7th Legislative District (New Jersey)

New Jersey's 7th Legislative district
New Jersey State Senator	Diane Allen (R)
New Jersey General Assemblymembers	Herb Conaway (D) Jack Conners (D)
Registration	26.8% Democratic 14.9% Republican 58.3% Independent
Demographics	69.1% White 25.4% Black 6.1% Hispanic 3.4% Asian 0.1% Native American 0.1% Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 4.0% other
Population	212,000
Voting-age population	158,023
Registered voters	128,928

New Jersey's 7th Legislative District is one of 40 in the state, covering the Burlington County municipalities of Beverly City, Burlington City, Burlington Township, Cinnaminson Township, Delanco Township, Delran Township, Edgewater Park Township, Florence Township, Maple Shade Township, Mount Holly Township, Palmyra Borough, Riverside Township, Riverton Borough, Westampton Township and Willingboro Township, along with the Camden County municipalities of Merchantville Borough and Pennsauken Township.^[1] As of the 2000 United States Census, the district had a population of 212,000.^[2]

Demographic characteristics

The district includes communities in Burlington and Camden counties along the Delaware River. The district has a larger-than-average African-American community, and has low numbers of college graduates, foreign-born individuals and Hispanics. Property values per person are low and tax rates are comparatively high across the district^[3][4]

Political representation

The district is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Diane Allen (R, Edgewater Park Township) and in the New Jersey General Assembly by Herb Conaway (D, Delanco Township) and Jack Conners (D, Pennsauken Township).^[5]

Election history

Thomas P. Foy was named in November 1990 to fill a vacancy in the Senate left by Catherina A. Costa who left office to become Director of the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control.^[6] In a party convention in January 1991, Jack Casey was chosen to fill the remaining portion of Foy's term in the General Assembly.^[7]

The district had been voting solidly Democratic until the anti-tax vote in 1991 brought in Republicans Bradford S. Smith in the Senate, who unseated Democratic incumbent Thomas P. Foy. In the Assembly race that year, Priscialla B. Anderson and Jose Sosa won the seats held by Jack Casey and Barbara Kalik.^[8]

In the 1993 elections, the Republicans held on to their majorities in both houses of the legislature, but Democrats were able to retake the seats in the 7th District, with Jack Casey winning in the Senate and Steven M. Petrillo and George E. Williams in the Assembly.^[9]

In the 1995 general election, Diane Allen and Republican running mate Carmine DeSopo were elected, defeating Democratic incumbent Steven M. Petrillo and his running mate, newcomer Joseph P. Dugan.^[10] The $1.1 million spent in the 1995 Assembly race made it the first in New Jersey to cross the $1 million spending mark, as reported in the results of a study conducted by the Center for the Analysis of Public Issues of Princeton, New Jersey that analyzed campaign finance reports from candidates for all 80 Assembly seats.^[11][12]

In the 1997 elections, Republican Diane Allen ran for and won the Senate seat. Democrats Herb Conaway and Jack Conners were the winners in the 1997 Assembly race. After eight months in office, the courts threw out the results of the 1997 election due to problems with a voting machine that affected the results for the second seat. Conners was ordered to leave office in September 1998 and Republican Ken Faulkner was seated in his place.^[13] In A November 1998 special election, Conners defeated Faulkner and was sworn in to office for a second time that year.^[14]

Session	State Senate[15]	Assembly[16]
1976-1977	Edward J. Hughes, Jr.	George H. Barbour	Charles B. Yates
1978-1979	Charles B. Yates	Herman T. Costello	Barbara Kalik
1980-1981	Charles B. Yates	Herman T. Costello	Barbara Kalik
1982-1983	Herman T. Costello	Catherine A. Costa	Barbara Kalik
1984-1985	Catherine A. Costa	Thomas P. Foy	Barbara Kalik
1986-1987	Catherine A. Costa	Thomas P. Foy	Barbara Kalik
1988-1989	Catherine A. Costa	Thomas P. Foy	Barbara Kalik
1990-1991[17]	Catherine A. Costa	Thomas P. Foy	Barbara Kalik
1992-1993	Bradford S. Smith	Priscilla B. Anderson	Jose Sosa
1994-1995[18]	Jack Casey	Steven M. Petrillo	George E. Williams
1996-1997	Jack Casey	Diane Allen	Carmine DeSopo
1998-1999[19]	Diane Allen	Herb Conaway	Jack Conners
2000-2001[20]	Diane Allen	Herb Conaway	Jack Conners
2002-2003[21]	Diane Allen	Herb Conaway	Jack Conners
2004-2005[22]	Diane Allen	Herb Conaway	Jack Conners
2006-2007	Diane Allen	Herb Conaway	Jack Conners
2008-2009	Diane Allen	Herb Conaway	Jack Conners
2010-2011	Diane Allen	Herb Conaway	Jack Conners

References

1. ^ Districts by Number, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed June 23, 2010.
2. ^ DP-1. Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 for General Assembly District 7, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 23, 2010.
3. ^ District 7 Profile, Rutgers University. Accessed June 23, 2010.
4. ^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book. Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. p. 36. 
5. ^ "Legislative Roster: 2010-2011 Session". New Jersey Legislature. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/roster.asp. Retrieved 2010-06-23. 
6. ^ Staff. "FOY PICKED TO FILL COSTA'S SENATE SEAT", The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 30, 1990. Accessed June 23, 2010.
7. ^ Staff. "CASEY TO TAKE FOY SEAT DEMOCRATS PICK PALMYRA LEADER", The Philadelphia Inquirer, January 13, 1991. Accessed June 20, 1010.
8. ^ Staff. "ADLER WINS AMID WAVE OF DEMOCRATIC LOSSES", The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 6, 1991. Accessed June 23, 2010.
9. ^ Staff. "DEMOCRATS GAIN LEGISLATIVE SEATS", The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 3, 1993. Accessed June 23, 2010.
10. ^ NJ Assembly 07 - History, OurCampaigns.com. Accessed June 23, 2010.
11. ^ Pristin, Terry. "New Jersey Daily Briefing;$1 Million Campaign Costs", The New York Times, March 13, 1996. Accessed June 22, 2010.
12. ^ Staff. "ASSEMBLY CAMPAIGN SPENDING RISES, ESPECIALLY IN SOUTH JERSEY<THE MOST EXPENSIVE RACE COST $1.5 MILLION.<A WATCHDOG GROUP SAYS '93 REFORMS DIDN'T DO THE JOB.", The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 14, 1996. Accessed June 22, 2010. "The District 7 race in Burlington and Camden Counties, eventually won by the Republican ticket of Diane Allen and Carmine DeSopo, was the most expensive in the state, totaling $1.5 million, according to Upmeyer's analysis of campaign finance reports."
13. ^ Staff. "CONNERS ORDERED TO LEAVE ASSEMBLY \ A DISPUTED ELECTION LED TO A RULING THAT A REPUBLICAN MUST TAKE HIS SEAT, SETTING STAGE FOR REMATCH WITH KEN FAULKNER.", The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 3, 1998. Accessed June 23, 2010.
14. ^ via Associated Press, "DEMOCRAT REGAINS ASSEMBLY SEAT IN 'DO-OVER'RACE", The Press of Atlantic City, November 4, 1998. Accessed June 23, 2010.
15. ^ NJ Senate District 07 - History, OurCampaigns.com. Accessed June 23, 2010.
16. ^ NJ Assembly 07 - History, OurCampaigns.com. Accessed June 23, 2010.
17. ^ Staff. "Vote Totals for the Elections Held on Tuesday in New York and New Jersey", The New York Times, November 9, 1989. Accessed June 23, 2010.
18. ^ Sullivan, Joseph F. "THE 1993 ELECTIONS: New Jersey Legislature; Cut Taxes 30 Percent? Whitman's Top Statehouse Allies Say Not So Fast", The New York Times, November 4, 1993. Accessed June 23, 2010.
19. ^ Staff. "THE 1997 ELECTIONS: RESULTS; The Races for the New Jersey Assembly", The New York Times, November 5, 1997. Accessed June 23, 2010.
20. ^ Kocieniewski, David. "THE 1999 ELECTIONS: NEW JERSEY ASSEMBLY; Democrats Win Seats in Three Districts, Narrowing Republicans' Majority", The New York Times, November 3, 1999. Accessed June 23, 2010.
21. ^ Staff. "THE 2001 ELECTIONS; RESULTS -- The Races for New Jersey", The New York Times, November 8, 2001. Accessed June 23, 2010.
22. ^ Kocieniewski, David. "THE 2003 ELECTION: THE STATEHOUSE; Democrats Seize Senate And Widen Assembly Gap", The New York Times, November 5, 2003. Accessed June 23, 2010.