| Candidate
Information
Professional
Background: For the past 36 years – the past 13 as a resident of Long Hill -
Ms. Genovese has lived and worked in the 21st District.
After graduating high school, she spent three years refining her tennis game and teaching students at the Warren Racquet Club. In 1978, Gina won the National Lipton Mixed Doubles Classic in
Houston and two years later, played professional tennis,
attaining a world ranking of 150. After an injury forced
her to retire, she opened Gina's Tennis World in 1983 at
the age of 24. She built the Berkeley Heights-based business from 10 clients to a roster of
thousands, coaching nationally ranked players, full-scholarship athletes and top
high-school players. For years, she also ran an inner-city tennis program for children in Jersey City.
Education:
The candidate graduated from the Kent Place School in Summit in 1977.
Family
Life: Ms.
Genovese lives in Long Hill with her partner of
10 years, Wendy McCahill.
Government
Experience:
In 2003,
Ms. Genovese ran as a last minute fill-in candidate for Long Hill Township
Committee and came within 52 votes of victory. The following year, she ran again and defeated a four-time Republican
incumbent to become the lone Democrat on the committee.
In 2005, Gina was selected unanimously – by the Republican majority committee – to become the first Democratic mayor in the history of Long Hill
Township, becoming the highest-ranking, openly gay elected official in the state.
Clubs
and Organizations: While serving as Long Hill's mayor, Ms. Genovese
developed and taught civics lessons to students in both Millington and Gillette about the election and budgeting processes. Major
Campaign Issues:
a. property-tax
relief - creating school-aid formulas equitable for all
districts, exploring shared services and reducing property
taxes in other ways. b.
environmental issues - global warming, fighting traffic
congestion. c.
economic growth - investing in science and small
businesses to keep jobs in New Jersey. d.
bringing honesty and integrity to Trenton and working in a
bipartisan manner to bring meaningful reforms and results.
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