Erik Peterson
Encyclopedia
Erik C. Peterson is an American
Republican Party
politician who serves in the New Jersey
General Assembly
representing the 23rd legislative district. Peterson, who previously served on the Hunterdon County
Board of Chosen Freeholders
, replaced Assemblyman Michael J. Doherty
, who was elected to the New Jersey Senate
. He was sworn in on December 7, 2009 to fill Doherty's vacant Assembly seat.
. He attended North Carolina State University
and earned a bachelor’s degree in business management in 1988. In 1990, he moved in Hunterdon County to work for the Beneficial Management Corporation. Recruited for the Accelerated Management Program at that company, he eventually ran the New Jersey operations of Beneficial’s mortgage banking subsidiary. He then attended Temple University Beasley School of Law
, graduating in 1996. That same year he was admitted to the bar in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Peterson now has his own law office in Readington, specializing in real estate law, estate law, and business law. He currently resides in Franklin Township
with his wife Jenni and their four children. He is a member of the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce and the local Lions Club. He is on the board of the local United Way.
Peterson’s career in politics began with his appointment as a Republican County Committeeman for Lambertville
, where he then resided. Peterson spent several years on the County Committee, only recently leaving that position. Peterson is also a former president of the Hunterdon County Young Republicans. Peterson was elected a Hunterdon County freeholder in 2005, running on a platform of fiscal conservatism, farmland preservation, and open government.
Peterson spearheaded efforts to reduce county spending. As freeholder director, he successfully pushed for passage of a 2008 budget that was $2.5 million less than the 2007 budget. During Peterson’s tenure as a freeholder, Hunterdon County has preserved more total farms and more acres of farmland than any other county. Peterson was also successful in pushing for the publication of the minutes of the board’s executive sessions, which had not been done in 25 years.
challenged State Senator Marcia A. Karrow
in the Republican primary for the special election in the 23rd district. Doherty defeated Karrow, thus receiving the Republican nomination in the special election. Doherty’s chief of staff, Edward Smith, ran against Peterson for the Republican nomination to the seat being vacated by Doherty. Peterson won and appeared on the November ballot as the new running mate of incumbent Republican Assemblyman John DiMaio
. DiMaio and Peterson won easily in the heavily Republican 23rd district.
Peterson was elected to a full Assembly term beginning January 3, 2010. However, Doherty was sworn in as State Senator on November 23, 2009, necessitating a convention of Republican county committee members to name a successor for the vacancy. Peterson was selected by the county committee members on December 6, 2009 and sworn into office the following day.
and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly
. The other representatives from the 23rd District for the 2010–2011 Legislative Session are:
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 who serves 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...
representing the 23rd legislative district. Peterson, who previously served on the Hunterdon County
Hunterdon County, New Jersey
Hunterdon County is a county located in the western section of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 128,349. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Flemington....
Board of Chosen Freeholders
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...
, replaced Assemblyman Michael J. Doherty
Michael J. Doherty
Michael J. Doherty is an American Republican Party politician who serves in the New Jersey Senate representing the 23rd legislative district. He won the seat held by Marcia A. Karrow, who had earlier been selected by a party convention to succeed Leonard Lance after his election to the United...
, who was elected to 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...
. He was sworn in on December 7, 2009 to fill Doherty's vacant Assembly seat.
Biography
Peterson was born and raised in Cherry Hill, New JerseyCherry Hill, New Jersey
Cherry Hill is a township in Camden County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a population of 71,045, representing an increase of 1,080 from the 69,965 residents enumerated during the 2000 Census...
. He attended North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
and earned a bachelor’s degree in business management in 1988. In 1990, he moved in Hunterdon County to work for the Beneficial Management Corporation. Recruited for the Accelerated Management Program at that company, he eventually ran the New Jersey operations of Beneficial’s mortgage banking subsidiary. He then attended Temple University Beasley School of Law
Temple University Beasley School of Law
The Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law is the law school and a constituent academic unit of Temple University. Informally referred to as Temple Law School, the school is located at the Main Campus of Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Temple University James E...
, graduating in 1996. That same year he was admitted to the bar in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Peterson now has his own law office in Readington, specializing in real estate law, estate law, and business law. He currently resides in Franklin Township
Franklin Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 2,990 people, 1,091 households, and 890 families residing in the township. The population density was 130.7 people per square mile . There were 1,125 housing units at an average density of 49.2 per square mile...
with his wife Jenni and their four children. He is a member of the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce and the local Lions Club. He is on the board of the local United Way.
Peterson’s career in politics began with his appointment as a Republican County Committeeman for Lambertville
Lambertville, New Jersey
Lambertville is a city in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 3,906.Lambertville was originally incorporated as a town by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 1, 1849, from portions of West Amwell Township...
, where he then resided. Peterson spent several years on the County Committee, only recently leaving that position. Peterson is also a former president of the Hunterdon County Young Republicans. Peterson was elected a Hunterdon County freeholder in 2005, running on a platform of fiscal conservatism, farmland preservation, and open government.
Peterson spearheaded efforts to reduce county spending. As freeholder director, he successfully pushed for passage of a 2008 budget that was $2.5 million less than the 2007 budget. During Peterson’s tenure as a freeholder, Hunterdon County has preserved more total farms and more acres of farmland than any other county. Peterson was also successful in pushing for the publication of the minutes of the board’s executive sessions, which had not been done in 25 years.
2009 Assembly race
In 2009, Republican Assemblyman Michael J. DohertyMichael J. Doherty
Michael J. Doherty is an American Republican Party politician who serves in the New Jersey Senate representing the 23rd legislative district. He won the seat held by Marcia A. Karrow, who had earlier been selected by a party convention to succeed Leonard Lance after his election to the United...
challenged State Senator Marcia A. Karrow
Marcia A. Karrow
Marcia A. Karrow is an American Republican Party politician who served in the New Jersey State Senate where she represented the 23rd legislative district, having taken office on February 9, 2009. She had won a January 24, 2009 special election convention, defeating Assemblyman Michael J...
in the Republican primary for the special election in the 23rd district. Doherty defeated Karrow, thus receiving the Republican nomination in the special election. Doherty’s chief of staff, Edward Smith, ran against Peterson for the Republican nomination to the seat being vacated by Doherty. Peterson won and appeared on the November ballot as the new running mate of incumbent Republican Assemblyman John DiMaio
John DiMaio
John DiMaio is an American Republican Party politician, who was selected on February 21, 2009 to fill the New Jersey General Assembly seat for the 23rd legislative district vacated by Marcia A. Karrow, after Karrow filled the vacancy for the New Jersey Senate in the same district...
. DiMaio and Peterson won easily in the heavily Republican 23rd district.
Peterson was elected to a full Assembly term beginning January 3, 2010. However, Doherty was sworn in as State Senator on November 23, 2009, necessitating a convention of Republican county committee members to name a successor for the vacancy. Peterson was selected by the county committee members on December 6, 2009 and sworn into office the following day.
District 23
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 23rd District for the 2010–2011 Legislative Session are:
- Senator Michael J. DohertyMichael J. DohertyMichael J. Doherty is an American Republican Party politician who serves in the New Jersey Senate representing the 23rd legislative district. He won the seat held by Marcia A. Karrow, who had earlier been selected by a party convention to succeed Leonard Lance after his election to the United...
- Assemblyman John DiMaioJohn DiMaioJohn DiMaio is an American Republican Party politician, who was selected on February 21, 2009 to fill the New Jersey General Assembly seat for the 23rd legislative district vacated by Marcia A. Karrow, after Karrow filled the vacancy for the New Jersey Senate in the same district...
External links
- Assemblyman Erik Peterson'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...
- Erik Peterson’s Law Office