Richard A. Merkt
Encyclopedia
Richard A. "Rick" Merkt is an American
Republican Party
politician
who served in the New Jersey
General Assembly
from 1998 to 2010, where he represented the 25th legislative district. He unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for Governor of New Jersey in 2009 rather than running for re-election to the Assembly.
Merkt served as the Assembly's Parliamentarian
from 2006 to 2010. He served in the Assembly on the Appropriations Committee, the Higher Education Committee and the Intergovernmental Relations Commission.
Merkt graduated with a B.A.
in 1971 from Yale University
in History, was awarded a J.D.
in 1975 from the Fordham University School of Law
and received an M.G.A. in 1987 from the University of Pennsylvania
in Governmental Administration.
He was born in New York City
and currently resides with his family in the Brookside section of Mendham Township, New Jersey
. In March 2011, Merkt was chosen to fill the seat on the Mendham Township Committee expiring in 2012 that had beenvacated in January 2011 by Jack Schrier.
. However, Merkt was unable to meet the fundraising thresholds necessary to appear in the state-sponsored televised debates before the primary; thus, the primary was, in effect, a contest between former United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey
Chris Christie
and former Bogota
Mayor Steve Lonegan
. Merkt did appear along with his two rivals in two privately-sponsored radio debates before the primary, however. Ultimately, Merkt received only 2.74% of the vote in the primary; Christie received the gubernatorial nomination. Merkt left the Assembly in January 2010 when his term expired.
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
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who served 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...
from 1998 to 2010, where he represented the 25th legislative district. He unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for Governor of New Jersey in 2009 rather than running for re-election to the Assembly.
Merkt served as the Assembly's Parliamentarian
Parliamentarian (consultant)
A parliamentarian is an expert on parliamentary procedure who advises organizations and deliberative assemblies. This sense of the term "parliamentarian" is distinct from the usage of the same term to mean a member of Parliament....
from 2006 to 2010. He served in the Assembly on the Appropriations Committee, the Higher Education Committee and the Intergovernmental Relations Commission.
Merkt graduated with a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1971 from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in History, was awarded a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
in 1975 from the Fordham University School of Law
Fordham University School of Law
Fordham University School of Law is a part of Fordham University in the United States. The School is located in the Borough of Manhattan in New York City, and is one of eight ABA-approved law schools in that city.-Overview:According to the U.S. News & World Report, 1,516 J.D. students attend...
and received an M.G.A. in 1987 from the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in Governmental Administration.
He was born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and currently resides with his family in the Brookside section of Mendham Township, New Jersey
Mendham Township, New Jersey
Mendham Township is an affluent township in Morris County, in the central portion of northern New Jersey, United States, located more than due west of New York City. As of the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 5,400...
. In March 2011, Merkt was chosen to fill the seat on the Mendham Township Committee expiring in 2012 that had beenvacated in January 2011 by Jack Schrier.
2009 Gubernatorial Campaign
On October 22, 2008, Rick Merkt declared his candidacy for Republican nomination for Governor of New JerseyGovernor 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...
. However, Merkt was unable to meet the fundraising thresholds necessary to appear in the state-sponsored televised debates before the primary; thus, the primary was, in effect, a contest between former United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey
United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey
The U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey is the chief federal law enforcement officer in New Jersey. Paul J. Fishman was sworn into office as U.S. Attorney on October 14, 2009 after having been nominated by President Barack Obama. He succeeded Ralph J. Marra, who served as Acting U.S....
Chris Christie
Christopher J. Christie
Christopher James "Chris" Christie is the 55th and current Governor of New Jersey. Upon his election to the governorship in November 2009, Christie became the first Republican to win a statewide election in New Jersey in 12 years. In 2011, he considered entering the race for the Republican...
and former Bogota
Bogota, New Jersey
As of the 2010 Census, Bogota had a population of 8,187. The median age was 38.6. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 61.0% White, 9.4% Black or African American, 0.8% Native American, 9.8% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander, 14.8% some other race and 4.1% reporting...
Mayor Steve Lonegan
Steve Lonegan
Steven M. Lonegan was mayor of Bogota, New Jersey from 1995–2007 and a candidate for the Republican nomination for Governor of New Jersey in 2005 and 2009. He is the Director of the New Jersey chapter of Americans for Prosperity....
. Merkt did appear along with his two rivals in two privately-sponsored radio debates before the primary, however. Ultimately, Merkt received only 2.74% of the vote in the primary; Christie received the gubernatorial nomination. Merkt left the Assembly in January 2010 when his term expired.
External links
- Assemblyman Merkt'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...
- New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure forms
- Assembly Member Richard A. 'Rick' Merkt, Project Vote SmartProject Vote SmartProject Vote Smart is a non-profit, non-partisan research organization that collects and distributes information on candidates for public office in the United States...
- New Jersey Voter Information Website 2003
- Rick Merkt for Governor