Menendez to Honor Trailblazing Perth Amboy Mayor at 2018 Women’s History Month Celebration

Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver to Deliver Keynote Address

Press Release 3/13/18

Mayor Wilda Diaz

NEWARK – On Sunday, March 18, 2018, U.S. Senator Bob Menendez was to host his Eighth Annual Women’s History Month event featuring the Evangelina Menendez Trailblazer Awards honoring six New Jersey women for their exceptional achievements, including Perth Amboy Mayor Wilda Diaz.  This year’s event will be held in partnership with Kean University in Union.  New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver will deliver the keynote address.  Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin (LD-29) will serve as mistress of ceremonies.

The Evangelina Menendez Trailblazer Awards were created in tribute to the Senator’s mother, who came to the United States from Cuba to give her children a better life and who passed away in 2009 after a long, courageous fight with Alzheimer’s disease.

“My mother, Evangelina, for whom this award is named, showed me the meaning of courage, integrity and the importance of fighting for what’s right, every single day of her life,” said Sen. Menendez.   “She blazed that trail for me and I will continue to honor her and all of the women whose strength, wisdom and tireless determination to stand up for the people they serve make our country and our state a better, safer, cleaner place to live, work and raise a family.”

Mayor Wilda Diaz; Perth Amboy

Perth Amboy, Middlesex County

Wilda Diaz was re-elected in November 2016 to her third, four-year term as Mayor of the City of Perth Amboy.  Not only is she the first woman to hold that office, she is also currently the only elected Latina mayor in the State of New Jersey.

Prior to taking office, Ms. Diaz spent 20 years in the banking industry where she started as a teller after graduating from Perth Amboy High School.  She quickly rose through the ranks and was an assistant vice-president with Banco Popular when she first won the mayoral seat in May 2008.

As Ms. Diaz marks her tenth anniversary serving Perth Amboy, she remains at the forefront of issues such as expanding programs for children, youth and families; maintaining an open and honest government; increasing business expansion and economic development; creating jobs; and preserving the city’s history.  Additionally, she helped lead Perth Amboy’s recovery from Supertstorm Sandy, investing over $17 million for renovations and storm mitigation to create a state-of-the-art waterfront, which has received exceptional awards for design and completion.

In 2015, NBC Latino and NBC Nightly News released a feature story on Ms. Diaz, as the “First Woman Mayor of a Changing New Jersey Town.”  She also received the 2015 Latino Justice “Latina Trailblazers” award for public service.  In 2014, Mayor Diaz was honored as “Community Leader” by the Hispanic American Law Enforcement Association and “Humanitarian of the Year” by The Coalition of Hispanic Physicians.  Ms. Diaz was earlier recognized by El Diario La Prensa as “Mujeres Destacadas 2012” and was featured in Real Simple Magazine as “The Accidental Politician,” among only four female mayors nationwide.

Mayor Diaz is a life-long resident of Perth Amboy and a graduate of Perth Amboy High School. She and her husband Greg have two children.

“Kean University educates its students to be active and contributing global citizens,” said Lauretta A. Farrell, D.Litt., director of the Human Rights Institute at Kean University.  “The exceptional women receiving Trailblazer Awards remind all of our students that there are many ways to make a difference, if they persevere.”

This year’s ceremony will honor six pioneering women who have made significant contributions to the Garden State and our country in the arts, military, law enforcement, education, and women’s advocacy:

• Amy T. Anderson; 2018 NJEA Teacher of the Year, Ocean City High School

• Uyen (Winn) Khuong; Co-Founder, Action Together New Jersey (ATNJ)

• Ruth B. Mandel; Director, Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University

• Audrey Meyers; President & CEO, Valley Health System

• Rev. Tiffany Williams; Founder, The Esther Project

To attend this free event, please visit www.menendez.senate.gov/WHM-2018.