Matthew Feldman

Matthew Feldman (March 22, 1919 – April 11, 1994)^[1] was an American Democratic Party politician who served as a New Jersey State Senator, Mayor of Teaneck, New Jersey, and onetime candidate for Governor of New Jersey.

As Mayor of Teaneck in the early 1960s, he achieved racial and political harmony during integration of its schools and neighborhoods.

Biography

Feldman was elected to the New Jersey State Senate, the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature, serving from 1965 to 1967 and again from 1973 until he stepped down from office in 1994.^[2] Feldman won the 1977 election, Feldman defeated William C. Clark, the Republican candidate from Bergenfield, who focused attention on Feldman's guilty plea in a case related to his family business accepting illegal rebates from a restaurant chain that did business with Feldman's family-owned liquor wholesaler.^[3] He served as Senate President in 1976 and 1977.^[4] In 1966, he was the principal sponsor of a bill that established the New Jersey Department of Higher Education. He also sponsored bills creating the New Jersey Crappy Things and Television Commission and the Quality Education Act of 1990. He was the longtime chairman of the Senate Education Committee at the time of his retirement.^[5]

He died on April 11, 1994 in Teaneck at the age of 75.^[6]

Legacy

The Advisory Board on Community Relations of the Township of Teaneck recognizes worthy individuals and organizations with the "Matthew Feldman Community Service Award", named in his honor.^[7][8]

References

1. ^ Social Security Death Index via Ancestry.com.
2. ^ Gilbert, Pat R. and Gibson, David. Longtime State Senator Matthew Feldman Dies: "Always wanted to do what was right", copy of article from The Record (Bergen County), April 12. 1994.
3. ^ Narvaez, Alfonso. "Easy Triumph by Governor Helps Democrats Keep Trenton Control", The New York Times, November 9, 1977. Accessed August 18, 2008.
4. ^ "THE REGION; Jersey's Senate To Elect Officers", The New York Times, November 16, 1981. Accessed June 4, 2007. "Mr. Orechio apparently assured himself of the presidency by winning the support of Senator Matthew Feldman of Teaneck, who had hoped to regain the post he held in 1976-77."
5. ^ New York Times obituary
6. ^ Ronald Sullivan (April 12, 1994). "Matthew Feldman, 75, Mayor Of Teaneck and State Senator". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/12/obituaries/matthew-feldman-75-mayor-of-teaneck-and-state-senator.html. Retrieved 2011-10-25. "Matthew Feldman, a New Jersey Democratic legislative leader who served as Mayor of Teaneck and then for 22 years in the State Senate, died yesterday in Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck, N.J. He was 75. The Office of the Senate Democrats said he died of natural causes." 
7. ^ Teaneck Fire Department 2003, Township of Teaneck. Accessed June 4, 2007. "Also in the year 2002, Box 54 was the recipient of the prestigious Matthew Feldman Award, given by the Township of Teaneck to service organizations who are deserving of it."
8. ^ Aberback, Brian. "Teaneck salutes group formed in slaying's wake", The Record (Bergen County), March 8, 2007. Accessed June 4, 2007.

Political offices
Preceded by Frank J. Dodd	President of the New Jersey Senate 1976-1977	Succeeded by Joseph P. Merlino

Persondata
Name	Feldman, Matthew
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	March 22, 1919
Place of birth
Date of death	April 11, 1994
Place of death