(TRENTON) – Assembly Speaker-elect Craig Coughlin on Monday announced he has appointed Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter as Assembly Majority Conference Leader.
Sumter, of Paterson, was first sworn to the Assembly in 2012 representing the 35th District in Bergen and Passaic counties.
Sumter has served previously as Deputy Speaker from 2014-1015 and as Majority Conference Leader from 2015 to the present. As conference leader, Sumter is part of the Assembly’s Democratic majority leadership team and will preside over caucus discussions and debate.
“Assemblywoman Sumter has proven invaluable to caucus leadership in previous years and her experience is welcomed moving forward in the Assembly,” said Coughlin (D- Middlesex). “I look forward to her leadership in navigating debates and keeping the caucus focused on issues and concerns important to New Jersey families.”
“It will be an honor to take on the role for a second term as Conference Majority Leader during the next session,” said Sumter (D-Passaic/Bergen). “I looked forward to working with my colleagues as the Assembly Democratic caucus continues advocating for New Jersey’s working class, for New Jersey’s children and for the betterment of our state.”
“I thank the residents of Bergen and Passaic counties for reaffirming their faith again in my team and sending us back to Trenton. We’re ready to get back to work.”
Sumter received her Bachelor of Arts in political science from Kean University, and her Master of Business Administration in health care administration from the Fairleigh Dickinson University Silberman School of Business. She is the Director of Behavioral Health Services at Hackensack UMC Mountainside hospital.
Sumter and her husband, Kenneth, have two children: Tyler and Kenneth.
Sumter represents the 35th Legislative District, which includes the Bergen County municipalities of Elmwood Park and Garfield; and the Passaic County municipalities of Haledon, North Haledon, Paterson and Prospect Park.