216th New Jersey Legislature
# 216th New Jersey Legislature

The 216th New Jersey Legislature began on January 14, 2014, at the end of Chris Christie's first term as Governor of New Jersey, and ended on January 12, 2016, halfway through Chris Christie's second term as governor.

## Background

The elections for the 216th Legislature were held on November 5, 2013, alongside Chris Christie's landslide re-election. In the Assembly the composition didn't change while in the Senate the composition did not change either.

## Composition

### Assembly

| Affiliation | Affiliation | Members |
| - | - | - |
| | Democratic Party | 48 |
| | Republican Party | 32 |
| Total | Total | 80 |

### Senate

| Affiliation | Affiliation | Members |
| - | - | - |
| | Democratic Party | 24 |
| | Republican Party | 16 |
| Total | Total | 40 |

## Senate

The Senate has 40 members, one for each district

### Leadership

The leadership for the 216th legislative session, which started on January 14, 2014, is as follows:

| Position | Name | District |
| - | - | - |
| President of the Senate | Stephen M. Sweeney | District 3 |
| Majority Leader | Loretta Weinberg | District 37 |
| President pro tempore | Nia Gill Paul Sarlo | District 34 District 36 |
| Assistant Majority Leaders | James Beach Linda R. Greenstein Teresa Ruiz | District 6 District 14 District 29 |
| Majority Conference Leader | Robert M. Gordon | District 38 |
| Majority Whip | Sandra Bolden Cunningham | District 31 |
| Minority Leader | Thomas Kean, Jr. | District 21 |
| Deputy Minority Leader | Diane Allen | District 7 |
| Minority Conference Leader | Robert Singer | District 30 |
| Deputy Minority Conference Leader | Jennifer Beck | District 11 |
| Assistant Republican Leader | Joseph Pennacchio | District 40 |
| Republican Budget Officer | Anthony Bucco | District 25 |

### Senators

| District | Name | Party | Residence | First served |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| District 1 | Jeff Van Drew | Dem | Dennis Township | 2008 |
| District 2 | Jim Whelan | Dem | Atlantic City | 2008 |
| District 3 | Stephen M. Sweeney | Dem | West Deptford Township | 2002 |
| District 4 | Fred H. Madden | Dem | Washington Township (Gloucester) | 2004 |
| District 5 | Nilsa Cruz-Perez | Dem | Camden | 2014† |
| District 6 | James Beach | Dem | Voorhees Township | 2009† |
| District 7 | Diane Allen | Rep | Edgewater Park | 1998 |
| District 8 | Dawn Marie Addiego | Rep | Evesham Township | 2010† |
| District 9 | Christopher J. Connors | Rep | Lacey Township | 2008 |
| District 10 | James W. Holzapfel | Rep | Toms River | 2012 |
| District 11 | Jennifer Beck | Rep | Red Bank | 2008 |
| District 12 | Samuel D. Thompson | Rep | Old Bridge Township | 2012 |
| District 13 | Joe Kyrillos | Rep | Middletown Township | 1992 |
| District 14 | Linda R. Greenstein | Dem | Plainsboro Township | 2010 |
| District 15 | Shirley Turner | Dem | Lawrence Township (Mercer) | 1998 |
| District 16 | Christopher Bateman | Rep | Branchburg Township | 2008 |
| District 17 | Bob Smith | Dem | Piscataway | 2002 |
| District 18 | Peter J. Barnes III | Dem | Edison | 2014 |
| District 19 | Joseph Vitale | Dem | Woodbridge Township | 1998 |
| District 20 | Raymond Lesniak | Dem | Elizabeth | 1983 |
| District 21 | Thomas Kean, Jr. | Rep | Westfield | 2003† |
| District 22 | Nicholas Scutari | Dem | Linden | 2004 |
| District 23 | Michael J. Doherty | Rep | Oxford Township | 2009 |
| District 24 | Steve Oroho | Rep | Franklin | 2008 |
| District 25 | Anthony Bucco | Rep | Boonton Township | 1998 |
| District 26 | Joseph Pennacchio | Rep | Montville | 2008 |
| District 27 | Richard Codey | Dem | Roseland | 1982 |
| District 28 | Ronald Rice | Dem | Newark | 1986 |
| District 29 | Teresa Ruiz | Dem | Newark | 2008 |
| District 30 | Robert Singer | Rep | Lakewood Township | 1994 |
| District 31 | Sandra Bolden Cunningham | Dem | Jersey City | 2007† |
| District 32 | Nicholas Sacco | Dem | North Bergen | 1994 |
| District 33 | Brian P. Stack | Dem | Union City | 2008 |
| District 34 | Nia Gill | Dem | Montclair | 2002 |
| District 35 | Nellie Pou | Dem | Paterson | 2012 |
| District 36 | Paul Sarlo | Dem | Wood-Ridge | 2003† |
| District 37 | Loretta Weinberg | Dem | Teaneck | 2005† |
| District 38 | Robert M. Gordon | Dem | Fair Lawn | 2008 |
| District 39 | Gerald Cardinale | Rep | Demarest | 1982 |
| District 40 | Kevin J. O'Toole | Rep | Cedar Grove | $2008^1$ |

† First appointed to the seat $^1$ O'Toole had previously served in the Senate from 2001 to 2002

### Former members from this term

| District | Name | Party | Residence | First served | Term end | Notes |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| District 5 | Donald Norcross | Dem | Camden | 2010† | November 12, 2014 | Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives |

### Committees and Committee Chairs, 2014-2015 Legislative Session

Committee chairs As of March 1, 2015: (All are Democrats)

| Committee | Name |
| - | - |
| Budget and Appropriations | Paul Sarlo |
| Commerce | Nia Gill |
| Community and Urban Affairs | Jeff Van Drew |
| Economic Growth | Raymond Lesniak |
| Education | Teresa Ruiz |
| Environment and Energy | Bob Smith |
| Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens | Joseph Vitale |
| Higher Education | Sandra Bolden Cunningham |
| Judiciary | Nicholas Scutari |
| Labor | Fred H. Madden |
| Law and Public Safety | Linda R. Greenstein |
| Legislative Oversight | Robert M. Gordon |
| Military and Veterans' Affairs | James Beach |
| State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation | Jim Whelan |
| Transportation | Nicholas Sacco |

## Assembly

The Assembly has 80 members, two for each district.

### Leadership

Speaker: Vincent Prieto

Majority Leader: Louis Greenwald

Minority Leader: Jon Bramnick

### Members

| District | Name | Party | Residence | First served |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| District 1 | Robert Andrzejczak | Dem | Middle Township | 2013 |
| District 1 | Sam Fiocchi | Rep | Vineland | 2014 |
| District 2 | Chris A. Brown | Rep | Ventnor City | 2012 |
| District 2 | Vince Mazzeo | Rep | Northfield | 2014 |
| District 3 | John J. Burzichelli | Dem | Paulsboro | 2002 |
| District 3 | Adam Taliaferro | Dem | Woolwich Township | 2015 |
| District 4 | Paul Moriarty | Dem | Washington Township (Gloucester) | 2006 |
| District 4 | Gabriela Mosquera | Dem | Gloucester Township | 2012 |
| District 5 | Patricia Egan Jones | Dem | Barrington | 2015 |
| District 5 | Seat vacant | | | |
| District 6 | Louis Greenwald | Dem | Voorhees Township | 1996 |
| District 6 | Pamela Rosen Lampitt | Dem | Cherry Hill | 2006 |
| District 7 | Herb Conaway | Dem | Delanco Township | 1998 |
| District 7 | Troy Singleton | Dem | Palmyra | 2011 |
| District 8 | Christopher J. Brown | Rep | Evesham Township | 2012 |
| District 8 | Maria Rodriguez-Gregg | Rep | Evesham Township | 2014 |
| District 9 | DiAnne Gove | Rep | Long Beach Township | 2009 |
| District 9 | Brian E. Rumpf | Rep | Little Egg Harbor | 2003 |
| District 10 | Gregory P. McGuckin | Rep | Toms River | 2012 |
| District 10 | David W. Wolfe | Rep | Brick Township | 1992 |
| District 11 | Mary Pat Angelini | Rep | Ocean Township (Monmouth) | 2008 |
| District 11 | Caroline Casagrande | Rep | Colts Neck Township | 2008 |
| District 12 | Robert D. Clifton | Rep | Matawan | 2012 |
| District 12 | Ronald S. Dancer | Rep | Plumsted Township | 2002 |
| District 13 | Amy Handlin | Rep | Lincroft | 2006 |
| District 13 | Declan O'Scanlon | Rep | Little Silver | 2008 |
| District 14 | Daniel R. Benson | Dem | Hamilton Township (Mercer) | 2011 |
| District 14 | Wayne DeAngelo | Dem | Hamilton Township | 2008 |
| District 15 | Reed Gusciora | Dem | Trenton | 1996 |
| District 15 | Elizabeth Maher Muoio | Dem | Pennington | 2015 |
| District 16 | Jack Ciattarelli | Rep | Hillsborough Township | 2011 |
| District 16 | Donna Simon | Rep | Readington Township | 2012 |
| District 17 | Joseph Danielsen | Dem | Franklin Township (Somerset) | 2014 |
| District 17 | Joseph V. Egan | Dem | New Brunswick | 2002 |
| District 18 | Patrick J. Diegnan | Dem | South Plainfield | 2002 |
| District 18 | Nancy Pinkin | Dem | East Brunswick | 2014 |
| District 19 | Craig Coughlin | Dem | Woodbridge Township | 2010 |
| District 19 | John S. Wisniewski | Dem | Sayreville | 1996 |
| District 20 | Annette Quijano | Dem | Elizabeth | 2008 |
| District 20 | Jamel C. Holley | Dem | Roselle | 2015 |
| District 21 | Jon Bramnick | Rep | Westfield | 2003 |
| District 21 | Nancy Munoz | Rep | Summit | 2009 |
| District 22 | Jerry Green | Dem | Plainfield | 1992 |
| District 22 | Linda Stender | Dem | Scotch Plains | 2002 |
| District 23 | John DiMaio | Rep | Hackettstown | 2009 |
| District 23 | Erik Peterson | Rep | Franklin Township (Hunterdon) | 2009 |
| District 24 | Parker Space | Rep | Wantage Township | 2013 |
| District 24 | Gail Phoebus | Rep | Andover Township | 2015 |
| District 25 | Tony Bucco | Rep | Boonton Township | 2010 |
| District 25 | Michael Patrick Carroll | Rep | Morris Township | 1996 |
| District 26 | BettyLou DeCroce | Rep | Morris Plains | 2012 |
| District 26 | Jay Webber | Rep | Morris Plains | 2008 |
| District 27 | Mila Jasey | Dem | South Orange | 2007 |
| District 27 | John F. McKeon | Dem | West Orange | 2002 |
| District 28 | Ralph R. Caputo | Dem | Bloomfield | 2008 |
| District 28 | Cleopatra Tucker | Dem | Newark | 2008 |
| District 29 | Eliana Pintor-Marin | Dem | Newark | 2013 |
| District 29 | L. Grace Spencer | Dem | Newark | 2008 |
| District 30 | Sean T. Kean | Rep | Wall Township | 2012 |
| District 30 | Dave Rible | Rep | Wall Township | 2008 |
| District 31 | Charles Mainor | Dem | Jersey City | 2010 |
| District 31 | Jason O'Donnell | Dem | Bayonne | 2010 |
| District 32 | Angelica M. Jimenez | Dem | West New York | 2012 |
| District 32 | Vincent Prieto | Dem | Secaucus | 2004 |
| District 33 | Carmelo Garcia | Dem | Hoboken | 2014 |
| District 33 | Raj Mukherji | Dem | Jersey City | 2014 |
| District 34 | Thomas P. Giblin | Dem | Montclair | 2006 |
| District 34 | Sheila Y. Oliver | Dem | East Orange | 2004 |
| District 35 | Shavonda E. Sumter | Dem | Paterson | 2012 |
| District 35 | Benjie Wimberly | Dem | Paterson | 2012 |
| District 36 | Marlene Caride | Dem | Ridgefield | 2012 |
| District 36 | Gary Schaer | Dem | Passaic | 2006 |
| District 37 | Valerie Huttle | Dem | Englewood | 2006 |
| District 37 | Gordon M. Johnson | Dem | Englewood | 2002 |
| District 38 | Tim Eustace | Dem | Maywood | 2012 |
| District 38 | Joseph Lagana | Dem | Paramus | 2014 |
| District 39 | Holly Schepisi | Rep | River Vale | 2012 |
| District 39 | Robert Auth | Rep | Old Tappan | 2010 |
| District 40 | Scott Rumana | Rep | Wayne | 2008 |
| District 40 | David C. Russo | Rep | Ridgewood | 1990 |

### Former members from this term

| District | Name | Party | Residence | First served | Term end | Notes |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| District 17 | Upendra J. Chivukula | Dem | Franklin Township (Somerset) | 2002 | September 30, 2014 | Appointed to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities |
| District 3 | Celeste Riley | Dem | Bridgeton | 2009 | January 2, 2015 | Elected Cumberland County Clerk |
| District 20 | Joseph Cryan | Dem | Union Township (Union) | 2002 | January 4, 2015 | Elected Union County Sheriff |
| District 15 | Bonnie Watson Coleman | Dem | Ewing Township | 1998 | January 6, 2015 | Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives |
| District 5 | Angel Fuentes | Dem | Camden | 2010 | June 30, 2015 | Appointed deputy clerk for Camden County |
| District 24 | Alison Littell McHose | Rep | Franklin | 2003 | October 17, 2015 | Resigned to focus on job as Franklin borough business administrator |
| District 5 | Gilbert "Whip" Wilson | Dem | Camden | 2010 | December 2, 2015 | Resigned to become Camden County Sheriff |

* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 First appointed to the seat
* ↑ Served in the Assembly as a Republican from 1968–1972
* ↑ Served in the Assembly from 2002–2008

## Vacancies

### Senate

| District | Original | Party | Period of vacancy | Appointee | Party of Appointee |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 5th | Donald Norcross | Democratic Party | November 12, 2014 – December 15, 2014 | Nilsa Cruz-Perez | Democratic Party |

### Assembly

| District | Original | Party | Period of vacancy | Appointee | Party of Appointee |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 17th | Upendra J. Chivukula | Democratic Party | September 30, 2014 – October 16, 2014 | Joseph Danielsen | Democratic Party |
| 3rd | Celeste Riley | Democratic Party | January 1, 2015 – January 15, 2015 | Adam Taliaferro | Democratic Party |
| 20th | Joseph Cryan | Democratic Party | January 4, 2015 – January 29, 2015 | Jamel Holley | Democratic Party |
| 15th | Bonnie Watson Coleman | Democratic Party | January 3, 2015 – February 5, 2015 | Elizabeth Maher Muoio | Democratic Party |
| 5th | Angel Fuentes | Democratic Party | June 30, 2015 – November 9, 2015 | Patricia Egan Jones | Democratic Party |
| 24th | Alison Littell McHose | Republican Party | October 17, 2015 – December 3, 2015 | Gail Phoebus | Republican Party |
| 5th | Gilbert "Whip" Wilson | Democratic Party | December 2, 2015 – January 12, 2016 | Successor not seated in session | None |
