By Julia Train
Mary Slomine will be honored with a Volunteer of the Year Award from the New Jersey Federation of Democratic Women (NJFDW) on May 3 at the 2025 Peg Roberts Luncheon.
Slomine currently serves as vice president emeritus of the South Jersey Democratic Women’s Forum (SJDWF) and municipal co-chair of the Atlantic County Democratic Committee (ACDC) in Margate.
She will be honored with six other women, including First Lady of New Jersey Tammy Murphy.
According to the NJFDW’s website, NJFDW is “an organization of dedicated women committed to supporting each other and advancing Democratic political goals through networking, community activism and engagement.”
Raised in North Philadelphia during the 1950s and 1960s, Slomine grew up watching neighbors carry even the housebound to the polls on Election Day. In her family, voting was non-negotiable. Her father, a World War II veteran who witnessed the devastation abroad, instilled in her a fierce belief in the power and necessity of democratic participation.
That early exposure set the foundation for a lifetime of political and community involvement. After a long career in customer service and credit management and earning her B.A. from Temple University, Slomine retired in 2003 and moved to Margate.
Recognizing a gap in women’s political representation, Slomine set her sights on encouraging and supporting female candidates. She became an active force across Atlantic County, helping manage local races, organizing fundraisers and mentoring future leaders. Her work includes supporting Sherri Parmenter, a school board member running for surrogate, and Assembly candidates Joanne Famularo and Maureen Rowan.
“I found out that there weren’t a lot of women getting elected. And prior to being retired, I never realized how hard it is to run, whether you’re a man or a woman, and it’s doubly hard sometimes for women because they have extra responsibility sometimes, if they have kids and they also have a career,” said Slomine. “I just really wanted to make sure that there were enough women in the legislature.”
Slomine’s contributions extend beyond campaigns. As a long-time member of the Atlantic County Democratic Committee, she served as municipal chair of the Margate Democrats from 2008 until 2024 and now continues as co-chair. She also volunteers with the SJDWF, a group dedicated to training and promoting women for public office.
Slomine said her political journey hit a high note in 2008 when she was selected as a delegate for Senator Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention — a once-in-a-lifetime experience she credits to the mentorship of Assemblyman Jim Whelan.
“I’m pretty sure that Jim Whelan recommended me because I really didn’t give any money to Obama, and there would be no reason why they would pick me,” she said. “That was the highlight of my volunteer life, because most people never get a chance to do anything like that.”
Over the years, Slomine has adapted to modern campaigning, embracing online phone banks and targeted outreach.
Slomine’s goal is to build connections and lower barriers to civic participation. She believes events should be affordable — or free — especially when trying to grow local clubs and inform the community.
One upcoming example is a free public event on May 13 at Nucky’s Kitchen and Speakeasy in Ventnor, featuring Joel Naroff of the Margate Democratic Club, a retired economist who will discuss politics and the Trump economy.
Even as she steps back slightly to take a break this summer, Slomine’s focus remains on empowering the next generation of public servants. Her inspiration remains rooted in her father’s legacy of service and sacrifice. His determination to serve his country — even after being initially rejected due to age and weight — left a lasting impression.
Julia is a recent Rider University graduate, where she studied multiplatform journalism and social media strategies. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, trying new coffee shops, photography and the beach. She can be reached at juliatrainmedia@gmail.com or connect with her on Instagram @juliatrain
