Barbara Faith (Kalik) Bennett (born November 8, 1936) is an American

Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...

politician who served in the

New Jersey General Assembly The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature. Since the election of 1967 (1968 Session), the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for ...

from the 7th Legislative District from 1978 to 1992. She was born in

The Bronx The Bronx () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the state of New York. It is south of Westchester County; north and east of the New York City borough of Manhattan, across the Harlem River; and north of the New Y ...

in 1936 an attended William Howard Taft High School and the

City College of New York The City College of the City University of New York (also known as the City College of New York, or simply City College or CCNY) is a public university within the City University of New York (CUNY) system in New York City. Founded in 1847, Cit ...

. Kalik worked as a travel agent owning an agency in

Willingboro Willingboro Township is a township in Burlington County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The township is a suburb of Philadelphia and part of the state's South Jersey region. As of the 2020 census, the population was 31,889, an increase o ...

and served on various local and county Democratic committees. She also served on the Willingboro Township council from 1965 through 1977 and was chosen as the township's mayor in 1974 and 1977. First elected to the Assembly in 1977, she served a total of seven terms there. In 1991, Kalik and her running mate, newly appointed Assemblyman

Jack Casey John "Jack" Casey (June 1, 1935 - February 24, 2019) was an American Democratic Party politician who served one four-year term in the New Jersey Senate, where he represented the 7th Legislative District from 1994 to 1998. Casey also served in th ...

were defeated by Republicans Priscilla B. Anderson and José F. Sosa.

Accomplishments while in office

Kalik is responsible for helping to secure funding for South Jersey Human Services, Transportation and Higher Education; the first garnishee for areas of child support legislation in the country; the elimination of tenure for superintendents in NJ; the workers compensation legislation for fireman on duty; and the basic banking bills. Kalik was the first woman elected to Council in

, first female Mayor in Willingboro, first female President of the Burlington County Chamber of Commerce, first female elected to the Legislature from Burlington County, first female to speak at the municipal manager’s session at the league of municipalities, first female to serve as chair of the Assembly Appropriations Committee, first chair of the South Jersey Legislative coalition, and first woman to serve as Deputy Speaker. Kalik is also proud to have removed the NJ Sales Tax from necessity items; secure $31 million in Federal and State funds to replace the hazardous Bridgeboro Bridge; instrumental in creating

New Jersey Institute of Technology {{Infobox university , name = {{nowrap, New Jersey Institute of Technology , image = New Jersey IT seal.svg , image_upright = 0.9 , former_names = Newark College of Engineering (1930–1975)Ne ...

-Burlington County College, University of Medicine and Dentistry New Jersey and the Cooper Hospital-Coriell Institute for Cancer Research; allowed for direct deposit of state employees paychecks and for the Treasurer to wire funds; eliminated unconscionable delays in processing of state retirement checks; enabled more seniors to qualify for PAAD; pursued an investigation of public utility rates and costs; obtained funding for Spousal Abuse programs and Family Planning and day care centers; and eased restrictions on NJ wineries in the retail sale of their wines. Kalik also made sure all workers, fire and emergency personnel, and citizens have the Right to Know about Hazardous and Toxic substances in their workplaces and communities, setting precedent across the country. Source:Bennett, F. (Kalik), "Accomplishments while in office," Interviewed by Emily Miller, Red Bank Public Library, 21 Sept. 2022.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kalik, Barbara 1936 births Living people Democratic Party members of the New Jersey General Assembly Women state legislators in New Jersey City College of New York alumni People from Willingboro Township, New Jersey Politicians from Burlington County, New Jersey Women mayors of places in New Jersey 20th-century American women politicians