Sonia Das, a respected political operative who worked for governors, senators, and, most recently, as a top aide to Mercer County Executive Dan Benson, has died. She was 47.
“As anyone fortunate enough to work with Sonia throughout her career could attest, she took great pride in her work, paying attention to every detail and always striving for excellence,” Benson said in a statement released today.
Das had worked in the administration of Gov. James E. McGreevey and Gov. Richard Codey in the early 2000s before moving to the legislature as a research assistant in the Senate Majority Office and as the Democratic staffer for the Senate State Government Committee.
Later, Das was the chief of staff to Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg before entering the private sector as a consultant.
She worked on Benson’s first campaign for the Hamilton Township Council in 2001 and remained a close friend and advisor during his time as a Mercer County Freeholder, Assemblyman and County Executive.
“When I became County Executive, I knew from the start that I wanted Sonia on my team. Her knowledge, experience, and determination made her invaluable as we worked to chart a new course for Mercer,” said Benson. “She was driven by a strong desire to help people and to make the world a better place; witnessing her success in her many roles it is clear that she did just that for so many. I will miss her passion for public service, the genuine care she showed for colleagues, her stories from decades spent in government and politics, and her wonderfully dry sense of humor.”
Das is survived by her wife, Janet, and their son, Andrew.
