Preceded by Joseph J. Maraziti Alma mater Colorado College Party Democratic Party Political party Democratic Party Education Colorado College | Full Name Helen Stevenson Role U.S. representative Succeeded by James A. Courter Name Helen Meyner | |
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Born March 5, 1929
Queens, New York ( 1929-03-05 ) Died November 2, 1997, Fort Myers, Florida, United States Spouse Robert B. Meyner (m. 1957) | ||
Helen Day Stevenson Meyner, also known as Helen S. Meyner (March 5, 1929 – November 2, 1997) was a Democratic U.S. Representative from New Jersey from 1975 to 1979. As the wife of Robert B. Meyner she was First Lady of New Jersey from 1957 to 1962.
Biography
She was born as Helen Stevenson on March 5, 1929 in Queens, New York. Her father was an Olympic gold medal winner and ambassador William Stevenson. She was a distant cousin of Democratic candidate for President Adlai Stevenson.
She graduated from Colorado College. Later she married New Jersey Governor Robert B. Meyner on January 19, 1957 in Oberlin, Ohio.
In 1972, Meyner ran as the Democratic nominee for Representative from New Jersey's newly redistricted 13th Congressional District that included her home in Phillipsburg and included Hunterdon, Sussex and Warren Counties and portions of Mercer and Morris Counties. She lost in the Republican-leaning district, to the Republican candidate, Joseph J. Maraziti. In 1974, with the Watergate scandal leading to Democratic congressional gains throughout the country, Meyner ran for the seat again, this time beating Maraziti. She won a second term in the 1976 elections in a close race against William E. Schluter, but lost her bid for a third term in 1978 to Republican James A. Courter.
In 1979, the Supersisters trading card set was produced and distributed; one of the cards featured Meyner's name and picture.
Meyner's work before entering politics included a career as a print and television journalist and work for the American Red Cross.
She died on November 2, 1997 in Fort Myers, Florida.