Raymond M. Durkin

Raymond M. 'Ray' Durkin (born 1936) is an American Democratic party politician from New Jersey who has served as chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee as well as the Essex County Democratic Committee.

Durkin grew up in the Vailsburg neighborhood in the West Ward of Newark, New Jersey. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990DEEDA1F3CF937A25752C1A9629C8B63 "The Newark Dream"] , "The New York Times", November 14, 2004. Accessed June 23, 2008.] He was a member of the Newark Fire Department for 15 years, before becoming secretary to the county purchasing agent under former Essex County Democratic Chairman Harry Lerner. He became purchasing agent after Peter Shapiro defeated Lerner's organization to become Essex County's first elected executive in 1978. Durkin was an early active supporter of Shapiro."Shapiro Picks N.J. Party Chief". "The Record (Bergen County)", June 10, 1985.]

Durkin was selected as Essex County Democratic Chairman in 1980. In 1985, when Shapiro was the Democratic candidate for Governor of New Jersey opposing incumbent Tom Kean, Durkin was named chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee. Durkin helped Jim Florio win the Democratic nomination for governor in 1989 and also assisted Ron Brown in his election as chairman of the Democratic National Committee that same year."Ex-Party Chief Faces Drug Charge" "The Record (Bergen County)", January 8, 1997.]

Durkin served as state party chairman until 1990. He continued as Essex County party chairman until 1992, when he was unseated by County Executive Thomas D'Alessio. (D'Alessio was convicted of extortion in 1994.) [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C05E5DD1239F935A35752C0A961958260 "Ex-State Democratic Chairman Is Arrested on Cocaine Charges"] , "The New York Times", January 6, 1997. Accessed June 23, 2008.]

After his loss of the Essex party chairmanship, Durkin dropped out of politics. He spent a month in a rehabilitation program in Minnesota for alcohol abuse. On January 3, 1997 he was arrested outside the Hudson Plaza Motel in Bayonne, New Jersey with one vial of crack cocaine. He was charged with being under the influence, possession of cocaine, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He entered a plea of not guilty but made arrangements to enter a substance abuse program.

Durkin resides in Maplewood, New Jersey. His wife, Joan Codey Durkin, is the sister of former New Jersey Governor Richard Codey and has served as Essex County Tax Commissioner. [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/31/nyregion/31NJ.html "When Codey Talks, He Talks to Them"] , "The New York Times", October 31, 2004. Accessed June 23, 2008.] His son Christopher J. Durkin has served as Essex County Clerk since 2006.

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