Michael J. Pappas
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| Mike Pappas | |
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| In office January 3, 1997 – January 3, 1999 |
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| Preceded by | Dick Zimmer |
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| Succeeded by | Rush Holt |
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| Born | December 29, 1960 (age 46) New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA |
| Political party | Republican |
Michael J. "Mike" Pappas (born December 29, 1960 in New Brunswick, New Jersey) is a former Republican Congressman from New Jersey.
Pappas was born in 1960 in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He is a graduate of Alma Prep in Zarephath, New Jersey, and attended Seton Hall University.
Pappas got into politics in the early 1980s, becoming a member of the Franklin Township, New Jersey town council. He served for five years (mayor for two) from 1982 to 1987. He later would be elected to the Board Of Chosen Freeholders for Somerset County, New Jersey, and served from 1984 to 1996 often alongside fellow Freeholder Christie Todd Whitman.
In 1996, Pappas won an election to replace Dick Zimmer in the 12th Congressional District in New Jersey (Zimmer ran for the U.S. Senate that year). A staunch conservative, his congressional service included pushing for a stronger national defense, the elimination of the capital gains tax, advocacy for small business, securing the release of the battleship U.S.S. New Jersey to the state of New Jersey as a museum, a national radio address urging for a national missile defense to protect against rogue states like North Korea and terrorists like Osama Bin Laden as well as his infamous singing of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Kenneth Starr" on the House floor. He was defeated by Rush Holt in 1998.
In 2000, Pappas unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination in the 12th District, losing a highly contentious primary to the more moderate Zimmer.
Currently, Pappas is working for the United States Small Business Administration in Washington D.C.
| Preceded by Dick Zimmer |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 12th congressional district 1997 – 1999 |
Succeeded by Rush Holt |
