Senator Lesniak has been involved in not only state politics, but national politics as well over the course of his tenure. In 1996, he was Chairman of the New Jersey Clinton-Gore Presidential Campaign, and in 2000 he was a key insider in the Al Gore campaign. Lesniak served as Chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee, and Chairman of the 1997 Jim McGreevey campaign for Governor of New Jersey.
Lesniak received an A.B. from Rutgers University in Economics and a J.D. from St. John's University School of Law.He is an Attorney with the firm of Weiner Lesniak.[ [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=61 Senator Lesniak's legislative webpage] , New Jersey Legislature. Accessed February 14, 2008.] ]Raised a Roman Catholic, Lesniak is now an evangelical Christian. [Jones, Richard Lezin. [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/09/nyregion/09lesniak.html?n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/People/J/Jones,%20Richard%20Lezin&pagewanted=all "State Senator Who Combines Donations, Law Practice and Influence "] , "The New York Times", January 9, 2006. Accessed April 18, 2008. "'It had to do with a loss of control and a need to have control,' said Mr. Lesniak, who was raised as a Roman Catholic.... His status as an evangelical Christian and the founder of an antipoverty group called Democrats for the Soul has enhanced his power."]
District 20
Each of the forty districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey Senate and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly. The other representatives from the 20th District for the 2008-2009 Legislative Session are:
*Assemblyman Joseph Cryan, and
*Assemblywoman Annette Quijano, chosen on August 20, 2008 to fill the vacancy resulting from the resignation of Assemblyman Neil M. Cohen on July 28, 2008. [Young, Elise. [http://www.northjersey.com/news/Cohen_resigns_after_porn_stash_discovered.html "Cohen resigns following porn discovery"] , "The Record (Bergen County)", July 28, 2008. Accessed July 28, 2008.] [ [http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080821/NEWS02/808210337/1123 "In Brief: Lawyer chosen to replace disgraced Union lawmaker"] , "Daily Record (Morristown)", August 21, 2008. Accessed August 21, 2008.]
References
External links
* [http://www.njcommunityfirst.com District 20 Webpage]
* [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=61 Senator Lesniak's legislative webpage] , New Jersey Legislature
*"New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure forms"
** [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/LesniakR2007.pdf 2007] [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/LesniakR2006.pdf 2006] [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/LesniakR2005.pdf 2005] [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/LesniakR2004.pdf 2004]
* [http://njsendems.com/senator.asp?sid=20 New Jersey Senate Democrats biography of Senator Lesniak]