1987 New Jersey General Assembly election

The 1987 New Jersey General Assembly election was held on November 5, 1987.

The elections took place midway through Governor Tom Kean's second term in office. Democrats won back eight seats, narrowing the Republican majority to four. Democrats flipped one seat in districts 1 and 14, as well as flipping both seats in districts 32, 33, and 36.

Incumbents not running for re-election

Democratic

• Joseph L. Bocchini Jr. (District 14) (ran for Mercer County Executive)
• Thomas H. Paterniti (District 18) (ran for State Senate)
• Vincent O. Pellecchia (District 35)

Republican

• Guy F. Muziani (District 1)
• Joseph W. Chinnici (District 1)
• Joseph Azzolina (District 13) (ran for State Senate)
• John K. Rafferty (District 14)
• Charles J. Catrillo (District 32) (ran for State Senate)
• Louis Kosco (District 38) (ran for State Senate)

Summary of races

Voters in each legislative district elect two members to the New Jersey General Assembly.

Close races

Districts where the difference of total votes between the top-two parties was under 10%:

1. gain D
8. gain

District 1

General election

Candidates

• Raymond A. Batten, candidate for Assembly in 1985 (Democratic)
• Frank LoBiondo, Cumberland County Freeholder (Republican)
• Edward H. Salmon, Cumberland County Freeholder and former mayor of Millville (Democratic)
• Gerald M. Thornton (Republican)

Results

District 2

General election

Candidates

• Dolores G. Cooper, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Republican)
• J. Edward Kline, incumbent Assembly member since 1984 (Republican)
• Fred Scerni (Democratic)
• William A. Thompson III (Democratic)

Results

District 3

General election

Candidates

• Jack Collins, incumbent Assembly member since 1986 (Republican)
• Paul A. Oland (Democratic)
• Gary Stuhltrager, incumbent Assembly member since 1986 (Republican)
• James G. Waddington (Democratic)

Results

District 4

General election

Candidates

• Anthony S. Marsella, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Democratic)
• John Matheussen, attorney (Republican)
• Dennis L. Riley, incumbent Assembly member since 1980 (Democratic)
• Wayne S. Wooster (Republican)

Results

District 5

General election

Candidates

• Wayne R. Bryant, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Democratic)
• Jose DeJesus Jr. (Republican)
• Raymond R. Groller (Republican)
• Joseph J. Roberts, incumbent Assembly member since July 1987 (Democratic)

Results

District 6

General election

Candidates

• Patrick J. Brennan (Democratic)
• John A. Rocco, incumbent Assembly member since 1980 (Republican)
• Thomas J. Shusted, incumbent Assembly member since 1978 (Republican)
• John J. Tarditi Jr. (Democratic)

Results

District 7

General election

Candidates

• Renee L. Borstad, candidate for Assembly in 1985 (Republican)
• Vincent R. Faris (Republican)
• Thomas P. Foy, incumbent Assembly member since 1980 (Democratic)
• Barbara Kalik, incumbent Assembly member since 1978 (Democratic)

Results

District 8

General election

Candidates

• Harold L. Colburn Jr., incumbent Assembly member since 1984 (Republican)
• Thomas Long (Democratic)
• Robert C. Shinn Jr., incumbent Assembly member since February 1985 (Republican)
• Harrison B. Slack, candidate for Assembly in 1985 (Democratic)

Results

District 9

General election

Candidates

• Judy Anderson (Democratic)
• John T. Hendrickson Jr., incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Republican)
• Jeffrey Moran, incumbent Assembly member since 1986 (Republican)
• Harry F. Schmoll Jr. (Democratic)

Results

District 10

General election

Candidates

• John Paul Doyle, incumbent Assembly member since 1974 and former Assembly Majority Leader (Democratic)
• Marlene Lynch Ford, former Assembly member (Democratic)
• Robert A. Gasser (Republican)
• Robert Singer, incumbent Assembly member since 1986 and former mayor of Lakewood Township (Republican)

Results

District 11

General election

Candidates

• Mary K. Blohm (Compulsory Education Law)
• John D'Amico Jr., Monmouth County Freeholder (Democratic)
• Joshua Leinsdorf (Compulsory Education Law)
• Joseph A. Palaia, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Republican)
• Joseph Quinn (Democratic)
• Anthony M. Villane, incumbent Assembly member since 1976 (Republican)

Results

District 12

General election

Candidates

• Gene J. Anthony (Democratic)
• John O. Bennett, incumbent Assembly member since 1980 (Republican)
• Dante J. Massa (Democratic)
• Marie Sheehan Muhler, incumbent Assembly member since 1976 (Republican)

Results

District 13

General election

Candidates

• William Flynn, former Assembly member (Democratic)

• Joe Kyrillos, special assistant to the U.S. Secretary of the Interior (Republican)

• Joann H. Smith, incumbent Assembly member since 1986 (Republican)
• Jacqueline Walker, former Assembly member (Democratic)

Results

District 14

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Anthony J. Cimino, Mercer County Freeholder
• Janice Mironov, East Windsor municipal attorney
• Joseph D. Patero, former Assembly member from Manville

Declined

• Joseph L. Bocchini, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (ran for Mercer County Executive)

Republican primary

Declined

• John K. Rafferty, incumbent Assembly member since 1986 and mayor of Hamilton Township (ran for re-election as mayor)

General election

Candidates

• Anthony J. Cimino, Mercer County Freeholder (Democratic)
• David J. Kenny (Republican)
• Joseph D. Patero, former Assembly member (Democratic)
• Walt Sodie (Republican)

Results

District 15

General election

Candidates

• Arthur E. Frank (Republican)
• John S. Furlong (Republican)
• Gerald S. Naples, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Democratic)
• John S. Watson, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Democratic)

Results

District 16

General election

Candidates

• Walter J. Kavanaugh, incumbent Assembly member since 1976 (Republican)
• Adele Montgomery (Democratic)
• John S. Penn, incumbent Assembly member since 1984 (Republican)
• Alfred A. Wicklund (Democratic)

Results

District 17

General election

Candidates

• David C. Schwartz, incumbent Assembly member since 1978 (Democratic)
• Peter J. Selesky (Republican)
• Bob Smith, incumbent Assembly member since 1986 (Democratic)
• Dorothy Sonnenberg (Republican)

Results

District 18

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Frank M. Pelly, incumbent Assembly member since 1982
• George A. Spadoro, member of the Edison Township Council

Declined

• Thomas H. Paterniti, incumbent Assembly member since 1980 (ran for State Senate)

General election

Candidates

• Doris M. Fleming (Republican)
• Robert Maurer (Republican)
• Frank M. Pelly, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Democratic)
• George A. Spadoro, member of the Edison Township Council (Democratic)

Results

District 19

General election

Candidates

• Alan Karcher, incumbent Assembly member since 1974 and former Speaker of the General Assembly (Democratic)
• George Otlowski, incumbent Assembly member since 1974 and mayor of Perth Amboy (Democratic)
• Beverly A. Samuelson (Republican)
• Emery Z. Toth, candidate for Assembly in 1985 (Republican)

Results

District 20

General election

Candidates

• Thomas J. Deverin, incumbent Assembly member since 1970 (Democratic)
• George Hudak, incumbent Assembly member since 1986 and mayor of Linden (Democratic)
• Peter Kobylarz (Republican)
• William Wnuck (Republican)

Results

District 21

General election

Candidates

• Robert Blitz (Democratic)
• Brian W. Fahey (Democratic)
• Peter J. Genova, incumbent Assembly member since 1985 (Republican)
• Chuck Hardwick, incumbent Assembly member since 1978 and Speaker of the General Assembly since 1986 (Republican)

Results

District 22

General election

Candidates

• Bob Franks, incumbent Assembly member since 1980 (Republican)
• Robert J. Lafferty (Democratic)
• Maureen Ogden, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Republican)

Results

District 23

General election

Candidates

• Edward J. Boccher (Democratic)
• Dick Kamin, incumbent Assembly member since 1986 (Republican)
• Frederick J. Katz Jr. (Democratic)
• Bill Schluter, former member of the New Jersey Senate and General Assembly (Republican)

Results

District 24

General election

Candidates

• Robert T. Davis, candidate for Assembly in 1985 (Democratic)
• Chuck Haytaian, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Republican)
• Robert E. Littell, incumbent Assembly member since 1968 (Republican)
• Edwin C. Selby (Democratic)

Results

District 25

General election

Candidates

• Arthur R. Albohn, incumbent Assembly member since 1980 (Republican)
• Rodney Frelinghuysen, incumbent Assembly member since 1984 (Republican)
• George J. Stafford (Democratic)

Results

District 26

General election

Candidates

• Drew Britcher (Democratic)
• Ralph A. Loveys, incumbent Assembly member since 1984 (Republican)
• Robert Martin, incumbent Assembly member since 1985 (Republican)
• Paul E. Nagel (Democratic)

Results

District 27

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Stephanie R. Bush, East Orange attorney
• Mildred Barry Garvin, incumbent Assembly member since 1978
• Christine Keno, East Orange resident
• Harry A. McEnroe, incumbent Assembly member since 1980 (Democratic)
• Catherine Willis, campaign manager for Mildred Barry Garvin

General election

Candidates

• Stephanie R. Bush, East Orange attorney (Democratic)
• Harry A. McEnroe, incumbent Assembly member since 1980 (Democratic)
• Lilliana Piccione (Republican)
• James C. Pitchford (Republican)

Results

District 28

General election

Candidates

• Michael Adubato, incumbent Assembly member since 1974 (Democratic)
• Howard E. Berkeley (Republican)
• Lawrence Hamm, community activist (People's Needs First)
• William P. Rutan (Republican)
• James Zangari, incumbent Assembly member since 1980 (Democratic)

Results

District 29

General election

Candidates

• Willie B. Brown, incumbent Assembly member since 1974 (Democratic)
• Kurt A. Culbreath, candidate for Assembly in 1985 (Republican)
• Jackie Mattison, chief of staff to mayor of Newark Sharpe James (Democratic)
• Shahid S. Watson (Republican)

Results

District 30

General election

Candidates

• Marion Crecco, incumbent Assembly member since 1986 (Republican)
• Cynthia DeBonis (Democratic)
• John V. Kelly, incumbent Assembly member since 1986 (Republican)
• James A. Plaisted (Democratic)

Results

District 31

General election

Candidates

• Joseph Charles, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Democratic)
• Joseph Doria, incumbent Assembly member since 1980 (Democratic)
• Modesto Daniel Fiume (Republican)
• James V. McNally Jr. (Republican)

Results

District 32

General election

Candidates

• Cathy Borer (Politicians Are Crooks)
• Peter Galbo (Politicians Are Crooks)
• Frank J. Gargiulo, incumbent Assembly member since 1986 (Republican)
• Anthony Impreveduto, member of the Secaucus Town Council (Democratic)
• David C. Kronick (Democratic)
• Lee S. Lichtenberger (Republican)

Results

District 33

General election

Candidates

• Jose Arango, incumbent Assembly member since 1986 (Republican)
• Michael P. Dapuzzo ("Pride-Responsibility")
• Bernard Kenny, former Hoboken assistant corporation counsel (Democratic)
• Bob Menendez, mayor of Union City (Democratic)
• Wanda Morales ("Pride-Responsibility")
• Angelo M. Valente (Republican)

Results

District 34

General election

Candidates

• William L. Kattak (Democratic)
• Gloria J. Kolodziej (Democratic)
• Newton Edward Miller, incumbent Assembly member since 1980 (Republican)
• Gerald H. Zecker, incumbent Assembly member since 1984 (Republican)

Results

District 35

Democratic primary

Candidates

• John Girgenti, incumbent Assembly member since 1978
• Bill Pascrell, member of the Paterson Board of Education and chair of the Passaic County Democratic Committee

Withdrew

• Roy Griffin, president of the Paterson City Council
• William Kline, assistant superintendent of Paterson Public Schools

General election

Candidates

• Robert Angele (Republican)
• Martin G. Barnes, member of the Paterson City Council (Republican)
• John Girgenti, incumbent Assembly member since 1978 (Democratic)
• Bill Pascrell, member of the Paterson Board of Education and chair of the Passaic County Democratic Committee (Democratic)

Results

District 36

General election

Candidates

• Andrew E. Bertone (Republican)
• Frakn B. Calandriello (Republican)
• Thomas J. Duch, mayor of Garfield (Democratic)
• Louis J. Gill, member of the Passaic City Council (Democratic)

Results

District 37

General election

Candidates

• Byron Baer, incumbent Assembly member since 1972 (Democratic)
• Anthony J. Cassano (Republican)
• Barry N. Frank (Republican)
• D. Bennett Mazur, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Democratic)

Results

District 38

General election

Candidates

• Joseph Capizzi (Democratic)
• Patrick J. Roma, member of the Palisades Park Borough Council (Republican)
• John J. Ryan Jr. (Democratic)
• Pat Schuber, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Republican)

Results

District 39

General election

Candidates

• Robert P. Bonnano (Democratic)
• William J. Daly (Democratic)
• Elizabeth Randall, assistant counsel to Governor Thomas Kean (Republican)
• John E. Rooney, incumbent Assembly member since 1983 (Republican)

Results

District 40

General election

Candidates

• Nicholas Felice, incumbent Assembly member since 1982 (Republican)
• Walter M. D. Kern, incumbent Assembly member since 1978 (Republican)
• Michael Harris (Michael Harris Libertarian)
• Edward F. Seavers Jr. (Democratic)
• Michael S. Taaffe (Democratic)

Results

Notes

See also

• 1987 New Jersey Senate election

References