Latest news with #Sumter
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Aerium's Breaking Barriers panel explores aviation hurdles, talks solutions
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Panelists at the Aerium Summit's Breaking Barriers and Building Futures event Thursday held candid conversations about the hurdles many women, people of color and students face when entering or exploring the aviation field. The event, held in the lower hangar at Nulton Aviation Services, featured topics such as expanding aviation education and workforce programs to underserved rural and urban communities and creating pathways for students of color and women. 'I continue to do what I do – I show up so young girls of color can see me,' panelist La'Quata Sumter said. 'I stand in that place to tell that young girl that she can do it.' Sumter is a professor of computer and electrical engineering and the CEO and founder of Focusing On Me Inc. and STEAM Thru Drones. Being on stage and conversing with fellow women in the industry was a rewarding experience for her, she said. 'It was definitely an amazing opportunity to be on a panel with women who have some common goals,' Sumter said. She was joined by Roxanne Ober, director of admissions and outreach for the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics; Elizabeth Tennyson, senior vice president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Foundation; and Talia Chippie, a Nulton Aviation Flight Academy student. Heather Tomasko, Aerium Women in Aviation Committee chair and John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport assistant manager, and Aviation Foundation of Pennsylvania President Sydney Harris served as moderators. They spoke about a variety of hurdles to education and technology that keep young, interested people from entering the aviation field; changing training techniques that once aimed for high drop-out rates; mentorship; and financial assistance. Tennyson said that even now, there's 'still some bias out there' for women and people of color in aviation, such as the idea of 'appropriate roles' for boys and girls. Aviation is a male-dominated field, Tennyson said, and Sumter said people of color and women obviously have a harder time entering these careers. But the entire panel encouraged everyone to pursue their passions for flight, aircraft maintenance or any related field. 'You are where you're supposed to be, and don't let anyone tell you you shouldn't be there,' Sumter said. Tennyson agreed, adding that one good aspect is that a lot of the barriers are being broken down. She said there is a significant number of financial aid opportunities for students to explore on the local, state and national level to leverage access to aviation careers. There are also expanding opportunities through career and technical education and some airlines offering tuition matches to help open doors. Ober touched on the success of student visits to hangars, and shared the example of Piedmont Airlines' aircraft maintenance technician tuition payment program that helps students enter, train and gain employment in the industry. Other topics the group covered included public and private partnerships, community outreach and diversity. Tennyson said many employers have found that diversity on the flight deck can be a great benefit to an organization. Women and people of color can provide varied opinions and share their experiences, which strengthens the overall team, she said. 'Everything is moving in the right direction, and that's fantastic,' Tennyson said. The Breaking Barriers panel was the last of the two-day Aerium Summit. The conversation was immediately followed by the closing event that featured Nulton Aviation President Larry Nulton, state Department of Education Bureau of Career and Technical Education Director Judd Pittman, Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry President and CEO Luke Bernstein, and state Reps. Jim Rigby and Judy Ward. Additional sessions Thursday ranged from innovations in aviation maintenance to bridging the gap between education and aviation. It was also announced that the 45th Annual Pennsylvania Aviation Conference will take place Oct. 6 through Oct. 8 in Johnstown. The gathering will be hosted by the Aviation Council of Pennsylvania in collaboration with Aerium and feature panels, student tours, and opportunities for exhibits. For more information, visit
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
Brickbat: Cursing Ain't Allowed in School
Police officer Gerald Richardson has been charged with third-degree assault and battery for knocking down a 17-year-old high school student in Sumter, South Carolina. According to arrest warrants, Richardson confronted the student for cursing in a school hallway, and after he cursed again, Richardson shoved him to the ground, causing minor injuries to the student's head and arm. The incident was reported to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, which investigated due to the involvement of a police officer. Richardson was released on $1,000 bond, and the Sumter Police Department placed him on administrative leave without pay pending further investigation. The post Brickbat: Cursing Ain't Allowed in School appeared first on
The Sun
09-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Mum, 42, left fighting for her life in septic shock and has foot amputated after spotting an ingrown nail
A MUM was left fighting for her life and had to have her foot amputated after an ingrown toenail turned in gangrene. Lacey Shadrick says she has always dealt with ingrown toenails - getting them about once a week - and usually treats them herself at home. 10 But the 42-year-old noticed a "blister" from a particularly "severe" ingrown toenail on her left big toe in September 2024. As she was visiting a poorly family member in hospital at the time, she asked doctors to take a look. Doctors revealed Lacey had a soft tissue infection - a bacterial infection in the deeper layers of the skin - so they "cut" into her toe. Lacey was also put on antibiotics as she is diabetic, which increases her risk of infection. Just days later the mum-of-three was shocked to discover that her toe needed to be after it became gangrenous - leaving her hours away from "losing her life". As her infection continued to worsen, she was forced to have three more surgeries including a transmetatarsal amputation, where all of her toes and half of her foot were removed, on April 11, 2025. Lacey is now in a wheelchair and will need a prosthetic foot if she has "any chance of walking" again. She urges people to "be careful with their feet" and to treat any issues "seriously" so they don't end up in her position. Lacey, who lives in Sumter, South Carolina, US, said: "I got ingrown toenails once a week, and have dealt with them my whole life. "I think it's just because of the way my toenails grow. It grows under instead of right across. Signs of serious diabetes foot problems "I would take care of them at home. I've never had to go to the doctors ever to get them looked at. "I never imagined this would happen. It was scary. It's mind blowing how it's all working out. It's such a common procedure, you wouldn't think it would go this wrong. "I was just in the hospital to [visit a family member]. I noticed around my toenail what looked like a blister and it had some pus in it. I showed [the nurse] and she said 'you're diabetic, let's get you checked out and make sure everything's okay'. "They said it was a soft tissue infection only, which is typical of an ingrown toenail. An orthopaedist came into the room and they cut my toe in several places and put packing in it. They did not cover it with gauze. I was septic and I was really close to losing my life. I was laying there thinking 'what are my kids going to do if I die' Lacey Shadrick "That Monday I was telling [my doctor] the pain was worse. On Wednesday the packing had pulled itself out by me walking on it. He said 'it looks like you've got an infection'. "When the MRI results came back, he flew into my room and he said 'We're cutting your toe off in the morning. You have gangrene'. I didn't even know gangrene was still a thing. "I was septic and I was really close to losing my life. The infection was in my bone marrow. I was laying there thinking 'what are my kids going to do if I die'. "It was a massive shock. Normally at home I'd just dig it out and put a band aid on it and that's all I had to do." 10 10 The former emergency medical dispatcher had her left big toe amputated on October 4, 2024 and was sent home - but claims her wound was not covered properly. However, Lacey was forced to have three more surgeries as the infection continued to spread. In April 2025, after visiting multiple hospitals, Lacey was told she had osteomyelitis, a bone infection usually caused by bacteria that can lead to bone death. She discovered she'd "crushed" all her toes just by walking due to the bone infection and needed a transmetatarsal amputation. I was extremely angry with what had happened. I'm trying to let go of that anger but it's really hard. Lacey Shadrick Lacey said: "My toes started looking really weird and I couldn't move them. Everybody was like 'your toe is broken' but I said 'there's something going on'. "[The doctor] did an MRI and said I had an infection and also the bones on all four of my toes were broken. Not just broken but crushed just by walking. My foot was a mangled mess on the inside. "He had to cut my calf open and attach my calf to my achilles tendon because my foot was turning inwards and was going to deform. "That's why we made the decision to do that transmetatarsal. It's so unfathomable for me I couldn't even wrap my head around it." 'This should never have happened' The parent revealed she is in a wheelchair for six weeks and will need to have a prosthetic foot in order to walk again. However, she doesn't have insurance so fears she won't be able to afford a prosthesis, which costs around $1,700. Lacey said: "I was extremely angry with what had happened. I'm trying to let go of that anger but it's really hard. This should never have happened. "I can't do anything at this point because I'm not allowed to put any weight on it in six weeks. I can't even begin to see what it's going to be like just yet. It's scary because I know it's going to be a big adjustment because I have no balance. "I'm an active person. I love being outside and I love playing sports but I'm on the sidelines at the moment. I'm scared because I don't know what the future's going to hold. How diabetes makes you more prone to infections High blood sugar - which happens with diabetes - adds stress to your body and makes nearly every system work harder. This includes the white blood cells of your immune system. If you have diabetes, your immune system might be weakened and less effective. High blood sugar can also trigger a protective immune response called inflammation, which can damage your internal organs over time. If you have inflammation, your immune system is working harder. When this happens while your immune system may already be weakened, it's harder to fight off infections. Research shows that people with diabetes can have more frequent illnesses like: Respiratory tract infections Flu Pneumonia Urinary tract infections (UTIs) Skin infections It may also take longer to heal or recover from illnesses, cuts, and wounds. "I know if I have any chance of walking, I'm going to need a prosthetic that goes inside my shoe. Without that I don't think I have an option to walk. All of it was so unexpected. You're never financially ready for it." The stay-at-home mum wants to share her story to urge others to "be careful with their feet" and "trust their bodies" if they think something is wrong. Lacey said: "Take things seriously and advocate for yourself because I would not be here if I did not. You know your body, trust your body. If you feel like you're not being heard, make sure to find someone that will. "Be careful with your feet as we take them for granted. I've seen the horror stories when you get a pedicure at the salon. "It's something women never really think about. Make sure you get your pedicure at places that are clean."
Politico
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Sumter's surprising decision
Good Wednesday morning! This seemed to come out of nowhere: Assemblymember Shavonda Sumter announced Tuesday she would not seek reelection in November. 'While I have been successful in amplifying the economy, health, social and restorative justice needs of the constituents in the district and those throughout the entire state throughout my tenure; the time now is to seek other opportunities where I may deploy my talents, gifts and skills,' Sumter said in a statement. It's not as though Sumter was tired of politics. She briefly put her name in for the House seat now occupied by Nellie Pou, and ran for Pou's seat in the state Senate, losing a special convention election by just one vote. And while Sumter's statement suggests she's seeking a new job, or perhaps in the process of getting it, last I checked she was and CEO of the Children's Aid and Families — a non-profit that paid her over $280,000 in 2023, according to its 990 form. The announcement was a surprise to me, but wasn't so much of a surprise to the Bergen and Passaic County Democratic chairs that they didn't have a replacement lined up: Passaic County Commissioner Orlando Cruz. Without a county line, we'll see if that endorsement wins it for him. There are already some other candidates. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Sadaf Jaffer, Ryn Melberg, Jonathan Pantano WHERE'S MURPHY? At Woodbury Junior-Senior High School at 10 a.m. for a budget announcement and to promote a ban on cell phones in schools. Media: 'Ask Governor Murphy' on News 12 at 4 p.m. QUOTE OF THE DAY: '"I'm not supporting any more of their nominees going forward.' — Sen. Andy Kim while expressing regret for voting to confirm Kristi Noem as Homeland Security secretary TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@ WHAT TRENTON MADE EDUCATION — 'N.J. schools rank among worst in U.S. in key area as kids recover from 'COVID slide',' by NJ Advance Media's Nyah Marshall: 'New Jersey ranked 43rd in the nation when it came to students improving their math scores between 2019 and 2024, according to the Education Recovery Scorecard released last week. The report, conducted by researchers from Harvard and Stanford universities, used test scores to measure how well students in grades 3 to 8 regained academic skills lost when schools were disrupted during the pandemic. The report also found New Jersey students ranked 24th in the nation in bouncing back on reading tests after COVID school disruptions. State Department of Education officials said the study's findings align with their projections based on statewide assessment scores. Efforts are underway to address performance gaps, state officials said.' POST-COVID, STUDENTS HAVE NO IDEA WHAT A PERCENTAGE IS — 'N.J. promises to cap school district funding cuts at 3% this year,' by NJ Advance Media's Brianna Kudsich: 'New Jersey school districts will not see their state aid decreased by more than 3% this year, state officials announced in a memo sent Tuesday. The cap on cuts is in stark contrast to last year when some school districts saw double digit decreases as the state fully implemented a new school funding formula. The memo sent to school districts Tuesday outlines the state funding reduction cap districts can expect for total state funding when creating their 2026 fiscal year budgets. 'This limit will apply to the four primary aid categories — equalization, special education, security, and transportation aid as calculated under the 'School Funding Reform Act of 2008,' the memo said. … One education advocate had a mixed reaction to the news of the cap on school funding cuts, saying the cap 'portends difficult times' for districts that might receive the full 3% reduction.' N.J.'S LONG TRADITION OF BAG MEN HAS BEEN THREATENED — 'Bring back plastic bags like Trump did for straws, N.J. lawmaker says,' by NJ Advance Media's Steven Rodas: 'Assemblyman John Azzariti Jr. (R-Bergen) announced on Monday legislation to repeal the law that restricts businesses from selling or distributing single-use plastic carryout bags, paper bags, polystyrene foam (similar to Styrofoam) service products and plastic straws. President Donald Trump signed an executive order in a similar vein in February: ending the federal procurement of paper straws. ... Although Azzariti's legislation was the first proposed since Trump's executive order, Republican lawmakers last January introduced a similar bill that hasn't moved. Jersey Shore groups say that after the ban beach sweeps have turned up less plastic trash and recycling centers point to fewer bags gumming up the works at facilities. In contrast, Azzariti said in a statement 'the unintended consequences of the law are starting to negate any environmental benefits. ... Just because your intuition tells you something is going to be true, science can prove you wrong.'' THE DAILY DODO — With newspaper legal notices deadline approaching, NJ poised to delay it again, by POLITICO's Matt Friedman: New Jersey lawmakers are preparing to punt for a second time on how governments publish legal notices, three weeks after the state's largest newspaper stopped printing. Legislation introduced last week, NJ A5343 (24R)/NJ S4136 (24R), would allow public bodies to continue publishing the notices in their designated 'official newspaper' until the end of the year, following a previous law that gave them a reprieve until March 1. The bill is already scheduled for hearings Thursday in the Assembly State and Local Government Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee. YOU WOKE UP THIS MORNING… — 'Requests for gun carry permits hit record highs in January,' by New Jersey Monitor's Nikita Biryukov: 'The number of New Jersey residents seeking permits to carry handguns has hit record levels two and a half years after a U.S. Supreme Court decision limited the state's ability to deny such applications. Authorities processed 4,282 applications for carry permits in January, the highest number on record, just months after exceeding 3,000 approved applications for the first time in October, according to data maintained by the state attorney general. In the two years before the Supreme Court ruling, the highest number of these applications in a given month was 102.' —'It can be a pain to get solar panels on your N.J. home. Lawmakers want to change that' —'N.J. civil rights groups mount campaign to pressure lawmakers on immigration protections' —'$6M+ in social equity tax funds sitting unspent, cannabis agency says' —'Smartphone users oblivious as they tap away their rights' —'Q&A: Can mediation really help to desegregate NJ schools?' —'Phil Murphy picks George Helmy for Rutgers University Board of Governors' —'Gingrich backs 'Trumpy mayor' Kranjac for governor' —'Burzichelli seeks BPU investigation of PJM's regional pricing system for electricity' —'Salem commissioner announces Assembly run in LD-3' TRUMP ERA THE FRESHMAN — ''We can heal this country, but only if we try': NJ's Andy Kim begins his Senate term,' by The Record's Katie Sobko: 'On a Tuesday in late January, Sen. Andy Kim arrived at his office to an onslaught of emails and calls from constituents worried about the federal funding freeze set to start in less than 12 hours. … From his temporary basement office in the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, he scrambled to a committee meeting, to the press conference, back to the committee meeting and then to a floor vote — all before lunch. … According to Kim, this is par for the course since he started his first full term at the beginning of the year. Kim had been appointed to fill the last few weeks of former Sen. Bob Menendez's term at the end of last year. As he begins his term in the Senate, Kim has found himself at the center of a dilemma facing members of his party not only in Congress, but at every level of government: Do they attempt to work with President Donald Trump? Or do they resist his agenda, which appears to be on course to try to radically reboot the federal government?' —''Call your congressman': NJ residents flood lawmakers' phone lines as Trump agenda unfolds' 'LGB' — THE STONEWALL RIOTERS WERE CHANTING 'LET'S GO BRANDON' — 'Black transgender NJ woman led the Stonewall Uprising. Now her family fights for her,' by The Asbury Park Press' Ilana Keller: 'The 1969 Stonewall Uprising was a turning point in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, and the protests at the Manhattan gay bar following a police raid were largely led by trans and queer people of color. Among them was Elizabeth native Marsha P. Johnson. Today, following the removal of references to transgender and queer people and history from the Stonewall National Monument website, it is Johnson's family left to fight. The references were scrubbed from the Stonewall website and other federal sites late last week following multiple executive orders from the Trump Administration that target the trans community. The Stonewall site now reads: 'The Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969 is a milestone in the quest for LGB civil rights and provided momentum for a movement.' ;This is not just an erasure of words — it is an erasure of history,' said James Carey, Johnson's cousin and president of the Marsha P. Johnson Family Foundation.' —'Medicaid is big target as Republicans look to slash social programs' —''Don't blame us for Trump,' say Arab, Muslim voters in New Jersey' —'Anti-Musk activists protest outside Kean's office' LOCAL INZELBUCKS — 'Lakewood Public Schools attorney makes millions in unusual, but lucrative, pay structure,' by The Asbury Park Press' Joe Strupp: 'Lakewood Schools now have their own $6 million man. Unlike the old 1970s television series starring Lee Majors, in which the U.S. government spent that amount to reassemble him after a crash, this big money moniker refers to how much taxpayers have compensated Lakewood Board of Education Attorney Michael Inzelbuch. Thanks to a generous and unique contract, he has been paid more than $6 million by the school district since 2017, far more than any other New Jersey public school lawyer, according to an analysis by the Asbury Park Press of his invoices obtained through the Open Public Records Act. For instance, Jersey City Public Schools, which has five times as many students as Lakewood, has spent $1.2 million on legal fees in the same period … The state agreed to loan the district $65 million, just a portion of the $104 million district leaders requested. Superintendent Laura Winters recently said more is still needed or the district may face a shortfall at the end of May.' TRY 'ABC123' — 'NJ prosecutor says Paterson councilman should go to jail over cellphone passcode dispute,' by The Paterson Press' Joe Malinconico: 'The New Jersey Attorney General's Office wants to send Paterson Councilman Michael Jackson to jail to force him to disclose the passcode for his personal cell phone that state investigators seized more than 600 days ago. Jackson has asserted for the past 14 months that he can't remember the phone's access code. Last year, the councilman provided the attorney general's office with some potential codes, but they did not work, officials said. Deputy Attorney General Frank Valdinoto last week disputed Jackson's professed memory loss, calling it 'a charade.' … Jackson's lawyer, Scott Finckenaur, countered that his client has offered sit down with state investigators to help them reset the passcode, but that the state has not taken him up on those offers. … Superior Court Judge Sohail Mohammed during a hearing on Feb. 12 called putting Jackson in jail 'a severe remedy' and asked the two sides to try some additional steps before he decides whether the councilman is deliberately defying a court order to provide the phone's code.' LETTING IT WATERSLIDE — '$100M Showboat waterpark building assessed at $376,600, now up for tax break,' by The Press of Atlantic City's Michelle Brunetti Post: 'City tax records show Bart Blatstein's Island Waterpark, described as a $100 million project, is assessed at only $376,600 for improvements. It apparently has not been reassessed since construction finished and the waterpark opened in July 2023 at the Showboat Resort Atlantic City. Now, City Council is contemplating giving the property a five-year tax abatement on improvements, without knowing what the real assessed value is. Council introduced an abatement ordinance last month, and it's expected to have its public hearing and final vote Wednesday. … If approved, the property would pay no taxes on improvements in the first year of the abatement, and payments would phase in with 20% in the second year, 40% in the third, 60% in the fourth and 80% in the fifth.' HOBOKEN COULD BENEFIT FROM TRUMP'S RUSSOPHILIA — 'Russo declares for mayor: 'I honestly think I'm the best suited to run' Hoboken,' by Hudson County View's John Heinis: 'Hoboken 3rd Ward Councilman Mike Russo has formally launched his bid for mayor after months of speculation, stating in an interview 'I honestly think I'm best suited to run this city.' Russo has been in the conversation for the non-partisan November 4th contest ever since he was re-elected with ease in 2023, showcasing a strong fundraising prowess ever since. With Councilwoman-at-Large Emily Jabbour and former U.S. Treasury official Dini Ajmani already declared, Russo is the third candidate to join the race.' — 'DEP approves Brownfield Development Area application for Atlantic City's Bader Field' —'Diane and Sharon 2 best friends' unlikely deaths renew fears of possible 'cancer cluster' in [Woodbridge]' —'Massive I-80 sinkhole that has closed eastbound lanes will take 3 weeks to repair' —'Jersey Shore lawmakers, Ocean County commissioners aim to recruit more EMT volunteers' —'Paterson's Hinchliffe will be home to new men's, women's USL pro soccer teams' —'[East Greenwich] woman's emotional support chickens land her in a legal battle' EVERYTHING ELSE THE STATEHOUSE ALWAYS WINS — ''Abusive' — The word that may put gambling VIP programs on trial,' by Casino Reports' Jeff Edelstein: 'One New Jersey lawyer is using a single word added to the state's Consumer Fraud Act in 2022 in an effort to stop online sportsbooks and casinos from what he sees as predatory behavior targeting problem gamblers. Matthew Litt, a Chesterfield attorney — who doubles as the town's mayor — has emerged as a leading figure in gambling addiction-related litigation, and he sees the addition of the word 'abusive' to the state's consumer protection laws as potentially transformative in court battles over VIP programs. ... Prior to the 2022 amendment, Litt explains, courts interpreted the Consumer Fraud Act narrowly. 'They've interpreted it to only mean something that's deceitful or misleading,' he said. 'The addition of the word 'abusive' sends the message to the courts that it's not just limited to something that's misleading or deceitful.' This distinction is crucial in cases involving agents for gambling firms' VIP programs, who Litt argues aren't necessarily deceiving customers, but rather exploiting their addiction.' LOL — @bern_hogan: 'Sources: @NYCMayor is considering Randy Mastro as a possible replacement for First Deputy Mayor or the other Dep Mayor departures.' —'Historian spent 15 years finding out how a Monmouth enslaver got away with murder in 1784' —'NJ Catholic diocese's moves to quash sex abuse investigations stir new pain | Opinion' —'Saved by an Army vet, a bald eagle named Freedom now calls a [Turtle Back Zoo] home' —'NJ pet store owner shot in face with crossbow weeks after bizarre parrot theft'
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
In surprise move, Shavonda Sumter won't run again for Assembly seat in Passaic County
PATERSON — Shavonda Sumter, who has served in the New Jersey Assembly since 2012, announced Tuesday she won't be running for re-election this year, a decision made a month after she fell short in getting picked to fill a vacant state senator seat. Political operatives called Sumter's announcement surprising, saying the news started to spread among insiders late Monday. But Democratic leaders didn't waste much time finding a replacement. Passaic County Commissioner Orlando Cruz emerged as the party leaders' choice on a ticket that would include two recent appointees — Benjie Wimberly running for Senate and former Paterson councilman Al Abdelaziz for Assembly. Sumter issued a statement highlighting what she described as achievements on economic, health, and social justice issues. 'The time is now to seek other opportunities where I may deploy my talents, gifts and skills,' Sumter said. Wimberly, who beat Sumter by one vote on Jan. 16 to gain the Senate seat, declined to comment on the Assemblywoman's announcement. The two of them have been Assembly colleagues and running mates, representing the state's 35th legislative district for more than a decade. The 35th district includes Paterson, Haledon, North Haledon, Prospect Park, Garfield, and Elmwood Park. Abdelaziz called Sumter 'a dedicated public servant and hard-working advocate.' He did not say who he would like to see become his running mate in the June primary and possibly November general election. Local politics: NJ prosecutor says Paterson councilman should go to jail over cellphone passcode dispute The primary will be complicated by candidates running on tickets with various gubernatorial hopefuls. Cruz, who is head of the Greater Paterson Chamber of Commerce, said he wanted to continued Sumter's 'advocacy for our constituents.' He said he appreciated the support he has been getting for the Assembly seat. 'Representing the district where I have built strong relationships across all communities is a privilege and a responsibility I do not take lightly,' Cruz said. 'As a proud Latino leader in a majority Latino district, I understand the challenges and opportunities facing our families.' Cruz, who has been on the county governing body for two years, said he would be committed to 'inclusivity.' 'If I am elected in the June primary and again in November,' Cruz said, 'I will fight every day for the issues that matter most — strong schools, safe neighborhoods, economic opportunity, and a better future for all.' This article originally appeared on Shavonda Sumter won't run again for NJ Assembly seat in Passaic County
