Bill Baroni
Encyclopedia
William E. "Bill" Baroni, Jr. (born December 10, 1971) is an American
Republican Party
politician
and law professor who was named by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie in February 2010 to serve as the Deputy Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
, which operates the nation’s busiest airport systems, as well as the PATH rail transit system, six interstate tunnels and bridges, the Port Authority Bus Terminal, marine terminals and ports, and the World Trade Center. The Port Authority has a $6.3 billion annual budget and has over 7,000 employees. Before being appointed to the position, he represented the 14th legislative district in the New Jersey
Senate
and General Assembly
.
to an unwed Irish woman who came to the United States to have her baby. Catholic Charities
arranged for him to be adopted by William Sr. and Geraldine Baroni of Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey
a few days later. The circumstances of Baroni's birth became an issue in 2003, during his first campaign for the Legislature, when the incumbent, Gary Guear
, charged that he had lied in his campaign biography by saying he was a lifelong resident of Hamilton Township. When Baroni responded that he had lived in Hamilton since he was a few days old and told the story of his adoption, Guear dropped the issue.
He received a B.A.
from George Washington University
in history and was awarded a J.D.
from the University of Virginia
.
in his campaign for U.S. Senator against Frank Lautenberg
in 1994 and worked on the advance staff for the 1996 presidential campaign of Steve Forbes
.
He served on the Mercer County Community College
Board of Trustees from 1998 to 2003. He was a member of the Hamilton Township
Planning Board from 1998 to 2000.
In 2003, Baroni mounted an aggressive campaign for General Assembly, knocking on over 10,000 doors to defeat the Democratic incumbent Gary Guear. He was re-elected to the Assembly in 2005. In 2004 and 2005, he was the Assembly's Assistant Parliamentarian.
On November 6, 2007, he won election to become State Senator of the 14th Legislative District. He captured 67% of the vote, defeating Democratic Party
opponent Seema Singh. Baroni filled the State Senate seat vacated by Republican Senator Peter Inverso
.
There had been speculation that Baroni would seek the Republican nomination for United States Senate
in 2008
against Frank Lautenberg, but his run for the New Jersey Senate
effectively ended that speculation. In 2008, Baroni served as State Chairman of John McCain's presidential campaign
in New Jersey.
Baroni served in the Senate on the Joint Committee on the Public Schools, the Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee, the Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee and the Judiciary Committee.
Baroni was the only Republican state senator who voted for a 2010 measure to allow same-sex marriage in New Jersey.
On February 19, 2010, Governor Chris Christie announced that he was appointing Baroni to the position of Deputy Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
. He resigned from his Senate seat to assume the new post on March 1, 2010. At a special election convention on March 11, Hamilton Township Council President Tom Goodwin
was selected to fill Baroni's vacant seat.
in his 2000 U.S. Senate race. In 2002, when U.S. Senator Robert Torricelli
withdrew his candidacy for re-election five weeks before Election Day after the Senate admonished him on ethics charges, Baroni argued for the Republicans in the New Jersey Supreme Court
against a last minute switch of candidates to Frank Lautenberg.
Since 2002, Baroni has been an Adjunct Professor at the Seton Hall University School of Law
, where he teaches classes on Professional Responsibility, voting rights, legislation, and campaign finance reform
. Baroni served on the Foundation Board of both The College of New Jersey
and Mercer County Community College. Baroni is also Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Greater Trenton Symphony Orchestra and on the Board of Trustees of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra
and on the Board of Trustees for Visitation Home, which builds homes for New Jersey residents with disabilities.
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...
and law professor who was named by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie in February 2010 to serve as the Deputy Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is a bi-state port district, established in 1921 through an interstate compact, that runs most of the regional transportation infrastructure, including the bridges, tunnels, airports, and seaports, within the Port of New York and New Jersey...
, which operates the nation’s busiest airport systems, as well as the PATH rail transit system, six interstate tunnels and bridges, the Port Authority Bus Terminal, marine terminals and ports, and the World Trade Center. The Port Authority has a $6.3 billion annual budget and has over 7,000 employees. Before being appointed to the position, he represented the 14th legislative district 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...
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...
and 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...
.
Early life
Baroni was born in Jacksonville, FloridaJacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
to an unwed Irish woman who came to the United States to have her baby. Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities is a network of charities whose aim is "to provide service to people in need, to advocate for justice in social structures, and to call the entire church and other people of good will to do the same." It is one of the largest charities in the United States...
arranged for him to be adopted by William Sr. and Geraldine Baroni of Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey
Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey
Hamilton Township is a Township in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township had a total population of 88,464...
a few days later. The circumstances of Baroni's birth became an issue in 2003, during his first campaign for the Legislature, when the incumbent, Gary Guear
Gary Guear
Gary L. Guear, Sr. is an American Democratic Party politician, who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2000–2004, where he represented the 14th Legislative District.-Biography:...
, charged that he had lied in his campaign biography by saying he was a lifelong resident of Hamilton Township. When Baroni responded that he had lived in Hamilton since he was a few days old and told the story of his adoption, Guear dropped the issue.
He received a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
in history and was awarded a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
.
Political career
Baroni became interested in politics as a teenager, working on the campaign of his hometown congressman, Christopher H. Smith, who was seeking re-election to his fourth term. He was a driver for Assembly Speaker Chuck HaytaianChuck Haytaian
Garabed "Chuck" Haytaian is an American Republican Party politician, who was the Speaker of the New Jersey State Assembly during the 'tax revolt' of the James Florio – Christine Todd Whitman era. He is of Armenian descent....
in his campaign for U.S. Senator against Frank Lautenberg
Frank Lautenberg
Frank Raleigh Lautenberg is the senior United States Senator from New Jersey and a member of the Democratic Party. Previously, he was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Automatic Data Processing, Inc.-Early life, career, and family:...
in 1994 and worked on the advance staff for the 1996 presidential campaign of Steve Forbes
Steve Forbes
Malcolm Stevenson "Steve" Forbes, Jr. is an American editor, publisher, and businessman. He is the editor-in-chief of business magazine Forbes as well as president and chief executive officer of its publisher, Forbes Inc. He was a Republican candidate in the U.S. Presidential primaries in 1996...
.
He served on the Mercer County Community College
Mercer County Community College
Mercer County Community College is an accredited, co-educational, two-year, public, community college located in Mercer County, New Jersey. The school's current president is Dr. Patricia C. Donohue...
Board of Trustees from 1998 to 2003. He was a member of the Hamilton Township
Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey
Hamilton Township is a Township in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township had a total population of 88,464...
Planning Board from 1998 to 2000.
In 2003, Baroni mounted an aggressive campaign for General Assembly, knocking on over 10,000 doors to defeat the Democratic incumbent Gary Guear. He was re-elected to the Assembly in 2005. In 2004 and 2005, he was the Assembly's Assistant Parliamentarian.
On November 6, 2007, he won election to become State Senator of the 14th Legislative District. He captured 67% of the vote, defeating 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...
opponent Seema Singh. Baroni filled the State Senate seat vacated by Republican Senator Peter Inverso
Peter Inverso
Peter A. Inverso is an American Republican Party politician, who served in the New Jersey State Senate from 1992 to 2008, where he represented the 14th Legislative District....
.
There had been speculation that Baroni would seek the Republican nomination for United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 2008
United States Senate election in New Jersey, 2008
The 2008 United States Senate election in NJ was held on November 4, 2008. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg won re-election to a fourth, non-consecutive term.-Background:...
against Frank Lautenberg, but his run 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...
effectively ended that speculation. In 2008, Baroni served as State Chairman of John McCain's presidential campaign
John McCain presidential campaign, 2008
John McCain, the senior United States Senator from Arizona, launched his second candidacy for the presidency of the United States in an unsuccessful bid to win the 2008 presidential election. His candidacy, in the works for a number of years, was informally announced on February 28, 2007 during a...
in New Jersey.
Baroni served in the Senate on the Joint Committee on the Public Schools, the Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee, the Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee and the Judiciary Committee.
Baroni was the only Republican state senator who voted for a 2010 measure to allow same-sex marriage in New Jersey.
On February 19, 2010, Governor Chris Christie announced that he was appointing Baroni to the position of Deputy Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is a bi-state port district, established in 1921 through an interstate compact, that runs most of the regional transportation infrastructure, including the bridges, tunnels, airports, and seaports, within the Port of New York and New Jersey...
. He resigned from his Senate seat to assume the new post on March 1, 2010. At a special election convention on March 11, Hamilton Township Council President Tom Goodwin
Tom Goodwin (New Jersey politician)
Thomas "Tom" Goodwin is an American Republican Party politician and financial planner who was selected on March 11, 2010 to represent the 14th legislative district in the New Jersey Senate, after the resignation of Bill Baroni left a vacancy. He was sworn in on March 15, 2010 and sought...
was selected to fill Baroni's vacant seat.
Legal career
Baroni was an associate at DeCotiis, Fitzpatrick & Cole, and then at Blank Rome. He was Of Counsel at Fornaro Francioso, a Hamilton firm. He served as chief counsel to Congressman Bob FranksBob Franks
Robert Douglas "Bob" Franks was a Republican politician. He was a former U.S. Representative from New Jersey.-Biography:...
in his 2000 U.S. Senate race. In 2002, when U.S. Senator Robert Torricelli
Robert Torricelli
Robert Guy Torricelli , nicknamed "the Torch," is an American politician from the U.S. state of New Jersey. Torricelli, a Democrat, served 14 years in the U.S. House of Representatives before being elected to the U.S. Senate...
withdrew his candidacy for re-election five weeks before Election Day after the Senate admonished him on ethics charges, Baroni argued for the Republicans in the New Jersey Supreme Court
New Jersey Supreme Court
The New Jersey Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It has existed in three different forms under the three different state constitutions since the independence of the state in 1776...
against a last minute switch of candidates to Frank Lautenberg.
Since 2002, Baroni has been an Adjunct Professor at the Seton Hall University School of Law
Seton Hall University School of Law
The Seton Hall University School of Law is part of Seton Hall University, and is located in downtown Newark, New Jersey. Seton Hall Law School is the only private law school in New Jersey, and is the top-ranked of the three law schools in the state...
, where he teaches classes on Professional Responsibility, voting rights, legislation, and campaign finance reform
Campaign finance reform
Campaign finance reform is the common term for the political effort in the United States to change the involvement of money in politics, primarily in political campaigns....
. Baroni served on the Foundation Board of both The College of New Jersey
The College of New Jersey
The College of New Jersey, abbreviated TCNJ, is a public, coeducational university located in Ewing Township, New Jersey, a suburb of Trenton....
and Mercer County Community College. Baroni is also Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Greater Trenton Symphony Orchestra and on the Board of Trustees of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra
New Jersey Symphony Orchestra
The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra is a symphony orchestra located in the state of New Jersey, United States. Philip James founded the orchestra in 1922. The orchestra is headquartered in Newark, New Jersey. Neeme Järvi, the NJSO's music director from 2005 to 2009, is currently the orchestra's...
and on the Board of Trustees for Visitation Home, which builds homes for New Jersey residents with disabilities.
External links
- Bill Baroni's Official Site
- Bill Baroni's Constituent Services Site
- Senator Baroni'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
- Assembly Member Bill Baroni, Project Vote SmartProject Vote SmartProject Vote Smart is a non-profit, non-partisan research organization that collects and distributes information on candidates for public office in the United States...
- New Jersey Voter Information Website 2003