Ann Rosensweig Klein (1923–1986) was an American politician who served as a representative in the New Jersey General Assembly.
Education
Klein received an undergraduate degree from Barnard College and graduated from the Columbia University School of Social Work.
Career
She was president of the New Jersey League of Women Voters, from 1967 until 1971. She left that position when she ran for the New Jersey General Assembly. A resident of Morristown, she was elected in 1971 to represent District 10B in the New Jersey General Assembly (one of two districts in Morris County), thereby becoming the first Democrat to represent the county in 60 years. While in the Assembly, she supported a bill which removed the requirement that women must disclose their marital status when registering to vote.
In 1973 she began her bid for Governor of New Jersey. After she placed second to Brendan Byrne, he nominated her as commissioner of the Department of Institutions and Agencies, and she was approved by the New Jersey State Senate. While serving in as commissioner she worked to find places for people released from state hospitals in New Jersey, and advocated for better treatment of mental health care patients. In 1975 this department was reorganized and she held a new position as the New Jersey Commissioner of the Department of Human Services until 1981 when she ran to be the Democratic nominee for the Governor of New Jersey.
In 1981 she tried again for the Democratic candidate for governor of New Jersey but was unsuccessful. After her loss to Byrne in 1982 she was appointed and served as an administrative law judge in Newark until 1984 when she retired.
Personal life
Ann Klein was born in 1923 in Brooklyn, NY. Klein had two children, a son, David and daughter, Mara Jayne Miller with her husband. They divorced in 1980. Klein died of cancer at the age of 62 in Morristown, NJ in 1986.
Awards and honors
The Ann Klein Forensic Center at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital was named in honor of Klein to recognize her work in New Jersey. In 1988, the Community Health Law Project began awarding the Ann Klein Advocate Award. The award is annually presented to individuals or groups for their exemplary working towards better accessibility for persons living with disabilities.