Alexander J. Menza
Encyclopedia
Alexander J. Menza was an American
Democratic Party
politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly
from 1972 to 1974 and in the New Jersey Senate
from 1974 to 1978, where he represented the 20th Legislative District
, which covers portions of Union County
. He was later appointed to serve a judge on New Jersey Superior Court
.
neighborhood of Newark, New Jersey
. He served in the United States Army
from 1954 to 1956, where he attained the rank of first lieutenant. After completing his military service, Menza earned his undergraduate degree in 1954 from the University of Wisconsin and was awarded a law degree in 1968 from the New York University School of Law
.
He served on the Hillside, New Jersey
Township Council from 1967 to 1971 and was the Mayor of Hillside, New Jersey in 1969. He was elected to the General Assembly in 1971 and served there until 1974. In the 1973 State Senate race, Menza defeated incumbent Republican Frank X. McDermott
, who had served 10 years in office, helping the Democrats gain control of the state legislature for only the third time in the 20th century. Menza chose not to run for re-election to the Senate in 1977, and was succeeded by Anthony E. Russo. While in the Legislature, Menza served on the Mental Health Planning Committee, where he was described by Governor of New Jersey
Brendan Byrne
as being the "voice of the voiceless".
Menza did not run for re-election in 1977, choosing to mount a primary challenge for the United States Senate
. In April 1978, The New York Times
reported claims by Menza that he had been encouraged to drop out of the U.S. Senate race in exchange for an appointment to an unspecified position. In the June primary, he came in a distant third place with 8.8% of the vote, behind Richard C. Leone with 26.5% and victor Bill Bradley
who took 58.9% of the vote.
Senator Menza also served on the Board of Trustees of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey beginning in 2004; and shortly thereafter started the UMDNJ Theater Company which had it's first performance of a one act play entitled "The List", written by him, in 2005. Menza was a true renaissance man who loved the theater and the opera and authored many plays that were produced off-Broadway.
Byrne appointed Menza to serve a judge on New Jersey Superior Court in 1980, where he remained until 1997. In 1997 and 1978, Menza served as chair of the New Jersey Senate Task Force on Alcohol-Related Motor Vehicle Accidents.
After a long history of cancer, Menza died on March 5, 2007, in Rome
after suffering a heart attack. Governor Jon Corzine
ordered flags to flown at half-mast at state facilities on March 19, 2007, in his memory.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
from 1972 to 1974 and in the New Jersey Senate
New Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
from 1974 to 1978, where he represented the 20th Legislative District
20th Legislative District (New Jersey)
New Jersey's 20th Legislative District is one of 40 in the state, covering the Union County municipalities of Elizabeth City, Kenilworth Borough, Roselle Borough and Union Township...
, which covers portions of Union County
Union County, New Jersey
Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 536,499. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Elizabeth. Union County ranks 93rd among the highest-income counties in the United States. It also ranks 74th in...
. He was later appointed to serve a judge on New Jersey Superior Court
New Jersey Superior Court
The Superior Court is the state court in the U.S. state of New Jersey, with state-wide trial and appellate jurisdiction. The Superior Court has three divisions: the Appellate Division is essentially an intermediate appellate court while the Law and Chancery Divisions function as trial courts...
.
Biography
Menza grew up in the IronboundIronbound
The Ironbound is a large working-class neighborhood in Newark, New Jersey. This close-knit, multi-ethnic community covers approximately four square miles . Historically, the area was called "Dutch Neck," "Down Neck," or simply "the Neck," because of the way the Passaic River curved to form what...
neighborhood of Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
. He served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
from 1954 to 1956, where he attained the rank of first lieutenant. After completing his military service, Menza earned his undergraduate degree in 1954 from the University of Wisconsin and was awarded a law degree in 1968 from the New York University School of Law
New York University School of Law
The New York University School of Law is the law school of New York University. Established in 1835, the school offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in law, and is located in Greenwich Village, in the New York City borough of Manhattan....
.
He served on the Hillside, New Jersey
Hillside, New Jersey
Hillside is a township in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 21,404.Hillside was incorporated as a township on April 3, 1913, from portions of Union Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 29, 1913.The town...
Township Council from 1967 to 1971 and was the Mayor of Hillside, New Jersey in 1969. He was elected to the General Assembly in 1971 and served there until 1974. In the 1973 State Senate race, Menza defeated incumbent Republican Frank X. McDermott
Frank X. McDermott
Francis "Frank" X. McDermott is a former American Republican Party politician who served in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature.-Biography:McDermott was born in New York City in 1924...
, who had served 10 years in office, helping the Democrats gain control of the state legislature for only the third time in the 20th century. Menza chose not to run for re-election to the Senate in 1977, and was succeeded by Anthony E. Russo. While in the Legislature, Menza served on the Mental Health Planning Committee, where he was described by Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
Brendan Byrne
Brendan Byrne
Brendan Thomas Byrne is an American Democratic Party politician from New Jersey, who served as the 47th Governor of New Jersey, from 1974 to 1982.-Early life and education:...
as being the "voice of the voiceless".
Menza did not run for re-election in 1977, choosing to mount a primary challenge for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. In April 1978, The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
reported claims by Menza that he had been encouraged to drop out of the U.S. Senate race in exchange for an appointment to an unspecified position. In the June primary, he came in a distant third place with 8.8% of the vote, behind Richard C. Leone with 26.5% and victor Bill Bradley
Bill Bradley
William Warren "Bill" Bradley is an American hall of fame basketball player, Rhodes scholar, and former three-term Democratic U.S. Senator from New Jersey. He ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic Party's nomination for President in the 2000 election.Bradley was born and raised in a suburb of St....
who took 58.9% of the vote.
Senator Menza also served on the Board of Trustees of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey beginning in 2004; and shortly thereafter started the UMDNJ Theater Company which had it's first performance of a one act play entitled "The List", written by him, in 2005. Menza was a true renaissance man who loved the theater and the opera and authored many plays that were produced off-Broadway.
Byrne appointed Menza to serve a judge on New Jersey Superior Court in 1980, where he remained until 1997. In 1997 and 1978, Menza served as chair of the New Jersey Senate Task Force on Alcohol-Related Motor Vehicle Accidents.
After a long history of cancer, Menza died on March 5, 2007, in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
after suffering a heart attack. Governor Jon Corzine
Jon Corzine
Jon Stevens Corzine is the former CEO of Goldman Sachs and of MF Global, and a one time American politician, who served as the 54th Governor of New Jersey from 2006 to 2010. A Democrat, Corzine served five years of a six-year U.S. Senate term representing New Jersey before being elected Governor...
ordered flags to flown at half-mast at state facilities on March 19, 2007, in his memory.