Friend,

Leaders from throughout the state are continuing to praise Chairman LeRoy Jones’ decision to appoint Laura Matos to the Apportionment Commission, the committee responsible for legislative redistricting and the map that will be used for state legislative elections starting next year. Citing the need to protect the integrity of the map making process as well as for greater racial and gender diversity on the commission, Chairman Jones appointed Matos earlier this week to widespread acclaim. Here are some of the most recent statements on the appointment:

“Congratulations to Laura Matos on her appointment to the New Jersey Apportionment Commission. Ms. Matos has long served the great State of New Jersey with dignity and expertise, and I am certain that she will bring a necessary component to the Commission. Thank you to Democratic Chairman LeRoy J. Jones, Jr. for making this important and timely appointment. As Mayor of the City of Paterson – the state’s most diverse municipality with a significant Latino population, I appreciate the diversity represented on the Commission and I look forward to how Commissioner Matos will inform future apportionment decisions to best represent the state.”

Melissa Morales, President of Somos Votantes PAC

“The actions taken by New Jersey Democratic Chairman Leroy Jones yesterday were as bold as they were significant. It took real leadership to not only identify the problem, but also provide a solution in providing true representation in the Democratic Delegation for the New Jersey Legislative Apportionment Commission. Almost 21% of New Jersey's population is Latino so the addition of Laura Matos into this important process is not just timely, it is overdue. He provided true fairness and balance for Latino communities throughout New Jersey, something not all states have done throughout their legislative redistricting process. The final map decided by Judge Carchman at the end of this process will impact every community in New Jersey and we cannot allow any political parlor games to distract from that important work. This is about New Jersey's future, and there should be nothing, or no one person, more important than that.”

NJDSC Latino Caucus

“On behalf of the Latino Caucus, we congratulate and celebrate the appointment of longtime civil servant and Burlington County native, Laura Matos, to the Commission. As the nation’s largest minority voting group, the Latino vote has been proven effective in winning elections in battleground districts. Latinos in New Jersey also comprise 21% of the state’s total, growing significantly as reported in the latest Census data.

We commend Chairman Jones for his commitment to establish a pathway that is inclusive and fair for every New Jersey resident. With today’s appointment, Latinos will now have representation in a discussion that started months ago. And now our voice will be represented to help shape the state for the next ten years.

The Latino Caucus will continue to advocate and support Latino candidates across all levels of government. We will continue to engage and mobilize Latinos and work with our counter caucuses so New Jersey can act as a model state for equal and more accurate representation.

As shown today, Chairman Jones has taken the necessary steps to bring more diverse voices to this Commission, creating a stronger and fairer New Jersey. We look forward to seeing the impact Laura and the rest of the members will have in drawing a state legislative map that is fair and representative of all New Jersey residents.”

Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez

“The Apportionment Commission will have a long-lasting impact on all communities, specifically the ever-burgeoning Latino population that is now almost 21% of New Jersey’s total population. Laura Matos’ work on the NJ Complete Count Commission and collaboration throughout the state amid a pandemic resulted in many underrepresented communities finally being counted. Her voice and experience will be invaluable throughout this process.”