Dick LaRossa
Encyclopedia
Richard Joseph "Dick" LaRossa (born July 1, 1946) is an American
Republican Party
politician who served two terms in the New Jersey Senate
, from 1994 to 2000, where he represented the 15th Legislative District
.
, where he attended Notre Dame High School. He received his undergraduate degree from Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey
), with a major in speech and theater and did graduate work in psychology at Fairleigh Dickinson University
. He is the owner of the Computer Services Group.
Before running for public office, LaRossa was a television personality known for hosting the New Jersey Lottery
's weekend drawings from 1980 to 1991, making him what The New York Times
described as "arguably one of the most recognizable faces in the state". A member of both the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
and Actors' Equity Association
, LaRossa had a regular weekend gig as emcee and lead vocalist for an 18-piece swing band called the Lamplighters, billing himself as "the singing Senator".
by a narrow 50.9%-49.1% margin in a district that had not elected a Republican to that seat since 1946. Democrats had the goal of regaining some of the seats lost in the 1991 Republican landslide. LaRossa faced Stockman for a second time in 1993, with the incumbent receiving endorsements from the AFL-CIO
, locals of the Communications Workers of America
and the New Jersey State Patrolmen's Benevolent Association. LaRossa defeated Stockman for a second time in 1993, this time by a margin of 52.3% to 47.7%. LaRossa served in the Senate as Chair of the Urban Policy and Planning Committee and as a member of the Budget and Appropriations Committee. In the 1997 general election, Democrat Shirley Turner
defeated LaRossa, making him the only incumbent Republican Senator to lose his seat that year. In the loss to Turner, LaRossa received 46.1% of the votes to Turner's 53.9%.
In the 1996 New Jersey Republican primary for U.S. Senate
, LaRossa came in third with 12%, behind three-term Congressman Dick Zimmer
who had 68% of the vote and Passaic County
Freeholder
Richard DuHaime
with 19%.
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 two terms in 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...
, from 1994 to 2000, where he represented the 15th Legislative District
15th Legislative District (New Jersey)
New Jersey's 15th Legislative District is one of 40 in the state, covering the Mercer County municipalities of Ewing Township, Hopewell Borough, Hopewell Township, Lawrence Township, Pennington Borough, Princeton Borough, Princeton Township and Trenton...
.
Early years and education
LaRossa was born and raised in TrentonTrenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
, where he attended Notre Dame High School. He received his undergraduate degree from Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey
The College of New Jersey
The College of New Jersey, abbreviated TCNJ, is a public, coeducational university located in Ewing Township, New Jersey, a suburb of Trenton....
), with a major in speech and theater and did graduate work in psychology at Fairleigh Dickinson University
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Fairleigh Dickinson University is a private university founded as a junior college in 1942. It now has several campuses located in New Jersey, Canada, and the United Kingdom.-Description:...
. He is the owner of the Computer Services Group.
Before running for public office, LaRossa was a television personality known for hosting the New Jersey Lottery
New Jersey Lottery
The New Jersey Lottery is run by the government of New Jersey. Its games consist of Powerball, Mega Millions, Pick-6, Jersey Cash 5, Pick-4, Pick-3, and scratch tickets. The Lottery is headquartered in the One Lawrence Park Complex in Lawrence Township, Mercer County.New Jersey Lottery players must...
's weekend drawings from 1980 to 1991, making him what The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
described as "arguably one of the most recognizable faces in the state". A member of both the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists is a performers' union that represents a wide variety of talent, including actors in radio and television, as well as radio and television announcers and newspersons, singers and recording artists , promo and voice-over announcers and other...
and Actors' Equity Association
Actors' Equity Association
The Actors' Equity Association , commonly referred to as Actors' Equity or simply Equity, is an American labor union representing the world of live theatrical performance, as opposed to film and television performance. However, performers appearing on live stage productions without a book or...
, LaRossa had a regular weekend gig as emcee and lead vocalist for an 18-piece swing band called the Lamplighters, billing himself as "the singing Senator".
Political career
LaRossa ran as a Republican in 1991, having registered with the party only five days before that year's filing deadline. He defeated five-term incumbent Gerald R. StockmanGerald R. Stockman
Gerald R. Stockman is an American attorney and politician who served 10 years in the New Jersey Senate, from 1982 to 1992, where he represented the 15th Legislative District....
by a narrow 50.9%-49.1% margin in a district that had not elected a Republican to that seat since 1946. Democrats had the goal of regaining some of the seats lost in the 1991 Republican landslide. LaRossa faced Stockman for a second time in 1993, with the incumbent receiving endorsements from the AFL-CIO
AFL-CIO
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL–CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 11 million workers...
, locals of the Communications Workers of America
Communications Workers of America
Communications Workers of America is the largest communications and media labor union in the United States representing about 550,000 members in both the private and public sectors. The union has 27 locals in Canada via CWA-SCA Canada representing about 8,000 members...
and the New Jersey State Patrolmen's Benevolent Association. LaRossa defeated Stockman for a second time in 1993, this time by a margin of 52.3% to 47.7%. LaRossa served in the Senate as Chair of the Urban Policy and Planning Committee and as a member of the Budget and Appropriations Committee. In the 1997 general election, Democrat Shirley Turner
Shirley Turner
Shirley K. Turner is an American Democratic Party politician, who has been serving in the New Jersey State Senate since 1998, where she represents the 15th Legislative District....
defeated LaRossa, making him the only incumbent Republican Senator to lose his seat that year. In the loss to Turner, LaRossa received 46.1% of the votes to Turner's 53.9%.
In the 1996 New Jersey Republican primary for U.S. Senate
United States Senate election in New Jersey, 1996
The 1996 United States Senate election in New Jersey was held on November 6, 1996. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Bill Bradley decided to retire instead of seeking a fourth term.-Candidates:*Dick Zimmer, U.S...
, LaRossa came in third with 12%, behind three-term Congressman Dick Zimmer
Dick Zimmer (New Jersey politician)
Richard Alan "Dick" Zimmer is an American Republican Party politician from New Jersey, who served in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature and in the United States House of Representatives. He was the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate from New Jersey in 1996 and 2008...
who had 68% of the vote and Passaic County
Passaic County, New Jersey
Passaic County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 501,226. Its county seat is Paterson...
Freeholder
Board of Chosen Freeholders
In New Jersey, the Boards of Chosen Freeholders are the county legislatures in each of that state's 21 counties.- Origin :New Jersey's system of naming county legislators "freeholders" is unique in the United States...
Richard DuHaime
Richard DuHaime
Richard DuHaime is an American Republican Party politician originally from Bloomingdale, New Jersey. He is best known as being one of the men who sought the Republican nomination for United States Senate in 1996. A conservative, he finished second in the G.O.P. primary, losing to Rep...
with 19%.