| Joseph M. Kyrillos | |
|---|---|
| Member of the New Jersey Senate from the 13th district |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 1992 |
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| Member of the New Jersey General Assembly from the 13th district | |
| In office 1988–1991 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | April 12, 1960 Kearny, New Jersey |
| Political party | Republican |
| Residence | Middletown, New Jersey |
| Alma mater | Hobart College, Boston University |
| Occupation | Commercial real estate broker |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
| Website | http://kyrillos.senatenj.com/ |
Joseph M. Kyrillos Jr. (born April 12, 1960) is an American Republican Party politician, who has been serving in the New Jersey State Senate since 1992, where he represents the 13th Legislative District. Before entering the Senate, Kyrillos served in the General Assembly, the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature, from 1988 to 1991.[1]
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Joseph M. Kyrillos, Jr. was born April 12, 1960 in Kearny, New Jersey.[2] Kyrillos graduated from Rumson Country Day School and the Lawrenceville School.[3] He received a B.A. degree from Hobart College in Political Science and was awarded an M.S. from Boston University in Communications.[1]
After graduating from Boston University, Kyrillos worked with Vice President George Bush's staff during the 1984 Reagan-Bush campaign.[4] Following the campaign, he served as Special Assistant to Secretary of the Interior Donald Hodel from 1985 to 1987.[5]
From 1990 to 1998, Kyrillos served as director of business standards and ethics at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, New Jersey. Since 1998, Kyrillos has been employed by GVA Williams Real Estate, where he currently is a senior managing director. In 2008, GVA Williams was purchased by FirstService and merged with Colliers International.[6][7]
Kyrillos was first elected to the New Jersey state assembly in 1988. After spending two terms in the assembly, he was elected to the State Senate where he has served since 1993.[8]
During his time in the Senate, Kyrillos has served as chairman of the Senate Natural Resources and Economic Development Committee (1992-1993) and Senate Economic Growth Committee (1994-1997). He was named Majority Conference Leader in 1997, and in in 2001 became chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee, a post he held until 2004.[1]
In 2008, Kyrillos sponsored the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Planning Act, designed to assist the transition as Fort Monmouth prepares to close under Base Realignment and Closure recommendations.[9]
Kyrillos was a primary co-sponsor of legislation creating the Business Employment Incentive Program, which provides government grants to companies that hire employees in New Jersey.[10] Kyrillos was the primary Senate sponsor of the Environmental Infrastructure Trust, legislation promoting ecotourism in New Jersey, and the Green Acres Bond Act of 1995, and New Jersey's College Savings Plan. Kyrillos helped establish the New Jersey School Report Card and the High School Proficiency Assessment.
Currently, Kyrillos is sponsoring many of Governor Chris Christie's "Tool Kit" initiatives.
Kyrillos hosts a statewide cable television program, Tour of New Jersey.[8]
In 1992, Kyrillos ran for the United States House of Representatives but was defeated by incumbent Democrat Frank Pallone in a competitive race, falling short by about 10 points.[11]
Kyrillos was the New Jersey Chairman of Mitt Romney's 2008 presidential campaign.[4] In 2009, Kyrillos served as chairman of Chris Christie's successful gubernatorial campaign and was a member of the Governor's Transition Committee, serving as the liaison to all transition sub-committees. [12]
Kyrillos serves on the board of the American Council of Young Political Leaders, National Conference of State Legislatures Foundation, Bayshore Senior Day Center, Count Basie Theatre, Garden State Arts Center Foundation, Monmouth County Historical Association, New Jersey Historical Society, Prevention First, Rainbow Foundation, and the Two River Theatre Company.[5]
In June 2011, Kyrillos filed an exploratory committee for a potential race against either incumbent Democrat U.S. Senator Bob Menendez in his 2012 re-election bid or incumbent Democrat U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg in his 2014 re-election bid.[13][14]
Kyrillos is married to Susan Doctorian Kyrillos and has two children, Max and Georgia.
| New Jersey General Assembly | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Joseph Azzolina |
New Jersey State Assemblyman, District 13 1987– 1991 |
Succeeded by Joseph Azzolina |
| New Jersey Senate | ||
| Preceded by James T. Phillips |
New Jersey State Senator, District 13 1991– date |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Paul Kapalko |
Republican Nominee for New Jersey's 6th Congressional District 1992 |
Succeeded by Steve Corodemus |
| Preceded by Chuck Haytaian |
Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee 2001– 2004 |
Succeeded by Tom Wilson |
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