Merz Honored With Governor's Award

Jefferson Township councilwoman Debi Merz was recognized as a community pillar at the New Jersey State Governor's Jefferson Awards dinner reception and awards ceremony at The Newark Museum.   

Merzi is currently serving her fourth term as a Jefferson Township councilwoman and is a member of the township's Republican County Committee. She was a member of the Board of Education from 1989-1996.

 She was appointed to the Municipal Alliance for a Drug Free Community, being a member/volunteer since 1991, and currently is the co-chair. She has trained in ACT and 40 Development Assets.  

She is also involved in the Morris County Human Services Advisory Council, the Morris County Community Development Revenue Sharing Committee and a member of the Jefferson Township Planning Board 1989 to present.

Some of Merz's other activities include:

• Council liaison to the Liquor License Review Committee, the Capital Improvement Plan, Emergency Services and Emergency Management, and the Finance Committee.
• Served on the Jefferson Township Library Board.
• Active member of the Jefferson Arts Committee for over 20 years and serves as Chair of the Finance Committee overseeing the budget of the non-profit committee and their dependent groups under their umbrella, belongs to the fundraising committee, and is, once again this year, spending her entire day at the Jefferson Day celebration, helping with all the announcements that will be made from the main stage that day starting at 9 a.m. and going into the evening prior to the fireworks.
• Member of the Oak Ridge Presbyterian Church for 33 years, is an elder with the church, Steering Committee member of the Presbyterian Women, and a former Sunday School teacher.
• Recently stepped down after 10 years as Recording Secretary of the Jefferson Township Republican Club but continues as a member of that organization as she has been for the past 15 years.
• Is in her first year as the Recording Secretary of the Morris County Women’s Republican Club, but is a 10-year member.
• Former Fundraising Chair of the Milton Recreation Association and Softball Coach.
• Former Assistant Cheerleading Coach of the Jefferson Jets.
• Over 25 years as a leader/co-leader and cookie chairman of the Jefferson Girl Scouts (from 1974 – 1994).
• Former Jefferson Township High School Athletic Booster Club member and officer.
• One of the founding members of the Jefferson Township Middle School PTA and a past treasurer.
• Co-chaired the Bicycle Safety Helmet Campaign, which brought about a township ordinance and state laws.
• Life Member of the Milton Tri-School PTA and a Past President.
• Conducted the first Red Ribbon Campaign and brought DARE to the attention of the Jefferson Township police and schools. 
• Chaired Book Fairs, Kiddie Korp, Library Volunteers, and was a Class President Coordinator.
• Previous member of the Blue Knights Motorcycle Club and the original Make-A-Wish Committee.
• Active Member of the Jefferson Township Domestic Violence Team trained as a Crisis Response Person.
• Currently President of the Picatinny Toastmaster Group and a member there for 12 years.
• Spearheaded numerous fundraising activity/drives for township residents suffering loss of homes due to fires and severe illnesses. 
• Township coordinator for the Ovarian Cancer Awareness Campaign.
• Member of task force on Mental Health and Stigma for Community Connected programs for Jefferson residents (that will address depression that can sometimes lead to suicide) with the help of the NJ Governor's Council on Mental Health Stigma.  This came about because of an unusually large amount of suicides in Jefferson Township over the last two years.
• Supporter of the Girl Scouts and brings a lot of attention to them in Jefferson Township by attending different functions and attending Gold Award ceremonies.  One of her daughters was the recipient of the first Gold Award in Jefferson Township.

Merz is currently a Sr. Legislative Aide to Assemblyman Anthony M. Bucco, and previously the Sr. Aide to Assemblyman Richard Merkt.  She has an AA degree from CCM, and has worked with the VNA, Dover General Hospital, Skylands Medical Group, and Recap, Inc.

She now joins past award recipients from Jefferson Township Jack Kelly and Kathleen Cullen in 2007, and Arthur Bonito in 2010.

Merz is a lifelong resident of Jefferson Township and has been married for 40 years with four daughters and eight grandchildren.