James Gee

James Gee has been around politics for most of his life. He began his career as an intern to then-Assembly Appropriations Chairman John S. Watson while still a student in high school. While attending Morehouse College in Atlanta Georgia, Mr. Gee worked in the Georgia Senate, quickly distinguishing himself as a skilled political operative. In 1997, Mr. Gee’s career came full-circle when, after managing the unsuccessful congressional campaign of Georgia State Senator Ron Slotin, he returned to New Jersey and joined the campaign that elected Bonnie Watson Coleman, the daughter of his beloved mentor John Watson.

During the 2001 gubernatorial campaign, Mr. Gee became the statewide political director of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee. Following the election, he was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor James E. McGreevy, serving as the governor’s liaison to the Legislature.

During the 2004 presidential campaign, Mr. Gee served as the national political director for celebrity Sean "P.Diddy" Comb’s Vote or Die campaign, which was designed to inspire a new generation to become part of the political process.

In 2005, Mr. Gee served as the statewide political director for then-Senator Jon S. Corzine's campaign for governor and recently served as Deputy Campaign Manager of Jon Corzine’s unsuccessful re-election campaign.

During the 2008, Presidential Campaign Mr. Gee moved to the Washington, D.C. area to serve as one of five Regional Political Directors on the Hillary Clinton for President Campaign. During the hotly contested Democratic Primary James traveled to 10 different
states. Mr. Gee was lead Political Director in Texas and Pennsylvania where Senator Clinton won very close primary victories.

From 2006 to 2010, Mr. Gee worked in the New Jersey State Legislature as the Associate Director.

In 2014, Mr. Gee was the Campaign Manager for Bonnie Watson Coleman in her historic run in New Jersey's 12th Congressional District. Mr. Gee currently serves as Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman's Chief of Staff.

Former Chief of Staff, the Honorable Bonnie Watson Coleman
2020 Summit Speaker: 
Currently not speaking at summit
Speaker Year: 
2022
2023