James P. Vreeland
Encyclopedia
James P. Vreeland is an American Republican Party
politician who served four terms in the New Jersey Senate
. He served in office from 1974 to 1984, representing the 24th Legislative District
until 1982, and then served one term representing the 26th Legislative District
.
and Interstate 287
that would bring more development to the area. Though Vreeland stated that he had no plans to sell his 60 acres (242,811.6 m²) vegetable farm, he was a moderate on the issue of imposing zoning changes desired by many residents to require new homes to be built on properties of at least 1 acres (4,046.9 m²), in place of the half-acre zoining then currently in place.
In redistricting following the 1980 United States Census, Vreeland was relocated to the 26th Legislative District and in the 1981 election defeated Democrat Benjamin Steltzer by his widest margin, taking 70.1% of the vote to 29.9% for the challenger.
As part of an effort to cut the $2.76 billion budget proposed by Governor of New Jersey
Brendan Byrne
in 1976, Vreeland was one of seven members of the Joint Appropriations Committee who proposed a $2,500 reduction in the governor's salary. Vreeland argued that the cut "wouldn't hurt [the Governor] too much", though the effort was defeated.
In 1977 rankings published by the Americans for Democratic Action
, Vreeland and fellow Republican Frank Davenport received the lowest rankings in the state, receiving a rating of 8% based on a series of 20 votes considered by the legislature; Teaneck, New Jersey
Democrat Matthew Feldman
was the only legislator to receive a 100% rating.
described as a "stunning upset", Assemblymember Leanna Brown
defeated Vreeland in the June 1983 Republican primary. Brown went on to win the November general election, becoming the first woman from the Republican Party to serve in the upper house of the State Legislature.
Together with their son, James P. Vreeland, III, the Vreelands operated a farm in Towaco, New Jersey
near U.S. Route 202
, where visitors could pick their own strawberries, tomatos, beans, cucumbers, peppers and eggplants depending on the season.
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 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...
. He served in office from 1974 to 1984, representing the 24th Legislative District
24th Legislative District (New Jersey)
New Jersey's 24th Legislative District is one of 40 in the state, covering the Hunterdon County municipalities of Califon Borough, the Morris County municipalities of Chester Borough, Chester Township, Mount Olive Township, and Netcong Borough, Morris County, New Jersey|Washington Township]] and...
until 1982, and then served one term representing the 26th Legislative District
26th Legislative District (New Jersey)
New Jersey's 26th Legislative District is one of 40 in the state, covering the Morris County municipalities of Butler Borough, Chatham Borough, East Hanover Township, Florham Park Borough, Hanover Township, Kinnelon Borough, Lincoln Park Borough, Montville Township, Morris Plains Borough,...
.
Political career
Vreeland's first political position was Mayor of Montville, New Jersey in the early 1960s, during a period when the area was facing extensive population growth and land speculation with the forthcoming development of Interstate 80Interstate 80 in New Jersey
Interstate 80 is a major Interstate Highway in the United States, running from the New York City Metropolitan Area westward to San Francisco, California...
and Interstate 287
Interstate 287
Interstate 287 is an auxiliary Interstate Highway in the U.S. states of New Jersey and New York. It is a partial beltway around New York City, serving the northern half of New Jersey and the counties of Rockland and Westchester in New York...
that would bring more development to the area. Though Vreeland stated that he had no plans to sell his 60 acres (242,811.6 m²) vegetable farm, he was a moderate on the issue of imposing zoning changes desired by many residents to require new homes to be built on properties of at least 1 acres (4,046.9 m²), in place of the half-acre zoining then currently in place.
State Senate run
Vreeland won in his first bid for the New Jersey Senate, defeating Democrat John C. Keefe by a margin of 52.6% to 47.4%. Vreeland expanded his mandate in the 1977 general election, defeating Democratic nominee Norma K. Herzfeld by 66.8%-33.2%.In redistricting following the 1980 United States Census, Vreeland was relocated to the 26th Legislative District and in the 1981 election defeated Democrat Benjamin Steltzer by his widest margin, taking 70.1% of the vote to 29.9% for the challenger.
As part of an effort to cut the $2.76 billion budget proposed by Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
Brendan Byrne
Brendan Byrne
Brendan Thomas Byrne is an American Democratic Party politician from New Jersey, who served as the 47th Governor of New Jersey, from 1974 to 1982.-Early life and education:...
in 1976, Vreeland was one of seven members of the Joint Appropriations Committee who proposed a $2,500 reduction in the governor's salary. Vreeland argued that the cut "wouldn't hurt [the Governor] too much", though the effort was defeated.
In 1977 rankings published by the Americans for Democratic Action
Americans for Democratic Action
Americans for Democratic Action is an American political organization advocating progressive policies. ADA works for social and economic justice through lobbying, grassroots organizing, research and supporting progressive candidates.-History:...
, Vreeland and fellow Republican Frank Davenport received the lowest rankings in the state, receiving a rating of 8% based on a series of 20 votes considered by the legislature; Teaneck, New Jersey
Teaneck, New Jersey
Teaneck is a township in Bergen County, New Jersey, and a suburb in the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 39,776, making it the second-most populous among the 70 municipalities in Bergen County....
Democrat Matthew Feldman
Matthew Feldman
Matthew Feldman was an American Democratic Party politician who served as a New Jersey State Senator, Mayor of Teaneck, New Jersey, and onetime candidate for Governor of New Jersey....
was the only legislator to receive a 100% rating.
Defeat
In what the Philadelphia Daily NewsPhiladelphia Daily News
The Philadelphia Daily News is a tabloid newspaper that serves Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The newspaper is owned by Philadelphia Media Holdings which also owns Philadelphia's other major newspaper The Philadelphia Inquirer. The Daily News began publishing on March 31, 1925, under...
described as a "stunning upset", Assemblymember Leanna Brown
Leanna Brown
Leanna Brown is an American Republican Party politician who served in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature, where she represented the 26th Legislative District. She was the first Republican woman elected to the New Jersey Senate....
defeated Vreeland in the June 1983 Republican primary. Brown went on to win the November general election, becoming the first woman from the Republican Party to serve in the upper house of the State Legislature.
Together with their son, James P. Vreeland, III, the Vreelands operated a farm in Towaco, New Jersey
Towaco, New Jersey
Towaco is an unincorporated area within Montville Township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP code 07082...
near U.S. Route 202
U.S. Route 202
U.S. Route 202 is a highway stretching from Delaware to Maine, also passing through the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire....
, where visitors could pick their own strawberries, tomatos, beans, cucumbers, peppers and eggplants depending on the season.