What has been the impact of black women on local, state and national elections? That was the question explored at "The Future of the Elected Official is a Black Woman," a program co-sponsored by the Association of Black Women Lawyers of New Jersey at the New Jersey State Bar Association Annual Meeting and Convention in Atlantic City Wednesday afternoon.
The lively discussion was moderated by attorney Suzette Price and included Assemblywoman Shavonda E. Sumter; Atlantic County Freeholder Ashley Bennett; Estina Baker, senior campaign lead for New Jersey for the CWA; Carolyn Chang, immediate past president of ABWL-NJ; and Marilyn Davis, area director of government affairs for Altice USA.
The panel discussed the statistics around the low number of black women in politics, despite post-election surveys showing their power at the polls time and time again. That led to a discussion on what it takes to be elected to office. Black women work hard in their communities, their churches and in other organizations -- they have the potential to win elected office in greater numbers as well, the panel said.
Sumter emphasized the importance of authenticity, and Bennett noted that she ran where she grew up, and had connections to the community she was running in.
"I knocked on the doors of everybody," said Carolyn Chang, who served as mayor of Westampton Township. "It didn't matter to me if they were an R(epublican) or D(emocrat) or what."
The group also emphasized the importance of getting involved in the local party organization. It is crucial, Davis said, for public office hopefuls to show up, to network and to do work and put in the time.
"You have to build something from the ground," added Baker.