Reed Gusciora

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Reed Gusciora
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly
from the 15th legislative district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 9, 1996
Serving with Bonnie Watson Coleman
Personal details
Born (1960-03-27) March 27, 1960
Passaic, New Jersey
Political party Democratic
Residence Trenton, New Jersey
Website reedgusciora.com

Reed Gusciora (born March 27, 1960) is an American Democratic Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 1996, where he represents the 15th Legislative District. He also serves as the prosecutor for Lawrence Township.[1]

Early life and career

Gusciora was born in Passaic, New Jersey and attended public schools in Jamesburg, New Jersey, graduating from Jamesburg High School in 1978. He received a B.A. from The Catholic University of America in Politics / International Relations and was awarded a J.D. in 1988 from the Seton Hall University School of Law.[2] He was, for much of his adult life, a resident of Princeton Borough.

He challenged Congressman Chris Smith in 2000, losing heavily in the solidly Republican 4th district. In 2003, Gusciora lost a race for the Democratic nomination for Mayor of the Borough of Princeton.

In the legislature

He has been the Deputy Majority Leader since 2008, and was the Assembly's Assistant Minority Leader from 1998-2001. Gusciora serves in the Assembly on the Environment and Solid Waste Committee (as Vice-Chair), the Appropriations Committee, the Judiciary Committee and the Joint State Leasing and Space Utilization Committee.[2] He is a former Chairman of the Federal Relations Committee and a former Chairman of the Environment and Solid Waste Committee.

Gusciora authored the “Paramount Safety” Law that changed the legal standard in child custody cases to protect the health and well being of the child when abuse has occurred. He is the author of a law that streamlines services for people with developmental disabilities through the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education. He is also the original prime sponsor of legislation that would allow patients to sue HMOs for malpractice and the "Senior Gold Prescription Discount Act," which expanded the state’s prescription drug program for seniors.

2011 redistricting

The redistricting plan adopted following the 2010 U.S. Census moved Gusciora's hometown of Princeton Borough out of the 15th district and into the heavily-Republican 16th. Gusciora immediately announced that he would put his Princeton home on the market and move to Trenton, some 12 miles (19 km) away.[3] Trenton was the largest city in the old 15th district and will remain the largest city in the newly configured 15th district.

Personal

Gusciora is a supporter of gay rights and marriage equality.[4] In December 2006, he publicly acknowledged his homosexuality, thereby becoming the first ever openly gay member of the New Jersey Legislature.[5] In January 2012, he was joined by Assemblyman Tim Eustace, the openly gay mayor of Maywood who was elected to the General Assembly from the 38th district.

District 15

Each of the forty districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey Senate and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly. The other representatives from the 15th District for the 2010–2011 Legislative Session are:

References

  1. ↑ Galler, Joan (2011-09-29). "Lawrence prosecutor asks for change of venue in Sigmund case". Trentonian. Retrieved 2011-09-29. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Assemblyman Gusciora's legislative web page, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed August 10, 2007.
  3. ↑ "NJ redistricting prompts gay Assemblyman Reed Gusciora to move into Trenton". The Trentonian. April 3, 2011. 
  4. ↑ Abdur-Rahman, Sulaiman. "Gay New Jersey Assemblyman Reed Gusciora's message to LGBT youths: It gets better", The Trentonian, October 24, 2010. Accessed March 25, 2011.
  5. ↑ Schwaneberg, Robert. "California ruling on gay marriage cheers advocates in NJ", The Star-Ledger, May 15, 2008. Accessed March 25, 2011. "But Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer), the state's first openly gay lawmaker, isn't so sure. 'I don't see the Legislature taking it up anytime soon," Gusciora said. "I think the political will is still not there.'"

External links

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