Montclair Resident to Seek Another Term in State Senate

An inveterate state senator and Montclair resident will defend her seat in the upcoming Democratic primary in June. 

Senator Nia Gill (34-Montclair) will be seeking the Democratic endorsement again for her fourth term in the New Jersey Senate. After more than a decade in the Senate and four terms in the Assembly, Gill is running again because she said her job there is not yet done. 

“There are issues to be advanced,” said Gill. “I have been an excellent advocate for our district ... and [I want] to continue the legislative initiatives that reflect the issues in the district.”  

While attending community meetings in the district, which includes Clifton, East Orange, Montclair and Orange, Gill said the most important issues on voters’ minds are health care, early voting, school funding and affordable housing. 

“That is where the focus has been,” said Gill. “And it will continue to be to get these legislative issues advanced.”

This year, Gill supported environmental causes, raising the minimum wage, the needle exchange program, and affordable housing issues, among other things. Her 2012 voting record can be found by clicking here.  

Gill said she is currently working on bills that would extend early voting in the state, and a human trafficking bill that would expand the definition to include abduction, fraud, deceit or other deception, and abuses of power. 

Gill’s record of accomplishments during her tenure in the Senate extend beyond legislative issues, too. She was the first woman to be elected President Pro Tempore in January 2010 and was first African American to serve on the Judiciary Committee, where she serves as the vice chairwoman. 

Before the November election, Gill will have to defend her Democratic nomination against challenger Mark Alexander in June. Gill said she will be running on her voting record and independence. However, she emphasized that her main priority is upcoming issues in the Legislature. 

“We will run a competitive campaign,” said Gill, “but I am focused on ... the budget, and other issues that we have outlined, and voting on things that actually matter than campaign chatter.” 

And while Gill and Alexander have similar views on issues such as same sex marriage, transportation and education, Gill said that she has shown herself to be a leader on these issues in the Senate by getting legislation passed. 

“I have a proven record,” said Gill.