Dean Gallo
| Dean Anderson Gallo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 11th district | |
| In office January 3, 1985 – November 6, 1994 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph Minish |
| Succeeded by | Rodney Frelinghuysen |
| New Jersey State Assemblyman | |
| In office January 1976 – January 1985 | |
| Preceded by | John J. Sinsimer, Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Robert J. Martin |
| Assembly Minority Leader | |
| In office January 1982 – January 1984 | |
| Preceded by | James R. Hurley |
| Succeeded by | Chuck Hardwick |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 23, 1935 Hackensack, New Jersey |
| Died | November 6, 1994 (aged 58) Denville, New Jersey |
| Political party | Republican Party |
| Spouse(s) | Anne Schwenker Gallo (Divorced); Betty Gallo |
| Children | Susan Gallo; Robert Gallo |
| Residence | Parsippany, New Jersey |
| Occupation | Realtor |
| Religion | Methodist |
Dean Anderson Gallo (November 23, 1935 – November 6, 1994) was an American Republican party politician, who was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing New Jersey's 11th congressional district from 1985 until his death in 1994.
Early Life
Gallo was born in Hackensack, New Jersey, the son of Dean and Selma Gallo. He attended public schools in Parsippany, New Jersey and was a graduate of Boonton High School. He spent his career as a Realtor and real estate developer, and was an owner of Gallo & DeCroce, a firm he started with another future elected official, Alex DeCroce.[1]
Early Political Career
Gallo was elected to the Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council in 1967, and served as Council President from 1968 to 1971. He was elected to the Morris County Board of Freeholders in 1971 to fill an unexpired term, and elected to a full three-year term in 1972. He was the Freeholder Director from 1973 to 1975.
In 1974, Gallo considered running for Congress in the 5th district, which included parts of Morris, Somerset, Essex and Mercer counties. The Republican incumbent, Peter Frelinghuysen, was retiring after 22 years. Gallo instead endorsed Assembly Minority Leader Thomas Kean, who narrowly lost the GOP primary.[2]
New Jersey State Assemblyman
In 1975, Gallo became a candidate for the New Jersey General Assembly in the 24th district, which included part of Morris County and Summit in Union County. Gallo won the Republican primary by a more than 2-1 margin against four other candidates, W. Thomas Tintle, Gerard R. Hughes, Jack Newberger and Raymond F. Bonnell.[3] In the general election, he defeated two-term Democratic Assemblyman John J. Sinsimer, Jr. by 6,605 votes, 26,277 to 19,672.[4]
Gallo faced Sinsimer again in 1977 and won by an even greater margin, 15,505 votes, 33,306 to 17,801. [5] He was re-elected by equally impressive margins in 1979, 1981, and 1983.
Leadership
Gallo was elected Assembly Minority Leader in 1981 and was re-elected to a second term in 1983.
U.S. Congressman
A challenge to the congressional redistricting plan established for the 1982 elections led to a new court-imposed map in 1984. The new 11th district, home to a Democrat Joseph Minish, first elected in 1962, removed Democratic towns in Essex, Hudson, southern Bergen and Passaic Counties and gives him the more Republican Essex suburbs and Republican areas in Sussex and Warren Counties and a large chunk of Morris County.[6] Gallo defeated Minish by 27,624 votes, 133,662 (56%) to 106,038 (44%).[7] Gallo's campaign was managed by Assemblyman (and later Congressman) Bob Franks. He was easily re-elected in 1986, 1988, 1990 and 1992.
Gallo served on the House Appropriations Committee, and joined the House Republican leadership as a Deputy Minority Whip.
In 1994, Gallo faced a conservative primary challenger, Dr. Joseph Pennacchio. Pennacchio spent over $200,000 of his own money attacking Gallo. Gallo won 26,492 (65.28%) to 10,917 (26.90%) in a four-candidate race.[8]
Illness, Death and Legacy
The 1994 primary turned out to be Gallo's final campaign. He had been treated for prostate cancer in 1992 and the cancer returned in 1994. He withdrew as a candidate for re-election on August 29, 1994, and died on November 6, 1994 at age 58. [9] Assemblyman Rodney Frelinghuysen was named to replace Gallo on the ballot, and was elected two days after Gallo's death.
The Dean and Betty Gallo Prostate Cancer Center at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey is named in his honor.[10]
References
- ↑ Fitzgerald's Legislative Manual of New Jersey. Trenton, NJ: Joseph J. Gribbons. 1986.
- ↑ "Wide-Open Race Is Seen for Frelinghuysen's Seat; 'Most Republican District'". New York Times. 10 March 1974.
- ↑ "Our Campaigns". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
- ↑ "Our Campaigns". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
- ↑ "Our Campaigns". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
- ↑ Sullivan, Joseph F. (26 February 1984). "DEMOCRATS TAKE DISTRICTING FIGHT BACK TO COURT". Retrieved 9 January 2015.
- ↑ "Our Campaigns". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
- ↑ "Our Campaigns". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
- ↑ Pace, Eric. "U.S. Rep. Dean A. Gallo, 58, New Jersey Republican, Dies", The New York Times, November 7, 1994. Accessed May 26, 2010.
- ↑ "Gallo Cancer Center". www.menshealthnetwork.com. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
External links
- Dean Gallo at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Congressional Votes database from The Washington Post
| United States House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Joseph Minish |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 11th congressional district 1985–1994 |
Succeeded by Rodney Frelinghuysen |
|