Gina Genovese

Education

Graduated from the Kent Place School in Summit in 1977.

Career

She has served on the Township in Long Hill Township, New Jersey, where she has also served as mayor. In 2007, she was a candidate for the State Senate in district 21 in New Jersey. She currently lives in Long Hill with her partner of 13 years, Wendy McCahill.

She no longer holds elected office.

Foreign the past 36 years Genovese resided in the 21st District. Due to injury however, was forced to retire.

In 1983, opened Gina"s Tennis World, in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey. She has coached over 25 nationally ranked players and has taught thousands of children and adults. In 2009, Gina formed the non-partisan organization Courage To Connect New Jersey and serves as its Executive Director.

This organization was created to educate the public about their role in restructuring the State of New Jersey.

The first educational video about home rule in New Jersey is on her website www.CourageToConnectNJ.org In 2003, Genovese ran as a last minute fill-in candidate for Long Hill Township and lost. The following year, Gina ran again and defeated a four-time Republican incumbent. Serving as the lone Democrat on the committee electing another Democrat to the committee within a year.

In 2005, Gina was selected unanimously by the Republican majority committee to become the first Democratic mayor in the history of Long Hill Township.

She made history by becoming the highest-ranking, openly gay elected official in the state. She saved $300,000 by reducing the police administrative staff by 40% and cooperatively negotiating with the police leadership to create a new administrative structure.

When Gina Genovese was of Long Hill Township, the 2006 Long Hill Township budget raised taxes by 3%, the second lowest increase for that year in Morris County. (See, Star-Ledger New Jersey Property Tax Rankings).

On April 26, 2006, Genovese voted in favor of a pay-to-play ordinance and said such laws are needed in Trenton.

(The Echoes-Sentinel, 5/4/06). Gina challenged incumbent New Jersey 21st District Senator Thomas Kean Junior. On election day, Kean received 29,795 votes (60%) and Genovese received 20,092 votes (40%).

On Election night Genovese stated, "I don"t regret (the campaign).

The last five months of my life have been the best of five months of my life. I would not change a thing.".

Achievements

• She saved $300,000 by reducing the police administrative staff by 40% and cooperatively negotiating with the police leadership to create a new administrative structure. Developed and taught civics lessons to students in both Millington and Gillette about the election and budgeting processes. Signed the United States. s Climate Protection Agreement to promote clean, environmentally-friendly technologies. As a small business owner, another highlight was instituting a business economic forum to support the needs of local businesses. She also opened the budget process to the public so people could understand the costs of services in the community. Created an interfaith service for peace with numerous religious leaders in the area from nine different religions.