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Title
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Thompson, Lila W. (1875-1933)
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birthday
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1875-03-09
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Birthplace
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New Egypt, NJ
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Death Date
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1933-04-03
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Occupation
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Politician
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Biographical Text
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Lila W. Thompson was a politician and the first woman to represent Ocean County in the New Jersey Legislature. In 1921, Thompson ran for the Ocean County assembly seat. She was just barely beat by Ezra Parker. In 1923, she ran again, this time against three men. She won the primary, beating Howard Jeffrey, a Toms River judge by over 600 votes. She then went on to win the general election against James Lillie, beating him by 1,600 votes. This win granted her the honor of being the first woman to represent Ocean County in the New Jersey Assembly. In 1925, Thompson went up against State Senator Thomas Mathis in the Republican primary. During this time, Thompson's husband was sent to MA for work, and told not to return until the election's end. Thompson believed Mathis to be behind this, but he denied the allegation. Thompson, usually driven by her husband, had to teach herself how to drive in his absence in order to attend campaign events. She lost the primary to Mathis, and it would be forty more years before a woman occupied a seat in the New Jersey State Senate.
Thompson was married to Joe Thompson. She passed away on April 3, 1933, at the age of fifty-seven, tragically falling asleep at the wheel.
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Contributor
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O'Neill, Iris
Lila W. Thompson, Plaque & Signage