She was a budget analyst on education policy for the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee from 1997 to 2000, and a policy advisor for the House Veterans Affairs Committee. Dunn later was a lobbyist for America’s Public Television Stations, Sesame Street and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and advocated on behalf of these clients to the U.S. Senate. She was the District Director for Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ-11) from 2016 to his retirement in 2019.[3][4]
In September 2019, State Senator Anthony R. Bucco died. His son Assemblyman Anthony M. Bucco was appointed to the Senate seat. Dunn then won a special election convention for Bucco's Assembly seat. She was sworn in on November 25, 2019, serving only until the end of the legislative session on January 14, 2020.[6] After his Senate appointment, Bucco's name was still on the ballot for his Assembly seat, and he won re-election to the Assembly.[7] Dunn was selected in another special convention for that seat on February 1, 2020, was sworn in again on February 3, 2020, and won the subsequent November 2020 special election for the seat. [8]
Dunn lives in Mendham Borough with her husband and their three children.
Dunn served on the boards of Morris Habitat for Humanity and Morris County Mental Health Addictions Services. She volunteers as a JBWS-certified domestic violence crisis response team member for local police departments. Since 2010, her family has hosted a New York City child each summer through the Fresh Air Fund program.[14]
References
^Pizarro, Max. "Dunn Sworn into the Assembly", Insider NJ, November 25, 2019. Accessed November 25, 2019. She was sworn back into office on February 3, 2020. "Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-19) this afternoon administered the office to Assemblywoman Aura Dunn (R-25), who last week at a special convention formally landed the seat left behind by Senator Tony Bucco (R-25)."