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Gov Phil Murphy has appointed Asbury Park’s own Brenda ‘Sue’ Fulton to head the Motor Vehicle Commission.

The Motor Vehicle Commission [MVC] is composed of eight members, four of which are appointed by the Governor. Three cabinet members also serve on an ex-officio basis: the State Attorney General, Treasurer, and Commissioner of the Department of Transportation. The eighth position is reserved for the Chief Administrator, a non-voting seat that serves as MVC Chair.

If confirmed, this would make her the first high level government appointment of an LGBT person since Governor Murphy’s inauguration, Garden State Equality Executive Director Christian Fuscarino said.

“We endorsed Phil Murphy [in July 2017] during his campaign because we were confident he would chose competent and qualified leaders for New Jersey,” Fuscarino said. “He has shown us today that our belief in him was well-founded.”

Fulton, a member of the first class of women admitted to West Point in 1980, served in the army until she was honorably discharged at the rank of captain. She founded multiple organizations that worked to advocate for LGBT military member, and in July 2011, she was appointed by President Barack Obama as the first openly gay member of the West Point Board of Visitors. In 2015 she became the first female USMA graduate to chair the Board. Fulton currently serves as the Executive Director of Women in the Service Change Initiative, according to the Garden State Equality announcement.

Fulton has been a staunch community activist participating in and helping to organize social justice events, including the August 2017 Stand Up Against Racism rally held in Library Square Park following the violence that unfolded during a rally to save a Robert E Lee statue Charlottesville, Va.

“We are optimistic that this is just the beginning of a long line of appointments and decisions made by Governor Murphy that will positively impact and be reflective of the LGBT community,” Fuscarino said.

Democratic Sen Vin Gopal, and District 11 Assembly representatives Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey also voiced their support:

“This is an exciting announcement for Monmouth County and I couldn’t be more proud to support Governor Murphy’s nomination of Sue Fulton to head the MVC,” Gopal said. “Sue served our country honorably, serving in the first class of women at West Point, and I am confident she will continue her service leading our state.”

“Sue’s rich leadership experience makes her a perfect person for the job,” Houghtaling said. “Her years of knowledge serving in the United States Army, then in our country’s largest corporations, make her more than qualified for this role. This is an exciting choice for the State of New Jersey.”

“This is an exceptional choice by Governor Murphy and I am excited for Sue Fulton to take the helm at the MVC,” Downey said. “Sue has been a true leader in her advocacy as well, founding several nonprofits to help LGBT troops fight discrimination. She never stopped her service to those who put their lives on the line and I am looking forward to her taking the lead at the MVC.”

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