ESSEX DEMS RALLY FOR ALIXON COLLAZOS-GILL’S CAMPAIGN KICK-OFF 

WEST ORANGE (April 30, 2023) —Alixon Collazos-Gill, Democratic candidate for New Jersey State Assembly in the 27^th District, officially kicked off her campaign Tuesday night with a reception at The Highlawn in West Orange. The event drew Democratic leaders and officials from across the district, Essex County, and the state, including New Jersey Democratic State Committee Chairman LeRoy J. Jones, Jr. and Collazos-Gill’s running mates, former Governor and incumbent State Senator Richard Codey and Assemblyman John McKeon.

Collazos-Gill, who will be the first Latina to represent the district if elected, shared her story of immigrating to the United States from Colombia as a teenager and thanked Jones for prioritizing diversity in Essex County’s legislative delegation.

“Thank you to Chairman Leroy Jones for making the decisions necessary to ensure we are achieving the diversity that reflects and represents Essex County. Thank you for stepping up and saying this is what needs to be done, even when it is difficult to do,” Collazos-Gill said.

Collazos-Gill also noted that her fresh perspective, combined with her running mates’ decades of experience in public office, would provide the district with dynamic and effective leadership.

“I am honored to be part of this very experienced team,” Collazos-Gill said. “I know I will learn a lot from my running mates, but I will also offer my own ideas and a fresh perspective. I will work hard and do my part,” she said.

Collazos-Gill will also be making history in that she will be on the ballot with her husband, Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill, who is seeking re-election. In introducing his wife, Gill acknowledged the sacrifices dual careers in public service ask of their family.

“When you commit to a career in public service, your family often bears the brunt of the ups and downs of public life. We do this work willingly, but sometimes it can take its toll,” Gill said. “But Alixon is the embodiment of the American dream. She is the daughter of immigrants, and she seized the opportunities this country afforded her to forge a career in public service. We are here to celebrate Alixon’s lifetime of public service and support her move from a behind-the-scenes role to serving in public office,” he said.

New Jersey’s 27^th Legislative District includes the Essex County municipalities of Livingston, Millburn, Montclair, Roseland, and West Orange, and the City of Clifton in Passaic County.

Alixon Collazos-Gill is a graduate of Rutgers University–Newark and served as Director of Latino Outreach for New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s campaign, and Director of Constituent Services for Congressman Steve Rothman. She co-owns and operates The BGill Group, a public affairs and communications business she founded with her husband. Collazos-Gill serves on the boards of Blue Wave NJ and the Hispanic Research and Information Center. She is a former board member of LUPE Fund (Latinas United for Political Empowerment), and is a graduate of Emerge NJ, a program that trains Democratic women to run for office. Alixon lives in Montclair with her husband, Brendan, and their two children, Gabriel and Kristen.