James J. Barry Jr
Encyclopedia
James J. Barry is a former member of the New Jersey General Assembly
and former Director of the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs
under Governor of New Jersey
Thomas Kean
.
Spending the bulk of his childhood growing up at Mount Kemble Lake in New Vernon, New Jersey
, he attended Harding Township School through 8th grade. Graduating in 1960, he moved on to Morristown High School
, where he graduated in 1964.
In 1964, James left New Jersey
for Kansas City, Missouri
to enter Park College (now Park University
), in Parkville, Missouri
, where he would later be awarded the "Distinguished Alumni Award". James graduated in 1969 with a BA in Sociology
.
and Caswell-Massey
of Morristown. In 1973, he ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination to the State Assembly. Two years later, he won election to the state legislature with the slogan "A Businessman's Approach to Lawmaking." In 1975 he was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly
representing New Jersey's 23rd Legislative District
. James won re-election to four consecutive terms in office before accepting a gubernatorial appointment in 1982 from the newly elected Governor Thomas Kean
to the post of Director of Consumer Affairs, a position previously held by "the conscience of Congress" Millicent Fenwick
. He served throughout the Kean administration's two terms at which point he left government service and moved to the private sector.
While in the State Assembly, James served on the Appropriations Committee, the Joint Appropriations Committee, the Agriculture and Environment Committee and several special committees.
As New Jersey's Director of Consumer Affairs, Barry's accomplishments included implementation of the Automobile Lemon Law and the Plain Language Law, restructuring the Bureau of Securities, winning more than six million dollars for New Jersey consumers in a defective transmission case and the establishment of an auto repair fraud unit. He served a term as President of the National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators and President of the National Coalition for Consumer Education.
, Strategic Relations and Ned Ward Realtors, James moved on to a position as Broker/Manager of the New Vernon office of Weichert Realtors "Capital Properties & Estates."
In addition to his position at Weichert Realtors, James is a member and former Chairman of the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority (MCMUA), Trustee and President of the Washington Association of New Jersey (WANJ) and the longtime President of the Harding Township Republican Club.
James currently resides in Harding Township, New Jersey
with his wife Leslie Breuninger, daughter, Caitlin Knowles (b. 1985) and son, Adrian James (b. 1987).
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...
and former Director of the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs
New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs
The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs is a governmental agency in the U.S. state of New Jersey that is responsible for protecting the public "from fraud, deceit and misrepresentation in the sale of goods and services." The DCA operates within the New Jersey Department of Law and Public...
under Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
Thomas Kean
Thomas Kean
Thomas Howard Kean is an American Republican Party politician, who served as the 48th Governor of New Jersey from 1982 to 1990. Kean is best known globally, however, for his 2002 appointment as Chairman of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, widely known as the...
.
Spending the bulk of his childhood growing up at Mount Kemble Lake in New Vernon, New Jersey
New Vernon, New Jersey
New Vernon is an unincorporated area located in Harding Township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. The village is within the boundaries of Harding Township along with a portion of Green Village. It is the location of the governmental offices for Harding Township...
, he attended Harding Township School through 8th grade. Graduating in 1960, he moved on to Morristown High School
Morristown High School
Morristown High School is a four-year public high school serving students in grades 9 - 12 from three communities in Morris County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Morris School District...
, where he graduated in 1964.
In 1964, James left 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...
for Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
to enter Park College (now Park University
Park University
Park University is an independent, private institution of higher education based in Parkville, Missouri. Established in 1875 as a small church-related college, it has now expanded into an electronic learning institution and provider of education courses for the U.S...
), in Parkville, Missouri
Parkville, Missouri
Parkville is a city in Platte County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,059 at the 2000 census. Parkville is known for its antique shops, art galleries, and historic downtown. The city is home to Park University and English Landing Park....
, where he would later be awarded the "Distinguished Alumni Award". James graduated in 1969 with a BA 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...
.
Government service
Following graduation from college, James established the ROBO Car Wash (Morris County Car Wash) in Morristown, New JerseyMorristown, New Jersey
Morristown is a town in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 18,411. It is the county seat of Morris County. Morristown became characterized as "the military capital of the American Revolution" because of its strategic role in the...
and Caswell-Massey
Caswell-Massey
Caswell-Massey is a personal care product company and apothecary shop founded in 1752 in Newport, Rhode Island, by a Scottish-born doctor named William Hunter...
of Morristown. In 1973, he ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination to the State Assembly. Two years later, he won election to the state legislature with the slogan "A Businessman's Approach to Lawmaking." In 1975 he was elected to 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...
representing New Jersey's 23rd Legislative District
23rd Legislative District (New Jersey)
New Jersey's 23rd Legislative District is one of 40 in the state, covering the Hunterdon County municipalities of Alexandria Township, Bethlehem Township, Bloomsbury Borough, Clinton Town, Clinton Township, Delaware Township, East Amwell Township, Flemington Borough, Franklin Township, Frenchtown...
. James won re-election to four consecutive terms in office before accepting a gubernatorial appointment in 1982 from the newly elected Governor Thomas Kean
Thomas Kean
Thomas Howard Kean is an American Republican Party politician, who served as the 48th Governor of New Jersey from 1982 to 1990. Kean is best known globally, however, for his 2002 appointment as Chairman of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, widely known as the...
to the post of Director of Consumer Affairs, a position previously held by "the conscience of Congress" Millicent Fenwick
Millicent Fenwick
Millicent Hammond Fenwick was an American fashion editor, politician and diplomat. A four-term Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from New Jersey, she entered politics late in life and was renowned for her energy and colorful enthusiasm...
. He served throughout the Kean administration's two terms at which point he left government service and moved to the private sector.
While in the State Assembly, James served on the Appropriations Committee, the Joint Appropriations Committee, the Agriculture and Environment Committee and several special committees.
As New Jersey's Director of Consumer Affairs, Barry's accomplishments included implementation of the Automobile Lemon Law and the Plain Language Law, restructuring the Bureau of Securities, winning more than six million dollars for New Jersey consumers in a defective transmission case and the establishment of an auto repair fraud unit. He served a term as President of the National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators and President of the National Coalition for Consumer Education.
Later life
Following positions at CNBCCNBC
CNBC is a satellite and cable television business news channel in the U.S., owned and operated by NBCUniversal. The network and its international spinoffs cover business headlines and provide live coverage of financial markets. The combined reach of CNBC and its siblings is 390 million viewers...
, Strategic Relations and Ned Ward Realtors, James moved on to a position as Broker/Manager of the New Vernon office of Weichert Realtors "Capital Properties & Estates."
In addition to his position at Weichert Realtors, James is a member and former Chairman of the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority (MCMUA), Trustee and President of the Washington Association of New Jersey (WANJ) and the longtime President of the Harding Township Republican Club.
James currently resides in Harding Township, New Jersey
Harding Township, New Jersey
- Demographics :As of the census of 2000, there were 3,180 people, 1,180 households, and 940 families residing in the township. The population density was 155.6 people per square mile . There were 1,243 housing units at an average density of 60.8 per square mile...
with his wife Leslie Breuninger, daughter, Caitlin Knowles (b. 1985) and son, Adrian James (b. 1987).
External links
- James J. Barry Jr. bio from The Political GraveyardThe Political GraveyardThe Political Graveyard is a website and database that catalogues information on more than 224,000 American political figures and political families, along with other information.-History:...
- The Washington Association of New Jersey