Gerald Luongo
Encyclopedia
Gerald J. Luongo is an American
Republican Party
politician, who served one term in the New Jersey General Assembly
from 1998 to 2000, where he represented the 4th Legislative District
.
, both bachelor's and master's degrees in education and music from Trenton State College
and was awarded a Ph.D.
from Southwestern University
with majors in administration and communications.
Luongo served on the Washington Township Public School District
board of education from 1972 to 1981, as the Mayor of Washington Township, New Jersey starting in 1989 and started that same year serving on the Washington Township Planning Board. He was elected to the General Assembly in 1997, winning a seat with Republican running mate George Geist. In the Assembly, he served on the Education Committee and the Local Government and Housing Committee.
Despite efforts by pro-gun-rights organizations to support Geist and Luongo in the 1999 race, Luongo faced negative advertisements that focused on a land deal that was said to have aided investors close to him. Luongo took offense at Democratic Party ads that depicted Luongo as a "Godfather", criticizing the ads as a slur against Italian American
s.
In the 1999 general elections, Geist took one seat, but Luongo was edged out for the second seat by Democrat Robert J. Smith II
, who won the second seat and by Democrat David F. Carlamere who came in third place.
Luongo proposed legislation in 1999 to create an official New Jersey Nature Card that could be used for debit and credit transactions by residents and would earn money for the state based on the volume of purchases to fund endangered species protection and other environmental efforts, similar to a program that had already been initiated in Washington Township that had raised $30,000 for recreation in the township.
In April 2002, Luongo was sentenced to serve 13 months in jail for his role in misusing campaign and community program funds for personal use, which included rent and mortgage payments, car payments, credit card bills, vacations and restaurant celebrations.. He was ordered by U.S. District Judge Anne E. Thompson to make restitution of nearly $15,000, along with fines in excess of $20,000, which in total equal the amount that Luongo misappropriated as stipulated in his plea agreement. During his 11 months at Federal Prison Camp, Eglin
, Luongo write the book Surviving Federal Prison Camp: An Informative and Helpful Guide for Prospective Inmates, which was published in February 2004.
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 served one term 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 1998 to 2000, where he represented the 4th Legislative District
4th Legislative District (New Jersey)
New Jersey's 4th Legislative District is one of 40 in the state, covering the Camden County municipalities of Clementon Borough, Gloucester Township, Laurel Springs Borough and Lindenwold Borough, and the Gloucester County municipalities of Franklin Township, Glassboro Borough, Monroe Township,...
.
Biography
Luongo earned in associate's degree in music from the Juilliard SchoolJuilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
, both bachelor's and master's degrees in education and music from Trenton State College
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 was awarded a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from Southwestern University
Southwestern University
Southwestern University is a private, four-year, undergraduate, liberal arts college located in Georgetown, Texas, USA. Founded in 1840, Southwestern is the oldest university in Texas. The school is affiliated with the United Methodist Church although the curriculum is nonsectarian...
with majors in administration and communications.
Luongo served on the Washington Township Public School District
Washington Township Public School District
The Washington Township Public School District is a comprehensive community public school district that serves students in kindergarten through twelfth grade from Washington Township, in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States....
board of education from 1972 to 1981, as the Mayor of Washington Township, New Jersey starting in 1989 and started that same year serving on the Washington Township Planning Board. He was elected to the General Assembly in 1997, winning a seat with Republican running mate George Geist. In the Assembly, he served on the Education Committee and the Local Government and Housing Committee.
Despite efforts by pro-gun-rights organizations to support Geist and Luongo in the 1999 race, Luongo faced negative advertisements that focused on a land deal that was said to have aided investors close to him. Luongo took offense at Democratic Party ads that depicted Luongo as a "Godfather", criticizing the ads as a slur against Italian American
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
s.
In the 1999 general elections, Geist took one seat, but Luongo was edged out for the second seat by Democrat Robert J. Smith II
Robert J. Smith II
Robert J. Smith II is an American Democratic Party politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly representing the 4th Legislative District from 2000-2006. He was the Assistant Majority Whip from 2002 until he left office in 2006.Smith did not seek reelection in 2005...
, who won the second seat and by Democrat David F. Carlamere who came in third place.
Luongo proposed legislation in 1999 to create an official New Jersey Nature Card that could be used for debit and credit transactions by residents and would earn money for the state based on the volume of purchases to fund endangered species protection and other environmental efforts, similar to a program that had already been initiated in Washington Township that had raised $30,000 for recreation in the township.
In April 2002, Luongo was sentenced to serve 13 months in jail for his role in misusing campaign and community program funds for personal use, which included rent and mortgage payments, car payments, credit card bills, vacations and restaurant celebrations.. He was ordered by U.S. District Judge Anne E. Thompson to make restitution of nearly $15,000, along with fines in excess of $20,000, which in total equal the amount that Luongo misappropriated as stipulated in his plea agreement. During his 11 months at Federal Prison Camp, Eglin
Federal Prison Camp, Eglin
Federal Prison Camp, Eglin was a Federal Bureau of Prisons minimum security prison on the grounds of Eglin Air Force Base.By 2006 the federal government decided to cut costs by closing Eglin and returning the buildings to the air force. The prisoners were moved to Federal Prison Camp,...
, Luongo write the book Surviving Federal Prison Camp: An Informative and Helpful Guide for Prospective Inmates, which was published in February 2004.