I will Not Seek Reelection
County Commissioner Lillian G. Burry chose a quote from Shakespeare’s MacBeth to inform Monmouth County Republican Chairman Shaun Golden she would not seek reelection to another term on the County Board of Commissioners in the November election.
I Will Not Fade Away
But just as quickly, Burry assured everyone in the same letter that “to all of you who have counted on my support for the good things that make Monmouth County such a wonderful place to live…..my voice will not fall silent.”
Burry & Licitra
Both Burry and Ross Licitra’s term on the county board of commissioners are up for elect ion in November and Licitra has indicated he will seek his second term. Shrewsbury Mayor Erik Anderson has announced he will seek the County GOP nomination for Burry’s seat and promises if elected to focus to taxes low, supporting small businesses, and ensuring neighborhoods are safe.
Commissioner Burry was first elected to the county commission in 2005, and served as its director in 2008, 2011, 2014 and 2017.
Bio
A cum laude graduate from Wagner College with a bachelor’s degree in political science and history and a native of New York City, she was granted the Wagner College Fellow in Political Science. When she and her husband Donald Burry moved to Monmouth County and lived in Matawan, she served as a councilwoman there. When the family moved to Colts Neck, Burry served as committeewoman, deputy mayor and mayor, always making her mark on historic preservation and open space conservation.
Monmouth County
The Commissioner served as vice-chair of the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Planning Authority, later a member of the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority, where she chaired the veterans affairs sub-committee and served on the real estate sub-committee. The Commissioner of the Interior appointed her to the Fort Hancock 21st Century Advisory Committee for the National Park Service. She has received numerous awards for distinguished service to veterans, historical causes and community service, received the first M. Claire French Award for her leadership in historic preservation and was named the Person of the Year by the Monmouth County Historical Association. She takes her greatest pride in working in a collaborative effort with the Soldier On organization, and founding the home for homeless veterans of Monmouth County.
Among her other accomplishments both as a commissioner and in her other numerous roles in community life, Burry also brought to fruition the current joint effort by the Vocational Schools, National Park System and the Board of Freeholders to reconstruct and preserve two former Army building on Fort Hancock for use by the NJROTC program at the Marine Academy of Science and Technology. That work is continuing with one of the two buildings completed and the other under reconstruction and renovation to historic regulations. She is also an advocate of public private partnership to ensure funding for renovation and rehabilitation of other buildings on the historic site..
Colts Neck
In Colts Neck., the Commissioner is a founder and current president of the Colts Neck Historical Society and took on the publication of her first book because of the importance of the 13 historic spots within the township she successfully strived to have declared and signed for their historic significance.
In her letter , while Commissioner Burry may not be seeking reelection on the County Commission, she has made it clear she will still be a hardworking and determined advocate and continued worker for Monmouth County and all its residents.
Letter
Commissioner Lillian Burry wrote:
William Shakespeare wrote these famous words:
“To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.”
Burry Continued
Beautiful as his language is, I cannot agree. Far from moving at a petty pace, to me life has rushed like an endless torrent, carried onward by challenges, crises and emerging opportunities.
The deeds we do, the things we create, built on the strong foundation of centuries past and providing the future with a secure place to stand, will endure long beyond our hour upon the stage. A public life that is well lived is not a tale told by an idiot, and while it may come with its own days of both sound and fury, it signifies faith in the great continuum of civic duty and a deep belief in the importance of liberty and democracy.
While public life may be a brief candle, civic life is something limited only by life itself. I find that now is the time to bring the years of my political life to a close but to assure all of you who have counted on my support for the good things that make Monmouth County such a wonderful place to live, that my voice will not fall silent as I explore new ways to be of service. I plan to complete this term in office but not seek reelection this year
My successes are exemplified by the Homeless Veteran project which I championed. At the bitter end, with the help of our Lieutenant Governor, Sheila Oliver we were able to finalize funding the project. Sheila Oliver paid me the supreme compliment; “Freeholder Burry, no one else could have accomplished it, Congratulations”.
PHOTO:
Lillian G. Burry photographed with SSN796 crew members MMNC Steven Newton, MMN2 Matthew Baker, MMA3 Marcos Briones, MMN1 Nick Herrin, YNSN Charles Miller, LT Cdr Nicholas Tuuk, Monmouth County Commissioner Lillian G Burry, and MAST cadets LCDR Aislinn Crowe, Battalion Commander, LT James Abbes, deputy battalion commander, LTjg Mary Catherine Harvey, training officer, and LTjg Jenna Lewandowski , drill commander. Photo by Michael J.Colarusso
A champion for Monmouth County for many years. A job well done.
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