Mila M. Jasey Takes Oath As Essex County's Newest Assemblywoman

JASEY TAKES OATH AS ESSEX COUNTY'S NEWEST ASSEMBLYWOMAN

(TRENTON) -- Mila M. Jasey, a former public health nurse and veteran school board member for South Orange/Maplewood took her oath of office today as an Assemblywoman representing the 27th District in Essex County.
Jasey's swearing in - coupled with that of newly appointed Assemblywoman Elease Evans - gives the Legislature eight African-American women members, the most in state history.

Assemblywoman Jasey will serve alongside Assemblyman John McKeon (D-West Orange) and Senate President Richard Codey (D-West Orange).  Their district consists of Caldwell, Essex Fells, Fairfield, Livingston, Maplewood, North Caldwell, Orange, Roseland, South Orange, West Caldwell, West Orange and a portion of Newark.

"It is an honor and privilege to have this opportunity to represent my neighbors in Essex County and to work on issues affecting our schools, our communities and families," said Jasey (D-South Orange).  "I look forward to working with Senator Codey and Assemblyman McKeon in developing initiatives that meet the needs of our 27th District residents."
Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts, Jr., praised Jasey for her work in the fields of education and health.

"Mila Jasey brings an unparalleled combination of expertise to the Assembly as a retired professional nurse and a local school board official," said Roberts (D-Camden).  "She will bring a fresh perspective as the Legislature works on a new school funding formula and tackles health care reform in the weeks and months ahead."

Jasey has served as a member of the South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education since 1999.  Jasey also served on the District 27 legislative committee for the New Jersey School Boards Association and the Essex County School Boards Association. 

Jasey is active in a multitude of civic organizations.  She is co-chair of the ACHIEVE Volunteer Tutoring Program for South Orange-Maplewood Public Schools and a member of the Community Coalition on Race of South Orange and Maplewood, the South Orange Civic Association and the Columbia High School Scholarship Fund. 

Previously, Jasey worked as a public health nurse for a East Orange Health Department, lactation consultant for Beth Israel Hospital in Newark and staff nurse in the pediatric unit of the Institute for Rehabilitation Medicine in New York City.

Jasey holds a bachelor's degree in history from Barnard College and a master's from the School of Nursing at Pace University.
She lives in South Orange with her husband Neil Jasey, Esq.  They have three adult children: Neil Jasey, M.D.; Rhena Jasey; and Kyle Jasey.
Jasey will serve out the unexpired term of former Assemblyman Mims Hackett, who resigned in September.  Jasey also has been elected to a full two-year term for the upcoming 2008-09 legislative session.
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