Sen. John A. Girgenti

Senator John A. Girgenti, Hawthorne Democratic Municipal Chair, was born in Paterson, New Jersey. He attended Hawthorne High School and received his B.A. in political science, cum laude, from Seton Hall University in 1969. He went on to study government, specializing in public administration, at St. John’s University, and received his M.A. in 1972.

Senator Girgenti was first elected to the Assembly in 1977 and was re-elected 6 times. In the Assembly, he served as the Municipal Government Committee Chair and Deputy Majority Leader. In March 1990, Girgenti was chosen by district Democrats to fill the Senate seat left vacant by the death of Frank X. Graves, Jr., and was later elected to his first full-term in the Senate in 1991. He has been re-elected four times.

As an Assemblyman, Girgenti sponsored legislation that created the Victims of Crime Compensation Board and successfully imposed the first “tax on crime.” Since joining the Senate, he has sponsored many important pieces of legislation that have become law, including the recent legislation that mandates and provides funding for sprinkler installation in New Jersey college dorms, following 2000’s tragic Seton Hall dorm fire. He has also pushed for increased aid to the National Guard, helping to enact legislation which increases the base pay of Guard members when on active duty in the State.

For his record of distinguished service, Senator Girgenti has been recognized by numerous civic groups. He is the recipient of both the 2003 Paterson PBA Award and the 2003 Passaic Prosecutors PBA “Man of the Year” Awards. Additionally, he was named the 2003 Senate Legislator of the Year by the New Jersey Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Senator Girgenti is currently the Chairman of the Law, Public Safety & Veterans Affairs Committee, where he works tirelessly to improve the safety and quality of life for New Jersey’s residents. He is also Vice Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has been involved in investigating the problem of racial profiling on New Jersey’s highways since 2001.

Senator Girgenti represents Hawthorne in the 35th Legislative District of the New Jersey State Senate, which also includes Glen Rock, Haledon, North Haledon, Paterson, Prospect Park and Totowa.

Back