THE MONTHLY GLEANER | MAY 15 - JUNE 14, 2025 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS 3 Lester Hinds/Gleaner Writer NEW YORK: TWO JAMAICA-BORN women are seeking to make history in this year’s US off-year elections by winning the mayoralties of East Orange, New Jersey and Spring Valley in Rockland county, New York. Narda Morant, an educator and businesswoman, is seeking to become mayor of East Orange, while Darnett Davis, a childcare centre owner, is campaigning to become mayor of Spring Valley. If Morant won in New Jersey, she would become the first Jamaican and woman to be that city’s mayor. Davis would be the first woman of colour and the second person of Jamaican heritage to become mayor of the village of Spring Valley. Jamaicaborn Allan Thompson made history when he won to serve two terms as mayor of Spring Valley in the 1990s. Morant was born in Clarendon, Jamaica, but grew up in Porus, Manchester. She attended Porus Infant and Primary Schools before going on to Manchester High School. She left high school in third form for the United States in 1981 at age 14. She continued her education at Baruch College obtaining her degree in business administration and accounting. Shortly after graduating she moved to East Orange in New Jersey and later qualified as a certified teacher. Morant opened a restaurant in East Orange, Narda’s Restaurant, but was to spend the next 26 years in the classroom. She is also the owner of Narda’s Ginger Juice Bar. “My journey has always been grounded in service and I believe in giving back to my community,”she said. She told The Gleaner that East Orange faces deep systemic challenges, such as affordable housing, public parking, job creation and high property taxes. Morant said that as mayor she would champion public safety through community policing with open dialogue, and foster economic growth with an emphasis on supporting small businesses. Another of her platform issue is to ensure housing accessibility and transparency in governance. “I believe that East Orange needs a mayor who not only listens, but leads with heart. East Orange needs leadership that believes in equity, has integrity and does not practise politics ‘as usual’,” she said. She will contest the democratic primary elections on June 10, hoping to become the party’s standard-bearer in the November general elections. CALLED TO SERVE Davis was born in Content district, Hawkers Hall, St. Catherine. She attended St. Mary’s All-Age School and later St. Mary’s High School. She dropped out in third form after becoming pregnant. Davis, who has a sister who is currently a sitting member of the St. Catherine Parish Council, said that she worked as an inspector with the Transport Authority in Jamaica rising to the rank chief inspector. Davis told The Gleaner that she took a buy-out package from the Transport Authority and began her own taxi business. In 2004 she moved to the United States, ending up in Spring Valley, Rockland County. In 2009 she began a licensed childcare business in her home with 10 children. That business grew necessitating a move to a bigger space. “I had the opportunity to partner with the school district of central East Ramapo and the government’s pre-K programme. We are graduating some 47 students this year,” she told The Gleaner. She said that over the years, she had worked with officials of Spring Valley, State and federal-elected representatives, as well as several community organisations. “I looked at what is happening in the village and believe that this is a good time to run for mayor,” she said. The mayoral race will be an open contest as the current mayor is not seeking re-election. There are about five declared candidates for the position of mayor. Davis will be running on both the Democratic and Republican lines during the primary elections on June 24, 2025. She said that her priorities are affordable housing, infrastructure development and improvement, and a skill training centre for the youths. Crime is also another issue that she will tackle should she become mayor of the village. She will also seek to Ja-born women seek to make history in mayoral elections Narda Morant Darnett Davis CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS attract large scale investments to the village to provide jobs. Davis said that she wanted to make downtown Spring Valley a truly historic spot as most people do not know the history of the village. “I get many complaints from residents about the lack of service in the village and this should not be so. I want to change the culture so residents can rely on getting good service without the current delays,” said Davis. Davis said that she has spoken with former mayor Thompson to get his advice. “We are a family of service and I believe that I am called to serve my fellow villagers in this moment,” she told The Gleaner. moya.thomas@gleanerjm.com Moya Thomas anthony.smith@gleanerjm.com Anthony Smith - Chief Executive Officer
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUzNTI=