Assembly members to represent Legislative District 32
(TRENTON) – This session, Legislative District 32 is sending a new team of legislators to the New Jersey General Assembly. John Allen, attorney, entrepreneur, and former Chief of Staff to Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, and Jessica Ramirez, an established attorney and legal analyst, received the oath of office from Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin on Tuesday, officially joining the Assembly Democratic Caucus.
“I am pleased to welcome John and Jessica to the New Jersey General Assembly,” said Speaker Coughlin (D-Middlesex). “Throughout their careers, these two attorneys worked to improve the lives of their community members. Jessica’s experience focusing on criminal justice, immigration, and sexual assault matters, combined with John’s work with local boards of education, will serve them well throughout this session. I look forward to working with them both on legislation that matters most to our working and middle-class families, such as bolstering support for our public schools and making our state more affordable.”
Allen previously served as the chief of staff and assistant corporation counsel for Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla. While employed by the city, he was responsible for negotiating and securing the Union Dry Dock site to protect Hoboken’s shoreline along with uniting the waterfront as a contiguous, public park. Allen is also an attorney specializing in education issues and real estate. He previously served two terms as a Hoboken Democratic Committeeman and currently serves as an Honorary Hudson County Democratic Party Vice-Chair.
“Working for the City of Hoboken, I developed a deep admiration for good policy and its impact on the community at large. I am eager to bring my governmental, legal, and political experience to Trenton so that we can build on the Assembly Democrats’ work to deliver for the people of New Jersey,” said Assemblyman Allen (D-Hudson). “I am grateful for the opportunity to serve and give attention to our public education system, environment protection, and health care, among countless other critical policy areas.”
Allen obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and his Juris Doctor (JD) from Rutgers University. He currently resides in Hoboken with his wife, Tara.
Ramirez has extensive legal experience and is currently a partner with the D’Arcy Johnson Day law firm. She is a trial attorney specializing in serious personal injury, sexual abuse, medical devices, and product liability litigation. As a legal analyst, Ramirez has been featured on programs on NJ PBS, HLN, Fox News, Law & Crime Network, and Univision.
“In my legal practice, I have the opportunity to be a voice for the voiceless and serve my community. Being a witness, both personally and professionally, to the vast challenges our communities face has ignited my desire to make a difference through legislation,” said Assemblywoman Ramirez (D-Hudson). “I am honored that the people of Legislative District 32 elected me to be their assemblywoman, and I am ready to start tackling the most pressing issues affecting working-class families in Hudson County and across New Jersey.”
Ramirez earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Stockton University and her Juris Doctor degree from Seton Hall University School of Law. She currently lives in Jersey City.
