Jerry Green (politician)

Gerald B. Green (April 16, 1939 – April 18, 2018) was an American Democratic politician, who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1992 until his death, representing the 22nd Legislative District (from 2002 to 2018) and the 17th Legislative District (1992 to 2002).

Jerry Green
Speaker pro tempore of the New Jersey General Assembly
In office
January 8, 2008 – April 18, 2018
Preceded byWilfredo Caraballo
Succeeded byGordon M. Johnson
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly
from the 22nd district
In office
January 8, 2002 – April 18, 2018
Serving with James Kennedy
Preceded byThomas Kean, Jr.
Richard Bagger
Succeeded byLinda Carter
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly
from the 17th district
In office
January 14, 1992 – January 8, 2002
Serving with Bob Smith
Preceded byDavid C. Schwartz
Succeeded byUpendra J. Chivukula
Joseph V. Egan
Personal details
Born(1939-04-16)April 16, 1939
Roselle, U.S.
DiedApril 18, 2018(2018-04-18) (aged 79)
Plainfield, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseWanda

Early life

Gerald Green was born on April 16, 1939, in Roselle, and graduated from a public high school, where he was a "star basketball player".[1] Along with his wife Wanda, Green lived in Plainfield.[2][3]

Career

Green started his career as a businessman working in marketing and real estate.[2] In 1982, he began his first term on the Union County's Board of Chosen Freeholders. During his second term from 1989 to 1991, he was elected the board's chair in 1990.[4] Green played a prominent role in the county's politics serving on its Planning Board, the Parks & Recreation Committee and Adolescent Substance Abuse Program.[1][2][5] He also served as the president of Roselle and Linden Merchants Association and was an honorary chairman for the March of Dimes's chapter in New Jersey for 1990.[2]

Green was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly as a Democrat in 1992 from the 17th Legislative District. Following redistricting in 2002, he represented the 22nd Legislative District in the Assembly till his death in 2018.[1] During his 26-year tenure as an assemblyman, Green served on the Housing and Local Government (as Chair) and on the Health and Senior Services Committee. He was also a member of the Joint Committee on Housing Affordability, deputy speaker Pro Tempore from 2004–2007 and Deputy Speaker from 2002–2003. In 2008 he became the Assembly's Speaker Pro Tempore.[4]

Jerry Green was an innovator, a trailblazer and the most influential African American leader ever to come from Union County.

– Sergio Granados, Chairman of Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders[5]

Green was the chairman of the Union County Democratic Committee from 2013 having replaced Charlotte DeFilippo.[6] He was re-elected in 2015 but resigned in January 2018 citing health issues. Assemblyman Nicholas Scutari succeeded him in this capacity.[5][7]

Before he died, Green was the longest-serving assemblymember in New Jersey. He was one of the key sponsors of the bill that required institutions of higher education to install sprinklers in all dormitories and was one of the facilitators responsible for bringing the Union County College campus to Plainfield.[5][8]

Death

He died on April 18, 2018, just two days following his 79th birthday. Democratic and Republican officials offered their consolations on his death.[5] Linda Carter was appointed in May 2018 to fill Green's vacant Assembly seat.[9]

References
  1. Pizarro, Max (April 19, 2018). "Rest in Peace, Assemblyman and Union County Democratic Chairman Jerry Green of Plainfield". InsiderNJ.com. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  2. Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey - Two Hundred and Eleventh Legislature (First Session) (PDF). Skinder-Strauss Associates. 2004. p. 273. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  3. Assembly Member Gerald B. 'Jerry' Green, Project Vote Smart. Accessed August 14, 2007.
  4. Assemblyman Green's legislative web page, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed February 14, 2008.
  5. Grzella, Paul C. (April 19, 2018). "Assemblyman Jerry Green of Plainfield has died". MyCentralJersey.com. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
  6. "Plainfield's Jerry Green elected as Union County Democratic Committee Chairman". Independent Press (NJ.com). June 17, 2013. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  7. Haydon, Tom (June 11, 2015). "Assemblyman Jerry Green re-elected chair of Union County Dems". NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  8. Baxter, Christopher (November 21, 2011). "N.J. Assembly panel passes bill requiring sprinkler systems in new homes". NJ.com. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  9. Russell, Suzanne. "Linda Carter sworn into General Assembly, replacing Jerry Green", Courier News, May 24, 2018. Accessed July 3, 2018. "Former Union County Freeholder Linda Carter was sworn into the New Jersey General Assembly on Thursday, representing the 22nd Legislative District communities in Middlesex, Somerset and Union counties. ... Carter replaces Assemblyman Jerry Green, 79, of Plainfield, who died April 18. Green served 26 years in the assembly."
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