Paul T. Jordan

Infobox_Politician
name = Paul T. Jordan


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height = 216px
birth_date = c. 1941
birth_place =
death_date =
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residence = Jersey City, New Jersey
office = Mayor of Jersey City
order = 38th
term_start = 1971-11-09
term_end = 1977-06-30
predecessor = Charles K. Krieger
successor = Thomas F. X. Smith
party = Democratic
profession = Physician
religion = Catholic
spouse =
children =
website =

Paul T. Jordan (born c. 1941) is an American physician and Democratic Party politician who served as the 38th Mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey. He succeeded interim mayor Charles K. Krieger. Being 30 years old at the time of his election, Jordan is the youngest mayor in the history of Jersey City.cite news | work=TIME | date=1974-07-15 | url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,879402-23,00.html |title=200 Faces for the Future]

After graduating from medical school in 1968, Jordan ran a drug rehabilitation center in Jersey City. His political involvement began when he joined a local reform group called the Community Action Council. Jordan was first elected as a reform candidate in a special election following the resignation of Thomas J. Whelan after Whelan's conviction for extortion and conspiracy.cite news | last=Sullivan | first=Ronald | date=1971-11-03 | work=The New York Times | url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0913FC3B5C1A7493C1A9178AD95F458785F9 | title=Jordan, a Reformer, Ends Jersey City Machine Rule] Jordan's election was hailed as an end to machine control of Jersey City politics, and was credited to support from a large number of young voters. [cite news | work = TIME | date=1971-11-15 | url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,903218-1,00.html | title=Elections: Assessing the Contests] He was re-elected to a full four-year term in 1973.

Jordan was the first mayor to propose a major redevelopment of the Jersey City waterfront. During his term, Jordan appointed Shirley Ann Tolentino as the first African-American woman to serve as a full-time municipal court judge in New Jersey. [cite news | work=The New York Times | last=Cook | first=Joan | date=1976-08-17 | url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00D16FD385F167493C5A81783D85F428785F9 | title=Jersey City Gets a Black Woman as Municipal Judge]

Jordan did not run for re-election in 1977, choosing instead to seek the Democratic nomination for Governor of New Jersey. Jordan used an aggressive television advertising campaign that was estimated to cost up to $200,000. [cite news | work=The New York Times | last=Sullivan | first=Joseph F. | date=1977-03-09 | url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60612F9395D167493CBA91788D85F438785F9 | title=Jordan Plans TV Campaign for Nomination] Jordan withdrew from the race and supported incumbent Governor Brendan Byrne. [cite news | work=The New York Times | last=Sullivan | first=Joseph F. | date=1977-05-17 | url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0713FB355F167493C5A8178ED85F438785F9 | title=Jordan Cancels Gubernatorial Bid, Will Support Byrne for Re-election] Jordan's campaign later received a $30,000 campaign contribution from Byrne's campaign, allowing him to retire 25% of his campaign debt. [cite news | work=The New York Times | last=Waldron | first=Martin | date=1977-06-06 | url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40614FD355D167493C4A9178DD85F438785F9 | title=8 in Primary for the Governorship Report Owing a Total of $1 Million; Byrne Committee Helps Jordan Cut Debt 25% Florio Lists Loan That Tops His Net Worth] Jordan retired from politics and returned to his medical career following his withdrawal from the primary. He later served as the Chairman of Emergency Medicine at Trinitas Hospital in Elizabeth, New Jersey. [cite web | url=http://www.trinitashospital.org/healthgram/healthgram21.html | title=Trinitas Nears Completion of Emergency Department Upgrades | quote="This multiple site system achieves our goals, and furnishes easier access to the most appropriate level of care," explained Paul Jordan, M.D., Chairman of Emergency Medicine at Trinitas Hospital. | accessdate=2008-08-03]

Jordan currently serves as a member of the New Jersey State Board of Human Services and served as its Chairman from 1991 until 1996. [cite web | url=http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/PB/sbhs.html | title=State Board of Human Services | publisher=State of New Jersey | accessdate=2008-08-03] He is also the treasurer of the State Board of Medical Examiners. [cite web | url=http://www.state.nj.us/oag/ca/bme/board/members.htm | title=State Board of Medical Examiners | publisher=State of New Jersey | accessdate=2008-08-03]

References