Joseph Doria
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Joseph V. Doria Jr. (born June 28, 1946) is an American Democratic Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey State Senate since 2004, where he represents the 31st Legislative District. Doria also serves as Mayor of Bayonne, a position he has held since 1998.
On June 9, 2004, Doria was unanimously chosen by the Democratic County Committee members from the 31st Legislative District to serve as interim Senator following the death of Jersey City Mayor and Senator Glenn Cunningham. He was elected to the remainder of Cunningham's Senate term in a 2004 special election, defeating then Assemblyman Anthony Chiappone. His term in the Senate expires in January 2008.
Senator Doria is currently the Vice Chairman of the Economic Growth Committee, Vice Chairman of the Senate Education Committee and Vice Chairman of the Senate Labor Committee.. He also serves on the Joint Committee of Public Schools, and the Budget & Appropriations Committee.
Before entering the Senate, Doria spent a long career in the General Assembly, the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature, serving from 1980 to 2004. During his time in the Assembly he served as Minority Leader (1992-2001), Deputy Minority Leader (1988-1989), Minority Conference Leader (1986-1987), Majority Conference Chair (1984-1985), and finally as Speaker of the General Assembly from 1990 to 1991. Doria was elected to the Bayonne Board of Education in 1975, served as Board President from 1976 until 1979, and also was President of the Hudson County School Boards Association from 1978 to 1979.
Serving for nearly a quarter century in the New Jersey General Assembly, Doria sponsored more than 240 bills that were signed into law. During his years in the Assembly, Doria authored major pieces of legislation in the areas of education, consumer protection, healthcare and transportation. He is responsible for measures to decrease state bureaucracy, especially in the areas of environmental protection and healthcare. Doria was the sponsor of laws giving New Jersey's public colleges and universities greater autonomy. He also wrote the legislation allowing new mothers to stay in the hospital 48 hours after giving birth. Doria was the founding chair of the Assembly Higher Education Committee and chaired the Assembly Education Committee.
In March 2007, he announced he was not seeking a second term in the State Senate. The announcement was made shortly after former Jersey City First Lady Sandra Bolden Cunningham announced her candidacy for the Senate. Assemblyman Louis Manzo has announced plans to challenge Mrs. Cunningham for the Senate seat. (citation needed, Louis Manzo has made No official announcement)
Doria received a B.A. degree from Saint Peter's College in History, an M.A. from Boston College in American Studies and was awarded an Ed.D. from Columbia University Teachers College.
[edit] District 31
Each of the forty districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey Senate and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly. The other representatives from the 31st Legislative District are:
- Assemblyman Charles T. Epps, Jr., and
- Assemblyman Louis Manzo
[edit] External links
- Senator Doria's Senate Website
- New Jersey Senate Democrats Website Biography
- New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure form for 2005 (PDF)
- New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure form for 2004 (PDF)
| Preceded by Chuck Hardwick |
Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly 1990 – 1992 |
Succeeded by Chuck Haytaian |
| Preceded by Glenn Cunningham |
New Jersey State Senator 31st Legislative District 2004 – Present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
