Career
Mississippi Evans held a seat that was vacated by former Assemblyman Alfred East. Steele on September 10, 2007. She was first sworn into the Assembly on November 9, 2007. Evans has served on the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders since 2002 and was selected by her fellow Freeholders to serve as Freeholder Director since 2004.
On January 2, 2007, Evans was unanimously chosen to serve a fourth term as Freeholder Director.
As Freeholder Director, Evans earns an $1,000 on top of her $28,500 annual freeholder salary, presides over public meetings and is responsible for appointing board members to committees. She simultaneously held a seat in the New Jersey General Assembly and as Freeholder.
This dual position, often called double dipping, is allowed under a grandfather clause in the state law enacted by the New Jersey Legislature and signed into law by Governor of New Jersey Jon Corzine in September 2007 that prevents dual-office-holding but allows those who had held both positions as of February 1, 2008, to retain both posts. She did not seek re-election to her Freeholder seat in 2007, though.
Evans served in the Assembly on the Labor Committee (as Vice-Chair), the Human Services Committee and the Law and Public Safety Committee.
Evans is a graduate of Passaic County Vocational and Technical High School (now the Passaic County Technical Institute). She attended William Paterson College (now William Paterson University) where she majored in Sociology and was inducted into the Sociology Honor Society. Evans also received her Certification in Life Skills / Career Counseling from Columbia University.
Evans spent 33 years at the Passaic County Board of Social Services before retiring in 2002, after her election to the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders.
At the Passaic County Board of Social Services, Evans started as a clerk/typist position and was promoted to Senior Training Technician. While at the Board of Social Services, Evans served 24 years as the Vice President of the Professional Workers Association.
Evans currently serves on the Boards of the Young Men’s Christian Association of Clifton & Passaic and Eva’s Shelter in Paterson, and as a Commissioner of the Paterson Parking Authority. Evans did not run for re-election to the Assembly in 2011, thereby ending her service to the legislature effective January 9, 2012.