Thomas H. Paterniti
Encyclopedia
Thomas H. Paterniti is an American
dentist and Democratic Party
politician who served in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature
, where he represented the 18th Legislative District
. He served four terms in the New Jersey General Assembly
, from 1980 to 1988, followed by a single term in the New Jersey Senate
, from 1988 to 1992.
. He first won election to the General Assembly in 1979 together with fellow Democrat James Bornheimer. After Bornheimer ran successfully for the district's Senate seat, Paterniti and Frank M. Pelly won election in 1981, 1983 and 1985.
In 1985, Paterniti introduced legislation in the Assembly that would require owners of adult bookstores to maintain a list of the names and addresses of their customers, stating that "it has been reported that homosexual activity has taken place at adult bookstores" and that the list could be used to help control the spread of AIDS
by discouraging homosexual activity at these stores. Under the terms of Paterniti's bill, store owners would be held liable if individuals contracted AIDS as a result of sexual activity on the premises.
In the 1987 election, Paterniti ran for the New Jersey Senate, defeating incumbent Democrat Peter P. Garibaldi. In the campaign against Garibaldi, Paterniti argued that his opponent was double dipping
, holding a seat in the Senate as well as serving as Mayor of Monroe Township, New Jersey. In 1987, Paterniti was elected as Mayor of Edison, New Jersey
.
In an October 1990 article, The New York Times
had cited local criticism of Paterniti for holding onto three jobs simultaneously, as mayor and State Senator, while still maintaining an active dental practice. Paterniti insisted that there was no issue in his holding the multiple jobs,citing "the art of delegation and the ability to structure time properly". In the June 1991 primaries, Paterniti lost the Democratic nomination to lawyer Harry Pozycki of Metuchen
, who in turn lost the general election to Republican Jack Sinagra
.
Paterniti ran for the Assembly in 1993 together with running mate Matthew Vaughn, losing to incumbent Republicans Harriet E. Derman
and Jeffrey A. Warsh
. In 1997, Paterniti ran for the Senate again, losing to Sinagra by a margin of 58.5%-41.5%.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
dentist and 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 who served in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature
New Jersey Legislature
The 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...
, where he represented the 18th Legislative District
18th Legislative District (New Jersey)
New Jersey's 18th Legislative District is one of 40 in the state, covering the Middlesex County municipalities of East Brunswick Township, Edison Township, Helmetta Borough, Metuchen Borough, South Plainfield Borough, South River Borough and Spotswood Borough As of the 2000 United States Census,...
. He served four terms 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 1980 to 1988, followed by a single term in 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...
, from 1988 to 1992.
Biography
Paterniti was born in 1929 in Perth Amboy, New JerseyPerth Amboy, New Jersey
Perth Amboy is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. The City of Perth Amboy is part of the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 50,814. Perth Amboy is known as the "City by the Bay", referring to Raritan Bay.-Name:The Lenape...
. He first won election to the General Assembly in 1979 together with fellow Democrat James Bornheimer. After Bornheimer ran successfully for the district's Senate seat, Paterniti and Frank M. Pelly won election in 1981, 1983 and 1985.
In 1985, Paterniti introduced legislation in the Assembly that would require owners of adult bookstores to maintain a list of the names and addresses of their customers, stating that "it has been reported that homosexual activity has taken place at adult bookstores" and that the list could be used to help control the spread of AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
by discouraging homosexual activity at these stores. Under the terms of Paterniti's bill, store owners would be held liable if individuals contracted AIDS as a result of sexual activity on the premises.
In the 1987 election, Paterniti ran for the New Jersey Senate, defeating incumbent Democrat Peter P. Garibaldi. In the campaign against Garibaldi, Paterniti argued that his opponent was double dipping
Dual mandate
A dual mandate is the practice in which elected officials served in more than one elected or other public position simultaneously. This practice is known as double jobbing in Britain and distinguished from double dipping in the United States For example, suppose a...
, holding a seat in the Senate as well as serving as Mayor of Monroe Township, New Jersey. In 1987, Paterniti was elected as Mayor of Edison, New Jersey
Mayor of Edison, New Jersey
Mayor of Edison, New Jersey*Antonia Ricigliano 2011 to present, is first female mayor*Jun Choi 2006 to 2011*George A. Spadoro ? to 2006*Thomas H. Paterniti 1987 to ?*Bernard James Dwyer 1958 to?...
.
In an October 1990 article, The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
had cited local criticism of Paterniti for holding onto three jobs simultaneously, as mayor and State Senator, while still maintaining an active dental practice. Paterniti insisted that there was no issue in his holding the multiple jobs,citing "the art of delegation and the ability to structure time properly". In the June 1991 primaries, Paterniti lost the Democratic nomination to lawyer Harry Pozycki of Metuchen
Metuchen, New Jersey
Metuchen is a Borough in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States, which is 8 miles northeast of New Brunswick, 18 miles southwest of Newark, 24 miles southwest of Jersey City, and 29 miles southwest of Manhattan, all part of the New York metropolitan area...
, who in turn lost the general election to Republican Jack Sinagra
Jack Sinagra
Jack G. Sinagra is an American Republican Party politician who was the Mayor of East Brunswick, New Jersey and served in the New Jersey Senate from 1992 to 2002, where he represented the 18th Legislative District.-Biography:...
.
Paterniti ran for the Assembly in 1993 together with running mate Matthew Vaughn, losing to incumbent Republicans Harriet E. Derman
Harriet E. Derman
Harriet E. Derman is an American Republican Party politician who was elected to two terms in the New Jersey General Assembly, where she represented the 18th Legislative District from 1992 to 1996...
and Jeffrey A. Warsh
Jeffrey A. Warsh
Jeffrey A. Warsh is an American Republican Party politician who served two terms in the New Jersey General Assembly, from 1992 to 1996, where he represented the 18th Legislative District, which covers portions of Middlesex County...
. In 1997, Paterniti ran for the Senate again, losing to Sinagra by a margin of 58.5%-41.5%.