Hamilton Township Incumbent Witherspoon, Newcomer Soto Runs for Committee Seats
BY CLYDE HUGHES | AC JosepH Media
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP – In 2022, Dr. Thelma Witherspoon made history as the first African American woman to win a seat on the Hamilton Township Committee in Atlantic County.
As she seeks re-election, Witherspoon and join with community activist Yvette Soto to expand that history of diversity on the influential township committee this fall. Soto, a longtime community activist and founder of Latin Music Festival and the former Atlantic County Puerto Rican Parade, are running a Democrats.
Witherspoon and Soto will not face any competition in the June primary but will face two Republican challengers in the November general election.
Witherspoon said from advocating for youth to seeing the new Amazon facility come to Hamilton Township, she has enjoyed her first term on the committee and is looking forward to continuing. She said she believed Soto would make a strong addition to the committee.
“There is so much happening in the township right now that having another voice, looking at things from a different set of eyes, I believe is a good thing,” Witherspoon told Front Runner New Jersey.com.
Witherspoon served as the only female voice on the committee and now with resignation of Robert Laws, who took over the city administrator position with the City of Pleasantville in March, is the only minority member.
Soto said she was honored when Witherspoon approached her about being her running mate this season. The two have known each other for the past three decades.
“I told her I needed to think about it and put it in prayer,” Soto said. “[Witherspoon] has been an amazing leader to our community in Atlantic County and in Hamilton Township. I felt it would give me an opportunity to serve as a voice to the entire community but also to the Latino and Puerto Rican community in Hamilton Township.”
While there was always been a lack of Latino representation in Atlantic County, 20% Hispanic according to the latest U.S. Census figures, Soto said issues regardless Latino representation on a larger basis was on her mind.
“Our nation is going through a lot right now,” Soto said. “Although this is a local position, I just felt the need to be a voice to those who are not being heard right now. There’s a lot going on in our community. We need unity and we need to work together to make this a better world. I think with Dr. Witherspoon, we will make an amazing team for the entire community.”
Witherspoon is a well-known and established entity in Atlantic County as a longtime Atlantic City employee, Atlantic City school board member and vice chair of the county’s Democratic Party. The pastor at Westminister Christian Worship Center in Atlantic City is also host of “In the Community with Dr. Thelma Witherspoon” on WEHA Gospel Radio.
Soto, seeking her first political seat, was the founder of the Atlantic County Puerto Rican Parade and the Latin Music Festival in Pleasantville. The festival will be celebrating its 26th year on Aug. 23 through her Worldwide Entertainment Enterprises.
“The Latin Music Festival is one of the largest of its kind in New Jersey,” Soto said. “My background has been um in financial development. I’ve been a financial developer for over 20 years. With Dr. Witherspoon, we will focus on the development in Hamilton Township and making the community stronger and bringing more jobs to the economy.”
Some of the possible projects the women talked about was a need for an older adult center, providing a food pantry and addressing issues involving poverty in the community.
Laury-Ann Diaz, president of the Hamilton Township Democratic Club said Soto would be a great addition to go with Witherspoon on the township committee because of her ” powerful combination of heart, experience, and dedication.”
“She’s not only a dynamic advocate for equity and cultural preservation but also a proven leader with a track record in nonprofit development, education, and crisis response.”
“As for the ticket of Yvette Soto and Thelma Witherspoon, they bring unmatched energy and experience to the table. The key to winning in November will be connecting directly with voters across Hamilton Township — listening, showing up, and making clear how their vision addresses the issues that matter most: affordability, education, public safety, and inclusive economic growth.”
Witherspoon and Soto said while they don’t face competition in the primary, they felt it was important to work now to engage the community in a meaningful way. They said their candidacy is more than seeking them out for votes in November, but also a long-lasting relationship that would make a difference in their lives.
Follow Us Today On:
Note from AC JosepH Media: If you like this story and others posted on Front Runner New Jersey.com, lend us a hand so we can keep producing articles like these for New Jersey and the world to see. Click on SUPPORT FRNJ and make a contribution that will go directly in making more stories like this available. Thank you for reading.
About Author
