Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande (l-r), Sen. Jennifer Beck, Freeholder Amy Mallet, Freeholder Director Lillian Burry, Holmdel Mayor Serena DiMaso and Assemblywoman Amy Handlin pose with a proclamation recognizing the 90th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. ERIC SUCAR staff HOLMDEL — The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders presented a proclamation honoring the 90th anniversary of the 19th Amendment on Aug. 26, a day that granted women the right to vote under the United States Constitution.

In honor of the occasion, Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry recognized several female public officials in the county, including Freeholder Amy Mallet, state Sen. Jennifer Beck (R-12th District), Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande (R-12th District), Assemblywoman Amy Handlin (R-13th District), and Holmdel Township Mayor Serena DiMaso at a freeholder meeting at Holmdel Town Hall.

“The 19th Amendment was when we, the women of this great country, received the right to vote,” Burry said. “At any rate, since then, I think women have made great strides in the political arena. And I think we have excellent representation right here in Monmouth County. And the state of New Jersey has done pretty well too, with deciding to have Kim Guadagno as our lieutenant governor. Serena [DiMaso], of course, is the mayor of this great town, and there are a fair number of mayors in Monmouth County that are women. I thought it would be most appropriate that we acknowledge this occasion with a proclamation.”

Ninety years ago, the 19th Amendment guaranteeing women the right to vote was formally adopted into the U.S. Constitution by proclamation of Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby, which stated, “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.”

The 19th Amendment was the culmination of more than 70 years of struggle by the women’s suffrage movement founded by women who had become politically active in their work from the abolitionist and temperance movements, Burry said.

During the past five decades, women have made great strides in the political arena, holding positions locally, regionally, statewide and federally, as council members, freeholders, mayors, legislators, governors and senators.

“In 2010, Monmouth County is graced with many civic-minded women who represent our citizenry,” said Burry, who is the first woman director appointed to the Board of Chosen Freeholders.

“As we look back on the generations of women who tenaciously fought for the right to vote and to get elected to public office, we pay homage to all the women who came before us, and we hold the torch high for those who will follow.”

During the comment portion of the meeting, Mallet shared a quote from Susan B. Anthony, which reads, “There never will be complete equality until women themselves help to make laws and elect lawmakers.”

“Unfortunately, Susan B. Anthony did not live to see the 19th Amendment become law, but I just thought it was very fitting to mention that this evening,” Mallet said. “In fact, in honor of this day, I am wearing this pin that was worn by my great-grandmother. It was that generation that fought for us to have the right to vote.”

In a press statement, Casagrande and Beck reflected on the historical milestone, hoping that women continue to make grand political strides in the future.

“Although we have yet to see a woman sit in the Oval Office, it is not far out of reach, and women have taken significant strides in the political arena,” Beck said in a press statement. “This district, with two of the three legislators [being] women, is an example of how far we’ve come.”