17 Facts About Nellie Pou

Nelida "Nellie" Avila Pou is an American civil servant and politician currently serving as the US representative from New Jersey's 9th congressional district.

When Pou was sworn into the Assembly on January 29,1997, to succeed Bill Pascrell, she became the first woman and the first Hispanic to represent the 35th district.

Nellie Pou served in the Senate as the Majority Caucus Chair.

Nellie Pou chaired the bicameral New Jersey Legislative Latino Caucus since 2006.

From 2022 to 2023, Nellie Pou was president of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators.

Nellie Pou attended Kean College, Rutgers University, and the University of Virginia.

Nellie Pou had spent much of her career working for the City of Paterson, where she had served as business administrator, assistant business administrator, director of human services, and CETA training and education coordinator.

Nellie Pou had served on the New Jersey Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect and on the Passaic-Bergen County HIV Health Services Advisory Council.

Nellie Pou was the coordinator of the Passaic County Youth Program from 1983 to 1985.

Nellie Pou was appointed to a vacant seat previously held since 1988 by Bill Pascrell in the New Jersey General Assembly on January 29,1997.

Nellie Pou was the Assembly's Deputy Speaker from 2002 to 2005 and the Assistant Minority Leader from 2000 to 2001.

Previously, Nellie Pou served on the Senior Issues Committee, the Appropriations Committee, and the Education Committee.

Nellie Pou easily defeated former Haledon Mayor Ken Pengitore in the 2011 New Jersey Senate election, as expected, and was sworn in as Senator in January 2012.

Nellie Pou was re-elected to the New Jersey Senate in 2013,2017,2021, and 2023.

Nellie Pou won by 5 points over Republican Billy Prempeh, a much narrower margin than previous congressional races.

Nellie Pou is married to Judge Richard Freid, and they live in North Haledon.

Nellie Pou has two children from a previous marriage and is Roman Catholic.