Leanna Brown
Encyclopedia
Leanna Brown is an American
Republican Party
politician
who served in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature
, where she represented the 26th Legislative District
. She was the first Republican woman elected to the New Jersey Senate
.
Born Leanna Cawley Young, she is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harold H. Young. Her father was a partner at the New York brokerage firm of Eastman Dillon. She attended the Northfield School for Girls (now part of Northfield Mount Hermon School) in Gill, Massachusetts
, graduating in 1952. After graduating from Smith College
in 1956, she married William Stanley Brown, who had attended the Mount Hermon School and Yale University
and would go on to be a scientist at Bell Labs
.
Brown and her husband are longtime residents of Chatham Borough, New Jersey
. She spent four years writing test questions for Educational Testing Service
outside Princeton, New Jersey
before the birth of her two sons. She became active in local politics, serving on the Chatham Borough Council from 1969 to 1972. In 1972 she was elected to serve on the Morris County
Board of Chosen Freeholders
. She was named freeholder director in 1976 and president of the New Jersey Association of Counties in 1978.
In 1980 she won a special election to an unexpired term in the New Jersey General Assembly
, and she was re-elected the following year. In 1983, she challenged her former running-mate, James P. Vreeland
, for the Republican nomination for State Senate in the 26th Legislative District
. She won the primary in what the Philadelphia Daily News
described as a "stunning upset" and was elected to the State Senate, becoming the first woman from the Republican Party to serve in the upper house of the State Legislature.
In 1989 she formed an exploratory committee to consider becoming a candidate for Governor of New Jersey
. She ultimately decided against running in the Republican primary, which was won by Jim Courter
.
In 1993, Brown resigned from the State Senate when she was appointed to the New Jersey Casino Control Commission
, initially to serve out the unexpired term of Charles J. Irwin. Assemblymember Robert Martin was chosen to fill Brown's vacancy in the Senate. The following year she was named by Governor Christine Todd Whitman
to a full five-year term on the Commission, serving until 1999.
Brown and her husband founded Brown Global Enterprises, a small import-export business focusing on trade in African art. In 2001 she volunteered to work on the transition team for President George W. Bush
. In May 2007 she was appointed by Bush to serve on the President's Commission on White House Fellowships.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who served in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature
New Jersey Legislature
The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...
, where she represented the 26th Legislative District
26th Legislative District (New Jersey)
New Jersey's 26th Legislative District is one of 40 in the state, covering the Morris County municipalities of Butler Borough, Chatham Borough, East Hanover Township, Florham Park Borough, Hanover Township, Kinnelon Borough, Lincoln Park Borough, Montville Township, Morris Plains Borough,...
. She was the first Republican woman elected to the New Jersey Senate
New Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
.
Born Leanna Cawley Young, she is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harold H. Young. Her father was a partner at the New York brokerage firm of Eastman Dillon. She attended the Northfield School for Girls (now part of Northfield Mount Hermon School) in Gill, Massachusetts
Gill, Massachusetts
Gill is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, USA. The population was 1,363 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, graduating in 1952. After graduating from Smith College
Smith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
in 1956, she married William Stanley Brown, who had attended the Mount Hermon School and Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
and would go on to be a scientist at Bell Labs
Bell Labs
Bell Laboratories is the research and development subsidiary of the French-owned Alcatel-Lucent and previously of the American Telephone & Telegraph Company , half-owned through its Western Electric manufacturing subsidiary.Bell Laboratories operates its...
.
Brown and her husband are longtime residents of Chatham Borough, New Jersey
Chatham Borough, New Jersey
Chatham is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 8,962.The village that now is Chatham first was settled by Europeans in 1710 in Morris Township, within the Province of New Jersey...
. She spent four years writing test questions for Educational Testing Service
Educational Testing Service
Educational Testing Service , founded in 1947, is the world's largest private nonprofit educational testing and assessment organization...
outside Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
before the birth of her two sons. She became active in local politics, serving on the Chatham Borough Council from 1969 to 1972. In 1972 she was elected to serve on the Morris County
Morris County, New Jersey
Morris County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, about west of New York City. According to the United States 2010 Census, the population was 492,276. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Morristown....
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...
. She was named freeholder director in 1976 and president of the New Jersey Association of Counties in 1978.
In 1980 she won a special election to an unexpired term in the New Jersey General Assembly
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
, and she was re-elected the following year. In 1983, she challenged her former running-mate, James P. Vreeland
James P. Vreeland
James P. Vreeland is an American Republican Party politician who served four terms in the New Jersey Senate. He served in office from 1974 to 1984, representing the 24th Legislative District until 1982, and then served one term representing the 26th Legislative District.-Political career:Vreeland's...
, for the Republican nomination for State Senate in the 26th Legislative District
26th Legislative District (New Jersey)
New Jersey's 26th Legislative District is one of 40 in the state, covering the Morris County municipalities of Butler Borough, Chatham Borough, East Hanover Township, Florham Park Borough, Hanover Township, Kinnelon Borough, Lincoln Park Borough, Montville Township, Morris Plains Borough,...
. She won the primary in what the Philadelphia Daily News
Philadelphia Daily News
The Philadelphia Daily News is a tabloid newspaper that serves Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The newspaper is owned by Philadelphia Media Holdings which also owns Philadelphia's other major newspaper The Philadelphia Inquirer. The Daily News began publishing on March 31, 1925, under...
described as a "stunning upset" and was elected to the State Senate, becoming the first woman from the Republican Party to serve in the upper house of the State Legislature.
In 1989 she formed an exploratory committee to consider becoming a candidate for Governor of New Jersey
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...
. She ultimately decided against running in the Republican primary, which was won by Jim Courter
Jim Courter
James Andrew "Jim" Courter is an American Republican Party politician, lawyer and businessman. He is a resident of Hackettstown, New Jersey.-Biography:He was born October 14, 1941 in Montclair, New Jersey...
.
In 1993, Brown resigned from the State Senate when she was appointed to the New Jersey Casino Control Commission
New Jersey Casino Control Commission
The Casino Control Commission is a New Jersey state governmental agency that was founded in 1977 as the state's gaming control board, responsible for administering the Casino Control Act and its regulations to assure public trust and confidence in the credibility and integrity of the casino...
, initially to serve out the unexpired term of Charles J. Irwin. Assemblymember Robert Martin was chosen to fill Brown's vacancy in the Senate. The following year she was named by Governor Christine Todd Whitman
Christine Todd Whitman
Christine Todd "Christie" Whitman is an American Republican politician and author who served as the 50th Governor of New Jersey from 1994 to 2001, and was the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in the administration of President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2003. She was New...
to a full five-year term on the Commission, serving until 1999.
Brown and her husband founded Brown Global Enterprises, a small import-export business focusing on trade in African art. In 2001 she volunteered to work on the transition team for President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
. In May 2007 she was appointed by Bush to serve on the President's Commission on White House Fellowships.