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John Currie, the Passaic County Democratic Chairman and former State Democratic Chairman, was honored Wednesday morning with a street naming ceremony. Matlock and Temple Street now bears the name of “Chairman John Currie Way” not far from where he grew up in the City of Paterson.
The occasion also happened to fall on the chairman’s birthday, with the icing on the proverbial cake being his ascent up a ladder to unveil the street sign with his name at the end of the hour-long ceremony.
Currie, named as the Passaic County “champion of civil rights” by the freeholder board in 2017, received this honor through a City of Paterson council resolution in June. Although Currie was born in North Carolina, he went to Paterson schools before graduating from Rutgers. Currie has served as the county’s Democratic chairman for 27 years, the first Black Passaic County chairman and second county chairman in the state as a whole. Currie was succeeded as State Democratic Chairman by Essex County Chairman Leroy Jones. Currie’s tenure as a Passaic County powerhouse saw the formerly Republican stronghold on the freeholder board switch to a Democratic fortress and few Democratic figures in the county were absent from the ceremony honoring their great patron. Congressman Bill Pascrell and Josh Gottheimer were also among the attendees, bringing federal representation for Currie’s hometown laurels.
Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh served as emcee for the ceremony, which began with a moment of silence in recognition of New Jersey’s late lieutenant governor, Sheila Oliver, who died on August 1. The function honoring Currie was marked with prayers and remarks from colleagues in the political world, as well as from his own family.
“He made history here in Passaic County,” Sayegh said, “when he became the first African American to be our county chair of the Democratic Party and then he also came to be on the state level. We mentioned Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver. Under his leadership, she became our lieutenant governor. We also have an African American United States Senator in Cory Booker. He took congressional seats that once were Republican and made sure that there were Democrats representing those districts. Our chairman has given so much to so many for so long and asked for so little.”
Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter (LD-35) took the podium to praise the chairman and extol the virtues of Paterson pride. “We need to remind ourselves that there is greatness in Paterson. This young man spent his summers not in the Caribbean, but in the south, with his grandmother. When you talk about humble beginnings, that man is John Currie. When you talk about being an example, not only on the sports field, but think about a young man from Paterson with humble beginnings, spent some time at Roberts and then goes to Hawthorne Chevrolet and becomes the top Corvette salesman in the country.”
Sumter said that Currie had lived a life devoted to public service. “All of those who are touched by John Currie,” she continued, “he tells us all to make sure we take care of people first. It’s not about having a title. The other piece that’s important about today, not only is it his birthday, but it’s important for us to recognize our leaders, while they’re here, to give them their roses so they can smell them and enjoy them. I want to thank the Mayor and the City Council for not finding it robbery to remember John Currie, who never asked for awards or platitudes, but shows up for all of us in a great way each and every day.”
Paterson Council Vice-President Alex Mendez rose to express his gratitude for Currie’s services to the community and the party. “Today we’re making history. Today is a very special day, but it’s also a very emotional day, Mr. Mayor, because the man that we honored today impact the lives of so many people in our community and opened the door for so many leaders to serve at the local, state, and national level. Mr. Chairman, you impact the lives of millions of people in this nation. When I say thank you, thank you for dedicating your life to this community. Thank you for the job that you have done in the city. We love you and may God continue to bless you.”
Councilman “Al” Abdelaziz said that there was a battle in the Council as to whom would be the sponsor of the bill to honor Currie. “When I sponsored this resolution, Chairman, there was a fight. But it was a good fight. Everyone wanted to jump on this legislation as a sponsor and that’s says a lot about you, Chairman.”
Commissioner Louis Stellato, former Bergen County Democratic Chairman, shared jokes and stories of his work with Currie over the years, including football tales from his school days. “You have made New Jersey a better place, northern New Jersey a better place, Passaic County is a better place, as is Paterson. God bless you.”
Reverend Idida Rodriguez spoke, hailing the chairman. She thanked him for his support for her work, both as an activist and within public life, saying he was one of the greatest leaders in the state. “I know we always haven’t seen eye to eye. Politically, I have to thank you because you gave me the opportunity to shine. You gave me endorsements to go up and down this state, from north to south from east to west, and do what I do best as an operative, not only in the Hispanic community, but as a statewide operative, and an advisor to many campaigns.” She added that Currie’s presence at her mother’s funeral, in the middle of a strongly contested sheriff’s campaign, gave her the strength she needed to keep going through that day.
Currie’s son Derek spoke glowingly of his father and his leadership example, as a coach, a businessman, and as a party chairman. “My father, since the beginning before my brother and I were being coached by him on the football field, was coaching the youth of Paterson. He was always trying to make a difference. He was always trying to make it better for the people around him. So, his coaching ended, and he went the politics.” Of his father, Derek said he thought it was “crazy” that he assumed the State Democratic Chairmanship at the peak of Governor Chris Christie’s time in office. “I learned that my father was going to be the chairman of the Democratic Party for the state. So, selfishly, I asked my father, ‘why would you do that now? What kind of crazy person in this position near end? I don’t think we have a fighting chance.’ My father’s response was, ‘Derek, you have to look out for people and this is time for us to unify the party and look forward.’ This concern wasn’t about being on top always and oftentimes, he wasn’t on top. But because of many of you, his leadership, your support, he was able to get there.”
Since it was also his father’s birthday, Derek added, “Today, you guys are taking me off the hook because if you get a street for your birthday, that means I’m off the hook for gifts.”
When Currie himself came up to the podium to speak, he thanked those there for giving him the opportunities throughout his life to travel across the country and become an instrumental player in politics. “We must continue to look out for our youth, our seniors, and we particularly as Democrats work to see that that happened each and every day. I am honored because of you and the position you guys have put me… We still have work to do. We have an important election come November and people say it’s an off year, I’m going to say it is the best year, because I need to count on each and every one of you to see that we get to vote out at Passaic County and in the state so we continue the progress and success. When Phil Murphy became governor in ’18, we had a bond rating that had 11 downgrades and Paterson education was underfunded by $280 million. Phil Murphy noticed and said we’re going to bring a fairer and stronger New Jersey to the people. He’s done that for years and now we want to move forward for the next four. But we still have a lot of work to do. I want to thank each and every one of you.”
“Chairman Currie is a determined, passionate individual who believes in strong values,” Women Empowered Democratic Organization of Passaic County President Joanne Graziano told Insider NJ. “It has always been an honor and a pleasure to work with him. He doesn’t stop. He knows his limitations but continues to exceed them. I am honored to be with him, and it’s always been great working with him. We’ve all had our ups and downs and John Currie has come a long way within the county of Passaic, the state of New Jersey, and the United States of America.”
“I think John Currie is living proof of the saying ‘it doesn’t matter where you begin, it’s how you end up’,” Passaic County Commissioner Cassandra “Sandi” Lazzara said to Insider NJ. “He has determination and perseverance, and everything in him risen to the very top in my opinion, and in the opinion of all the many people that are here today.”
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