Cleopatra Tucker
Encyclopedia
Cleopatra G. Tucker is an American
Democratic Party
politician
, who has served in the New Jersey
General Assembly
since 2008, where she represents the 28th legislative district.
Tucker serves in the Assembly on the Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee (as Vice-Chair) and on the Human Services Committee.
Assemblywoman Tucker is the widow
of Assemblyman Donald Kofi Tucker
, who held the seat until his death in November 2005. Assemblyman Tucker was replaced in a special election convention by Evelyn Williams
, who was elected to serve the remaining month of the term and to serve the first year of the full term Assemblyman Tucker won in the 2005 election. Assemblywoman Williams resigned from the Assembly in January 2006, following her arrest for shoplifting, creating a vacant seat. A special election convention elected Democratic Party activist Oadline Truitt
to the seat for the remainder of Williams's term, but the convention was invalidated because of lack of notice for the seat and a second convention was called.
Tucker challenged Truitt at the second convention but lost. Truitt then won a November 2006 special election for the remaining 14 months of the term. In the June 2007 primary, Mrs. Tucker unseated Assemblywoman Truitt in the primary election, before winning the 2007 general election for a full two-year term.
In January 2011, Assemblywoman Tucker introduced a bill that would require every bicycle in the state of New Jersey to display a license plate, which would be registered with the government for a small fee. On January 13th, 2011, Assemblywoman Tucker withdrew her proposal.
Tucker was born and raised in Birmingham
, Alabama
. She attended Miles College
, majoring in sociology
. After moving to Newark, New Jersey
, in 1966, she was hired by the Newark Housing Authority in 1976. She retired from the Authority in 2002. She is currently the executive director of a non-profit organization called The Centre, Inc. The Centre's headquarters was named after her late husband, Donald K. Tucker, in 2006.
and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly
. The other representatives from the 28th District for the 2008-2009 Legislative Session are:
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
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, who has served 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...
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...
since 2008, where she represents the 28th legislative district.
Tucker serves in the Assembly on the Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee (as Vice-Chair) and on the Human Services Committee.
Assemblywoman Tucker is the widow
Widow
A widow is a woman whose spouse has died, while a widower is a man whose spouse has died. The state of having lost one's spouse to death is termed widowhood or occasionally viduity. The adjective form is widowed...
of Assemblyman Donald Kofi Tucker
Donald Kofi Tucker
Donald Kofi Tucker was a representative to the New Jersey General Assembly from 1994, serving the 28th legislative district until his death...
, who held the seat until his death in November 2005. Assemblyman Tucker was replaced in a special election convention by Evelyn Williams
Evelyn Williams
Evelyn Williams served in the New Jersey General Assembly representing the 28th legislative district. A Democrat, she was elected in two special convention votes in 2005 to succeed Donald Kofi Tucker who died on October 17, 2005...
, who was elected to serve the remaining month of the term and to serve the first year of the full term Assemblyman Tucker won in the 2005 election. Assemblywoman Williams resigned from the Assembly in January 2006, following her arrest for shoplifting, creating a vacant seat. A special election convention elected Democratic Party activist Oadline Truitt
Oadline Truitt
Oadline Truitt is an American Democratic Party politician, who served in the New Jersey General Assembly in 2006-2008, where she represented the 28th legislative district....
to the seat for the remainder of Williams's term, but the convention was invalidated because of lack of notice for the seat and a second convention was called.
Tucker challenged Truitt at the second convention but lost. Truitt then won a November 2006 special election for the remaining 14 months of the term. In the June 2007 primary, Mrs. Tucker unseated Assemblywoman Truitt in the primary election, before winning the 2007 general election for a full two-year term.
In January 2011, Assemblywoman Tucker introduced a bill that would require every bicycle in the state of New Jersey to display a license plate, which would be registered with the government for a small fee. On January 13th, 2011, Assemblywoman Tucker withdrew her proposal.
Tucker was born and raised in Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. She attended Miles College
Miles College
Miles College is a historically black college founded in 1898. It is located in Fairfield, Alabama, which is six miles west of Birmingham, Alabama. It is a private liberal arts institution of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church...
, majoring in sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
. After moving to Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, in 1966, she was hired by the Newark Housing Authority in 1976. She retired from the Authority in 2002. She is currently the executive director of a non-profit organization called The Centre, Inc. The Centre's headquarters was named after her late husband, Donald K. Tucker, in 2006.
District 28
Each of the forty districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey SenateNew 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 two members 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...
. The other representatives from the 28th District for the 2008-2009 Legislative Session are:
- Senator Ronald RiceRonald RiceRonald L. Rice is an American Democratic Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey State Senate since 1986, where he represents the 28th Legislative District...
, and - Assemblyman Ralph R. CaputoRalph R. CaputoRalph R. Caputo is an American Democratic Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since January 8, 2008, where he represents the 28th legislative district...
External links
- Assemblywoman Tuckers' legislative webpage, 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...
- Assembly Majority Web site
- New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure forms