Rafael Fraguela
Encyclopedia
Rafael Fraguela is an American
politician who was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly
in 2001 as a Democrat
, where he represented the 33rd Legislative District
. He then re-registered with the Republican Party
and ran unsuccessfully for the New Jersey Senate
after the Democrats would not support his candidacy for a second term in the Assembly.
and his masters degree in secondary education/administration supervision from Seton Hall University
. He worked as a school principal for the Passaic Board of Education, and as president of the Union City Board of Education from 1988-1992.
Board of Commissioners in 1992. In 2000, Fraguela opposed an effort by then-mayor Rudy Garcia
to sell Roosevelt Stadium
to the Union City Board of Education for $3.5 million as part of an effort to fill a $5 million deficit in the city's budget. Fraguela called the plan "voodoo economics" and supported an effort to have Garcia removed by a recall election
. With Rudy Garcia losing support in Union City, Brian P. Stack announced in October 2000 that he would support Fraguela in the Democratic primary to fill the seat in the Assembly that Garcia had been occupying
Together with running mate Albio Sires
, Fraguela won election to the Assembly as a Democrat in the November 2001 general election, defeating Republicans Sergio Alonso and Helen Pinoargotty.
Assemblymember Fraguela was knocked off the ballot in 2003 by the Hudson County Democratic Party and chose to run for the Senate as a Republican against Bernard Kenny
. Fraguela insisted that the Democrats "have been putting aside all the Hispanic Democratic candidates", while "The GOP has had open arms to the Hispanic community". The Democrats gave the ballot spot for the Assembly to Brian P. Stack. Kenny won the general election in November 2003 with an overwhelming majority in the heavily Democratic district, taking 80.9% of the vote to Fraguela's 19.1%
's stem cell
research bill, calling his vote "the right thing to do", saying that "I decided to cast my vote for humanity" after listening to the arguments from both sides. He was ejected from the Republican caucus on December 15, 2003 after his vote provided the margin of victory for the stem cell bill. He rejoined the Democratic party on December 18, 2003.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician who was elected to 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...
in 2001 as a Democrat
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...
, where he represented the 33rd Legislative District
33rd Legislative District (New Jersey)
New Jersey's 33rd Legislative District is one of 40 in the state, covering the Hudson County municipalities of Guttenberg, Hoboken, Union City, Weehawken and West New York, as well as portions of Jersey City...
. He then re-registered with the 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...
and ran unsuccessfully for 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...
after the Democrats would not support his candidacy for a second term in the Assembly.
Early career
Fraguela received his bachelor's degree in social studies from Montclair State CollegeMontclair State University
Montclair State University is a public research university located in the Upper Montclair section of Montclair, the Great Notch area of Little Falls, and Clifton, New Jersey. As of October 2009, there were 18,171 total enrolled students: 14,139 undergraduate students and 4,032 graduate students...
and his masters degree in secondary education/administration supervision from Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University is a private Roman Catholic university in South Orange, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1856 by Archbishop James Roosevelt Bayley, Seton Hall is the oldest diocesan university in the United States. Seton Hall is also the oldest and largest Catholic university in the...
. He worked as a school principal for the Passaic Board of Education, and as president of the Union City Board of Education from 1988-1992.
New Jersey Commissioner
Fraguela's first political appointment was as a commissioner on the Hudson County Board of Taxation, from 1990-1993. He joined the Union City, New JerseyUnion City, New Jersey
Union City is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. According to the 2010 United States Census the city had a total population of 66,455. All of the city is on land, an area of...
Board of Commissioners in 1992. In 2000, Fraguela opposed an effort by then-mayor Rudy Garcia
Rudy Garcia (New Jersey)
Raul "Rudy" Garcia is an American Democratic Party politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1993 to 2000, where he represented the 33rd Legislative District. He also served as the mayor of Union City.-Early life:...
to sell Roosevelt Stadium
Roosevelt Stadium (Union City)
Roosevelt Stadium was a football stadium that stood in Union City, New Jersey. -History:...
to the Union City Board of Education for $3.5 million as part of an effort to fill a $5 million deficit in the city's budget. Fraguela called the plan "voodoo economics" and supported an effort to have Garcia removed by a recall election
Recall election
A recall election is a procedure by which voters can remove an elected official from office through a direct vote before his or her term has ended...
. With Rudy Garcia losing support in Union City, Brian P. Stack announced in October 2000 that he would support Fraguela in the Democratic primary to fill the seat in the Assembly that Garcia had been occupying
Together with running mate Albio Sires
Albio Sires
Albio Sires is the U.S. Representative for , serving since a special election in 2006. The district includes most of Jersey City, as well as most of the Latino neighborhoods of Newark. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
, Fraguela won election to the Assembly as a Democrat in the November 2001 general election, defeating Republicans Sergio Alonso and Helen Pinoargotty.
Assemblymember Fraguela was knocked off the ballot in 2003 by the Hudson County Democratic Party and chose to run for the Senate as a Republican against Bernard Kenny
Bernard Kenny
Bernard F. Kenny, Jr. is an American Democratic Party politician, who served in the New Jersey State Senate from 1993 to 2008, where he represented the 33rd Legislative District...
. Fraguela insisted that the Democrats "have been putting aside all the Hispanic Democratic candidates", while "The GOP has had open arms to the Hispanic community". The Democrats gave the ballot spot for the Assembly to Brian P. Stack. Kenny won the general election in November 2003 with an overwhelming majority in the heavily Democratic district, taking 80.9% of the vote to Fraguela's 19.1%
Party switch
Fraguela had been voting with Republicans in the Assembly, but switched back to vote in favor of Jim McGreeveyJim McGreevey
James Edward "Jim" McGreevey is an American Democratic politician. He served as the 52nd Governor of New Jersey from January 15, 2002, until he resigned from office at 11:59 pm on November 15, 2004. His term was set to expire on January 17, 2006...
's stem cell
Stem cell
This article is about the cell type. For the medical therapy, see Stem Cell TreatmentsStem cells are biological cells found in all multicellular organisms, that can divide and differentiate into diverse specialized cell types and can self-renew to produce more stem cells...
research bill, calling his vote "the right thing to do", saying that "I decided to cast my vote for humanity" after listening to the arguments from both sides. He was ejected from the Republican caucus on December 15, 2003 after his vote provided the margin of victory for the stem cell bill. He rejoined the Democratic party on December 18, 2003.