Camden County Adopts DP Benefits

January 20, 2006

CAMDEN — Placing itself front and center in a statewide debate, the Camden County Board of Freeholders last night granted domestic partnership benefits to gay and lesbian county employees.

Camden County joined six counties in northern and central New Jersey that have extended health and pension benefits to employees who have registered as domestic partners with the state.

We think all of our employees should be treated equally, Freeholder Director Lou Cappelli said after the unanimous vote, taken with little fanfare.

The decision came as a dying Ocean County woman, a retired Prosecutor's Office lieutenant, continued her struggle to get freeholders in that county to extend benefits to her partner.

Lung cancer that has spread to her brain has given Laurel Hester, 49, just weeks to live, supporters say. Ocean County freeholders have refused to give health and pension benefits to her partner, Stacie Andree.

Camden County officials said that they had learned of Hester's plight only recently and that it had not influenced their decision. Still, activists said Camden County's move was crucial.

Hester, of Point Pleasant, has said she did not intend to be a crusader. She said she was not interested in marriage and concerned only about her partner's being able to pay the mortgage after Hester's death.

Her wish to stay out of the limelight became impossible after the Ocean County freeholders' rejection of her multiple requests.

This week, hundreds of her supporters packed a freeholders meeting at which a videotaped plea by the dying woman was shown.

Pale and bald, Hester sat on her couch and pleaded with the freeholders to make a change for good, a change for righteousness, and a change in the lives of so many people that have dedicated themselves to county government. Hester worked for the county for 23 years before her cancer forced her to retire recently.

Initially, Freeholder John Kelly told the Asbury Park Press that Hester's request had been denied because it violated the sanctity of marriage. Later, freeholders said their decision was solely financial.

Responding to reporters' questions yesterday, Gov. Corzine said, My personal view is that this was a committed relationship, and I would be sympathetic with death benefits being paid.

In granting domestic partnership benefits to its employees, Camden County joined Bergen, Hudson, Mercer, Monmouth, Passaic and Union Counties.

Camden County Administrator Ross Angilella said he was unaware of the cost to taxpayers. We don't keep track of the sexual orientation of our employees, so we do not have an idea of the impact, he said.

We've been discussing this for about four months or so, Angilella said. It's the right thing to do.

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