Thank you Linda Hughes

When I heard that Linda Hughes had been appointed to the Burlington County Freeholder Board, I felt a huge sense of relief because she is the absolute perfect person for the job. She has been an advocate for those in need from long before when she joined the board. Linda collected and delivered donations for Superstorm Sandy victims, served on the county’s Board of Social Services and Rowan College at Burlington County Board of Trustees, as well as her township’s Zoning Board.

Once she joined the Freeholder Board she became a fierce warrior in the battle against the opioid epidemic. Linda was integral in helping to eliminate the stigma of addiction across the county while also working to reopen Post House as the county’s only drug detox and rehabilitation center. She championed RCBC’s innovative 3+1 program that allows students to receive a four year degree for under $30,000 and worked across the aisle as the liaison to the Resource Conservation department to award municipal park development grants to towns throughout Burlington County to build park facilities and preserve open space.

As if she didn’t have enough on her plate, Linda also found it in her heart to donate a kidney to a complete stranger, starting a donor chain that resulted in seven people receiving life-saving transplants. Her concern for others, and ability to take action on that concern instead of just talking about it, sets her apart from the rest. I’m glad she will be representing me and looking out for our best interests while on the board.

— Tinyan Nwafor, Medford Lakes