Gary Schaer
Encyclopedia
Gary Schaer is an American
Democratic Party
politician
who serves in the New Jersey
General Assembly
where he represents the 36th legislative district, having taken office on January 10, 2006, and on the Passaic, New Jersey
City Council where he is the council president. Schaer is the first Orthodox Jew
in the New Jersey Legislature
.
Paul DiGaetano
, who did not run for re-election and had held the seat in the Assembly continuously since 1992.
He serves in the Assembly on the Budget Committee (as Vice-Chair) and the State Government Committee (also as Vice-Chair).
Schaer is serving his 14th year on the Passaic City Council, including eleven as Council President. He has been a Director of Passaic's Urban Enterprise Zone
since 2002. He served as a Commissioner on the Board of Education
for the Passaic County Technical Institute
from 1999-2003 and was a Commissioner on the Passaic Housing Authority from 1992-1996. In May 2008, Schaer became the acting mayor of Passaic upon the resignation of Samuel Rivera
, who had pleaded guilty on corruption charges.
He is a Trustee of St. Mary's Hospital
. Schaer has worked in the financial services industry for over 20 years. He is an Investment Consultant and Vice President at Ryan Beck & Company.
In situations in which the legislature was in session on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath
, when the dictates of his Orthodox Jewish faith prohibit him from participating in forbidden forms of work he has appointed an aide to cast a ballot on his behalf, a policy permitted by the Assembly's rules, as long as the legislator is in the building.
Schaer grew up in Pennsauken Township, New Jersey
. He attended American University
, majoring in political science
.
and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly
. The other representatives from the 36th District for the 2010-2011 Legislative Session are:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who serves in the New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
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...
where he represents the 36th legislative district, having taken office on January 10, 2006, and on the Passaic, New Jersey
Passaic, New Jersey
Passaic is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 69,781, maintaining its status as the 15th largest municipality in New Jersey with an increase of 1,920 residents from the 2000 Census population of 67,861...
City Council where he is the council president. Schaer is the first Orthodox Jew
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
in the New Jersey Legislature
New Jersey Legislature
The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...
.
Biography
Schaer was elected to the Assembly on November 8, 2005, and took the seat of RepublicanRepublican 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...
Paul DiGaetano
Paul DiGaetano
Paul DiGaetano served in the New Jersey General Assembly representing the 36th legislative district from 1992 – 2006 and from 1986 – 1987. DiGaetano also served as a member of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Commission, the Legislative Service Commission and the New Jersey Commission on...
, who did not run for re-election and had held the seat in the Assembly continuously since 1992.
He serves in the Assembly on the Budget Committee (as Vice-Chair) and the State Government Committee (also as Vice-Chair).
Schaer is serving his 14th year on the Passaic City Council, including eleven as Council President. He has been a Director of Passaic's Urban Enterprise Zone
Urban Enterprise Zone
In the United States, Urban Enterprise Zones , also known as Enterprise Zones, are intended to encourage development in blighted neighborhoods through tax and regulatory relief to entrepreneurs and investors who launch businesses in the area. UEZs are areas where companies can locate free of...
since 2002. He served as a Commissioner on the Board of Education
Board of education
A board of education or a school board or school committee is the title of the board of directors or board of trustees of a school, local school district or higher administrative level....
for the Passaic County Technical Institute
Passaic County Technical Institute
Passaic County Technical Institute is a regional vocational public high school in Wayne , in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States, near the city of Paterson, admitting students from all of Passaic County...
from 1999-2003 and was a Commissioner on the Passaic Housing Authority from 1992-1996. In May 2008, Schaer became the acting mayor of Passaic upon the resignation of Samuel Rivera
Samuel Rivera
Samuel Rivera was the Democratic mayor of the U.S. city of Passaic, New Jersey, from 2001 until 2008. Rivera came to national attention on September 6, 2007, when he was indicted and arrested on charges of accepting bribes in exchange for agreeing to direct municipal contracts to an insurance...
, who had pleaded guilty on corruption charges.
He is a Trustee of St. Mary's Hospital
St. Mary's Hospital (Passaic)
St. Mary's Hospital is a non-profit acute care hospital offering a broad range of health care services and community outreach programs. The hospital is located in Passaic, New Jersey on 350 Boulevard between Oak Street and Crescent Avenue. St. Mary’s Hospital is a Center of Excellence for...
. Schaer has worked in the financial services industry for over 20 years. He is an Investment Consultant and Vice President at Ryan Beck & Company.
In situations in which the legislature was in session on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath
Shabbat
Shabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
, when the dictates of his Orthodox Jewish faith prohibit him from participating in forbidden forms of work he has appointed an aide to cast a ballot on his behalf, a policy permitted by the Assembly's rules, as long as the legislator is in the building.
Schaer grew up in Pennsauken Township, New Jersey
Pennsauken Township, New Jersey
Pennsauken Township is a township in Camden County, New Jersey, USA, and a suburb of Philadelphia. As of the 2010 census, the township population was 35,885....
. He attended American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
, majoring in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
.
District 36
Each of the forty districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey SenateNew 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...
and two members 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...
. The other representatives from the 36th District for the 2010-2011 Legislative Session are:
- Senator Paul SarloPaul SarloPaul A. Sarlo is an American Democratic Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey State Senate since 2003, where he represents the 36th Legislative District...
, and - Assemblyman Kevin J. RyanKevin J. RyanKevin J. Ryan is a U.S. Democratic Party politician who serves in the New Jersey General Assembly representing the 36th legislative district...
External links
- Assemblyman Schaer's legislative web page, New Jersey LegislatureNew Jersey LegislatureThe New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...
- New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure forms
- New Jersey Democrats legislative candidate biographies