MBA Tennille McCoy of Hamilton, formerly of the Murphy Administration, who has considerable experience in state government, is running for the open LD-14 Assembly seat created by Dan Benson moving to run for the office of Mercer County executive office.

“I respectfully write to you for your consideration and support in advance of my announcement to
pursue the nomination for the vacated Assembly seat in the 14th Legislative District,” wrote McCoy in a Feb. 15th letter circulating among committee people.

McCoy said she has a firm belief that her education, professional experiences, and community
involvement will contribute to significantly representing the needs of the constituents of the 14th District.

“Investing more in public safety, addressing the pressing issues facing our community such as economic development, and closing talent gaps while working to keep our tax burden low are at the forefront of my agenda. Suppose I am fortunate enough to win this nomination, you will have my commitment to work tirelessly to bring more resources and investments into our district and to collaborate with partners across the state to identify strategies to ensure a sustainable future. I believe that by forming strong partnerships with stakeholders across sectors, we can achieve greater impact and create lasting change. I value your input and advice on the district’s strategic plan and ask for your support.”

McCoy has deep roots in the community she hopes to serve in the Legislature.

“My father, Samuel McCoy III, was a steelworker with United Steelworkers of America, a small business owner, and a baseball coach for 40 years with North Trenton Little league. My mother, Toni McCoy, was a shop steward for Communication Workers of America. Together they taught me lessons around fairness, equity, and compassion, along with the value of coalition building and organizing. More importantly, their unwavering support has given me the strength and confidence to face any challenges with integrity and resilience.”

McCoy said her passion for learning started as a student in the Hamilton Public School system.

She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration from Virginia State University, and pursued her Master’s Degree in Management and Employee Relations at Rutgers University, where she studied abroad in China and India.

“I am honored to have formerly served as President of the Rutgers School of Management Alumni Association, and a former member of the RUAA Board of Directors,” wrote the Democratic candidate. “Most recently, I completed a Global MBA with the TRIUM Program, an alliance between the London School of Economics, New York University Stern School of Business, and HEC Paris.

“My professional experiences focus on high-growth initiatives and span across geographies and
industries, including government, financial services, sports and entertainment, real estate, and food manufacturing. As a management professional, I am recognized for my strong negotiation skills and dedication to corporate social and environmental responsibility. My skill set includes converting strategic plans into tactical reality and devising programs to maximize profits. I have a proven track record of building high-performance teams that center around diversity and mentorship to prepare organizations for the future. I recently served under sixth Governor as the Assistant Commissioner of Human Capital Strategies and Project Management Lead for Public Apprenticeships to the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. I was honored to contribute to the Murphy-Oliver administration and continue my great-grandfather Samuel McCoy’s legacy, who proudly served Governor Woodrow Wilson as the State House elevator operator. I am now the Chief Human Capital Officer for a Global Organization, and a licensed realtor for Berkshire Fox and Roach.”

The Founder and CEO of the Samuel McCoy III Scholarship Fund aims to support youth
through educational and wellness-driven activities and provides financial support to students in pursuit of higher education.

“My organization’s proudest event continues to be the Juneteenth Cycle Ride where over 500 cyclists make their way through Hamilton, West Windsor, Hopewell, Ewing, Lawrence, and
Trenton in honor of the Juneteenth federal holiday and to support health and wellness through cycling. I am also the Co-Founder of the New Jersey Black Women’s Collective, an advocacy organization for black women leaders in New Jersey, who will be holding its first Women’s History Program in March.

“These roles, in addition to my active involvement with Dress for Success and service on the Mercer County Technical Schools Board, Robert Wood Johnson Hospital Foundation Board, and in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, fuel my passion is to improve the standard of living for those we serve,” McCoy added.