John T. Gregorio
Encyclopedia
John T. Gregorio, Sr. is an American
Democratic Party
politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly
from 1976 to 1978 and in the New Jersey Senate
from 1978 to 1983. Gregorio represented the 21st Legislative District
until 1978, when redistricting following the 1980 United States Census shifted him to the 20th Legislative District
. In 1983, following a conviction for failing to disclose his interest in a pair of Linden go bars, he was forced to resign from the State Senate and from his position as Mayor of Linden, New Jersey. After receiving a gubernatorial pardon in January 1990, Gregorio staged a political comeback and won election as mayor of Linden, serving in that position until 2006.
and moved to Linden in 1949 after serving in the United States Navy
. He went into the family trade and opened a floral shop there, which was operated by his wife, Marie. Active in the local Democratic Party organization, he was elected to the Linden City Council in 1964 and became mayor for the first time in 1967. He was elected to the General Assembly, where he served from 1976 to 1978 and then moved up to the State Senate where he was in office starting in 1978 and served as chair of the Senate Labor, Industry, and Professions Committee.
After being convicted of conspiracy for concealing his ownership of two go bars operated by his son, Gregorio was forced to resign in 1983. The jury that convicted him in December 1982 found him not guilty on nine charges, including official misconduct, tax evasion
and tampering with official records. Under the terms of his conviction, Gregorio was required to relinquish his mayoral and Senate seats and would be unable to seek elected office. In a June 1983 special election, Raymond Lesniak
won the seat Gregorio was forced to vacate.
Gregorio asked Lesniak, his successor in the Senate, to pursue the possibility of getting a pardon
. Governor of New Jersey
Thomas Kean
granted the pardon in January 1990 on his last day as governor, which allowed Gregorio to re-enter the world of politics. In the June 1990 primary, Gregorio won the Democratic nomination for mayor and was elected again as mayor by overwhelming margins.
Gregorio maintained a grip on political power in Linden and surrounding Union County that earned him recognition as "one of the few remaining old-time local political boss
es in the state — and one of the most controversial". In his last years in office, Gregorio earned an annual salary of $114,000, making him one of the highest paid mayors in New Jersey. Gregorio argued that he fulfilled the municipal responsibilities of a business administrator in addition to his role as mayor.
In the 2006 general election, Gregorio lost narrowly to candidate Richard Gerbounka, an independent candidate who had served 12 years on the city council. After serving 33 years as mayor and never having lost a political race before, Gregorio said "I have no regrets. There comes a time. You can't stay in office forever" and blamed his loss by fewer than 100 votes to a lack of sufficient campaigning.
After his son was charged in 2007 with kidnapping two men who had been harassing his teenage daughter, Gregorio had no regrets about the arrest saying "he did what any father would do" and he "should have given him a medal".
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 who served 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 1976 to 1978 and 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 1978 to 1983. Gregorio represented the 21st Legislative District
21st Legislative District (New Jersey)
New Jersey's 21st Legislative District is one of 40 in the state, covering the Essex County municipality of Millburn Township, the Morris County communities of Chatham Township, Harding Township, Long Hill Township and Madison Borough, the Somerset County localities of Warren Township and Watchung...
until 1978, when redistricting following the 1980 United States Census shifted him to the 20th Legislative District
20th Legislative District (New Jersey)
New Jersey's 20th Legislative District is one of 40 in the state, covering the Union County municipalities of Elizabeth City, Kenilworth Borough, Roselle Borough and Union Township...
. In 1983, following a conviction for failing to disclose his interest in a pair of Linden go bars, he was forced to resign from the State Senate and from his position as Mayor of Linden, New Jersey. After receiving a gubernatorial pardon in January 1990, Gregorio staged a political comeback and won election as mayor of Linden, serving in that position until 2006.
Biography
Gregorio was born in Staten IslandStaten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
and moved to Linden in 1949 after serving in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. He went into the family trade and opened a floral shop there, which was operated by his wife, Marie. Active in the local Democratic Party organization, he was elected to the Linden City Council in 1964 and became mayor for the first time in 1967. He was elected to the General Assembly, where he served from 1976 to 1978 and then moved up to the State Senate where he was in office starting in 1978 and served as chair of the Senate Labor, Industry, and Professions Committee.
After being convicted of conspiracy for concealing his ownership of two go bars operated by his son, Gregorio was forced to resign in 1983. The jury that convicted him in December 1982 found him not guilty on nine charges, including official misconduct, tax evasion
Tax evasion
Tax evasion is the general term for efforts by individuals, corporations, trusts and other entities to evade taxes by illegal means. Tax evasion usually entails taxpayers deliberately misrepresenting or concealing the true state of their affairs to the tax authorities to reduce their tax liability,...
and tampering with official records. Under the terms of his conviction, Gregorio was required to relinquish his mayoral and Senate seats and would be unable to seek elected office. In a June 1983 special election, Raymond Lesniak
Raymond Lesniak
Raymond J. "Ray" Lesniak is an American Democratic Party politician, who has been serving in the New Jersey State Senate since 1983, where he represents the 20th Legislative District. Before entering New Jersey's upper house, the Senate, Lesniak served in the General Assembly from 1978 to 1983...
won the seat Gregorio was forced to vacate.
Gregorio asked Lesniak, his successor in the Senate, to pursue the possibility of getting a pardon
Pardon
Clemency means the forgiveness of a crime or the cancellation of the penalty associated with it. It is a general concept that encompasses several related procedures: pardoning, commutation, remission and reprieves...
. 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...
Thomas Kean
Thomas Kean
Thomas Howard Kean is an American Republican Party politician, who served as the 48th Governor of New Jersey from 1982 to 1990. Kean is best known globally, however, for his 2002 appointment as Chairman of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, widely known as the...
granted the pardon in January 1990 on his last day as governor, which allowed Gregorio to re-enter the world of politics. In the June 1990 primary, Gregorio won the Democratic nomination for mayor and was elected again as mayor by overwhelming margins.
Gregorio maintained a grip on political power in Linden and surrounding Union County that earned him recognition as "one of the few remaining old-time local political boss
Political boss
A boss, in politics, is a person who wields the power over a particular political region or constituency. Bosses may dictate voting patterns, control appointments, and wield considerable influence in other political processes. They do not necessarily hold public office themselves...
es in the state — and one of the most controversial". In his last years in office, Gregorio earned an annual salary of $114,000, making him one of the highest paid mayors in New Jersey. Gregorio argued that he fulfilled the municipal responsibilities of a business administrator in addition to his role as mayor.
In the 2006 general election, Gregorio lost narrowly to candidate Richard Gerbounka, an independent candidate who had served 12 years on the city council. After serving 33 years as mayor and never having lost a political race before, Gregorio said "I have no regrets. There comes a time. You can't stay in office forever" and blamed his loss by fewer than 100 votes to a lack of sufficient campaigning.
After his son was charged in 2007 with kidnapping two men who had been harassing his teenage daughter, Gregorio had no regrets about the arrest saying "he did what any father would do" and he "should have given him a medal".