Dr. Paul Enters Council Race
July 03, 2007 |
Interviews
It appears that Councilman Jack Drakeford has some
competition for the 4th Ward Council seat this
November.
Democrat Dierdre Glenn Paul, a Montclair State University Professor and 14-year resident of Englewood, has successfully filed petitions to run as an Independent. Dr. Paul is an acknowledged authority in the field of education, schooling, and literacy. Her latest book is entitled Talkin' Back: Raising and Educating Resilient Black Girls.
Dr. Paul is not new to handling conflict, bureaucracy or management, having administrative and leadership experience as a union leader, department chairperson, keynote speaker and academic presenter. She has won elections before, having served as Grievance Chairperson, Acting President and currently, President of the Montclair State University Federation of Teachers. Dierdre was recently elected to a second term as the Executive Vice President of the Councilof New Jersey State College Locals.
Recently, we had a chance to ask Dr. Paul about her decision to run for city council. Here is our exchange:
The Englewood Report: Dr. Paul, thank you for joining us. Could you tell us about yourself and what prompted you to run for the 4th Ward Council position?
Dierdre Glenn Paul: There was no particular occurrence that prompted me to run. Instead, it would more appropriately be described as a culmination of events. For the past five years, I have been actively engaged in raising my two young children as a divorced, single parent, teaching my classes, and serving as a MSUFT Local 1904 union officer representing more than 750 faculty, professional staff, and librarians.
At the same time, I listened to Ward 4 residents who felt that their needs were not being addressed and I read stories in the newspapers about increasing gang violence and the jeopardy in which our young people find themselves throughout the City. I closely monitored the construction of Towne Centre and the debacle of the illegal 5th Floor in the "Suburbanite" and talked to local women who were impacted by the development. One was given $5,000 and a time frame to vacate. The other worried about the anticipated arrival of the time when she would be asked to abandon her business on Humphrey Street. I was particularly struck by those women because they felt they had no recourse and they certainly did not see local government as a possible source of assistance and/or protection.
I have now reached a point at which I've come to realize that it is up to me to shape the type of community in which I want to raise my children. The same skills that I developed and effectively used as a Union leader can also be used to improve the quality of life in the
community I love, the community in which my children have lived all of their lives.
The Englewood Report: Having witnessed the nastiness of the last few Englewood campaigns, are you prepared for the onslaught of personal attacks that could come your way?
Dierdre Glenn Paul: Yes, I am aware of the smear campaigns of the recent past and I have even experienced some as I successfully ran for office within the Union structure several times thus far. Yet, I am a 42-year-old, divorced, single parent who also happens to be a Black woman. There have been a number of challenges that life has thrown my way, but strong faith and a belief in God have consistently seen me through, as will be the case in this instance, as well.
My focus is on providing the Fourth Ward with the strong and effective advocacy it needs, as well as representing all of the Ward's citizens. I want the opportunity to restore pride and respect to the Fourth Ward. Ward Four needs a hands-on representative who will actively assist all residents in accomplishing their goals and improving the quality of their everyday lives. The people of Ward Four need to see their representative and be able to easily contact her whenever they need her.
Democrat Dierdre Glenn Paul, a Montclair State University Professor and 14-year resident of Englewood, has successfully filed petitions to run as an Independent. Dr. Paul is an acknowledged authority in the field of education, schooling, and literacy. Her latest book is entitled Talkin' Back: Raising and Educating Resilient Black Girls.
Dr. Paul is not new to handling conflict, bureaucracy or management, having administrative and leadership experience as a union leader, department chairperson, keynote speaker and academic presenter. She has won elections before, having served as Grievance Chairperson, Acting President and currently, President of the Montclair State University Federation of Teachers. Dierdre was recently elected to a second term as the Executive Vice President of the Councilof New Jersey State College Locals.
Recently, we had a chance to ask Dr. Paul about her decision to run for city council. Here is our exchange:
The Englewood Report: Dr. Paul, thank you for joining us. Could you tell us about yourself and what prompted you to run for the 4th Ward Council position?
Dierdre Glenn Paul: There was no particular occurrence that prompted me to run. Instead, it would more appropriately be described as a culmination of events. For the past five years, I have been actively engaged in raising my two young children as a divorced, single parent, teaching my classes, and serving as a MSUFT Local 1904 union officer representing more than 750 faculty, professional staff, and librarians.
At the same time, I listened to Ward 4 residents who felt that their needs were not being addressed and I read stories in the newspapers about increasing gang violence and the jeopardy in which our young people find themselves throughout the City. I closely monitored the construction of Towne Centre and the debacle of the illegal 5th Floor in the "Suburbanite" and talked to local women who were impacted by the development. One was given $5,000 and a time frame to vacate. The other worried about the anticipated arrival of the time when she would be asked to abandon her business on Humphrey Street. I was particularly struck by those women because they felt they had no recourse and they certainly did not see local government as a possible source of assistance and/or protection.
I have now reached a point at which I've come to realize that it is up to me to shape the type of community in which I want to raise my children. The same skills that I developed and effectively used as a Union leader can also be used to improve the quality of life in the
community I love, the community in which my children have lived all of their lives.
The Englewood Report: Having witnessed the nastiness of the last few Englewood campaigns, are you prepared for the onslaught of personal attacks that could come your way?
Dierdre Glenn Paul: Yes, I am aware of the smear campaigns of the recent past and I have even experienced some as I successfully ran for office within the Union structure several times thus far. Yet, I am a 42-year-old, divorced, single parent who also happens to be a Black woman. There have been a number of challenges that life has thrown my way, but strong faith and a belief in God have consistently seen me through, as will be the case in this instance, as well.
My focus is on providing the Fourth Ward with the strong and effective advocacy it needs, as well as representing all of the Ward's citizens. I want the opportunity to restore pride and respect to the Fourth Ward. Ward Four needs a hands-on representative who will actively assist all residents in accomplishing their goals and improving the quality of their everyday lives. The people of Ward Four need to see their representative and be able to easily contact her whenever they need her.
