Rodney P. Frelinghuysen

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rodney Frelinghuysen
Rodney P. Frelinghuysen
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Jersey's 11th district
Incumbent
Assumed office 
January 3, 1995
Preceded by Dean Gallo
Born April 29, 1946 (1946-04-29) (age 62)
New York City, New York
Political party Republican
Spouse Virginia Robinson
Religion Episcopalian

Rodney P. Frelinghuysen (born April 29, 1946 in New York City) is an American Republican Party politician, who has served as a member of the United States House of Representatives representing New Jersey's 11th congressional district (map) since 1995.

Frelinghuysen is a member of a family long prominent in New Jersey politics. He is the son of Peter Hood Ballantine Frelinghuysen, Jr., great-great grandson of Frederick T. Frelinghuysen, and great-great-great nephew of Theodore Frelinghuysen, who each represented New Jersey in Congress. After graduating from Hobart College in 1969, Frelinghuysen enlisted in the United States Army. Following basic training at Fort Dix, he served with the 93rd Engineer Battalion in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam.

After his military service, Frelinghuysen worked for the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders until he was elected to serve as a Freeholder in 1974.

In 1983, Frelinghuysen was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly (the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature) from the 26th legislative district, a position he held until elected to the House of Representatives in 1994.

Like most Republicans from New Jersey, Frelinghuysen has a moderate voting record. He is a member of the Republican Main Street Partnership, the Republican Majority For Choice, Republicans for Choice and Republicans For Environmental Protection. He is the only New Jersey Republican House member who is pro-choice on abortion. When he was a member of the New Jersey General Assembly, he made a small financial contribution to the activist/civil disobedience group ACT UP.

In the 2000 elections, satirist Michael Moore attempted to have a ficus challenge Frelinghuysen's unopposed re-election, to make a point about how rarely congressmen are held accountable for their terms in office. "Most run unopposed in their primaries and 95% are re-elected every time in the general election."[1] Since 1793, New Jersey has sent six Frelinghuysens to Congress — four to the U.S. Senate and two to the House of Representatives. In a press release announcing the plant's candidacy, Moore wrote, "We think it's time to point out to the Frelinghuysen family that we live in a democracy, not a dynasty."[1]

On May 24, 2007, Rodney Frelinguysen chased down a pickpocket who had stolen his wallet near his home in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Two Washington police officers saw the chase and arrested the 18-year-old suspect who had been caught by the 61-year-old congressman.[2]

Contents

[edit] Committee assignments

[edit] Electoral history

New Jersey's 11th congressional district: Results 1994–2006[3]
Year Democrat Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct 3rd Party Party Votes Pct 3rd Party Party Votes Pct
1994 Frank Herbert 50,211 28% Rodney Frelinghuysen 127,868 71% Mary Frueholz LaRouche Was Right 1,065 1% *
1996 Chris Evangel 78,742 31% Rodney Frelinghuysen 169,091 66% Ed DeMott Independent 2,870 1% Austin S. Lett Independent 2,618 1% *
1998 John P. Scollo 44,160 30% Rodney Frelinghuysen 100,910 68% Austin S. Lett Independent 1,737 1% Agnes James Independent 1,409 1% *
2000 John P. Scollo 80,958 30% Rodney Frelinghuysen 186,140 68% John Pickarski Independent 5,199 2% James Spinosa Independent 1,541 1%
2002 Vij Pawar 48,477 26% Rodney Frelinghuysen 132,938 72% Richard S. Roth Libertarian 2,263 1%
2004 James W. Buell 91,811 31% Rodney Frelinghuysen 200,915 68% John Mele Immigration Moratorium Now 1,746 1% Austin S. Lett Libertarian 1,530 1%
2006 Tom Wyka 74,414 37% Rodney Frelinghuysen 126,085 62% Richard S. Roth Libertarian 1,730 1% John Mele Constitution 842 <1%
*Write-in and minor candidate notes: In 1994, Stuart Bacha received 436 votes. In 1996, Victoria S. Spruiell received 1,837 votes. In 1998, Stephen A. Bauer received 755 votes.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Ficus Plant Announces Candidacy For Congress
  2. ^ "Congressman chases down pick-pocket", Reuters, 2007-05-25. 
  3. ^ Election Statistics. Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Retrieved on 2008-01-10.

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Dean Gallo		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Jersey's 11th congressional district
1995–Present		 Incumbent
v • d • e
New Jersey's current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators
Representative(s)
1: Rob Andrews (D), 2: Frank LoBiondo (R), 3: Jim Saxton (R), 4: Chris Smith (R), 5: Scott Garrett (R), 6: Frank Pallone (D), 7: Mike Ferguson (R), 8: Bill Pascrell (D), 9: Steve Rothman (D), 10: Don Payne (D), 11: Rodney P. Frelinghuysen (R), 12: Rush D. Holt, Jr. (D), 13: Albio Sires (D)
State delegations
Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming
Non-voting delegations
Languages