAHAM? YES.
I'D LIKE TO SECOND THE NOMINATION FOR TMI COOPER, WHO IS, WHO HAS BECOME MY SISTER FRIEND.
SO IT'S A PLEASURE AND AN HONOR FOR ME TO NOMINATE HER AS VICE PRESIDENT.
COMMISSIONERS, ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL NOMINATIONS FOR VICE PRESIDENT? SEEING THAT THERE ARE NO FURTHER NOMINATIONS FOR THE POSITION OF VICE PRESIDENT COMMISSIONERS? DO I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE NOMINATIONS? YES.
I'D LIKE TO MO MAKE THE MOTION MADAM CLERK.
AND DO I HAVE A SECOND TO CLOSE THE SECOND, UM, NOMINATIONS.
WE WILL NOW VOTE ON THE NOMINATION OF COMMISSIONER COOPER AS VICE PRESIDENT.
ABSENT, COMMISSIONER A DORIAN MURRAY THOMAS.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT CARLOS PAROMA.
COMMISSIONER WAYNE RICHARDSON.
CONGRATULATIONS, VICE PRESIDENT.
WELL, I'M JUMPING A LITTLE AHEAD.
PLEASE FORGIVE MY FAMILY FOR MOVING SLOW.
THEY'RE BACK TO GIVING ME THOSE SIGNALS.
DO SOLEMNLY AFFIRM DO SOLEMNLY AFFIRM THAT I'LL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES? THAT I'LL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME.
AND TO THE GOVERNMENT'S ESTABLISHED AND TO THE GOVERNMENT'S ESTABLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES.
IN UNITED STATES AND IN THIS STATE.
HAVING BEEN ELECTED, HAVING BEEN ELECTED VICE PRESIDENT OF BOARD.
VICE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
VICE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IN AND FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY IN FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
DO SOLEMNLY PROMISE, DO SOLEMNLY PROMISE AND SWEAR.
THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY, THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY IMPARTIALLY, IMPARTIALLY AND JUSTLY AND JUSTLY PERFORM ALL THE DUTIES OF VICE PRESIDENT, PERFORM ALL THE DUTIES OF VICE PRESIDENT IN AND FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, IN AND FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES AND UNDERSTANDING ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES AND UNDERSTANDING.
AT THIS POINT I'M GOING TO ASK FOR REMARKS FROM COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.
IT'S MY DISTINGUISHED PLEASURE.
IT WAS MY DISTINGUISHED PLEASURE TO NOMINATE MY FRIEND, MY BROTHER CARLOS
HE WAS ALWAYS THERE WHEN I COULDN'T BE.
HE WAS ALWAYS, YOU COULD ALWAYS COUNT ON HIM RIGHT AS THE VICE PRESIDENT WHEN HE'S THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD.
AND I KNOW AS PRESIDENT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO COUNT ON HIM EVEN MORE.
ANYTHING YOU NEED, ANY INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED FROM ME, I'LL BE HERE
[01:55:01]
TO SUPPORT YOU.AND TO COOPER, YOUR SUCCESS IS MY SUCCESS.
I WANT TO SEE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU DO WELL.
AND TO OUR NEWEST BOARD MEMBER WHO TOOK MY DISTRICT ADORE AND MURRAY THOMAS, DISTRICT TWO IS IN GOOD HAND.
SO WE ALL LEAN ON ONE ANOTHER.
SO I JUST WANTED TO JUST MAKE THOSE REMARKS BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO DO WELL.
I KNOW THE BOARD IS GOING TO DO WELL UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP.
AND TO MY CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THAT INITIAL OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE PEOPLE ASK ME, WHAT DO YOU DO? THEY SAID, YOU ARE, YOU ARE A POLITICIAN.
I SAID, NO, I'M NOT A POLITICIAN.
YEAH, I'M, I'M AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.
I'VE BEEN IN THE ROOM WITH POLITICIANS AND THEY EAT MY BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER.
THAT'S, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL THEY DO.
BUT YOU ARE GOING TO DO WELL MY FRIEND AND A PROBLEM.
NOW I WANT TO BRING UP THE NEXT PRESIDENT, OUR NEWEST PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, CARLOS AND PARI.
I REALLY APPRECIATE Y'ALL BEING HERE TONIGHT AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO STUCK AROUND, BEAR WITH ME A LITTLE BIT.
UM, AS A YOUNG BOY, I OFTEN HEARD ABOUT SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE BEING SELF-MADE.
BUT AS I'VE GROWN OLDER, I'VE COME TO REALIZE THAT THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS ALL SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE ARE.
THE PRODUCT OF HARD WORK, LOVE AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF SENSE OF NETWORK, OF FAMILY, FRIENDS, ENTERS, COLLEAGUES, AND EVEN STRANGERS WHO INVEST DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY IN OUR COLLECTIVE SUCCESSES.
SO THE PROCESS FOR THIS DAY TO COME TO FRUITION HAS BEEN LONGSTANDING.
SO PLEASE ALLOW ME TO SHARE JUST A FEW THOUGHTS THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.
FIRSTLY, IF IT WASN'T FOR THE HARD WORK OF MY PARENTS, I WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN BORN IN THE UNITED STATES.
MY MOTHER AND FATHER, A NURSE AND A SURGEON IN CUBA DECIDED AND DEDICATED THEIR LIVES TO SERVING OTHERS.
WHEN MY FATHER WAS WRONGFULLY IMPRISONED FOR VOICING OPPOSITION TO THE NEW CASTRO DICTATORSHIP, OUR FAMILY'S HISTORY WAS ALTERED FOREVER.
THE IRONY OF IT ALL IS THAT MY PARENTS' HARDSHIPS WOULD BE THE PATH OF SUCCESS FOR MY TWO SISTERS AND I.
WHILE MY FATHER WAS FORCED TO REMAIN IN KUA, THE UNITED STATES WELCOMED OUR ASYLUM REQUEST AND MY MOTHER PREGNANT WITH ME WOULD EMBARK ON A VERY LONG PROCESS, ULTIMATELY AFFORDING US A BETTER LIFE FOR MY FATHER TO MAKE IT HERE.
AND MY MOTHER, HE RESURRECTED HIS PROFESSION IN HIS SIXTIES.
AND WHAT DID THEY DO? THEY CONTINUED TO SERVE OTHERS SIMULTANEOUSLY.
BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, MY SISTERS CARMEN AND
WE WERE ALL SCHOOLED DEEPLY IN SERVING OTHERS AND LIVING MODESTLY.
FROM THESE EXPERIENCES, WE DRAW THE ARI'S DNA AS IT WERE, HARD WORK, SERVE OTHERS, AND EXPECT NOTHING IN RETURN.
AND AS A RESULT, I AM THE MAN THAT I AM TODAY BECAUSE I STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF FAMILY GIANTS.
AND I NEVER LET A DAY GO BY WITHOUT REMEMBERING THAT AS IF THAT PATH WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH FORTUNE.
I WAS EQUALLY LUCKY TO HAVE MARRIED A WONDERFUL PERSON WITH A SIMILAR UPBRINGING.
SHE IS THE BIGGEST SUPPORTER IN ALL THINGS THAT I DO, OFTEN AVOIDING THE SPOTLIGHT.
SHE ALONG WITH MY THREE CHILDREN, ALITOS FELLOW CITA, MY CHIEF OF STAFF FOR MANY YEARS NOW, AND MARIO ARE THE NEXT GENERATION OF PILLARS THAT SUPPORT ME.
NOW THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT FUELS AND MOTIVATES ME, IT'S PROBABLY A LOT EASIER TO UNDERSTAND HOW I GRAVITATED TOWARDS PUBLIC SERVICE.
WE CAN'T BECOME PUBLIC SERVANTS IMMEDIATELY.
WE MUST ALL TRAVEL THE POLITICAL PROCESS.
AND LIKE ALL OF US HERE ON THE STAGE, I'M LUCKY TO HAVE HAD THE
[02:00:01]
SUPPORT OF THE ESSEX COUNTY DEMOCRATS LED BY OUR CHAIRMAN LEROY JOINED JONES, WHO'S HERE WITH HIS LOVE OF WIFE JACKIE, AND THROUGH VICE CHAIR ESSA.LOUIS, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP AND YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE MANY PEOPLE WHO SUPPORTED AND VOTED FOR ME, ESPECIALLY MY GOOD FRIEND MIKE ESIA AND THE BLOOMFIELD DEMOCRATS WHO ARE HERE TODAY, ESPECIALLY NOW TO MY FRIEND LOUIS FELIX, WHO SERVED AS MY AIDE THROUGHOUT MY FIRST TWO TERMS. THE BLOOMFIELD GI, WHO'S HERE, AND THE BLOOMFIELD CRUISERS.
THESE ARE MY CREW OF CRAZY PEOPLE WHO I HANG OUT WITH WHO KEEP ME IN CHECK.
I ALSO WISH TO THANK THOSE WHO THOUGHT WELL ENOUGH OF ME TO PUT ASIDE THE PARTY PARTISAN ALLEGIANCE TO SUPPORT ME.
WE'RE HERE TO SERVE ALL, NOT JUST MEMBERS OF THE PARTY THAT WE IDENTIFY WITH AND NOW ABOUT THIS EVENING.
SO IT IS WITH GREAT HUMILITY THAT I ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY TO SERVE AS PRESIDENT OF THIS BOARD.
AND I REALIZE IN ACCEPTING THIS ROLE, I'VE MADE HISTORY AS A FIRST HISPANIC IN ESSEX COUNTY TO SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY AND ONLY JUST A HANDFUL WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
AND I ALSO REALIZED IT TOOK MANY HISPANICS BEFORE ME TO HELP BUILD THAT LADDER SO THAT THE GLASS CEILING COULD BE BROKEN HERE TONIGHT.
AND TO ALL OF THOSE, I THANK YOU IN THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART TO MY COMMISSIONER COLLEAGUES, I'VE LEARNED A GREAT AMOUNT FROM YOU.
THESE LESSONS HAVE ONLY MADE ME A BETTER LEGISLATOR AND MORE IMPORTANTLY A BETTER PERSON.
AND I THANK EACH AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU TO COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR NOMINATION, FOR YOUR, YOUR YEARS OF SUPPORT.
IT HAS BEEN, UH, MY PLEASURE TO SERVE WITH YOU AS VICE PRESIDENT.
YOU HAVE BEEN A TERRIFIC LEADER AND I THANK THAT WAYNE DESERVES A TREMENDOUS ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR SERVING.
I ALSO WANNA WISH A SPEEDY RECOVERY TO OUR FELLOW COMMISSIONER BOBBY MECADO, WHO'S NOT HERE TODAY.
BOBBY AND I WERE ELECTED TOGETHER SIX YEARS AGO, UH, AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN BY MANY AS THE LATIN CORNER, OR MAYBE JUST ME, I DON'T KNOW, JUST HE'S RECUPERATING FROM SURGERY, BUT I KNOW HE'S WATCHING TODAY.
AND UH, I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW, BOBBY, THAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT YOU AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING YOU JOIN US YET AGAIN VERY SOON.
GOVERNOR MURPHY, WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR TAKING PART IN TONIGHT'S CEREMONY AND FOR ALWAYS BEING A TERRIFIC PARTNER IN ESSEX COUNTY.
FROM THE ESSEX, ESSEX, HUDSON GREENWAY TO ESSEX COUNTY COLLEGE, HE HAS BEEN A STEADFAST LEADER IN SUPPORT TO CONGRESSMAN PAYNE AND CONGRESSWOMAN CHERYL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR STELLAR LEADERSHIP AND REPRESENTATION AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
IT'S AN HONOR TO HAVE AND COLLABORATE THE STARS OF THE CONGRESS HERE TODAY WITH US, TRULY OUR GEM.
AND IT'S, UH, I KNOW YOUR FATHER WOULD BE EXTREMELY PROUD OF YOU AND WE'RE BLESSED TO BE IN SUCH A GREAT FACILITY THAT BEARS THE NAME OF SUCH A LEGEND TO COUNTY EXECUTIVE JOSEPH VINCENZO.
I THINK I CALL HIM MR. ESSEX COUNTY, OR AT LEAST MY DAUGHTER DOES, FOR WHOM GOOD ENOUGH ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH.
HE WORKS TIRELESSLY TO KEEP OUR COUNTY AT TOP.
AND UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP WITH HIS COMMISSION, BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND ADVOCACY, ADVOCACY GROUPS AND TALENTED STAFF AND ESSEX COUNTY ROLLS OUT MORE NEW PROJECTS EVERY YEAR THAN OTHER COUNTIES DO IN THE COURSE OF SEVERAL YEARS.
ESSEX COUNTY FIRST IN CLOSING A WELL-DESERVED THANK YOU IS DUE TO THE BOARD STAFF, THE STAFF AT THE DONALD PAYNE SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY FOR BEING HERE TODAY, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO MADE IT SAFE FOR US TO COME IN AND OUTTA HERE TODAY AND SECURITY TEAM HERE.
AND FOR ALL OF THE PARTICIPANTS OF TONIGHT'S PROGRAM, THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS SPECIAL EVENT FOR ALL OF US AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SHARE SOME THOUGHTS.
THANK YOU PRESIDENT OMAS, COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER, THE FLOOR IS NOW YOURS TO OFFER REMARKS.
I'M GONNA TRY MY BEST TO BE REALLY, REALLY, REALLY BRIEF BECAUSE MY KIDS AND MY HUSBAND ARE GIVING ME THE HUNGRY LOOK, SO I'M GONNA TRY MY BEST TO MOVE IT ALONG.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, PLEASE, IF I OVERLOOK YOU, CHARGE IT TO MY HEAD AND NOT MY HEART INTO THE LOOKS OF ANGER 'CAUSE THEY'RE READY TO EAT RIGHT NOW.
UM, FIRST AND ALL, LET ME THANK GOD FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
I AM TRULY, TRULY HUMBLED AND GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL FOR BEING HERE.
I WAS INITIALLY SWORN INTO OFFICE IN 2018, UM, TO BE A FREEHOLDER THEN COMMISSIONER NOW.
AND LITERALLY A WEEK BEFORE I WAS SWORN IN, I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AN AGGRESSIVE FORM OF BREAST CANCER.
SO LIFE FOR ME LOOKED BLEAK AND UNCERTAIN.
AND I'M SO GRATEFUL TO MY LORD AND SAVIOR FOR BEING HERE TODAY BECAUSE WITHOUT THAT, I DUNNO WHERE I WOULD BE.
[02:05:02]
I WANNA THANK MY HUSBAND FOR HIS LOVE AND SUPPORT AND FOR TAKING CARE OF THE KIDS.I CAN TELL YOU, UM, HE'S LEARNED HOW TO MAKE, YOU KNOW, PONYTAILS REALLY, REALLY WELL AND PUT KIDS TO BED, FIVE KIDS TO BED THESE DAYS.
SO THANK YOU HONEY FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
I WANNA THANK MY KIDS BECAUSE THIS WAS THE FIRST YEAR THEY ACTUALLY WENT OUT AND DOOR KNOCKED WITH ME.
THEY WANTED TO KNOW, WHAT DOES MOM DO? HOW DO YOU BECOME ELECTED? WELL THIS YEAR WE PUT THEM TO WORK CHAIRMAN JONES, THEY KNOCKED ON THE DOORS THEMSELVES AND THEY ASKED PEOPLE TO VOTE FOR THEIR MOM SLASH AUNTIE.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GUYS FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR PATIENCE TO CHAIRMAN JONES.
I APPRECIATE YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT.
ME AND MY FAMILY TRULY APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU AND YOUR WIFE HAVE DONE FOR US.
AND I WANNA THANK YOU ALSO FOR GIVING MORE WOMEN A PLATFORM TO LEAD AND BE ELECTED.
YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR ALONE, CHAIRMAN JONES HAS INVITED SO MANY ADDITIONAL WOMEN TO LEADERSHIP ROLES AND WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT? STATISTICS HAVE SHOWED THAT WHEN MORE WOMEN LEAD AND WHEN MORE WOMEN ARE ELECTED COMMUNITIES, FAMILIES AND CHILDREN DO BETTER.
SO THANK YOU CHAIRMAN JONES FOR THAT SUPPORT.
I WANNA THANK THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND PHIL AND THE WHOLE ADMINISTRATION FOR ALL OF YOUR, UM, SUPPORT.
THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU DO FOR ALWAYS HAVING AN OPEN DOOR POLICY AND RESPONDING TO MY QUESTIONS.
Y'ALL KNOW, I ASK A LOT OF THEM, SO I THANK YOU PHIL AND COUNTY EXEC FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
I WANT TO THANK MY MAYOR, TED GREEN AND MY ENTIRE EAST ORANGE FAMILY WITHOUT MY EAST ORANGE FAMILY AND THE DISTRICT LEADERS WHO KNOCKED AND WALKED AND CALLED THIS ESTES COUNTY TEAM THAT DO THE BEST JOB THAT WE DO EVERY DAY, DAY IN AND DAY OUT FOR THE COUNTY RESIDENTS.
WE COULDN'T DO THE JOB THAT WE DO.
SO WE THANK, I THANK ALL OF YOU.
I WANNA THANK DEBORAH DAVIS FORD, THE CLERK AND THE STAFF FOR ALWAYS MAKING US LOOK SO GOOD.
I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER GILL AND COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON FOR YOUR TENURE AS PRESIDENT, YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR SUPPORT, ALWAYS HAVING AN OPEN DOOR FOR ME.
I WANT TO CONGRATULATE COMMISSIONER PALMS TO BEING PRESIDENT.
I FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AS WELL AS THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
KEEP PUTTING ESSENCE ON ME FIRST, I ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE AL KENNY.
CONGRATULATIONS, YOUR BABIES AND MY BABIES WERE BORN RIGHT AFTER EACH OTHER.
SO LOOKING AT THEM TODAY, UH, I WANNA CONGRATULATE YOU AND SAY JOB WELL DONE WITH THEM.
OUR KIDS WENT TO THE SAME SCHOOL, SO WE GOT TO CONNECT A LOT WITH WATCHING OUR KIDS GROW UP AND UM, BE A THING.
I WANT TO CONGRATULATE AND THANK COMMISSIONER RUFUSS JOHNSON FOR HIS TENURE.
HE ALWAYS HAD A GOOD LAUGH AND HE WAS A, A PERSON WHO HELPED ME CUT MY TEETH COMING TO THE COMMISSIONER BOARD.
I WANNA WISH COMMISSIONER MERCADO A SPEEDY RECOVERY, WHO'S AT HOME RECUPERATING RIGHT NOW.
UM, TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE OF CONFIDENCE FOR VICE PRESIDENT.
I TRULY, TRULY APPRECIATE IT AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU.
I WANT TO THANK ALL THE RESIDENTS OF VESTAS COUNTY FOR VOTING FOR ALL OF US.
YOU KNOW, WE WASN'T ON LINE A, UM, THIS YEAR WE WERE ON LINE B, BUT WE STILL DID WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO AND WE GOT THE JOB DONE AND WE GONNA CONTINUE TO GET IT DONE.
YOU KNOW, I'M A GOOD CHRISTIAN.
I LOVE MY GOD, I LOVE THE LORD.
AND I FIND THAT IF WE ALL WANT TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE PUTTING THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE FIRST, GOD WILL ALWAYS BE THERE IN THE MIDST AND WE WILL ALWAYS DO A GOOD JOB.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU, THE RESIDENTS, THE ADMINISTRATION TO CONTINUE DOING.
THANK YOU VICE PRESIDENT COOPER FOR THOSE REMARKS.
MR. PRESIDENT, I NOW TURN THE MEETING OVER TO YOU.
WE'RE GONNA JUST BE TWO MINUTES.
WE'RE GONNA DO JUST, WE GOT SOME, UH, QUICK VOTES TO DO AND THEN WE'RE GONNA GO OUT THERE AND PARTY WITH YOU.
SO, UM, WE'RE GONNA JUST MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT AND AGENDA ITEMS. SO LEGALLY WE DO SOME OF THESE THINGS, BUT UH, WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
IF ANYONE HAS A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC LIKE TO COMMENT ON ANY THE AGENDA ITEMS, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE NOW AND STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
MICROPHONE, EVERYBODY HEAR ME? I THINK YOU'RE, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU, ALL PEOPLE THAT I'M TRULY HAPPY.
THANK YOU MS. GOOD, CHARLOTTE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ALRIGHT, MADAM CLERK, UH, LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT THERE'S NO ONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME.
[02:10:01]
ONE THROUGH FIVE WILL BE VOTED ON TOGETHER.MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ RESOLUTION NUMBER ONE, RESOLUTION, UH, ONE ESS COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS BYLAWS.
UM, MR. PRESIDENT, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO READ ALL FIVE? LET, LET'S READ THE FIRST FIVE.
ANNUAL SCHEDULE OF MEETING ADOPTION RESOLUTION.
THREE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPERS TO RECEIVE PUBLIC NOTICES.
DESIGNATION 2024 RESOLUTION FOUR.
MANAGEMENT PLAN, DESIGNATION OF DEPOSIT DEPOSITORIES 2024 AND RESOLUTION FIVE.
APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONER REPRESENTATIVES TO THE ASSOCIATE OF COUNTY IN JACK FOR 2024.
AND MR. PRESIDENT, YOU NEED TO NAME THOSE, UH, REPRESENTATIVES.
OKAY, MME. CLARK, I THINK REPRESENTATIVES FOR NUMBER FIVE WOULD BE, GIL, WE HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE.
UM, AND I BELIEVE WHO WAS THE ALTERNATIVE? WE HAD SELECTED, I WAS ONE OF THE ALTERNATIVES.
UH, MR. PRESIDENT IF I MAY? YES, PLEASE.
UH, THE ALTERNATIVES ARE, ARE YOU AND THE OTHER ALTERNATIVE IS VICE PRESIDENT COMMISSIONER COOPER.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ONE THROUGH FIVE.
UM, SO, MR. PRESIDENT, UM, COMMISSIONER LUCIANO MOVED AND MAY I SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.
AND LUCIANO, WE HAVE A SECOND OF RICHARDSON.
COMMISSIONER MARIE THOMAS? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT OMAS? YES.
UH, COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON? YES.
AND COMMISSIONER, UM, AGAIN TO STATE FOR THE RECORD, COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION NUMBER SIX.
UH, RESOLUTION NUMBER 6 20 24.
ALRIGHT, COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON NUMBER SIX? UM, UH, COMMISSIONER PRE CAN'T HEAR, BUT, UH, OUR MINOR FRANK ER, MR. MCINERNEY? YES.
JUST FOR THE RECORD, I WANTED TO, UM, MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THIS RESOLUTION IS FOR THE TOTAL NUMBER LISTED ON, UH, THE, UH, THIRD LINE, $299,364,432.
MR. PARLOVE, YOU ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.
DO I HAVE A MOVER? I'LL MOVE IT.
ROLL CALL MADAM CLERK COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
LET'S MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION FOR ANY, UH, NON AGENDA ITEMS. IF THERE'S ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD WISH TO COMMENT ON ANY ISSUE, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, MADAM CLERK, LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT NO ONE IS HERE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME.
AT THIS POINT, LET'S MOVE ON TO THE BENEDICTION AND TO CLOSE OUT OUR PROGRAM THIS EVENING.
I'M DELIGHTED TO WELCOME REVEREND DR.
ANITA R WRIGHT OF TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN MONTCLAIR, WHO WILL OFFER THE BENEDICTION.
WON'T YOU PRAY WITH ME TONIGHT? GRACIOUS AND LOVING, GOD BLESS EACH ESSEX COUNTY COMMISSIONER, TMI COOPER, BRENDAN GILL, ROMAINE GRAHAM, LEONARD LUCIANO, ROBERT MERCADO, A DORIAN MURRAY THOMAS, CARLOS OMARE, WAYNE RICHARDSON, PATRICIA SIEBOLD, AS WELL AS, OH GOD, FOR ESSEX COUNTY SURROGATE AL KENNY.
BLESS THEM, OH GOD, WITH YOUR GRACE AND YOUR MERCY
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TO FAITHFULLY FULFILL AND DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF THEIR OFFICE.GIVE THEM WISDOM, GUIDANCE, COMPASSION, JUSTICE, AND CARE AS THEY SERVE ESSEX COUNTY AND ITS CONSTITUENTS.
I PRAY NOW AND I OFFER THIS OLD TESTAMENT BLESSING FOR YOU AS WE PREPARE TO LEAVE THIS PLACE.
MAY THE LORD GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU.
MAY THE LORD MAKE GOD'S FACE SHINE UPON YOU AND BE GRACIOUS UNTO YOU.
MAY THE LORD LIFT UP GOD'S COUNTENANCE UPON YOU AND GIVE YOU PEACE.
BEFORE WE MOVE TO CLOSE, I JUST WANNA REMIND EVERYONE THAT WE'LL HAVE A RECEPTION JUST OUTSIDE THE AUDI, UH, AUDITORIUM, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SPENDING A LITTLE BIT OF TIME WITH YOU.
AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
CLERK, UM, JUST AN INSTRUCTION, UH, WE'RE GONNA ASK EVERYONE TO STAY SEATED BECAUSE THE HONOR GUARD IS HERE TO ESCORT THE COMMISSIONERS OFF THE DEAS GOOD.
SO THE HONOR GUARD IS GOING TO, UH, FOLLOW ACROSS.
I ASK YOU TO COME UP BEHIND THE HONOR GUARD AND THEY'RE GONNA LEAD YOU OUT.
COMMISSIONER, DO I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADJOURN? I'LL MOVE IT.
MOVED BY LUCIANO, SECOND BY GRAHAM.