New Jersey Women's Leaders Call on Governor Christie to Denounce

Below you will find a letter from women leaders across New Jersey demanding that Governor Christie condemn Hudson County Republican Chair Jose Arango’s offensive comments and call for his resignation.

July 31, 2013
From: Women Leaders of New Jersey
To: Governor Christie

Dear Governor Christie:

Today, your Hudson County Republican Chair, Jose Arango, made deeply offensive comments about the Democratic Lieutenant Governor nominee, Milly Silva.

According to PolitickerNJ, Mr. Arango belittled and demeaned Ms. Silva’s qualifications in what can only be described as blatantly sexist remarks.

Ms. Silva has worked since the age of 14, getting a good education and rising to become an influential leader in the State of New Jersey. As Executive Vice President of 1199SEIU, Ms. Silva oversees more than 8,000 members and helps negotiate multi-million dollar contracts that are good for business and workers.

We ask you to join us in condemning Jose Arango’s misogynistic comments and call for his resignation. Statements like this cannot be a part of this campaign and demean all women in the state of New Jersey.

We deserve better than his disrespect and contempt.

Sincerely,

Loretta Weinberg, Senate Majority Leader

Nia Gill, Senate President Pro Tempore

Nellie Pou, Senator

Teresa Ruiz, Senator

Bonnie Watson Coleman, Assemblywoman & Buono for Governor Campaign Chair

Marlene Caride, Assemblywoman

Valerie Vanieri Huttle, Assemblywoman

Mila Jasey, Assemblywoman

Angelica Jiminez, Assemblywoman

Pamela Lampitt, Assemblywoman & Chairwoman of the Assembly Women & Children Committee

Annette Quijano, Assemblywoman

Celeste Riley, Assemblywoman

Grace Spencer, Assemblywoman

Linda Stender, Assemblywoman

Shavonda Sumter, Assemblywoman

Connie Wagner, Assemblywoman

Nancee May, President of the New Jersey Federation of Democratic Women

Amy Papi, 2nd Vice President of the New Jersey Federation Democratic Women

Peg Schaffer, Somerset County Democratic Chairwoman

Liz Muoio, Mercer County Democratic Chairwoman

Lauren Murphy, President of the Women Empowered Democratic Organization of Passaic County, and Clifton Democratic Chairwoman

Kathy Makowski, President of the Middlesex County Federation of Democratic Women

Red Bank Councilwoman Kathy Horgan & Retha Onitiri, Co-Chairs of the Monmouth County Democratic Women’s Caucus

Leslie Huhn, Chair of the Sussex County Women’s Caucus

Jamie Lombardi, Executive Director of the Sussex County Women’s Caucus