Assemblyman Sterley Stanley (D-Middlesex) is the first South Asian from Middlesex County to join the New Jersey General Assembly.
Sterley took the oath of office on Jan. 27 to represent the 18th Legislative District. The district includes the municipalities of East Brunswick, Edison, Helmetta, Highland Park, Metuchen, South Plainfield and South River.
Stanley succeeded Assemblywoman Nancy Pinkin, a fellow East Brunswick resident, who was elected Middlesex County Clerk in the November general election.
“It is a true privilege to represent the people of District 18 and the State of New Jersey,” Stanley said in a statement provided by the New Jersey Assembly Democrats on Jan. 27. “I am committed to serving the residents and I look forward to working with my Assembly colleagues to best address the needs of this wonderful, diverse district and state. It is important to me to ensure all voices are heard so that we can work together in harmony and maintain a strong, united community.”
Stanley, previously a two-term councilman in East Brunswick, was born in India and immigrated to Brooklyn, New York, at a young age.
For the last 21 years, he has called East Brunswick home where he has been working in the finance industry as a title and life insurance agent, as well as a mortgage broker, according to the statement.
During his time as councilman, Stanley’s efforts to help establish a redevelopment agency were well received by East Brunswick, according to the statement.
Another collaborative initiative led him to work with the Department of Police to strengthen the dialogue around the cultural diversity within the community, according to the statement.
“I take pride as a public servant. I will continue to strive to seek out different perspectives and solutions to the needs of the residents of the 18th District and the entire State of New Jersey,” Stanley said in the statement.