Jennifer Williams Becomes First Transgender Person On Trenton Council

MERCER COUNTY, NJ – Jennifer Williams became the first openly transgender person to be sworn into office in Trenton. Williams is also the first transgender person to be elected to a municipal office in New Jersey.

Williams won the city’s North Ward run-off elections and defeated Algernon Ward, Jr., by a single vote. She is the Trenton Republican municipal chair and has served as a member of the city’s Zoning Board for the past 14 years.

“As a lifelong Trentonian and an openly LGBTQ New Jerseyan, I will never forget the importance and historic nature of this day. Being the first transgender New Jerseyan to be elected to a City Council in New Jersey and the first openly LGBTQ person to serve on Trenton City Council are breakthroughs for our community,” Williams said.

“Hopefully, many other LGBTQ people around New Jersey will be inspired by our success in Trenton to run for office where they live and to help their own communities.”

Williams was sworn into office on Monday. Garden State Equality, which endorsed Williams during the election, celebrated the victory.

“Jennifer is a lifelong Trentonian and has served Trenton’s community in a number of capacities over the years,” Jeannine Frisby LaRue, Board Chair of the Garden State Equality Action Fund, which endorsed Williams, said in a statement.

“In addition to this historic victory, three of our endorsed candidates were officially sworn at the Capital City's ceremony. Mayor Reed Gusciora, an out gay and West Ward Councilwoman Teska Frisby, a strong ally joined Williams in our trifecta of endorsed candidates. We applaud them all."

Garden State Equality Action Fund Executive Director Christian Fuscarino said the organization was proud to endorse Williams during the election.

“Her groundbreaking victory means that we are one step closer to making sure that municipal elected officials truly reflect the communities they serve,” Fuscarino said.

Trenton will go back to the polling booths on Jan. 24 for a second run-off election to decide who will serve on three at-large council seats.