Ellen Karcher
Encyclopedia
Ellen Karcher is an American Democratic Party
politician
, who served in the New Jersey
State Senate
from 2004 until 2008, where she represented the 12th Legislative District.
In the 2007 general election, Karcher lost her bid for another term in a bitterly fought race against Republican Party
candidate Jennifer Beck.
In the 2003 election, Senator Karcher defeated incumbent Republican Senate
Co-President John O. Bennett III
, who was plagued by several ethics scandals including confirmed reports of double-billing local municipal governments. Before her election to the Senate, Karcher served on the Marlboro Township
Council from 2002 to 2004, where she served as Council President. Karcher resigned from the Marlboro Township Council in January 2004 to take her seat in the Senate.
Karcher served on the Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee (Vice Chair), the Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee (Vice Chair), the Transportation Committee and the Joint Legislative Committee on Government Consolidation and Shared Services.
Karcher is the third generation of her family to have served in the New Jersey Legislature
. She learned New Jersey politics from her father, the late Alan Karcher
, who served in the Assembly from 1973 to 1990 and as Speaker of the Assembly from 1982 to 1985. Her grandfather, Joseph T. Karcher, served in the Assembly from 1930 to 1933.
Karcher is a medical policy and research advisor, having performed data collection and analysis of treatment protocols for physicians in a multi-office practice. In addition, Ms. Karcher has been an adjunct professor at Rutgers University for a number of semesters, teaching various subjects, including courses in mass media and politics, mass political behavior, Congress and the Presidency.
Additionally, Karcher is affiliated with several professional organizations. She is a member of the American Political Science Association
as well as a section member of State Politics and Policy. For several years, she has been an active Hospice volunteer and is an active fundraiser for the American Heart Association
, the American Cancer Society
and CAN. She is also an active member of the Mid Jersey Mothers of Multiples, an organization that meets monthly to discuss the challenges and pleasures of mothering multiple children.
Karcher graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A.
from Rutgers University
with a double major in English and Political Science. She received an M.A. from the Eagleton Institute of Politics
at Rutgers University in Political Science and Public Policy. Karcher is a Ph.D.
Candidate at Rutgers University in Political Science. As an undergraduate, Karcher was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa honor society and was selected as a Henry Rutgers Scholar, a program designed to bring graduate level work to undergrads. During her masters studies, in addition to teaching undergraduate courses, she was named an Eagleton Fellow.
As of 2006, Karcher is married to Dr. John Hochberg. They have three children: Ben, 21 and twin daughters, Avie and Lael, 13. Karcher and her family are members of Congregation Kol Am, of Freehold.
As of 2010, Karcher is a substitute teacher at an alternative school called Collier High School in Marlboro.
and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly
. The other representatives from the 12th Legislative District for the 2006-2008 legislative session were:
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 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...
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 2004 until 2008, where she represented the 12th Legislative District.
In the 2007 general election, Karcher lost her bid for another term in a bitterly fought race against 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...
candidate Jennifer Beck.
In the 2003 election, Senator Karcher defeated incumbent Republican 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...
Co-President John O. Bennett III
John O. Bennett
John O. Bennett III is a former New Jersey Republican politician who served as State Senator, President of the State Senate, and Acting Governor of New Jersey during the course of his career.-Education:...
, who was plagued by several ethics scandals including confirmed reports of double-billing local municipal governments. Before her election to the Senate, Karcher served on the Marlboro Township
Marlboro Township, New Jersey
-Weather:Marlboro is located close to the Atlantic Ocean. Due to the location Marlboro Township has on the Eastern Seaboard, the following weather features are noted:*On average, the warmest month is July where the average high is and the average low is ....
Council from 2002 to 2004, where she served as Council President. Karcher resigned from the Marlboro Township Council in January 2004 to take her seat in the Senate.
Karcher served on the Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee (Vice Chair), the Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee (Vice Chair), the Transportation Committee and the Joint Legislative Committee on Government Consolidation and Shared Services.
Karcher is the third generation of her family to have served 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...
. She learned New Jersey politics from her father, the late Alan Karcher
Alan Karcher
Alan J. Karcher was an American Democratic Party politician whose highest office was Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly...
, who served in the Assembly from 1973 to 1990 and as Speaker of the Assembly from 1982 to 1985. Her grandfather, Joseph T. Karcher, served in the Assembly from 1930 to 1933.
Karcher is a medical policy and research advisor, having performed data collection and analysis of treatment protocols for physicians in a multi-office practice. In addition, Ms. Karcher has been an adjunct professor at Rutgers University for a number of semesters, teaching various subjects, including courses in mass media and politics, mass political behavior, Congress and the Presidency.
Additionally, Karcher is affiliated with several professional organizations. She is a member of the American Political Science Association
American Political Science Association
The American Political Science Association is a professional association of political science students and scholars in the United States. Founded in 1903, it publishes three academic journals...
as well as a section member of State Politics and Policy. For several years, she has been an active Hospice volunteer and is an active fundraiser for the American Heart Association
American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a non-profit organization in the United States that fosters appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and stroke. It is headquartered in Dallas, Texas...
, the American Cancer Society
American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is the "nationwide community-based voluntary health organization" dedicated, in their own words, "to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and...
and CAN. She is also an active member of the Mid Jersey Mothers of Multiples, an organization that meets monthly to discuss the challenges and pleasures of mothering multiple children.
Karcher graduated Magna Cum Laude with 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 Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
with a double major in English and Political Science. She received an M.A. from the Eagleton Institute of Politics
Eagleton Institute of Politics
The Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University was established in 1956 with an endowment from Florence Peshine Eagleton , and it focuses on state and national politics through education, and public service.-Background:...
at Rutgers University in Political Science and Public Policy. Karcher is a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
Candidate at Rutgers University in Political Science. As an undergraduate, Karcher was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa honor society and was selected as a Henry Rutgers Scholar, a program designed to bring graduate level work to undergrads. During her masters studies, in addition to teaching undergraduate courses, she was named an Eagleton Fellow.
As of 2006, Karcher is married to Dr. John Hochberg. They have three children: Ben, 21 and twin daughters, Avie and Lael, 13. Karcher and her family are members of Congregation Kol Am, of Freehold.
As of 2010, Karcher is a substitute teacher at an alternative school called Collier High School in Marlboro.
District 12
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 12th Legislative District for the 2006-2008 legislative session were:
- Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck, and
- Assemblyman Michael J. PanterMichael J. PanterMichael J. "Mike" Panter is an American Democratic Party politician, who served in the New Jersey General Assembly for two terms from 2004 until 2008, where he represented the 12th legislative district...
External links
- Senator Karcher's Campaign Website
- Senator Karcher's Legislative Website, from Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
as of January 25, 2008 - Senator Ellen Karcher, 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 Senate Democrats website biography of Senator Karcher
- New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure form for 2006 (PDF)
- New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure form for 2005 (PDF)
- New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure form for 2004 (PDF)