Jersey City Women Elected Officials McKnight & Watterman Endorse Ridley, Prinz-Arey & Symes in Council Runoffs

JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Female elected officials representing Jersey City and community leaders met this morning to endorse Denise Ridley, Mira Prinz-Arey and Rebecca Symes in their respective Runoff Elections for City Council. Endorses include Assemblywoman Angela McKnight and Councilwoman at-Large Joyce Watterman, who each offered their support to the women running in Wards A, B and E. The event was held at Subia’s Organic Market, a local women-owned business in Jersey City, and also featured a round table discussion on the need for more women to run for office and be in leadership positions and the challenges faced by women in political campaigns.

“I know Denise, Mira and Rebecca not just as candidates for office, but as leaders in our community who have done the hard work to help people in need,” said Assemblywoman McKnight. “I am so proud to support these three women and encourage everyone in their wards to come out and support women leaders in the runoff election on Tuesday, December 5.”

According to a study by the Center for American Women and Politics, part of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University, Hudson County ranks in the bottom five for women in local elected office with only 15.66% representation.

“Jersey City has an opportunity to elect four women to the City Council for the first time this year and I am so excited about the possibility of Denise, Mira and Rebecca joining me on the governing body,” said Councilwoman Watterman, who was re-elected in the November election. “I believe strongly that we need more women in leadership and we can take a major step toward equal representation by electing these outstanding leaders on Tuesday.”

The event was also attended by community and business leaders including Lynn Hazan, founder of the popular website ChicpeaJC, Democratic committee members Anne Villers and Jan Nordland, Kendal Ridgeway, owner of local business K9dergarden, community activist Annie Kessler, former school board member Sonia Araujo, and Subia’s Cafe owners Nilsa and Yvonne Rodriguez.