Bernadette P. McPherson
Encyclopedia
Bernadette P. McPherson is an American Democratic Party
politician
from New Jersey
, who has served on the Bergen County
Board of Chosen Freeholders
since 2002, and served as the Board's Freeholder Chairwoman through the 2006 term. She was Mayor
of Rutherford, New Jersey
from 2000 to 2007.
on the North Jersey Transportation Authority.
In 1999, McPherson was elected Councilwoman in the Borough of Rutherford
. She served as the first woman Fire Department Liaison. She served as Mayor since January 2000, and continued to serve until January 2008 when John F. Hipp took her position as mayor. In 2001, Governor
James McGreevey appointed her to his transition team. In Rutherford's 2007 mayoral election, McPherson was defeated in a landslide by environmental attorney John F. Hipp, a Republican, with votes tallying 3,605 to 1,570.
McPherson was one of New Jersey's presidential electors casting the state's Electoral College
votes after the 2004 presidential election
. New Jersey's electors cast their ballots on December 13, 2004 in the State House Annex, in Trenton
, where all 15 votes were cast for the Democratic Party
candidate John Kerry
.
McPherson served as Vice-Chairperson to the Coalition for Public Health and Safety, a bipartisan group of thirteen South Bergen towns focusing on health and quality of life issues in the area surrounding Teterboro Airport
.
McPherson graduated Magna Cum Laude from La Salle University
with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and English in 1983. She attended both Seton Hall University School of Law
and Temple University Beasley School of Law
where she earned her J.D.
in 1986. She has lived in Rutherford since 1987 with her husband David, an attorney, and their four children.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, who has served on the Bergen County
Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County is the most populous county of the state of New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 905,116. The county is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Hackensack...
Board of Chosen Freeholders
Board of Chosen Freeholders
In New Jersey, the Boards of Chosen Freeholders are the county legislatures in each of that state's 21 counties.- Origin :New Jersey's system of naming county legislators "freeholders" is unique in the United States...
since 2002, and served as the Board's Freeholder Chairwoman through the 2006 term. She was Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Rutherford, New Jersey
Rutherford, New Jersey
Rutherford is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 18,061. It is an inner-ring suburb of New York City, located west of Midtown Manhattan....
from 2000 to 2007.
Biography
As Freeholder, McPherson chairs the following Freeholder Committees: Cultural and Historical Affairs, Law and Public Safety and Personnel. McPherson is a member of the Budget and Finance, Parks and Public Works and Planning and Economic Development Committees while also serving as Board member on the Board of Social Services, the New Jersey Association of Counties and as an alternate to County Executive Dennis McNerneyDennis McNerney
Dennis McNerney is an American Democratic Party politician who served as the County Executive of Bergen County, New Jersey from 2003 to 2011.McNerney was raised in Teaneck, New Jersey, attending a Catholic grammar school in neighboring Bogota...
on the North Jersey Transportation Authority.
In 1999, McPherson was elected Councilwoman in the Borough of Rutherford
Rutherford, New Jersey
Rutherford is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 18,061. It is an inner-ring suburb of New York City, located west of Midtown Manhattan....
. She served as the first woman Fire Department Liaison. She served as Mayor since January 2000, and continued to serve until January 2008 when John F. Hipp took her position as mayor. In 2001, Governor
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
James McGreevey appointed her to his transition team. In Rutherford's 2007 mayoral election, McPherson was defeated in a landslide by environmental attorney John F. Hipp, a Republican, with votes tallying 3,605 to 1,570.
McPherson was one of New Jersey's presidential electors casting the state's Electoral College
United States Electoral College
The Electoral College consists of the electors appointed by each state who formally elect the President and Vice President of the United States. Since 1964, there have been 538 electors in each presidential election...
votes after the 2004 presidential election
United States presidential election, 2004
The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator...
. New Jersey's electors cast their ballots on December 13, 2004 in the State House Annex, in Trenton
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
, where all 15 votes were cast for the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
candidate John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
.
McPherson served as Vice-Chairperson to the Coalition for Public Health and Safety, a bipartisan group of thirteen South Bergen towns focusing on health and quality of life issues in the area surrounding Teterboro Airport
Teterboro Airport
Teterboro Airport is a general aviation relief airport located in the Boroughs of Teterboro, Moonachie, and Hasbrouck Heights in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. It is owned and operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey...
.
McPherson graduated Magna Cum Laude from La Salle University
La Salle University
La Salle University is a private, co-educational, Roman Catholic university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Named for St. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, the school was founded in 1863 by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. As of 2008 the school has approximately 7,554...
with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and English in 1983. She attended both Seton Hall University School of Law
Seton Hall University School of Law
The Seton Hall University School of Law is part of Seton Hall University, and is located in downtown Newark, New Jersey. Seton Hall Law School is the only private law school in New Jersey, and is the top-ranked of the three law schools in the state...
and Temple University Beasley School of Law
Temple University Beasley School of Law
The Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law is the law school and a constituent academic unit of Temple University. Informally referred to as Temple Law School, the school is located at the Main Campus of Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Temple University James E...
where she earned her J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
in 1986. She has lived in Rutherford since 1987 with her husband David, an attorney, and their four children.