Sandra Bolden Cunningham
Encyclopedia
Sandra Bolden Cunningham (September 4, 1950) is an American
Democratic Party
politician
, who has been serving in the New Jersey
State Senate
since 2007, where she represents the 31st Legislative District. She was sworn into office on November 8, 2007. She is the widow of former Jersey City
Mayor Glenn Cunningham
, who died in 2004.
In the Senate, she has been assigned to serve as Vice Chairwoman of the Economic Growth Committee and as a member of the Budget and Appropriations Committee and the Labor Committee. She is the current Senate Majority Whip.
Cunningham received a B.A.
from Bloomfield College
with a major in Liberal Arts.
and was reported to be considering a run for Mayor of Jersey City in a special election. She became President of the Sandra and Glenn Cunningham Foundation and has supported causes in Jersey City through the foundation. In 2006 signs in Jersey City touted her as a candidate for the U.S. Senate vs. Sen. Robert Menendez
and State Sen. Tom Kean Jr.. Menendez and her late husband were bitter political rivals. She did not seek the U.S. Senate seat and announced her candidacy for the State Senate in the Democratic Primary against Sen. Joseph Doria
in 2007. This is the Senate seat her husband held prior to his death.
Doria, the mayor of Bayonne
, dropped out of the race in March 2007. Assemblyman Louis Manzo
, who first won his seat on a ticket with Mayor Cunningham, challenged Mrs. Cunningham in the Democratic primary for the Senate. During the primary race, Senator Cunningham received the support of the Hudson County Democratic Organization and Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy
, who had previously opposed her and her late husband. One of Mrs. Cunningham's running mates for the Assembly was former State Sen. L. Harvey Smith
, who had been defeated by her late husband in a bitter 2003 Senate primary. Senator Cunningham defeated Assemblyman Manzo in the Democratic primary in June 2007 and was virtually unopposed in the November general election.
Following Doria's October 2007 resignation to become Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs
, Mrs. Cunningham was elected on October 23, 2007 by a special election convention to serve the remainder of Doria's term, which expired in January 2008. Cunningham served the remainder of Doria's term before beginning her own four year term. Senator Cunningham was sworn into the State Senate on November 8, 2007.
and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly
. The other representatives from the 31st District for the 2008-2009 Legislative Session are:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, who has been serving 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...
State 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...
since 2007, where she represents the 31st Legislative District. She was sworn into office on November 8, 2007. She is the widow of former Jersey City
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
Mayor Glenn Cunningham
Glenn Cunningham (New Jersey)
Glenn Dale Cunningham was an American Democratic Party politician, who was the first African American Mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey, the state's second-largest city. Cunningham also served in the New Jersey Senate. After Cunningham's death, L. Harvey Smith became the acting mayor of Jersey City...
, who died in 2004.
In the Senate, she has been assigned to serve as Vice Chairwoman of the Economic Growth Committee and as a member of the Budget and Appropriations Committee and the Labor Committee. She is the current Senate Majority Whip.
Cunningham received 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...
from Bloomfield College
Bloomfield College
Bloomfield College is a four-year private liberal arts college located in Bloomfield, New Jersey. Bloomfield College is chartered by the State of New Jersey and accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools...
with a major in Liberal Arts.
Career
Following her husband's sudden death, she tried to win a special election for his seat in the State SenateNew 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...
and was reported to be considering a run for Mayor of Jersey City in a special election. She became President of the Sandra and Glenn Cunningham Foundation and has supported causes in Jersey City through the foundation. In 2006 signs in Jersey City touted her as a candidate for the U.S. Senate vs. Sen. Robert Menendez
Robert Menendez
Robert "Bob" Menendez is the junior United States Senator from New Jersey and a member of the Democratic Party. In January 2006, he was appointed to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Jon Corzine, who resigned upon being elected Governor of New Jersey. Menendez was elected to his own full...
and State Sen. Tom Kean Jr.. Menendez and her late husband were bitter political rivals. She did not seek the U.S. Senate seat and announced her candidacy for the State Senate in the Democratic Primary against Sen. Joseph Doria
Joseph Doria
Joseph V. Doria Jr. is an American Democratic Party politician, who served as Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs in the cabinet of Governor Jon Corzine from 2007 until his resignation in July 2009...
in 2007. This is the Senate seat her husband held prior to his death.
Doria, the mayor of Bayonne
Bayonne, New Jersey
Bayonne is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. Located in the Gateway Region, Bayonne is a peninsula that is situated between Newark Bay to the west, the Kill van Kull to the south, and New York Bay to the east...
, dropped out of the race in March 2007. Assemblyman Louis Manzo
Louis Manzo
Louis Manzo is an American Democratic Party politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2004 to 2008, where he represented the 31st legislative district.-Biography:...
, who first won his seat on a ticket with Mayor Cunningham, challenged Mrs. Cunningham in the Democratic primary for the Senate. During the primary race, Senator Cunningham received the support of the Hudson County Democratic Organization and Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy
Jerramiah Healy
Jerramiah T. Healy is the current mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey. He ran for the unexpired term of the late Glenn D. Cunningham and was elected in November 2004. In the special election, he defeated Acting Mayor L. Harvey Smith...
, who had previously opposed her and her late husband. One of Mrs. Cunningham's running mates for the Assembly was former State Sen. L. Harvey Smith
L. Harvey Smith
L. Harvey Smith is an American Democratic Party politician who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly from January 8, 2008 to January 10, 2010, where he represented the 31st legislative district. He is the former Acting Mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey and previously served in the New...
, who had been defeated by her late husband in a bitter 2003 Senate primary. Senator Cunningham defeated Assemblyman Manzo in the Democratic primary in June 2007 and was virtually unopposed in the November general election.
Following Doria's October 2007 resignation to become Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs
New Jersey Department of Community Affairs
The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs is a governmental agency of the U.S. state of New Jersey. The department is headed by Commissioner Lori Grifa...
, Mrs. Cunningham was elected on October 23, 2007 by a special election convention to serve the remainder of Doria's term, which expired in January 2008. Cunningham served the remainder of Doria's term before beginning her own four year term. Senator Cunningham was sworn into the State Senate on November 8, 2007.
District 31
Each of the forty districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey SenateNew 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...
and two members 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...
. The other representatives from the 31st District for the 2008-2009 Legislative Session are:
- Assemblyman Anthony ChiapponeAnthony ChiapponeAnthony Chiappone is an American Democratic Party politician, who served in the New Jersey General Assembly, where he represented the 31st legislative district...
, and - Assemblyman L. Harvey SmithL. Harvey SmithL. Harvey Smith is an American Democratic Party politician who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly from January 8, 2008 to January 10, 2010, where he represented the 31st legislative district. He is the former Acting Mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey and previously served in the New...
External links
- Senator Cunningham's legislative webpage, 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
- 2006
- Senate campaign website