This article is about the New Jersey politician. For the Philadelphia gangster, see Joey Merlino.
Joseph P. Merlino (July 12, 1922 – October 7, 1998) was an American Democratic Party politician who served as President of the New Jersey Senate from 1978 to 1981.
From 1956 until 1989, he was the senior partner in the Trenton law firm of Merlino, Rottkamp & Flacks and its predecessors. He served as assistant prosecutor for Mercer County for seven years and as Trenton city attorney from 1966 to 1970.[1][2]
On October 7, 1998, Merlino died from complications of heart disease and diabetes at the Forrestal Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Princeton; he was 76.[1]
Political careeredit
State legislatureedit
In 1967, Merlino was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly and was re-elected in 1969, both times from District 6B alongside S. Howard Woodson. He was then elected to the New Jersey Senate from District 6B in 1971 and re-elected in 1973 and 1977 from the 13th district. He was assistant Senate majority leader from 1974 to 1975; majority leader from 1976 to 1977; and president of the Senate from 1978 to 1981.[2]
As Majority Leader and Senate President, Merlino pushed through many legislative programs favored by Governor Brendan Byrne, a longtime political ally. Among this legislation was the state's graduated income tax (passed in 1976) and the Pinelands Protection Act (enacted in 1979, authorizing the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve).[1]
In 1982, Merlino ran for the House of Representatives in the newly redistricted 4th Congressional District. Merlino was expected to coast to victory over the 29-year-old freshman Republican incumbent, Chris Smith, whose 1980 win over Frank Thompson (indicted in the Abscam operation) was seen as a fluke. At the end of one of their debates, Smith approached Merlino to exchange pleasantries. Merlino was quoted as saying "Beat it, kid." Smith won the election with 53% of the vote.[4]
Referencesedit
^ abcdPace, Eric (October 9, 1998). "Joseph Merlino, 76, Trenton Political Figure". The New York Times. Retrieved March 9, 2009.
^ abManual of the Legislature of New Jersey. J.A. Fitzgerald. 1979.
^Carroll, Maurice (June 4, 1981). "Florio and Kean Agree Taxes Are Key Issue". The New York Times. Retrieved March 9, 2009.
^"Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R)" (PDF). CQ Press. Retrieved March 9, 2009.
joseph, merlino, this, article, about, jersey, politician, philadelphia, gangster, joey, merlino, july, 1922, october, 1998, american, democratic, party, politician, served, president, jersey, senate, from, 1978, 1981, president, jersey, senatein, office, janu. This article is about the New Jersey politician For the Philadelphia gangster see Joey Merlino Joseph P Merlino July 12 1922 October 7 1998 was an American Democratic Party politician who served as President of the New Jersey Senate from 1978 to 1981 Joseph P MerlinoPresident of the New Jersey SenateIn office January 10 1978 January 12 1982Preceded byMatthew FeldmanSucceeded byCarmen A OrechioMember of the New Jersey SenateIn office January 11 1972 January 12 1982Preceded byDistrict createdSucceeded byJohn P GallagherConstituencyDistrict 6B 1972 1974 13th district 1974 1982 Member of the New Jersey General Assembly from District 6BIn office January 9 1968 January 11 1972Preceded byDistrict createdSucceeded byFrancis J McManimonPersonal detailsBorn 1922 07 12 July 12 1922Trenton New Jersey U S DiedOctober 7 1998 1998 10 07 aged 76 Princeton New Jersey U S Political partyDemocratic Contents 1 Background 2 Political career 2 1 State legislature 2 2 1981 gubernatorial campaign 2 3 1982 congressional campaign 3 References 4 External linksBackground editMerlino was born in 1922 in Trenton New Jersey the son of Pasquale and Margarita Fuccello Merlino He attended Trenton High School and then served in the U S Army mainly in the Mediterranean area He received a bachelor s degree from Seton Hall College in 1948 and a law degree from Fordham University in 1951 1 From 1956 until 1989 he was the senior partner in the Trenton law firm of Merlino Rottkamp amp Flacks and its predecessors He served as assistant prosecutor for Mercer County for seven years and as Trenton city attorney from 1966 to 1970 1 2 On October 7 1998 Merlino died from complications of heart disease and diabetes at the Forrestal Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Princeton he was 76 1 Political career editState legislature edit In 1967 Merlino was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly and was re elected in 1969 both times from District 6B alongside S Howard Woodson He was then elected to the New Jersey Senate from District 6B in 1971 and re elected in 1973 and 1977 from the 13th district He was assistant Senate majority leader from 1974 to 1975 majority leader from 1976 to 1977 and president of the Senate from 1978 to 1981 2 As Majority Leader and Senate President Merlino pushed through many legislative programs favored by Governor Brendan Byrne a longtime political ally Among this legislation was the state s graduated income tax passed in 1976 and the Pinelands Protection Act enacted in 1979 authorizing the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve 1 1981 gubernatorial campaign edit In 1981 Merlino ran in the Democratic primary for Governor of New Jersey The crowded field of 13 Democratic candidates included U S Representative James Florio Newark Mayor Kenneth A Gibson U S Representative Robert A Roe Attorney General John J Degnan and Jersey City Mayor Thomas F X Smith Merlino finished in fourth place with 11 percent of the vote behind Florio 26 percent Roe 16 percent and Gibson 16 percent 3 1982 congressional campaign edit In 1982 Merlino ran for the House of Representatives in the newly redistricted 4th Congressional District Merlino was expected to coast to victory over the 29 year old freshman Republican incumbent Chris Smith whose 1980 win over Frank Thompson indicted in the Abscam operation was seen as a fluke At the end of one of their debates Smith approached Merlino to exchange pleasantries Merlino was quoted as saying Beat it kid Smith won the election with 53 of the vote 4 References edit a b c d Pace Eric October 9 1998 Joseph Merlino 76 Trenton Political Figure The New York Times Retrieved March 9 2009 a b Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey J A Fitzgerald 1979 Carroll Maurice June 4 1981 Florio and Kean Agree Taxes Are Key Issue The New York Times Retrieved March 9 2009 Rep Christopher H Smith R PDF CQ Press Retrieved March 9 2009 External links editJoseph P Merlino at The Political Graveyard New Jersey General Assembly Preceded byConstituency established Member of the New Jersey General Assemblyfrom the 6B districtJanuary 9 1968 January 11 1972 Succeeded byFrancis J McManimon New Jersey Senate Preceded byConstituency established Member of the New Jersey Senatefrom the 6B districtJanuary 11 1972 January 8 1974 Succeeded byConstituency abolished Preceded byConstituency established Member of the New Jersey Senatefrom the 13th districtJanuary 8 1974 January 12 1982 Succeeded byJohn P Gallagher Political offices Preceded byMatthew Feldman President of the New Jersey SenateJanuary 10 1978 January 12 1982 Succeeded byCarmen A Orechio Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Joseph P Merlino amp oldid 1219659703, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
