(Camden, NJ) – Last week, Virginia Betteridge was sworn in as the newest member of the Camden County Board of Commissioners following the departure of former Commissioner Carmen Rodriguez in June.
“Being able to serve people on a countywide scope is an honor and a privilege,” Betteridge said. “I’m thrilled that I have been selected to serve our community and I can’t wait to begin improving the lives of our residents.”
Born in Havana, Cuba, Betteridge immigrated to Gloucester City with her family as a child. Betteridge has spent more than 16 years of her life in the fields of medicine, human services and local government.
Betteridge graduated from Gloucester City High School in 1979 and her passion for helping others then began when she started volunteering as a candy striper for Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center in Camden City. She then went on to serve as a program coordinator and community project coordinator for the medical center from 1989 to 1995.
In 1994, Betteridge set her sights on serving the community by running for and ultimately being elected to serve as a member on the Runnemede Borough Council. During her 11-year tenure, Betteridge gained valuable experience controlling and regulating finances for the municipality and honed her skills on budget preparation.
In 2005, Betteridge broke barriers and made history when she was elected mayor of Runnemede, making her the first Latina mayor in the entire state. Betteridge proudly held this role until 2010.
Currently, Betteridge is a licensed realtor employed by Weichert Realtors in Haddonfield.
“Virginia is truly setting a wonderful example for women and immigrants, showing them that they can make meaningful, impactful and positive contributions to their communities,” said Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr. “She has been a dedicated public servant for nearly two decades and we’re delighted to welcome her to the Camden County Board of Commissioners.”