Barbara Wright (politician)
Encyclopedia
Barbara Wright is an American
Republican Party
politician who served four terms in the New Jersey General Assembly
, from 1992 to 2000, where she represented the 14th Legislative District. A full time legislator, Wright served as Mayor of Plainsboro Township, New Jersey
in 1984 and 1985.
, was awarded an Master of Education
from Rutgers University
and earned a Master of Arts
in nursing education from New York University
. She served on the board of education of the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District
from 1974 to 1977, was deputy mayor of Plainsboro Township from 1974 to 1983 and served as the township's mayor in 1984 and 1985.
, knocking off Democratic incumbents Skip Cimino and Joseph Patero. The pair won re-election together in 1993, 1995 and 1997. Wright served in the Assembly as Assistant Majority Whip in 1994 and 1995 and was the Deputy Speaker starting in 19098. She served on the Consumer and Regulated Professions Committee and the Health Committee.
Legislation co-sponsored by Wright in 1998 would reduce the dollar value of false insurance claims needed to receive 5 to 10 years in prison and fines of as much as $100,000. With statistics citing that 16% of the average insurance bill was for fraudulent claims, the legislation proposed by Wright would cut the threshold from $75,000 in false claims down to $1,000 in at least five fraudulent claims.
In the 1999 election, Republican incumbents Paul Kramer
and Wright were narrowly defeated by Democrats Linda R. Greenstein
and Gary Guear
, with the incumbents losing votes in Hamilton Township, where Democrat Glen Gilmore
won the race for mayor. The two gains were among the three Republicans seats Democrats picked up in the Assembly in the 1999 elections, though the Republicans retained their majority.
In February 2010, Wright announced that she was going to run for the Republican nomination to fill the New Jersey Senate
seat vacated by Bill Baroni
and filled on an interim basis by Tom Goodwin
. Wright cited the lack of Republican women in the Senate — only Diane Allen and Jennifer Beck were serving at the time — as part of her motivation for running. If Wright won the primary she would likely face Democrat Linda Greenstein, who knocked her out of the Assembly in the 1999 elections.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician who served four terms in the New Jersey General Assembly
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
, from 1992 to 2000, where she represented the 14th Legislative District. A full time legislator, Wright served as Mayor of Plainsboro Township, New Jersey
Plainsboro Township, New Jersey
Plainsboro Township is a township in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 20,215.Plainsboro was incorporated as a township on May 6, 1919...
in 1984 and 1985.
Early career
Wright earned her undergraduate degree in nursing from Boston CollegeBoston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
, was awarded an Master of Education
Master of Education
The Master of Education is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in a large number of countries. This degree in education often includes the following majors: curriculum and instruction, counseling, and administration. It is often conferred for educators advancing in...
from Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
and earned a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in nursing education from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
. She served on the board of education of the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District
West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District
West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District is a regional school district in New Jersey, serving students from West Windsor Township and Plainsboro Township ....
from 1974 to 1977, was deputy mayor of Plainsboro Township from 1974 to 1983 and served as the township's mayor in 1984 and 1985.
Assemblyperson
She was first elected to the Assembly in 1991 with running mate Paul KramerPaul Kramer
Paul Kramer is an American Republican Party politician. He served four terms in the New Jersey General Assembly, where he represented the 14th Legislative District from 1992 to 2000.-Early career:...
, knocking off Democratic incumbents Skip Cimino and Joseph Patero. The pair won re-election together in 1993, 1995 and 1997. Wright served in the Assembly as Assistant Majority Whip in 1994 and 1995 and was the Deputy Speaker starting in 19098. She served on the Consumer and Regulated Professions Committee and the Health Committee.
Legislation co-sponsored by Wright in 1998 would reduce the dollar value of false insurance claims needed to receive 5 to 10 years in prison and fines of as much as $100,000. With statistics citing that 16% of the average insurance bill was for fraudulent claims, the legislation proposed by Wright would cut the threshold from $75,000 in false claims down to $1,000 in at least five fraudulent claims.
In the 1999 election, Republican incumbents Paul Kramer
Paul Kramer
Paul Kramer is an American Republican Party politician. He served four terms in the New Jersey General Assembly, where he represented the 14th Legislative District from 1992 to 2000.-Early career:...
and Wright were narrowly defeated by Democrats Linda R. Greenstein
Linda R. Greenstein
Linda R. Greenstein is an American Democratic Party politician who represents the 14th legislative district in the New Jersey Senate. She previously served in the General Assembly from 2000 to 2010...
and Gary Guear
Gary Guear
Gary L. Guear, Sr. is an American Democratic Party politician, who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2000–2004, where he represented the 14th Legislative District.-Biography:...
, with the incumbents losing votes in Hamilton Township, where Democrat Glen Gilmore
Glen Gilmore
Glen D. Gilmore is the principal of the Social Media Marketing firm, Gilmore Business Network . A practicing attorney , Gilmore also serves as the Senior Social Media Advisor to Memphis-based Howell Marketing....
won the race for mayor. The two gains were among the three Republicans seats Democrats picked up in the Assembly in the 1999 elections, though the Republicans retained their majority.
In February 2010, Wright announced that she was going to run for the Republican nomination to fill the New Jersey Senate
New Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
seat vacated by Bill Baroni
Bill Baroni
William E. "Bill" Baroni, Jr. is an American Republican Party politician and law professor who was named by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie in February 2010 to serve as the Deputy Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the nation’s busiest airport...
and filled on an interim basis by Tom Goodwin
Tom Goodwin
Thomas Jones Goodwin is a former Major League Baseball player. He attended Central High School in Fresno, and then went on to play for Fresno State University...
. Wright cited the lack of Republican women in the Senate — only Diane Allen and Jennifer Beck were serving at the time — as part of her motivation for running. If Wright won the primary she would likely face Democrat Linda Greenstein, who knocked her out of the Assembly in the 1999 elections.