Lizette Parker | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of Teaneck, New Jersey | |
| In office July 1, 2014 – April 24, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Mohammed Hameeduddin |
| Succeeded by | Elie Y. Katz (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 31, 1971 New York City |
| Died | April 24, 2016 (aged 44) Teaneck, New Jersey |
| Spouse | Tony Parker |
| Residence(s) | Teaneck, New Jersey |
Lizette Parker (August 31, 1971 – April 24, 2016) was an American politician and social worker. She served as the Mayor of Teaneck, New Jersey, from 2014 until her death in April 2016. Parker was the first African-American woman to serve as Mayor of Teaneck, as well as the first African-American woman to serve as the mayor of any municipality in Bergen County, the state's most populous county.[1][2] Coincidentally, she succeeded former Mayor Mohammed Hameeduddin, who became the first Muslim to become the Mayor of a Bergen County community in 2010.
Parker was born in New York City and raised in Teaneck, New Jersey. She graduated from Teaneck High School.[3][2] She received her Bachelor of Arts in sociology from Montclair State University.[2] She also earned a master's degree in administrative science from Fairleigh Dickinson University.[2] Parker worked as a case worker and social work supervisor at the Bergen County Board of Social Services from 1992 until 2016.[1] She had served on the Teaneck Township Council from 2006 until her death in 2016.[1]
Parker was re-elected to the council in the Teaneck municipal election on May 13, 2014, receiving the most votes of any member of the council.[4] On July 1, 2014, the council unanimously elected Parker as the Mayor of Teaneck.[4] She was sworn into the office at the same meeting. Parker became not only the first African-American female mayor of Teaneck, but also the first black woman to serve as Mayor of any municipality in Bergen County, New Jersey.[2] Her predecessor, Mohammed Hameeduddin, remained in the government as a councilman.[4]
Parker died in office after a respiratory illness at Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck, New Jersey, on April 24, 2016, at the age of 44.[1][5] She had recently suffered from cancer.[5] Her current term as mayor would have expired on July 1, 2016. Teaneack Deputy Mayor Elie Y. Katz became acting mayor upon her death.[5] She was survived by her husband of 17 years, Anthony; their daughter, Alyssa; and her mother, Dolores Phillips.[2]