Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr to Receive "Bench Builder" Award

Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr will be honored at Emerge New Jersey’s Second Annual Building The Bench Breakfast tomorrow at the New Jersey Education Association office on 180 West State Street in Trenton, New Jersey

Colleen Mahr was elected as Mayor of Fanwood in 2004, a Union County municipality of more than 7,000 people. Mayor Mahr began her career in public service as Mayoral Aide in Jersey City and rose through the ranks to earn the post of Jersey City's assistant director of Housing and Economic Development where she developed in-depth analyses of business trends, legislation, real estate and industrial capacity and applied the resulting data towards planning, organizing and directing economic measures for Jersey City. Last year, Mayor Mahr was elected as the new second vice president of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities.

The event will begin with opening remarks delivered by U.S. Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, a long-time supporter of Emerge New Jersey. Thereafter, a political power panel with prominent New Jersey female legislators sharing their journey to elected office, the challenges they have overcame, and why women should run for office will take place. The panel will be moderated by award-winning reporter Deb Howlett and will feature the following female legislators:

• Senator Sandra B. Cunningham
• Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle
• Assemblywoman Mila Jasey

After the panel, Emerge New Jersey will honor the states female movers and shakers with its "Bench Builder" award for their Democratic efforts in the Garden State. Each woman has a proven track record of driving positive change in New Jersey’s communities and counties. Last year, the award was presented to Princeton Public Affairs Group Partner Sonia Delgado, McManimon, Scotland & Baumann, LLC Lillian A. Plata; Ginger NJEA Governance Director Gold Schnitzer, and Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer. This year, the award will be presented to the following recipients.

• Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr
• New Jersey State Democratic Committee Vice Chair (NJSDC) Lizette Delgado-Polanco
• Kaufman Zita Group Principal Trish Zita

General admission tickets for the event are $175.00 per person and $100.00 for Emerge New Jersey alumnae. To purchase a ticket, click here. For more information, please contact Emerge New Jersey Executive Director Truscha Quatrone at truscha@emergenj.org or (973) 519-0033