Marge Roukema
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Margaret Scafati "Marge" Roukema (born September 19, 1929 in Newark, New Jersey) represented New Jersey in the U.S. House of Representatives for twenty-two years as a Republican.
A graduate of Montclair State College, Roukema's first career was as a teacher in the Ridgewood Public Schools. She began her political career in the local board of education, becoming the vice president of the body in 1970. In 1980, she challenged three-term incumbent Democrat Congressman Andrew Maguire, and won in what was then the 7th District. She was one of several Republicans swept into office by Reagan's coattails. After decennial redistricting, Roukema's district was renumbered as the 5th District, and she was handily reelected. She was reelected nine more times with almost no opposition.
Roukema was a moderate Republican, as was the case with most Republicans from the Northeast. She faced little opposition until 1998, when State Assemblyman Scott Garrett, a considerably more conservative Republican, challenged her in the primary. Roukema managed to fight him off, and did so again in 2000. With the prospect of another primary challenge from Garrett in 2002 (in a district made even more conservative by redistricting), as well as facing the loss of her subcommittee chairs due to caucus term limits, she opted not to seek a 12th term and retired from politics. Garrett won the nomination with 45% of the vote and went on to win the seat, despite Roukema's refusal to endorse him; Gerald Cardinale, who Roukema endorsed in the primary to succeed her, came in third with 25% of the vote, behind David C. Russo with 26%.[1][2]
She is an honorary board member of the National Organization of Italian American Women.
[edit] References
- ^ Kocieniewski, David. "Forrester to Represent G.O.P. in Race to Unseat Torricelli", The New York Times, June 5, 2002. Accessed March 30, 2008. "In the Republican primary to replace Representative Marge Roukema, who is retiring from her Fifth Congressional District seat, State Assemblyman E. Scott Garrett, defeated State Senator Gerald Cardinale, whom Mrs. Roukema had endorsed. With all precincts reporting, Mr. Garrett had 46 percent, to 25 percent for Mr. Cardinale and 26 percent for Assemblyman David C. Russo."
- ^ "Capital briefs", Human Events, October 28, 2002. Accessed November 1, 2007. "In New Jersey, retiring liberal GOP Rep. Marge Roukema has for months refused to endorse conservative Scott Garrett, the Republican nominee to succeed her in the 5th District."
[edit] External links
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
| Preceded by Andrew Maguire |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 7th congressional district 1981–1983 |
Succeeded by Matthew Rinaldo |
| Preceded by Millicent Fenwick |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 5th congressional district 1983–2003 |
Succeeded by Scott Garrett |
