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20 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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In 2007 I was elected mayor of my home town, Leonia, N.J.
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I was so proud to have been elected mayor, and the significance of this honor was a very emotional experience for me.
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I had waited for many years to find a way to serve my town
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because its residents had rallied around me at a challenging time in my life, and I had wanted to offer my thanks through service.
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In 1979 when I was a young mother of two very small children, I came home one day to find a note on the table from my husband telling me that he was leaving our family.
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I had $35 in the bank, no job, and the rent was due.
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Within days, after I had told only one friend, the people of Leonia stepped up and came to my rescue.
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People provided me and my 5 month old son and 5 year old daughter with everything--from hot meals to clothing, to free babysitting--while I looked for a job;
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they offered comfort, support and friendships that I still hold dear today.
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In the years that followed, as I rebuilt my life, I was eager to give back to my community by volunteering with the sports boosters, the Home and School Association, the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and my church.
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The support and generosity of the people of Leonia enabled me to stay in the town I loved and raise my two children as a single mother.
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When I was approached to run for a term on the town council, I was very reluctant and was sure I would not win.
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With my strong desire to give back, however, I did decide to run, was victorious in that election and then again for two more terms for a total of 9 years.
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On January 5, 2008 I was inaugurated as Mayor and thus began my 4 years as the highest elected official of the town.
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It was a daunting task, but a challenge I looked forward to and felt ready to take on.
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As mayor of the town, some of my duties included running the Town Council meetings twice a month, attending meetings as the liaison and or member to boards and commissions such as the Planning board, the Library board the Shade tree commission, Environmental Commission, and more.
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I also held office hours every Tuesday afternoon from 4-8 and would meet with any residents who wished to speak to me.
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There were various town events, and some of my fondest memories including things like lighting the tree in the center of town, the Easter egg hunt, the baseball/softball parade in which I got to throw out the first softball, the opening day of soccer and the Halloween parade.
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I also had the honor and pleasure of performing many wedding ceremonies and civil unions.
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I suppose as an educator and lover of children, I was especially fond of those experiences that involved children.
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While serving as mayor, I have been teaching music education at the Dwight Englewood School for 33 years.
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The students in my very first kindergarten are now 38 years, old, many of whom are married and parents, and we are still in touch.
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One day I received a call from the Leonia elementary school’s librarian who asked me to read to the children in honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday.
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I was very excited about this, since not only did I love to read to children, but I was really looking forward to having the children ask me questions about my job as mayor, or anything related to the governance of the town.
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I was also very proud to serve as a role model to young girls, since more often men are involved in elected office.
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(In fact, in the 346 year history of Leonia, I am only the second woman to serve as mayor)
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When I arrived at the library, the librarian informed me that the children would be arriving in approximately 15 minutes.
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She showed me around, we talked about which story I planned to read, and I shared with her that I was an elementary school music teacher and used to working with young children.
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A few minutes later, the children were lining up outside the library door, waiting for the librarian to welcome them in.
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I could see some of their excited expressions as they were peering in the room anticipating the moment when they would meet the mayor.
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I stood at the door getting ready to greet the children; the librarian stepped outside the door, and I heard her explain to the children that the mayor was here and that they needed to enter the room quietly and respectfully.
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I was very excited, and I couldn’t wait to meet all the children.
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There I was- in my suit jacket proudly displaying my Mayor of Leonia lapel pin, eagerly waiting that moment when the first young student would enter.
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The door opened, I took a deep breath, I stood up tall and proud…and then it happened.
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The first child, a young boy, stepped into the library. I looked at him, held out my hand and said: “Good morning, I’m Mayor Heveran.”
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He took one look at me, staring with complete and utter confoundedness, then turned around to the child behind him and said: “The Mayor’s a Girl… pass it down!”
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So, indeed, my friends, the Mayor is a Girl,
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though I hadn’t phrased it quite that way myself!
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Today, in 2014, many important people are girls, and girls are many important people.
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I am glad that I had the opportunity to be the Mayor, and to be a girl!!
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