MONTICELLO- Amanda Ward of Fallsburg was sworn in earlier this month as a member of the Sullivan County Legislature and her ascension to the county’s top law-making body was historic in that she is the first African-American to serve in the role.
“In short, I am truly humbled and honored to be humbled and honored to be able to be the first African-American to take a seat as a legislature, and I will do the best job I possibly can,” said Ward. Ward took her oath of office, which was administered by State Supreme Court Justice Meghan Galligan, alongside her mother and her uncle.
Ward is an attorney and has previously served as the Justice in the Town of Fallsburg. She is also an accomplished figure skater, having skated in the Junior Olympics.
“When I became judge and served my community for five years, that was a true honor,” she said. “The first of anything is incredible, but really what I hope it does is it encourages other folks who might look like me or can relate to me to get involved.”
Ward, a Republican, will serve in the legislative minority, and said she looks forward to working with her colleagues from both parties to improve the quality of life for Sullivan County residents.
“Putting everything else aside, so we are really putting the community’s best interests at the forefront, so we are making it a better community for everyone” she said, would be her focus.
