George A. Spadoro | |
---|---|
Mayor of Edison | |
In office January 1, 1994 –January 1, 2006 | |
Preceded by | Samuel V. Convery Jr. |
Succeeded by | Jun Choi |
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly from the 18th district | |
In office January 12,1988 –January 14,1992 | |
Preceded by | Thomas H. Paterniti |
Succeeded by | Harriet E. Derman Jeffrey A. Warsh |
Personal details | |
Born | Jersey City,New Jersey,U.S. | March 27,1948
Political party | Democratic |
Alma mater | University of Connecticut (BA) University of California,Hastings College of the Law (JD) |
George A. Spadoro (born March 27,1948) is an American Democratic Party politician who served three terms as Mayor of Edison,and two terms in the New Jersey General Assembly,where he represented the 18th Legislative District.
Spadoro was born in Jersey City,New Jersey. [1] After moving to Edison,New Jersey he attended J. P. Stevens High School and graduated in 1966. [2]
He attended college at the University of Connecticut for 4 years,where he served as chairman of the student senate and vice president of the student government. He graduated with his Bachelor of Arts in 1970. Spadoro then continued on to the University of California Hastings College of Law,where he named to the Hastings Law Journal,was elected student government president of the Associated Students of Hastings (ASH) and served as an ex officio member of the law school board of governors.
As ASH president,Spadoro worked to implement a number of programs,such as The Placement Policy Committee,which was designed to aid the director in expanding job placement services for Hastings graduates and other operational difficulties.
He also developed and implemented the Judicial Clerkship Committee to assist students in determining the educational and career advantages of a post-graduate Judicial clerkship. At the same time he obtained assistance for this program from individual members of the Hastings Faculty. Another program Spadoro worked to develop and implement was The California Supreme Court Externship Program,which allowed for a carefully selected student to spend a considerable part of a full semester working as a judicial clerk under the auspices of a California Supreme Court judge. [3] [4]
George Spadoro graduated University of California Hastings College of Law with a J.D. in 1973. [5]
Spadoro first ran for public office in 1978,challenging incumbent Democratic Congressman Edward J. Patten in the primary election and receiving 41% of the vote. [6] [7] During the 1980s,Spadoro was a member of the Edison Township Council. [8] [9]
Spadoro was elected mayor of Edison Township in November 1993. His campaign focused on the issues of job creation and tax stabilization,environmental protection and the preservation of open spaces,and open and accessible government. Mayor Spadoro took office on January 1,1994. [1] He won a second term in 1997,defeating seven challengers. In the landslide victory,Spadoro received 14,081 votes. His nearest competitor,Republican Eileen Germain Teffenhart,received 5,782. [10]
Shortly after being sworn in as Mayor,Spadoro had the honor of hosting the visit of President Bill Clinton to Edison on February 16,1994. The president had come to deliver an address to the American Association of Retired Persons in Edison. [1]
On March 23,Spadoro led Edison and the regions response to Edison's most serious disaster—the Texas Eastern gas line explosion and fire at the Durham Woods Apartment Complex. He received national attention and was commended for his emergency response implementations and was also recorded banging on doors to help evacuate apartment residents in the nearby explosion. The explosion resulted in 1,500 residents were evacuated,100 were residents were left homeless,60 were injured and one died of a heart attack. [11] [12]
After the disaster,he fought to improve pipeline safety conditions and had become a nationally recognized figure for pipeline safety reform nationwide. The mayor cited the township's reverse 911 system,a "state-of-the-art" emergency communications center,improved public safety equipment,and the civilian emergency response team (ECERT) as examples of measures taken to make the township safer. [13]
At the local level,budgets proposed by Mayor Spadoro included a stabilized tax rate for Edison's almost 100,000 residents. His commitment to reduce the tax burden on local residents was also manifested in several major efforts to create a business-friendly environment in Edison,including the establishment of the Edison Economic Development Corporation.
Other achievements include the establishment of the Edison Youth Service Corps. The Youth Service Corps features high school-age students who perform a wide range of community service activities in exchange for modest wages and college tuition assistance.
Also among George Spadoro's accomplishments as Mayor was the formation of a community-policing program. Under this program,law enforcement officers establish a closer bond with Edison residents and business establishments in an effort to better understand problems in the community and to stop crimes before they actually occur. Community Policing consisted of Edison's first Police Bike Patrol,Civilian Police Academy,and other programs to take a proactive approach to policing.
George Spadoro ran for re-election for Mayor in November 1997 and 2001 and was chosen by the people to continue to serve at the helm of the 5th largest municipality in the state. He began his third term on January 1,2002. [1]
The establishment of the Edison Arts Society marked a triumph for the Mayor,as he increased community awareness about the rich arts culture in Edison. The first Arts Summit,held in June 1998,included speaker Robert Pastorelli,an actor who has played 'Eldin' on Murphy Brown,and focused on the importance of the arts in Edison. [14] [1] Following the establishment of the Arts Society,a number of programs including the organization of the Edison Symphony Orchestra and an Annual High School Art Competition,Holiday Dance Extravaganza,Poetry readings,and Outreach Workshops in poetry,drama,and art. [15]
In 1999,the Mayor announced the implementation of a new Defibrillator program for Edison. By increasing the number of Defibrillators in town and by training personnel in the use of them,Mayor Spadoro hoped to save lives. The program included training of police,fire,and municipal personnel as well as companies and citizens around Edison. He also introduced a police car take home program,reducing maintenance costs and increasing police visibility in the community. [14] [1]
Following the September 11,2001 attack on the World Trade Center,Spadoro,along with many other New York municipalities,authorized members of the Edison Police and Fire Department to provide emergency response support at ground zero,the site of the attack.
Amongst Spadoro's post 9/11 efforts,he actively had the Edison Police Department work with the joint terrorism task force to help in anti terrorism efforts. Spadoro recognized that Edison,being one of the largest municipalities near New York City,was a target-rich environment,with such potential sites as warehouses,distribution centers,factories and chemical plants. He allocated $500,000/year in Edison's annual budget over five years for more police officers,training for first responders,new equipment to cope with terrorism,and the formation of a police intelligence unit. He participated in the coordinated network of intelligence gathering and emergency responses put together by the State and its counties. [16] [17] Also,among his post 9/11 efforts as mayor,he dealt with an anthrax attack at a city post-office and other safety concerns. [18]
On December 9,2001,Ford had announced their plans to close their assembly plant which was expected to impact 1,700 employees. Spadoro played a role in attempts to prevent the massive layoff when he urged an "economic summit" with Ford officials,the United Auto Workers and members of McGreevey's administration. His attempts extended further with James McGreevey and their traveling to Michigan to meet with Ford Executives. After the attempts to prevent the factory closing,Spadoro made plans for redevelopment of the land that was anticipated to have a positive impact on the town of Edison . [19] [20] [21]
Mayor Spadoro led an initiative to purchase and preserve several parcels of open space important to the environment. [14] [1] Mayor Spadoro also explored the use of the seven miles of Raritan Riverfront,that wind through Edison,for recreational use and possible development. Also along the Raritan,the Mayor was actively pursuing the establishment of ferry service between Edison and lower Manhattan. George Spadoro continued his work with increasing senior citizen services by instilling programs such as one where senior citizens were introduced to the World Wide Web in a relaxed atmosphere at the Edison Senior Center [1] and the creation of the Mr. Fix It service,which consisted of a free handyman service that provided a home safety inspection and common repair jobs. [22]
On August 4,2002,Spadoro made efforts to restore the Thomas Edison Memorial Tower by hiring its first full-time employee who helped restore the tower and its museum. The newly hired employees title was museum director and his job included everything from painting the base of the tower to persuading famous people,such as President Gerald R. Ford and Walter Cronkite,to record their voices on a 1909-cylinder phonograph invented by Edison. [23] [24]
During his tenure as Mayor,Spadoro served on the board of directors of Keep Middlesex Moving Inc.,an organization dedicated to promoting transportation issues,opportunities,and alternatives in Middlesex County. He was also a member of the Garden State Games and the Environmental Management Hazardous Waste Institution. [1]
Seeking a fourth term,he was defeated in the 2005 Democratic mayoral primary by Jun Choi. [25] Reasons cited for Spadoro's loss include a split in the local Democratic party,the loss of union support due to the approval of a Walmart retail store,and a large turnout of first-time Asian voters due to the New Jersey 101.5 radio controversy. [26] [27]
After being elected in 1987,from 1988 to 1991 (two terms),he represented District 18 in the New Jersey General Assembly. He became Chairman of the State Assembly Transportation Authorities,Telecommunications,and Technology Committee. During his term as chairman,George authored and was responsible for the passage of legislation that opened the door for the use of fiber optics. This legislation was hailed as marking the turning point in New Jersey's emergence as a leader in the telecommunications revolution. [1]
One of Spadoro's major accomplishments as Assemblyman was his sponsorship of the New Jersey Bias Crimes Act,which has become the primary vehicle for the prosecution of bias-related crimes in New Jersey.
Through his leadership in the State Legislature,he authored and enacted New Jersey's strongest financial disclosure law which won him praise from many grassroots citizen organizations and government reform groups. The Director of New Jersey Common Cause,referred to Spadoro's legislation as "a real reform,not just cosmetic reform...a major milestone in reforming the way New Jersey State government operates."
During his tenure in the Assembly,George was also a member of the Insurance and Financial Institution Committee,the Veterans Committee,and the Special Committee on College Alcohol Abuse and Hazing in New Jersey. [1]
George Spadoro served as an Edison Township Councilman for eight years between 1981 and 1988,serving as Council President from 1987 through 1988. Spadoro demonstrated an unending commitment to open government,the safety and security of Edison residents and senior citizens,and the preservation of the environment. [1] His involvement with the shutting down and cleaning up of the Kin-Buc chemical waste landfill,a superfund site,extended through his political career into his days as Edison Mayor. [28]
Among his accomplishments as Councilman,Spadoro created Edison's Senior Citizen Housing Agency and sponsored the unique Senior Citizens' Set Aside Ordinance,which required developers of multiple-unit dwellings to designate 10% of the total number of units for low and moderate income senior citizens. He led the fight to halt the construction of two co-generation incinerators in Edison and voted to save the Dismal Swamp,a 1,240-acre wetland that serves as the largest natural area in northern Middlesex County. In 1988,he organized the Edison Township Waterfront Recreation Area Study to evaluate the merits of recreational development along miles of the raritan river in Edison. [1]
Spadoro began his legal career as an associate with a well known and top ranking Wall Street Law Firm,Sullivan &Cromwell. [29] He also spent several years as Assistant General Counsel for a large telecommunications company called Teleprompter Corporation. [5] [30]
Later,Spadoro became a senior partner in the law firm Spadoro &Hilson in Woodbridge Township,NJ and was well known and recognized in the Edison community as a leader and citizen activist. [1]
On January 1,2008,Spadoro joined as Senior Member of CSG Law where he counsels senior executives in financing,commercial litigation and strategic planning. His primary areas of practice includes general corporate,commercial and business matters,family-business law,financial matters and mergers and acquisitions. He works with accountants and other tax experts to advise U.S. clients on their domestic legal structures. Spadoro also advises on international matters and has experience negotiating cross-border transactions. [31]
In addition to maintaining a full-time legal practice,Spadoro now provides expert television commentary on legal matters as well as current state and national political issues through multiple media outlets. [18] [32] [33]
His wife is the Founder and CEO of Future Care Inc. [34] His son,Michael Spadoro,works as a Political Director for U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman and was featured in the Insider NJ 2018 Insider 100:Millennials. [35] His Daughter,Katie Spadoro,is currently the President and Founder of CYB Human Resources LLC,a human resource management service company and CYBHR,an online HR company. [36] His Daughter,Jasmine Spadoro,is a staff member at Pace University,a private University located in downtown Manhattan.
Cranford is a township in Union County,in the U.S. state of New Jersey,located 18 miles (29 km) southwest of Manhattan. As of the 2020 United States census,the township's population was 23,847,an increase of 1,222 (+5.4%) from the 2010 census count of 22,625,which in turn reflected an increase of 47 (+0.2%) from the 22,578 counted in the 2000 census.
Princeton is a borough in Mercer County,in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It was established on January 1,2013,through the consolidation of the Borough of Princeton and Princeton Township,both of which are now defunct. As of the 2020 United States census,the borough's population was 30,681,an increase of 2,109 (+7.4%) from the 2010 census combined count of 28,572. In the 2000 census,the two communities had a total population of 30,230,with 14,203 residents in the borough and 16,027 in the township.
Mahwah is the northernmost and largest municipality by geographic area in Bergen County,in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census,the township's population was 25,487,a decrease of 403 (−1.6%) from the 2010 census count of 25,890,which in turn reflected an increase of 1,828 (+7.6%) from the 24,062 counted in the 2000 census. The name "Mahwah" is derived from the Lenape language word "mawewi" which means "Meeting Place" or "Place Where Paths Meet".
Harrison is a town in the western part of Hudson County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is part of the New York metropolitan area. It is a suburb of the nearby city of Newark,New Jersey,and is located 8 miles (13 km) from New York City. Once considered "the beehive of industry",the town is undergoing a residential renewal,particularly along the Passaic River.
East Brunswick is a township in Middlesex County,in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The suburban bedroom community is part of the New York City metropolitan area and is located on the southern shore of the Raritan River,directly adjacent to the city of New Brunswick and located roughly 29 miles (47 km) away from New York City. As of the 2020 United States census,the township's population was 49,715,its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 2,203 (+4.6%) from the 2010 census count of 47,512,which in turn reflected an increase of 756 (+1.6%) from the 46,756 counted in the 2000 census.
Edison is a township located in Middlesex County,in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Situated in Central New Jersey within the core of the state's Raritan Valley Region,Edison is a commercial hub and is a bedroom community of New York City within the New York metropolitan area.
Metuchen is a suburban borough in Middlesex County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The borough is a commuter town of New York City,located in the heart of the Raritan Valley region within the New York Metropolitan area. The borough,along with Edison,is a regional commercial hub for Central New Jersey. The borough is 6 miles (9.7 km) northeast of New Brunswick,17 miles (27 km) southwest of Newark,20 miles (32 km) southwest of Jersey City,and 22 miles (35 km) southwest of Manhattan. As of the 2020 United States census,the borough's population was 15,049,an increase of 1,475 (+10.9%) from the 2010 census count of 13,574,which in turn reflected an increase of 734 (+5.7%) from the 12,840 counted in the 2000 census.
Piscataway is a township in Middlesex County,in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is a suburb of the New York metropolitan area,in the Raritan Valley. As of the 2020 United States census,the township's population was 60,804,an increase of 4,760 (+8.5%) from the 2010 census count of 56,044,which in turn reflected an increase of 5,562 (+11.0%) from 50,482 at the 2000 census.
Woodbridge Township is a township in northern Middlesex County,in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The township is a regional hub of transportation and commerce for central New Jersey and a major bedroom suburb of New York City,within the New York metropolitan area. Located within the core of the Raritan Valley region,Woodbridge Township hosts the junction of the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway,the two busiest highways in the state,and also serves as the headquarters for the New Jersey Turnpike Authority,which operates both highways.
Sparta is a township in Sussex County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census,the township's population was 19,600,a decrease of 122 (−0.6%) from the 2010 census count of 19,722,which in turn reflected an increase of 1,642 (+9.1%) from the 18,080 counted in the 2000 census.
Joseph F. Vitale is an American Democratic Party politician,who has been serving in the New Jersey State Senate since 1998,where he represents the 19th Legislative District. He is also the former Mayor of Woodbridge Township,having been elected by the Township Council in July 2006 to fill a temporary vacancy,following the death of Mayor Frank Pelzman. Senator Vitale came to the Senate in 1998 filling a vacancy created when Jim McGreevey stepped down from his seat as part of his ultimately unsuccessful bid for election as Governor of New Jersey in 1997. Vitale attended John F. Kennedy Memorial High School in Woodbridge Township.
Robert W. Singer is an American Republican Party politician,who has represented the 30th Legislative District in the New Jersey Senate since 1993. He was the Mayor of Lakewood Township,New Jersey in 2009. He serves in the Senate as the Deputy Republican Leader and as the ranking member of the Health Committee. He is the most senior senator currently serving in the legislature.
Walter Reed Gusciora is an American Democratic Party politician who has served as the 48th mayor of Trenton,New Jersey since 2018. He previously served from 1996 to 2018 in the New Jersey General Assembly,where he represented the 15th Legislative District.
Jun H. Choi is an American entrepreneur and politician and the former Mayor of Edison,New Jersey,a community of over 100,000 people and the fifth largest municipality in the state. He was sworn in on January 1,2006 as the youngest mayor in Edison history and the first Asian American mayor of a major city in New Jersey.
Rowan College of South Jersey (RCSJ) is a public community college with two campuses in the South Jersey region of New Jersey. The first,Gloucester Main Campus,is in Sewell. The second,Cumberland Branch Campus,is in both Vineland and Millville. The college was established in 1966 as Gloucester County College (GCC). In 2014,the college changed its name to Rowan College of Gloucester County when Rowan University and Gloucester County College entered into a partnership. The college then expanded in 2019,combining Rowan College at Gloucester County (RCGC) and Cumberland County College to become Rowan College of South Jersey.
Steven Michael Fulop is an American politician serving as the 49th mayor of Jersey City,New Jersey. A Democrat,he was formerly the Councilman for Jersey City's Ward E. On May 14,2013,Fulop defeated incumbent mayor Jerramiah Healy.
West Orange is a suburban township in Essex County,in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census,the township's population was 48,843,an increase of 2,636 (+5.7%) from the 2010 census count of 46,207,which in turn reflected an increase of 1,264 (+2.8%) from the 44,943 counted in the 2000 census.
John F. Kennedy University Medical Center (JFKMC),an affiliate of Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH),is a 499-bed full-service,acute care hospital,and the home of the JFK Johnson Rehabilitative Institute. It is affiliated with Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine and Robert Wood Johnson Medical School,and is located in Edison,New Jersey. In 2021 it announced an affiliation with the St. Joseph's Wayne Medical Center,also in New Jersey.
Eldridge Hawkins,Jr. was Mayor of Orange,New Jersey,a city of 33,000 residents in Essex County,New Jersey with an annual $53 million operating budget. As Chair of the Management Reform Committee of the N.J. League of Municipalities,Hawkins was a leader in the campaign to reform the state's civil service and arbitration laws to give cities more power in collective bargaining with public employee unions. His adversarial managing style and combative relations with the workers of Orange received national attention. After leaving municipal office,Mr. Hawkins spent several years working for the New Jersey Department of State in a Community Outreach capacity and as Director of Policy,Operations &Governmental Affairs/Legislative Liaison. Hawkins served as President of the New Jersey United States Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees) and is also a law enforcement professional and businessman. In addition,he is a martial arts expert with over 30 years of experience and a member of the USA Unified Martial Arts Hall of Fame. Accordingly,Shihan Eldridge Hawkins,Jr has earned the rank of 5th Degree Black Belt in United States Ju-Jitsu,Fusion Kenpo,and 7th Degree Black Belt in American Style Nunchaku. As such,Hawkins has been recognized as a national leader in the martial arts by the United States Ju-Jitsu Federation.
Christopher S. Porrino is an American trial lawyer who served as the Attorney General of New Jersey from 2016 to 2018. Porrino is currently a partner of Lowenstein Sandler,and chair of the firm's Litigation Department.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)