Robert Littell (politician)
Encyclopedia
Robert Eugene Littell is an American
Republican Party
politician
, who served as a member of the New Jersey
State Senate
from 1990 to 2008, where he represented the 15th Legislative District
until 1982 and the 24th Legislative District
thereafter. Before entering the Senate he served in the New Jersey General Assembly
from 1968 to 1990 and the Franklin
Borough Council from 1963 to 1965. He was a Delegate to the 1976 Republican National Convention
.
After nearly 40 years in the New Jersey Legislature
— making him the longest-serving legislator in state history — Littell announced on March 6, 2007, that he would not seek reelection as senator and would retire from office at the end of 2007. Freeholder
Steve Oroho
and Assemblyman Guy R. Gregg
both announced that they would pursue the Republican nomination for Littell's Senate seat in the June 2007 primary. Oroho defeated Gregg in the primary and went on to win the seat in the general election.
, the son of State Senator Alfred B. Littell
and his wife, the former Dorothy A. Kershner. He attended Franklin High School and the Hun School of Princeton
. During the Korean War
he served three years with the United States Marine Corps
and received an honorable discharge in 1956.
Senator Littell is part of the first father-daughter team to serve simultaneously in the New Jersey Legislature, together with his daughter, Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose
. His wife, Virginia Littell
, has served as chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee
.
From 1992 to 2003, Senator Littell served as the Senate Budget and Appropriations Chair, and since 2004 he has served as the Senate Budget Officer. The Senator is a member of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, the Labor Committee, the Legislative Services Commission, and the Intergovernmental Relations Commission.
In 1996, the Senator was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws Degree by Centenary College of New Jersey
and in September of the same year, he was appointed to Centenary’s Board of Trustees. In 2001, Littell was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the New Jersey Institute of Technology
.
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
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, who served as a member of 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...
State 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 1990 to 2008, 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...
until 1982 and 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...
thereafter. Before entering the Senate he 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 1968 to 1990 and the Franklin
Franklin, New Jersey
Franklin is a Borough in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 5,045.Franklin, known as the "Fluorescent Mineral Capital of the World," is located over a rich ore body containing more than 150 minerals, many of them fluorescent and...
Borough Council from 1963 to 1965. He was a Delegate to the 1976 Republican National Convention
1976 Republican National Convention
The 1976 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States met at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri, from August 16 to August 19, 1976. The convention nominated incumbent Gerald Ford for President, but only after narrowly defeating a strong challenge from former California...
.
After nearly 40 years 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...
— making him the longest-serving legislator in state history — Littell announced on March 6, 2007, that he would not seek reelection as senator and would retire from office at the end of 2007. 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...
Steve Oroho
Steve Oroho
Steven V. Oroho is an American Republican Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey Senate since January 8, 2008, where he represents the 24th Legislative District....
and Assemblyman Guy R. Gregg
Guy R. Gregg
Guy R. Gregg is an American Republican Party politician, who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1992-2008, where he represented the 24th Legislative District...
both announced that they would pursue the Republican nomination for Littell's Senate seat in the June 2007 primary. Oroho defeated Gregg in the primary and went on to win the seat in the general election.
Biography
Littell was born in 1936 in Orange, New JerseyOrange, New Jersey
The City of Orange is a city and township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 30,134...
, the son of State Senator Alfred B. Littell
Alfred B. Littell
Alfred Beattie Littell was an American Republican Party politician who served as a member of both houses of the New Jersey Legislature and as President of the New Jersey State Senate in 1951...
and his wife, the former Dorothy A. Kershner. He attended Franklin High School and the Hun School of Princeton
Hun School of Princeton
The Hun School of Princeton is a private, coeducational, secondary boarding school located in Princeton Township, New Jersey, United States. The school has a Princeton, New Jersey mailing address. The school serves students from grades 6 through high school. Currently, the headmaster is Jonathan...
. During the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
he served three years with the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
and received an honorable discharge in 1956.
Senator Littell is part of the first father-daughter team to serve simultaneously in the New Jersey Legislature, together with his daughter, Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose
Alison Littell McHose
Alison Littell McHose is an American Republican Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 2003, where she represents the 24th Legislative District....
. His wife, Virginia Littell
Virginia Littell
Virginia Marie Regina "Ginny" Newman Littell is an American Republican Party politician who served as the chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee from 1992 until 1995...
, has served as chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee
New Jersey Republican State Committee
The New Jersey Republican State Committee is the affiliate of the Republican Party in New Jersey. The Committee was founded in 1880. The party is led by Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee Sam Raia of Saddle River, New Jersey.-Membership:...
.
From 1992 to 2003, Senator Littell served as the Senate Budget and Appropriations Chair, and since 2004 he has served as the Senate Budget Officer. The Senator is a member of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, the Labor Committee, the Legislative Services Commission, and the Intergovernmental Relations Commission.
In 1996, the Senator was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws Degree by Centenary College of New Jersey
Centenary College of New Jersey
Centenary College was founded in 1867 by the Newark Conference of the United Methodist Church. Centenary has evolved from a coeducational preparatory school to a girls' preparatory school , to a Junior college for women , to a four-year women's college , to a coeducational...
and in September of the same year, he was appointed to Centenary’s Board of Trustees. In 2001, Littell was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the New Jersey Institute of Technology
New Jersey Institute of Technology
New Jersey Institute of Technology is a public research university in Newark, New Jersey. It is often also referred to as Newark College of Engineering ....
.