Steve Lonegan

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Steve Lonegan (April 27, 1956 in Teaneck, New Jersey was the mayor of Bogota, New Jersey, a small community just west of New York City, from 1995-2007.[1] In the 2005 race, Lonegan ran for Governor of New Jersey. He lost the Republican nomination for governor to businessman Doug Forrester and 2001 nominee and former Mayor of Jersey City Bret Schundler in second place.

Lonegan grew up in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, where he graduated from Ridgefield Park High School.[2] He received a B.A. from William Paterson College and an MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University.[1]

In July of 2006, Mayor Lonegan called for a boycott of McDonald's, after the chain posted a Spanish-language billboard in the borough promoting its iced-coffee, as he felt that the use of Spanish in the ad sends a message that Hispanic immigrants do not need to learn English.[3] In the United States 2000 Census, 21.32% of Bogota's population identified themselves as Hispanic or Latino of any race.

The 2003 Mayoral election in Bogota was chronicled in the documentary Anytown, USA.[4]

[edit] Controversy

In October of 2007 it was discovered that Lonegan, known for his hard line stance against illegal immigration, had hired two illegal immigrants to work for him. Critics quickly shouted "hypocrite", but Lonegan maintained that he made every effort to ensure that both men were legal citizens. Both men were subsequently located and when interviewed by Spanish-speaking media, denied that Lonegan made any attempt to ascertain their citizenship.[5]

In an October 17, 2007 interview with Julio Sanchez Cristo at Colombia's W Radio, Lonegan stated that he is an advocate of an immigration reform but that he does not support President George W. Bush's proposal of a guest worker program that will not lead to a legal permanent residence in the United States. In this interview, Mr. Lonegan expressed that he would like for Bogota, New Jersey to become a sister city with Bogotá, Colombia.[6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Hester Jr., Tom. "Lonegan positioned as Republican leader", Courier-Post, February 12, 2008. Accessed February 12, 2008.
  2. ^ "Candidates for 9th Congressional District to Appear at Forum", Fairleigh Dickinson University press release. Accessed February 12, 2008.
  3. ^ Spanish McDonald's ad prompts talk of a boycott: Bergen town's mayor calls billboard 'divisive', Star-Ledger July 8, 2006
  4. ^ Benson, Josh. "WORTH NOTING; Star of Stage and Screen If Not the Ballot Box", The New York Times, June 26, 2005. Accessed February 12, 2008.
  5. ^ Miller, Jonathan. Both men were subsequently located and when interviewed by Spanish-speaking media, denied that Lonegan made any attempt to ascertain their citizenship."A Mayor With a Tough Stance on Immigration Is on Both Sides Now", The New York Times, October 16, 2007. Accessed October 16, 2007. "But recently, the conservative Mr. Lonegan — who has gained national attention for his views — suffered an attack of the ironies when the police discovered two illegal immigrants working at a home he owns, prompting critics to heap scorn on him, a onetime candidate for governor and House of Representatives."
  6. ^ W Radio Colombia

[edit] External links


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