John F. McKeon

For other people named John McKeon, see John McKeon (disambiguation).

John F. McKeon, Jr. (born June 3, 1958 in Montclair, New Jersey) is an American Democratic Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 2002, where he represents the 27th Legislative District, which covers the western portion of Essex County. He has served in the Assembly as a Deputy Speaker 2010-11, Majority Whip 2008-09, Assistant Majority Leader 2006-07, and Assistant Majority Whip 2004-05.[1]

McKeon is the chairman of the Assembly Judiciary Committee, serves as Vice-Chairman on the Assembly on the Environment and Solid Waste Committee, and sits on the Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee.[1]

During his first term in the Legislature, McKeon was the prime sponsor of the Assembly version of the laws requiring school districts to adopt anti-harassment policies, strengthening school bus driver background checks and revising the State’s laws concerning the release of wild animals, and was a prime sponsor of the Patients First Medical Malpractice Insurance reform legislation.

McKeon had served as the Mayor of West Orange from 1998 to 2010 when he retired and served on its Township Council from 1992-1998.[1] From the time that he took office in the Assembly in 2002 until he left his position as mayor in 2010, he simultaneously held a seat in the New Jersey General Assembly and was West Orange Mayor. This dual position, often called double dipping, is allowed under a grandfather clause in the state law enacted by the New Jersey Legislature and signed into law by Governor of New Jersey Jon Corzine in September 2007 that prevents dual-office-holding but allows those who had held both positions as of February 1, 2008, to retain both posts.[2] On July 1, 2010, Robert Parisi took over the Mayoral position.[3]

McKeon received a B.A. in 1980 from Muhlenberg College in History and was awarded a J.D. in 1983 from the Seton Hall University School of Law.[1] At graduation, he was the recipient of the Peter Rodino Law Society Outstanding Student Award. He then served as judicial clerk to Joseph M. Thuring, Superior Court of New Jersey, Hudson County.

District 27

Each of the 40 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 27th District for the 2014-15 Legislative Session are:[4]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Assemblyman McKeon's legislative web page, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed April 15, 2008.
  2. ↑ via Associated Press. "N.J. Lawmakers keep double dipping", WPVI-TV, March 4, 2008. Accessed June 4, 2009.
  3. ↑ Bondy, Halley. "New West Orange mayor longtime community activist and councilman", The Star-Ledger, May 13, 2010. Accessed January 17, 2015. "In the Eagle Rock section of town, where mayor-elect Robert Parisi grew up, Colgate Park saw an increase in crime in the early 1990s.... Parisi will be sworn in July 1 as the township’s first new mayor in 12 years to replace state Assembly deputy speaker John McKeon."
  4. ↑ Legislative Roster 2014-2015 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 17, 2015.

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