Tammy Williams is a municipal leader whose career has been defined by service, results, and a steadfast commitment to West Orange. Tammy is the current Councilwoman, former Council President, successful business professional, nonprofit founder, and community advocate. She helped to shape one of New Jersey's most vibrant and diverse communities – the West Orange Advantage.
Councilwoman Williams and her husband, John, a retired United States Army veteran, have proudly called West Orange home for nearly twenty-five years. They have raised three children and have remained deeply engaged in the community through public service and their faith as active members of St. James AME Church.
From Parent Advocate to Public Servant
Tammy's commitment to West Orange began as an active parent-teacher with the Gregory School Parent Teacher Association and Blessed Pope John School, advocating for students, expanding extracurricular opportunities, improving playgrounds, and securing school supplies and technology despite limited budgets. In 2024, working alongside the Washington School Parent Teacher Association, she championed pedestrian safety improvements by securing new roadway striping and crosswalks near the school. These experiences gave Tammy firsthand insights into the needs of West Orange families and sparked her passion for public service.
Making a Public & Fiscal Impact in Town
Tammy's public service in West Orange began in 2016 when she served on the West Orange Human Relations Commission. As Chairwoman, she helped develop the Commission's annual budget and authored its landmark final report, which continues to influence Township policies. Her commitment to responsible government continued as a two-term member of the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee, where members reviewed West Orange's more than $100 million municipal budget. She led the CBAC to identify opportunities to reduce unnecessary spending and promoted fiscal responsibility while protecting essential municipal services.
Smart Development to Preserve West Orange
Drawing upon more than twenty years as a licensed New Jersey Real Estate Broker, Tammy was appointed to the West Orange Planning Board. Her professional expertise provided valuable insight into housing, land use, redevelopment, economic development, and long-term planning. She helped evaluate multimillion-dollar redevelopment proposals, preserve valuable open space, strengthen the Township's commercial tax base by adding nearly One Million Dollars in revenue, and encourage thoughtful growth that protects the unique character of West Orange and its open space. Her Planning Board experience reinforced the importance of expanding commercial ratables, attracting quality investment, increasing long-term tax revenue, and creating economic opportunities that help reduce the tax burden on homeowners while preserving the neighborhoods residents value most.
Building Partnerships That Deliver
Tammy founded the West Orange Stop Suicide Advocacy Coalition. Under her executive leadership, the WOSAC Foundation has grown into a leading community mental health initiative, connecting hospitals, schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and community partners to expand access to suicide prevention, crisis intervention, and mental health education. WOSAC has become a model for collaboration and demonstrates Tammy's ability to strengthen community wellness.
Her leadership extends beyond West Orange on the NJ Governor's Stigma Council, the NJ Courts District Ethics Committee, the West Orange Chamber of Commerce, the West Orange Arts Council, the Health Care Foundation of the Oranges, the NAACP, Jack and Jill of America, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and other civic, educational, and nonprofit organizations.
A Proven Record on the Council
In 2020, the residents of West Orange elected Tammy to the Township Council by a record-wide margin. Three years later, her colleagues overwhelmingly selected her to serve as Council President, due to her ability to unite people around important decisions. Tammy led one of the most significant budget reductions in Township history by working with her colleagues to reduce the Mayor's proposed 16.2 percent municipal tax increase to just over 5 percent while preserving essential municipal services. Council President Williams used her role to convene Township boards and commissions, champion responsible redevelopment, support public safety initiatives, and advance infrastructure improvements for the Township's long-term success.
In 2025, voters once again placed their confidence in Councilwoman Williams by re-electing her as the top vote getter among seven candidates, reaffirming their trust in her leadership, experience, and vision for the West Orange Advantage.
A Qualified Leader for West Orange
Professionally, Tammy has spent more than two decades building a distinguished career as a New Jersey Real Estate Broker, helping hundreds of families realize the dream of homeownership. She has navigated changing markets, negotiated complex transactions, and advised clients on one of their family's most important financial decisions.
Councilwoman Williams earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master of Business Administration with a specialization in Public Administration. She has also completed professional development in municipal operations, planning, and economic development.
Tammy Williams has experience that has strengthened her understanding of housing, economic development, municipal finance, budgeting, strategic planning, and customer service. Tammy's unique combination of executive leadership, private-sector success, nonprofit innovation, and municipal governance distinguishes her as the best qualified to lead West Orange as Mayor.
