Louis F. Kosco
Encyclopedia
Louis F. Kosco is an American
Republican Party
politician who served in both the New Jersey General Assembly
and the New Jersey Senate
.
Kosco lived in Paramus, New Jersey
, where he served on the Borough Council from 1969 to 1979, was Police and Fire Commissioner in 1974, Public Works Commissioner in 1972 and 1973 and was the Borough Council President in 1977 and 1978. He served in the United States Army
during the Korean War
, reaching the rank of Sergeant.
In the 1980 elections for the General Assembly, Kosco and running mate John B. Paolella defeated incumbents Robert Burns and Paul J. Contillo. He served in the General Assembly from 1980 to 1987, serving as Assistant Minority Whip in 1984 and 1985.
In 1987, Kosco ran for Senate, losing to incumbent Paul J. Contillo by a 53%-47% margin. In a 1991 rematch, Kosco unseated the three-term incumbent Contillo, taking 57% of the vote. Kosco began his service in the New Jersey Senate in 1992, where he served as Chair of the Law and Public Safety Committee and as a member of the Judiciary Committee. Kosco was re-elected to the Senate in 1993 over Democrat James Krone and again in 1997 by a 55%-42% margin against Democrat Valerie Vainieri Huttle.
In 1993, Kosco and Senator John P. Scott
co-sponsored legislation to impose a commuter tax
on New York
residents who worked in the Garden State based on their total family income, which Kosco described as "retaliatory legislation" on behalf of the 230,000 New Jersey residents who worked in New York and were assessed taxes by that state on their income.
In redistricting following the 2000 Census
, two heavily Democratic-leaning municipalities — Fair Lawn
and Fort Lee
— were added to the 38th Legislative District. These two communities voted heavily for Democrat Joseph Coniglio
in the November 2001 elections, who unseated Kosco by a 53%-47% margin.
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 in both 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...
and 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...
.
Kosco lived in Paramus, New Jersey
Paramus, New Jersey
Paramus is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 26,342. A suburb of New York City, Paramus is located between 15–20 miles northwest of Midtown Manhattan and approximately west of Upper Manhattan.Paramus is one of...
, where he served on the Borough Council from 1969 to 1979, was Police and Fire Commissioner in 1974, Public Works Commissioner in 1972 and 1973 and was the Borough Council President in 1977 and 1978. He served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, reaching the rank of Sergeant.
In the 1980 elections for the General Assembly, Kosco and running mate John B. Paolella defeated incumbents Robert Burns and Paul J. Contillo. He served in the General Assembly from 1980 to 1987, serving as Assistant Minority Whip in 1984 and 1985.
In 1987, Kosco ran for Senate, losing to incumbent Paul J. Contillo by a 53%-47% margin. In a 1991 rematch, Kosco unseated the three-term incumbent Contillo, taking 57% of the vote. Kosco began his service in the New Jersey Senate in 1992, where he served as Chair of the Law and Public Safety Committee and as a member of the Judiciary Committee. Kosco was re-elected to the Senate in 1993 over Democrat James Krone and again in 1997 by a 55%-42% margin against Democrat Valerie Vainieri Huttle.
In 1993, Kosco and Senator John P. Scott
John P. Scott
John P. Scott was an American Republican Party politician who served in the New Jersey Senate from 1992 to 1998 where he represented the 36th Legislative District, which covered Passaic and portions of southern Bergen County.Scott was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania...
co-sponsored legislation to impose a commuter tax
Commuter tax
A commuter tax is a tax levied upon persons who work in a jurisdiction, but who do not live in that jurisdiction...
on New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
residents who worked in the Garden State based on their total family income, which Kosco described as "retaliatory legislation" on behalf of the 230,000 New Jersey residents who worked in New York and were assessed taxes by that state on their income.
In redistricting following the 2000 Census
New Jersey Legislative Districts, 2001 redistricting
The members of the New Jersey Legislature are chosen from 40 electoral districts. Each district elects one Senator and two Assemblymen.New Jersey is one of only seven states with nested state legislative districts, in which two or more state House are coextensive with a single state Senate seat. In...
, two heavily Democratic-leaning municipalities — Fair Lawn
Fair Lawn, New Jersey
Fair Lawn is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States and a suburban municipality in the New York City Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 32,457. Fair Lawn was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March...
and Fort Lee
Fort Lee, New Jersey
Fort Lee is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 35,345. Located atop the Hudson Palisades, the borough is the western terminus of the George Washington Bridge...
— were added to the 38th Legislative District. These two communities voted heavily for Democrat Joseph Coniglio
Joseph Coniglio
Joseph Coniglio Coniglio, a former plumber turned politician was the Chairman of the State Government Committee, and also served on the Senate Labor Committee and the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee...
in the November 2001 elections, who unseated Kosco by a 53%-47% margin.