Dana Redd facts for kids

Dana L. Redd (born March 7, 1968) is an American politician. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Dana Redd served as the Mayor of Camden, New Jersey. She held this important role from 2010 to 2018. Before becoming mayor, she was a State Senator for New Jersey. She represented the 5th Legislative District from 2008 to 2010.

Dana Redd's Education Journey

Dana Redd finished high school at Bishop Eustace Preparatory School in 1986. After graduating, she started working full-time. At the same time, she continued her studies by attending college classes at night. She earned a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Business. This degree was from Rutgers University, Camden. She also studied at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. There, she learned about the principles of urban redevelopment. Later, she earned a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree. This degree was in Human Services Administration (MHSA) from Lincoln University (Pennsylvania).

Her Time in Public Service

Dana Redd has a long history of serving the public. She has held many important positions in government and politics.

Serving in the State Senate

While in the New Jersey Senate, Dana Redd worked on several important committees. She was the vice-chair of the Community and Urban Affairs Committee. This committee focuses on issues in cities and towns. She also served on the Budget and Appropriations Committee. This committee deals with how the state spends its money. Additionally, she was part of the Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. She also helped on the Joint Committee on Public Schools.

Working for the Democratic Party

Dana Redd has been very active in the Democratic Party. She has been the vice chair of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee since 2006. She also served on the Democratic National Committee starting in 2006. In 2004, she was a delegate to the 2004 Democratic National Convention. This is where the party chooses its presidential candidate. Since 2001, she has also been a member of the New Jersey Redistricting Commission. This group helps draw the lines for voting districts.

Becoming Mayor of Camden

Before becoming mayor, Dana Redd served on the Camden City Council. She was the Vice Chair of the Council starting in 2001. She also chaired the city's Housing Authority from 2004 to 2006. For a short time, she held two positions at once. She was both a New Jersey State Senator and a Camden City Council member. This was allowed because of a special rule. It was called a "grandfather clause" in a state law.

In 2009, Dana Redd ran for mayor of Camden. She won the Democratic primary election in June 2009. She received 86% of the votes. She was then expected to win the general election in November. On November 3, 2009, she won the general election. She was re-elected for another four-year term in 2013.

What She Did After Being Mayor

After finishing her time as Mayor of Camden, Dana Redd continued to work in important leadership roles. She became the CEO of the Rowan University Rutgers-Camden Board of Governors. She held this position until 2022. After that, she took on a new role. She became the CEO of the Camden Community Partnership. This organization works to help the community in Camden.