Camden Co. Commissioner Appointed To State Assembly

CAMDEN COUNTY, NJ — Camden County Commissioner Melinda Kane was appointed last weekend to the State Assembly.

Kane will step in for fellow Democrat Pamela Lampitt, whose assembly seat became vacant when she began her elected term as Camden County clerk this month.

Kane is expected to be sworn into the assembly this month. She will represent New Jersey's 6th legislative district, which includes portions of Camden and Burlington counties.

Under state law, local political parties are tasked with appointing a temporary replacement when a member of their party steps down during their elected term. Kane was appointed to the assembly in a special convention on Saturday.

All of New Jersey's assembly seats will be up for election this November.

Kane and her husband raised three sons in the township's Woodcrest neighborhood, where she still lives. Her life changed in 2010, when her son was killed in Afghanistan while serving in the U.S. Marines.

The community rallied around her family in the wake of Jeremy Kane's death, which inspired Melinda to focus on giving back through public service.

Kane served in Cherry Hill's Township Council and then the Camden County Board of Commissioners.

New Jersey's 6th legislative district includes Audubon Park, Berlin Borough, Berlin Township, Cherry Hill, Clementon, Gibbsboro, Haddon Township, Haddonfield, Hi-Nella, Laurel Springs, Lawnside, Lindenwold, Magnolia, Maple Shade, Oaklyn, Pine Hill, Somerdale, Stratford, Tavistock and Voorhees.