Bonnie Watson Coleman
| Bonnie Watson Coleman | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 12th district | |
|
Assumed office January 3, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Rush D. Holt, Jr. |
| Member of the New Jersey General Assembly from the 15th Legislative District | |
|
In office January 13, 1998 – January 5, 2015 | |
| New Jersey General Assembly Majority Leader | |
|
In office January 12, 2006 – January 12, 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph J. Roberts |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Cryan |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Bonnie Watson February 6, 1945 Camden, New Jersey |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | William Coleman (m. 1995) |
| Residence | Ewing Township, New Jersey |
| Religion | Baptist[1] |
| Website | |
Bonnie Watson Coleman (born February 6, 1945) is an American Democratic Party politician, who has served as the U.S. Representative for New Jersey's 12th congressional district since 2015. She previously served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1998 to 2015 for the 15th Legislative District.[2] She is the first black woman in Congress from New Jersey.[3]
Early life and career
Watson Coleman received a B.A. from Thomas Edison State College in 1985, and attended Rutgers University.[2] Born in Camden, she currently resides in Ewing Township.[4] She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.[5]
In 1974, she established the first Office of Civil Rights, Contract Compliance and Affirmative Action, in the New Jersey Department of Transportation and remained the Director of that office for six years. In 1980, Watson Coleman joined the Department of Community Affairs, where she held a number of positions including, Assistant Commissioner, responsible for Aging, Community Resources, Public Guardian and Women Divisions.
She served on the Governing Boards Association of State Colleges from 1987 to 1998 and as its chair from 1991 to 1993. Watson Coleman was a member of the Ewing Township Planning Board from 1996 to 1997. She was a member of The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey Board of Trustees from 1981 to 1998 and was its chair from 1990 to 1991.[2]
Watson Coleman became the first African American woman to lead the State party when she was elected Chair of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee, on February 4, 2002.
Watson Coleman served as the Majority Leader of the New Jersey General Assembly from 2006 to 2010, as well as the New Jersey Democratic State Chairwoman from 2002 to 2006.
U.S. House of Representatives
Election
Following the announcement that Congressman Rush Holt would not be seeking another term in office, Bonnie Watson Coleman announced her intention to run for New Jersey's 12th congressional district.[6] Assemblywoman Watson Coleman is the first woman of color elected to represent a New Jersey district in the United States House of Representatives and is currently the only female member of New Jersey's congressional delegation.
On June 3, 2014, Watson Coleman won the Democratic primary for the 12th congressional district.[7]
Watson Coleman won the general election on November 4, 2014, defeating Republican candidate Alieta Eck.[8] She won 60.9% of the vote.[9]
Tenure
On March 3, 2015, Coleman participated with fellow Democrats in the boycott of the speech delivered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Congress.[10]
In March 2016, Coleman, along with Rep. Robin Kelly and Rep. Yvette D. Clarke, founded the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls.[11] "Black women and girls are disproportionately affected by myriad socioeconomic issues that diminish their quality of life and threaten the well-being of their families and communities. The Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls gives black women a seat at the table for the crucial discussion on the policies that impact them while also providing a framework for creating opportunities and eliminating barriers to success for black women," they announced in a press release at the time.[12] They were inspired by the #SheWoke Committee, a group of 7 activists that reached out to lawmakers and staffers to start .[13]
She co-sponsored the International Megan's Law, to combat child exploitation and other sex crimes abroad. President Barack Obama signed the bill into law in February 2016.[14]
Committee assignments
References
- ↑ http://www.nationaljournal.com/almanac/2014-new-members/new-jersey-12-bonnie-watson-coleman-d-20141104
- 1 2 3 Assemblywoman Watson Colemans's legislative web page, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed June 5, 2011.
- ↑ "2014: Not a Landmark Year for Women, Despite Some Notable Firsts", Center for American Women and Politics, November 5, 2014. Accessed November 5, 2016. "Love and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) are the first African American women in Congress from their states."
- ↑ Assembly Member Bonnie Watson Coleman, Project Vote Smart. Accessed August 10, 2007.
- ↑ Schaller, Thomas F.; King-Meadows, Tyson (2006). Devolution and Black state legislators : challenges and choices in the twenty-first century. Albany: State University of New York Press. p. 39. ISBN 978-0-7914-6729-9.
- ↑ http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2014/02/assemblywoman_bonnie_watson_colemans_congressional_campaign_endorsed_by_top_mercer_county_officials.html
- ↑ Davis, Mike. "Watson Coleman wins Democratic primary for 12th congressional district". NJ.com. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
- ↑ http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2014/11/next_step_mercer_and_hunterdon_democrats_to_find_assembly_replacement_for_watson_coleman_after_congr.html
- ↑ "New Jersey Election Results". New York Times.
- ↑ "WHIP LIST: 56 Democrats to skip Netanyahu speech to Congress". The Hill. March 3, 2015. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
- ↑ Helm, Angela (March 26, 2016). "3 Black Congresswomen Create 1st Caucus on Black Women and Girls". The Root.
- ↑ "Reps. Watson Coleman, Kelly, Clarke, Announce Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls". U.S. Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman.
- ↑ Grimaldi, Christine (April 29, 2016). "#SheWoke Fuels First Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls Event". Rewire.
- ↑ "Congress.gov".
External links
- Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman official U.S. House site
- Bonnie Watson Coleman for Congress
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Profile at Project Vote Smart
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at The Library of Congress
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Joseph J. Roberts |
Majority Leader of the New Jersey General Assembly 2006 – 2010 |
Succeeded by Joseph Cryan |
| Preceded by Leonard Lance |
Chair of the Assembly Appropriations Committee 2002 – 2006 |
Succeeded by Nellie Pou |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Joseph J. Roberts |
Chair of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee 2002 – 2006 |
Succeeded by Joseph Cryan |
| United States House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by Rush D. Holt, Jr. |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 12th congressional district January 3, 2015 – present |
Incumbent |
| United States order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded by Mimi Walters R-California | United States Representatives by seniority 425th |
Succeeded by Bruce Westerman R-Arkansas |