Gary Schaer
Gary Schaer (born September 11, 1951) is an American Democratic Party politician who serves in the New Jersey General Assembly where he represents the 36th Legislative District. He took office on January 10, 2006, and remains on the Passaic, New Jersey City Council where he is the council president. Schaer is the first Orthodox Jew in the New Jersey Legislature.[1]
Biography
Schaer was elected to the Assembly on November 8, 2005, and took the seat of Republican Paul DiGaetano, who did not run for re-election and had held the seat in the Assembly continuously since 1992.[2]
Schaer is the current chairman of the Assembly Budget Committee and also serves on the State Government Committee as Vice-Chair.[3]
Schaer has served on the Passaic City Council, including 11 years as Council President. He has been a Director of Passaic's Urban Enterprise Zone since 2002. He served as a Commissioner on the Board of Education for the Passaic County Technical Institute from 1999–2003 and was a Commissioner on the Passaic Housing Authority from 1992-1996.[3] In May 2008, Schaer became the acting mayor of Passaic upon the resignation of Samuel Rivera, who had pleaded guilty on corruption charges.[4]
He is a Trustee of St. Mary's Hospital. Schaer has worked in the financial services industry for over 20 years. He is an Investment Consultant and Vice President at Ryan Beck & Company.[3]
In situations in which the legislature was in session on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, when the dictates of his Orthodox Jewish faith prohibit him from participating in forbidden forms of work he has appointed an aide to cast a ballot on his behalf, a policy permitted by the Assembly's rules, as long as the legislator is in the building.[1]
Schaer grew up in Pennsauken Township, New Jersey.[1] He attended American University, majoring in political science.[3]
District 36
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 36th District for the 2012-2013 Legislative Session are:[5]
- Senator Paul Sarlo, and
- Assemblywoman Marlene Caride
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Chadwick, John. "Orthodox Jew strives to keep the faith", The Record (Bergen County), July 5, 2007. Accessed July 6, 2007. "Assemblyman Gary Schaer was nowhere to be seen as lawmakers gathered in the wee hours of a Saturday morning for a critical budget vote.... The reason for Schaer's disappearing act was simple. He's an Orthodox Jew -- the first one in the New Jersey Legislature -- and can't work on the Jewish Sabbath."
- ↑ Ortiz, Erik. "Democrats make surprise selection for 36th District", The Record (Bergen County), March 4, 2005. Accessed April 3, 2008.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Assemblyman Schaer's legislative web page, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed April 3, 2008.
- ↑ Mandell, Meredith. "Another corrupt N.J. politician bites the dust", The Record (Bergen County), May 10, 2008. Accessed May 30, 2008.
- ↑ Legislative Roster 2012-2013 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed October 29, 2012.
External links
- Assemblyman Schaer's legislative web page, New Jersey Legislature
- New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure forms
- New Jersey Democrats legislative candidate biographies
| New Jersey General Assembly | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Paul DiGaetano |
Assemblyman for the 36th Legislative District January 2006 – present Served alongside: Marlene Caride |
Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Samuel Rivera |
Mayor of Passaic, New Jersey (acting) 2008–2009 |
Succeeded by Alex Blanco |