Littell McHose resigns from Assembly

| 16 Oct 2015 | 04:58


Allison Littell McHose resigned from her state Assembly seat effective Saturday, Oct. 17.

McHose, who was appointed as administrator of Franklin Borough on New Year's Day of this year, simultaneously serve as an assemblywoman until this past Saturday.

McHose, who was a Republican member of the state Assembly since 2003. was appointed administrator of Franklin Borough to replace Jim Kilduff, who was not reappointed to his position by the Borough Council. When she was appointed to the Franklin position, McHose said she intended to resign her Assembly seat.

The 24th District seat represents all of Sussex County, 11 towns in Warren County and Mount Olive in Morris County.

McHose said on Monday she "stayed a few more months longer than I anticipated."

The former assemblywoman said she was working on wrapping up some legislative bills.

Among the legislative work she cited as being proud of during her 13-year tenure is the support she gave to local hunters and fishermen. She counted efforts to stop the cutting of funds for the Division of Fish and Wildlife as one of her major legislative successes. She believes her work as a legislator helped improve conditions for local sportsmen, calling herself a "positive supporter of continuing those traditions."

By resigning her legislative seat, McHose said she will have more time to be closer to home and take care of her family. In January, McHose said she took the job in Franklin to be "close to home" and to her family. The part-time job of assemblywoman required a lot of travel around the district and two-hour trips to Trenton twice each week, she said.

As an assemblywoman, McHose earned a $49,000 salary. As administrator in Franklin, McHose earns $98,000.

"I'm sad to some extent," McHose said about giving up her assembly seat.

"I don't rule out running again in the future" for another political seat, McHose.

As administrator of Franklin, McHose said she is supporting positive economic growth. She cited the upcoming opening of Taco Bell on Route 23 and the future opening of a Walgreens on Route 23.

"It's a great community and although we are small, we have our own town water and sewer," she said

McHose has announced her support for Sussex County Freeholder Gail Phoebus, a Republican, to replace her. An election will be held on Nov. 3.

McHose is the daughter of the late Robert Littell, a longtime state legislator who also served on the Franklin Borough Council and died in November 2014. McHose's grandfather, Alfred, was mayor of Franklin and her great-grandfather Watson was a member of the first Franklin council.