Tom Wilson (New Jersey)
Encyclopedia
Tom Wilson is an American
Republican Party
leader who served as the chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee
from 2004 to 2009.
and graduated from Bridgewater-Raritan High School
East in 1985. He attended University of Vermont
and received a B.A.
degree in political science in 1989. After college he worked as the political director of the Assembly Republican Majority, a New Jersey Republican fundraising organization chaired by Chuck Haytaian
. In 1991 Haytaian became Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly
and hired Wilson as the director of his office. In 1992 he was a strategist for the unsuccessful campaign of W. Cary Edwards
for Governor of New Jersey
, before going on to work for the political consultant David Welch on state legislative races.
When Haytaian became chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee
in 1995, Wilson was named executive director. Haytaian urged Governor Christine Todd Whitman
to hire Wilson as her campaign manager for her 1997 race for reelection against Jim McGreevey
. After successfully managing the Whitman campaign, he joined the Strategy Group, a consulting and lobbying firm. In 2001 he served as communications director for Donald DiFrancesco
, then president of the New Jersey Senate
and acting governor. He also served under Richard Codey
when he briefly took over as acting governor in January 2002.
In November 2004 Wilson was elected chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee
, in the lead-up to the 2005 gubernatorial primary battle between Doug Forrester
, Bret Schundler
, and five other candidates. Forrester won the primary but lost in the general election to Jon Corzine
.
During the Corzine administration, Wilson was especially critical of the governor's relationship with Carla Katz
, president of Local 1034 of the Communications Workers of America
. Wilson lodged a lawsuit to force Corzine to reveal all correspondence with Katz in order to determine whether her previous romantic relationship with the governor improperly influenced contract negotiations. On May 30, 2008, New Jersey Superior Court
Judge Paul Innes ruled that at least 745 records of e-mail correspondence between Corzine and Katz should be made
public, but Corzine's lawyers immediately appealed the decision.
On June 11, 2009, Republican gubernatorial candidate Christopher J. Christie
announced his selection of Assemblyman Jay Webber
to succeed Wilson as party chairman. State Committee members unanimously supported the selection of Webber in a vote on June 17, 2009.
Wilson has been married to Lysa Israel, a Republican fundraiser, since 1993. They reside in Montgomery Township, New Jersey
.
Wilson is now a Partner in the Kaufman Zita Group, a bi-partisan public affairs, lobbying and strategic communications firm in Princeton, New Jersey. He is a frequent commentator on government and politics in New Jersey.
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...
leader who served as the chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee
New Jersey Republican State Committee
The New Jersey Republican State Committee is the affiliate of the Republican Party in New Jersey. The Committee was founded in 1880. The party is led by Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee Sam Raia of Saddle River, New Jersey.-Membership:...
from 2004 to 2009.
Biography
Wilson grew up in Bridgewater Township, New JerseyBridgewater Township, New Jersey
Bridgewater Township is a township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. , the township population was 44,464.Bridgewater Township was originally created by Royal Charter on April 4, 1749, from portions of the Northern precinct, and was incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial group of...
and graduated from Bridgewater-Raritan High School
Bridgewater-Raritan High School
Bridgewater-Raritan Regional High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school. It is the single high school of the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District serving students from Bridgewater Township and Raritan in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States...
East in 1985. He attended University of Vermont
University of Vermont
The University of Vermont comprises seven undergraduate schools, an honors college, a graduate college, and a college of medicine. The Honors College does not offer its own degrees; students in the Honors College concurrently enroll in one of the university's seven undergraduate colleges or...
and 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...
degree in political science in 1989. After college he worked as the political director of the Assembly Republican Majority, a New Jersey Republican fundraising organization chaired by Chuck Haytaian
Chuck Haytaian
Garabed "Chuck" Haytaian is an American Republican Party politician, who was the Speaker of the New Jersey State Assembly during the 'tax revolt' of the James Florio – Christine Todd Whitman era. He is of Armenian descent....
. In 1991 Haytaian became Speaker of 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 hired Wilson as the director of his office. In 1992 he was a strategist for the unsuccessful campaign of W. Cary Edwards
W. Cary Edwards
W. Cary Edwards was a New Jersey politician who served as the state's Attorney General from 1986 to 1989....
for Governor of New Jersey
Governor 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...
, before going on to work for the political consultant David Welch on state legislative races.
When Haytaian became chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee
New Jersey Republican State Committee
The New Jersey Republican State Committee is the affiliate of the Republican Party in New Jersey. The Committee was founded in 1880. The party is led by Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee Sam Raia of Saddle River, New Jersey.-Membership:...
in 1995, Wilson was named executive director. Haytaian urged Governor Christine Todd Whitman
Christine Todd Whitman
Christine Todd "Christie" Whitman is an American Republican politician and author who served as the 50th Governor of New Jersey from 1994 to 2001, and was the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in the administration of President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2003. She was New...
to hire Wilson as her campaign manager for her 1997 race for reelection against Jim McGreevey
Jim McGreevey
James Edward "Jim" McGreevey is an American Democratic politician. He served as the 52nd Governor of New Jersey from January 15, 2002, until he resigned from office at 11:59 pm on November 15, 2004. His term was set to expire on January 17, 2006...
. After successfully managing the Whitman campaign, he joined the Strategy Group, a consulting and lobbying firm. In 2001 he served as communications director for Donald DiFrancesco
Donald DiFrancesco
Donald Thomas DiFrancesco was the 51st Governor of New Jersey from 2001 to 2002 by virtue of his status as President of the New Jersey Senate, the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature....
, then president of 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...
and acting governor. He also served under Richard Codey
Richard Codey
Richard James Codey is an American Democratic Party politician who served as the 53rd Governor of New Jersey from November 2004 to January 2006. He has served in the New Jersey Senate since 1981 and served as the President of the Senate from 2002 to January 2010. He represents the 27th Legislative...
when he briefly took over as acting governor in January 2002.
In November 2004 Wilson was elected chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee
New Jersey Republican State Committee
The New Jersey Republican State Committee is the affiliate of the Republican Party in New Jersey. The Committee was founded in 1880. The party is led by Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee Sam Raia of Saddle River, New Jersey.-Membership:...
, in the lead-up to the 2005 gubernatorial primary battle between Doug Forrester
Doug Forrester
Douglas Forrester is an American businessman in New Jersey. He was the 2002 Republican nominee for New Jersey U.S. Senator and the 2005 Republican nominee for Governor of New Jersey. Forrester was defeated by his two Democratic opponents, Frank Lautenberg and then-U.S. Senator Jon Corzine,...
, Bret Schundler
Bret Schundler
Bret D. Schundler is an American politician from New Jersey. He served in the Cabinet of Governor Chris Christie as New Jersey Commissioner of Education until he was dismissed on August 27, 2010....
, and five other candidates. Forrester won the primary but lost in the general election to Jon Corzine
Jon Corzine
Jon Stevens Corzine is the former CEO of Goldman Sachs and of MF Global, and a one time American politician, who served as the 54th Governor of New Jersey from 2006 to 2010. A Democrat, Corzine served five years of a six-year U.S. Senate term representing New Jersey before being elected Governor...
.
During the Corzine administration, Wilson was especially critical of the governor's relationship with Carla Katz
Carla Katz
Carla A. Katz served as president of Local 1034 of the Communications Workers of America from 1999 until 2008, representing 16,000 public and private sector workers in the state of New Jersey...
, president of Local 1034 of the Communications Workers of America
Communications Workers of America
Communications Workers of America is the largest communications and media labor union in the United States representing about 550,000 members in both the private and public sectors. The union has 27 locals in Canada via CWA-SCA Canada representing about 8,000 members...
. Wilson lodged a lawsuit to force Corzine to reveal all correspondence with Katz in order to determine whether her previous romantic relationship with the governor improperly influenced contract negotiations. On May 30, 2008, New Jersey Superior Court
New Jersey Superior Court
The Superior Court is the state court in the U.S. state of New Jersey, with state-wide trial and appellate jurisdiction. The Superior Court has three divisions: the Appellate Division is essentially an intermediate appellate court while the Law and Chancery Divisions function as trial courts...
Judge Paul Innes ruled that at least 745 records of e-mail correspondence between Corzine and Katz should be made
public, but Corzine's lawyers immediately appealed the decision.
On June 11, 2009, Republican gubernatorial candidate Christopher J. 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...
announced his selection of Assemblyman Jay Webber
Jay Webber
Jay Webber is an American Republican Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since January 8, 2008, where he represents the 26th legislative district...
to succeed Wilson as party chairman. State Committee members unanimously supported the selection of Webber in a vote on June 17, 2009.
Wilson has been married to Lysa Israel, a Republican fundraiser, since 1993. They reside in Montgomery Township, New Jersey
Montgomery Township, New Jersey
Montgomery Township is a Township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 22,254, which represents growth of 27% since 2000 and more than 130% since the 1990 Census population figure of 9,612.Montgomery Township was...
.
Wilson is now a Partner in the Kaufman Zita Group, a bi-partisan public affairs, lobbying and strategic communications firm in Princeton, New Jersey. He is a frequent commentator on government and politics in New Jersey.