Melvin Cottrell
Encyclopedia
Melvin Cottrell was an American
Republican Party
politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly
from 1992 until his death. He represented the 30th Legislative District, which includes portions of Burlington
, Monmouth
, Mercer
and Ocean
counties.
Cottrell lived his entire life in Jackson Township
, attending the local public schools and graduating from Lakewood High School
. Cottrell was employed as the Assistant Superintendent of Public Property of Ocean County. He served as Chair of the Jackson Township Board of Health from 1980 to 1985, was elected and served on its Township Committee from 1986 to 1991 and was Jackson Township's mayor in 1988 and 1989.
In the Assembly, Cottrell served as the Chair of the Senior Issues and Community Services Committee and was a member of the Solid and Hazardous Waste Committee. Cottrell was an advocate for senior citizens and the disabled, and proposed legislation to require hearing aid
coverage by health insurance companies. Together with Joseph J. Roberts and Robert Singer
, Cottrell sponsored legislation that would allow sports betting
in Atlantic City
casinos on professional and college sports, but would exclude wagering on games played by New Jersey colleges.
Cottrell died on October 9, 2002, at Graduate University Hospital in Philadelphia. In November 2002, Republican County Committee representatives from the 30th District chose Ronald S. Dancer
, mayor of Plumsted Township
to fill the vacancy created by Cottrell's death; Dancer defeated Howell Township
Councilmember Joseph DiBella by a 106–72 margin in voting by county committee heads.
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 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 1992 until his death. He represented the 30th Legislative District, which includes portions of Burlington
Burlington County, New Jersey
There were 154,371 households out of which 34.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.70% were married couples living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.70% were non-families. 22.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.50% had...
, Monmouth
Monmouth County, New Jersey
Monmouth County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, within the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 630,380, up from 615,301 at the 2000 census. Its county seat is Freehold Borough. The most populous municipality is Middletown Township with...
, Mercer
Mercer County, New Jersey
As of the census of 2000, there were 350,761 people, 125,807 households, and 86,303 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,552 people per square mile . There were 133,280 housing units at an average density of 590 per square mile...
and Ocean
Ocean County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 510,916 people, 200,402 households, and 137,876 families residing in the county. The population density was 803 people per square mile . There were 248,711 housing units at an average density of 151/km²...
counties.
Cottrell lived his entire life in Jackson Township
Jackson Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 42,816 people, 14,176 households, and 11,269 families residing in the township. The population density was 427.9 people per square mile . There were 14,640 housing units at an average density of 146.3 per square mile...
, attending the local public schools and graduating from Lakewood High School
Lakewood High School (New Jersey)
Lakewood High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school in Lakewood Township, Ocean County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Lakewood School District....
. Cottrell was employed as the Assistant Superintendent of Public Property of Ocean County. He served as Chair of the Jackson Township Board of Health from 1980 to 1985, was elected and served on its Township Committee from 1986 to 1991 and was Jackson Township's mayor in 1988 and 1989.
In the Assembly, Cottrell served as the Chair of the Senior Issues and Community Services Committee and was a member of the Solid and Hazardous Waste Committee. Cottrell was an advocate for senior citizens and the disabled, and proposed legislation to require hearing aid
Hearing aid
A hearing aid is an electroacoustic device which typically fits in or behind the wearer's ear, and is designed to amplify and modulate sound for the wearer. Earlier devices, known as "ear trumpets" or "ear horns", were passive funnel-like amplification cones designed to gather sound energy and...
coverage by health insurance companies. Together with Joseph J. Roberts and Robert Singer
Robert Singer
Robert W. Singer is an American Republican Party politician, who has been serving in the New Jersey State Senate since 1993, where he represents the 30th Legislative District. He was the Mayor of Lakewood Township, New Jersey in 2009...
, Cottrell sponsored legislation that would allow sports betting
Sports betting
Sports betting is the activity of predicting sports results and placing a wager on the outcome.-United States of America:Aside from simple wagers such as betting a friend that one's favorite baseball team will win its division or buying a football "square" for the Super Bowl, sports betting is...
in Atlantic City
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
casinos on professional and college sports, but would exclude wagering on games played by New Jersey colleges.
Cottrell died on October 9, 2002, at Graduate University Hospital in Philadelphia. In November 2002, Republican County Committee representatives from the 30th District chose Ronald S. Dancer
Ronald S. Dancer
Ronald Stanley Dancer is an American Republican Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 2002, where he represents the 30th legislative district.-Biography:...
, mayor of Plumsted Township
Plumsted Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 7,275 people, 2,510 households, and 2,002 families residing in the township. The population density was 181.8 people per square mile . There were 2,628 housing units at an average density of 65.7 per square mile...
to fill the vacancy created by Cottrell's death; Dancer defeated Howell Township
Howell Township, New Jersey
Howell is a Township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 51,075.Howell Township was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 23, 1801, from portions of Shrewsbury Township...
Councilmember Joseph DiBella by a 106–72 margin in voting by county committee heads.