South Orange Votes in First Female Village President

The votes aren’t official yet, but barring an unforeseen recount, Sheena Collum will become South Orange’s first female village president.

Following Tuesday’s municipal election, the Essex County Clerk’s Office reported that Collum garnered 1,427 votes to Hynes’ 603, with two write-in votes counted.

Collum will be the first female village president in South Orange.

In an interview with The Village Green, Collum stated that she hadn’t given much thought about setting history until she lead a Girl Scout troop on a tour of the South Orange police station.

“The girls asked if there were any female officers they could meet,” Collum was quoted as saying in the report.

“At that moment I realized how significant it was to have strong women in non-traditional roles... It made me think twice.”