Michael B. Lavery
Michael Lavery | |
---|---|
Chair of the New Jersey Republican Party | |
In office June 13, 2017 – November 21, 2017 | |
Preceded by | Sam Raia |
Succeeded by | Doug Steinhardt |
Mayor of Hackettstown, New Jersey | |
In office January 2006 – January 2012 | |
Preceded by | Roger Hines |
Succeeded by | Maria DiGiovanni |
Personal details | |
Born |
Woodbury, Connecticut, U.S. | July 31, 1968
Political party | Republican |
Children | 3 |
Education |
University of New Haven (BA) Rutgers University, Camden (JD) |
Michael B. Lavery (born July 31, 1968) is an American Republican Party politician and attorney, who served as Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee, elected to that office on June 13, 2017 until November 21, 2017.[1][2]
Early life and education
Lavery was born in Woodbury, Connecticut and received his undergraduate degree in political science from the University of New Haven where he received the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to the University. He moved to New Jersey after completing his undergraduate studies to attend Rutgers School of Law–Camden where he earned his J.D. During law school he served as a member of the Stratton Moot Court Board and President of the Student Bar Association.[3] He has resided in New Jersey ever since completing law school.
Legal career
After law school, Lavery was a founding partner of Sirkis and Lavery in Hackettstown from 1993 to 2007. From 2008 to 2014 he was a partner at Courter, Kobert and Cohen, a firm founded by former New Jersey Congressman Jim Courter, also in Hackettstown. When Courter and Kobert both retired Lavery formed Lavery, Selvaggi, Abromitis and Cohen with other partners in the firm in 2014.[4] He concentrates his practice in local government law, litigation and Land Use law and presently represents a number of governmental entities and serves as Special Counsel to the County of Warren for Open Space & Farmland Preservation. He is admitted to practice in the State and Federal Courts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and before the United States Supreme Court. Lavery is a member of the Election Law Committee for the New Jersey State Bar Association and is a former Director of the Local Government Law Section of the State Bar Association.[5] He serves as Township Attorney for Hardwick, Lopatcong, Mansfield, Oxford and Washington (Warren County) Townships, Special Counsel to Parsippany-Troy Hills Township and Mine Hill Township, as well as Attorney for the Frelinghuysen Township Land Use Board, the Chester Township Zoning Board of Adjustment, and the Warren County Soil Conservation District.[6]
Political career
Prior to becoming the Chairman of the state Republican Party, Lavery served two terms as Mayor of Hackettstown, New Jersey from 2006 to 2012. He also served as an elected member of the New Jersey State Republican Committee as the male representative from Warren County, New Jersey. He served as a Legislative Aide to then-Senator Leonard Lance (R-23), who presently serves as Congressman for New Jersey's 7th congressional district. In June 2015, Lavery was appointed by the Governor to serve as a Commissioner for the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission. In June 2016, Lavery was elected Chairman of the Commission.[7][8] Lavery formerly served as a Member of the Executive Board of the New Jersey League of Municipalities and as a member of the Board of the New Jersey Conference of Mayors.
State Chairmanship
Lavery was nominated by the Lieutenant Governor and Republican Nominee for Governor, Kim Guadagno, to serve as the Chairman of the New Jersey State Republican Party in June 2017.[9] He replace her first nominee, Doug Steinhardt, who withdrew his candidacy after concerns that outgoing Governor Chris Christie appointed Steinhardt's wife to a paid position in the state parole commission.[10] Lavery served in the position for 6 months throughout the course of the gubernatorial election and resigned in November 2017. At that point the Republican State Committee unanimously chose Steinhardt to lead the party.[11]
Election history
Lavery successfully ran for Mayor of Hackettstown in 2005 against Democratic incumbent Roger Hines. He ran on several key issues including a pay as you go budgeting philosophy, attracting commercial development, and promising to be a proactive leader instead of reactive. Further, complicating Hines' reelection bid was a broken promise to only serve two terms and instead choosing to run for a third term after winning his first election by criticizing his opponent, eventual Assemblyman John DiMaio, for seeking a 4th term.[12][13] Lavery defeated Hines by garnering 55% of the vote.[14] He ran unopposed for a second term in 2008 and received 97% of the votes cast.[15] Keeping good on his initial promise to not seek more than two terms Lavery did not run for a third term in 2011.[16] He endorsed Councilwoman Maria DiGiovanni to be his successor and she won with 62% of the votes cast.[17]
References
- ↑ Brodesser-Akner, Claude. "1 Warren County pick for N.J. GOP chair replaced with another". LehighValleyLive. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
- ↑ https://www.politico.com/states/new-jersey/story/2017/11/20/steinhardt-once-spurned-by-guadagno-set-to-lead-nj-gop-119466
- ↑ "Official Biography". Lavery, Selvaggi, Abromitis and Cohen.
- ↑ Peters, Sarah. "New Warren County law firm has familiar faces from Courter, Kobert & Cohen". Lehighvalleylive. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
- ↑ "Lavery, Selvaggi, Abromitis and Cohen website".
- ↑ "Official Biography".
- ↑ "Delaware River Join Toll Bridge Commission Official Website". Retrieved 13 July 2017.
- ↑ Donnelly, Joe (June 2, 2016). "Media Contact". DRJTBC Official Media. Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
- ↑ https://www.insidernj.com/steinhardt-state-gop-chairman-mike-lavery/
- ↑ http://observer.com/2017/06/at-last-minute-guadagno-picks-gilmores-nephew-for-gop-chair/
- ↑ https://www.insidernj.com/steinhardt-wins-unanimous-support-lead-njgop/
- ↑ Eilenberger, Andrea (October 23, 2005). "Mayoral hopefuls bank on experience The incumbent and challenger both hope voters will prefer their expertise. The incumbent and challenger both hope voters will prefer their expertise". The Express Times.
- ↑ Waagner, Bryan (October 30, 1999). "Mayoral, council hopefuls state positions". The Express Times.
- ↑ "Official Warren County 2005 Election Results" (PDF).
- ↑ "Official Warren County 2008 Election Results" (PDF).
- ↑ Rowan, Jr., Tom (October 9, 2011). "Two vying in mayoral race Bob Moore Wants Planning. Maria DiGiovanni focuses on bringing business to Hackettstown". The Express-Times.
- ↑ "Official Warren County Election Results" (PDF). Warren County, New Jersey. County of Warren. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
External links
Political offices | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Roger Hines |
Mayor of Hackettstown 2006–2012 |
Succeeded by Maria DiGiovanni |
Party political offices | ||
Preceded by Sam Raia |
Chair of the New Jersey Republican Party 2017 |
Succeeded by Doug Steinhardt |