Insider NJ Names 4 South Jersey People of Color To 100 Policy Makers Power List
CLYDE HUGHES | AC JosepH Media
ATLANTIC CITY – The president of the NAACP New Jersey State Conference and former Winslow elected official are among the four people of color with South Jersey connections who made the Insider NJ 2024 “Insider 100 Policy Makers Power List,” which was released last week.
The website Insider NJ annually releases a list of the most influential legislative policy makers throughout the state.
U.S. Rep. Andy Kim, who is on a historic run to become the first Korean American to elected to the U.S. Senate, was listed No. 1 on the list. The Cherry Hill native who represents a portion of South Jersey in Congress, noting another politics-shaking move in New Jersey – his lawsuit to remember the so-called county “line” in the primaries.
“When U.S. District Judge Zahid Quraishi eliminated the so-called county line in the Democratic Primary and undercut New Jersey bosses’ influence, he gave the most significant political — and policy — win of the season to the congressman, a 2024 candidate for the United States Senate,” Insider NJ said.
“Why isn’t Quraishi number one on this list and Kim number 2? The judge wouldn’t have had that case on his desk without Kim filing the lawsuit, and the congressman demonstrated significant momentum already early in the primary process,” the website continued.
Prominent activist and state power broker Jeannine Frisby LaRue was listed at No. 56. An alumnus of Rowan University and sat on the Winslow school board and township board in Camden County, LaRue and worked and shaped policy through the state.
LaRue, the former vice president of public affairs at Rutgers University, is currently the senior vice president of the lobbying firm Kaufman Zita. She also sat on the boards at Camden County College and Essex County College.
“A former elected official, lobbyist, educator, healthcare executive and government official, she lives at the nexus of NJ politics,” Insider NJ said of LaRue.
Vineland’s Richard T. Smith, the longtime president of the NAACP New Jersey State Conference was listed at No. 76 on the list. A retired corrections officer and retired warden of the Cumberland County Jail, Smith has developed of long history of civil rights work and activism in South Jersey and around the state.
He currently sits on the national board of the NAACP as well and sits on the New Jersey Civil Rights Commission where he is the former chair.
“Trenton native Smith, a retired corrections officer, played a critical role in bringing last year’s national NAACP conference to Atlantic City. Close to Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive 2024 Democratic nominee for President,” Insider NJ said of Smith.
Jie Li, an electrical engineering associate professor at Rowan University was listed No. 100 on the list.
“An expert on offshore wind energy, Li has taken a stepped-up role in ensuring public understanding of alternative energy technology.” Insider NJ said in its profile.
Read the full Insider NJ Policy Makers List here.
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