Elease Evans facts for kids

Elease Evans was born on June 6, 1943. She is an American politician and a member of the Democratic Party. She served in the New Jersey General Assembly, which is a part of New Jersey's state government. She represented the 35th legislative district from November 2007 until January 2012. Before joining the Assembly, Ms. Evans was a leader on the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Serving the Public

Elease Evans began her public service on the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders in 2002. Freeholders are elected officials who help manage county government. Her fellow Freeholders chose her to be the Freeholder Director starting in 2004. This meant she led the board meetings and helped appoint members to different committees. She was chosen for this role four times.

Time in the Assembly

Ms. Evans took a seat in the New Jersey General Assembly that became open in 2007. She was officially sworn in on November 9, 2007. While in the Assembly, she worked on several important committees. These included the Labor Committee, the Human Services Committee, and the Law and Public Safety Committee. She was the Vice-Chair of the Labor Committee.

Holding Two Roles

For a time, Elease Evans held two government jobs at once: one in the New Jersey General Assembly and one as a Freeholder. This was allowed because of a special rule. A new state law was passed in 2007 that stopped people from holding two such positions. However, it allowed those who already held both jobs by February 1, 2008, to keep them. Ms. Evans decided not to run for her Freeholder seat again in 2007. She finished her service in the Assembly on January 9, 2012.

Education and Early Career

Elease Evans is a graduate of Passaic County Vocational and Technical High School, which is now called the Passaic County Technical Institute. She then went to William Paterson College, now known as William Paterson University. There, she studied Sociology and was recognized for her excellent work in the field. She also earned a special certificate in Life Skills / Career Counseling from Columbia University.

Ms. Evans worked for 33 years at the Passaic County Board of Social Services. She started as a clerk/typist and worked her way up to Senior Training Technician. During her time there, she was also the Vice President of the Professional Workers Association for 24 years. She retired from this job in 2002 after being elected to the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Community Involvement

Elease Evans has always been very active in her community. She serves on the boards of the YMCA in Clifton and Passaic. She also helps Eva’s Shelter in Paterson, which provides support to people in need. Additionally, she is a Commissioner for the Paterson Parking Authority.

In the past, Ms. Evans was the President of the Paterson branch of the NAACP, an organization that works for civil rights. She also led the Board of Directors for the Greater Paterson OIC and was part of the Mayor’s Task Force on Crime and Drugs. She has been a dedicated member of the Calvary Baptist Church in Paterson since 1979. At her church, she has been a Sunday school teacher, an usher, and a member of their Civil Rights Commission and Board of Christian Education.

Personal Life

Elease Evans and her husband, Billie, have lived in the Eastside area of Paterson for many years. They have three children: two sons named Don and Patrick, and a daughter named Karen. Elease Evans is also a grandmother to nine grandchildren.