Dean Gallo
Encyclopedia
Dean Anderson Gallo was an American
Republican party
politician
, who was a member of the United States House of Representatives
, representing for nearly ten years.
Gallo was born in Hackensack, New Jersey
. After a career as a realtor, he spent the rest of his life in politics as a Republican. He served on the Parsippany-Troy Hills
Township Council in 1970. In 1973, he was elected to the Morris County
Board of Chosen Freeholders
, becoming the board's chairman and the county's de facto
chief executive.
In 1975, he was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly
and served there eight years, the last four as minority leader. He was elected to the House from New Jersey's 11th congressional district
in 1984, defeating 11-term incumbent Joseph Minish
by 11 points amid the landslide by Ronald Reagan
that year. Gallo got a major assist when a court-ordered redrawing of New Jersey's congressional districts drew most of heavily Republican Morris County into the 11th, turning it into one of the most Republican districts in the Northeast. Gallo was reelected four times, never facing serious opposition.
He had been nominated for a sixth term in 1994, but dropped out of the race on August 29, 1994, due to prostate cancer
. He died at the age of 58 at St. Clare's-Riverside Hospital in Denville
on November 6, 1994. State Assemblyman Rodney Frelinghuysen
was named to replace Gallo on the ballot, and was elected two days after Gallo's death.
The Dean and Betty Gallo Prostate Cancer Center at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey
is named in his honor.
Along with Howard McKeon
of California
, Gallo introduced the Religious Freedom Restoration Act
into the U.S. House of Representatives on March 11, 1993.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Republican party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, who was a member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, representing for nearly ten years.
Gallo was born in Hackensack, New Jersey
Hackensack, New Jersey
Hackensack is a city in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States and the county seat of Bergen County. Although informally called Hackensack, it was officially named New Barbadoes Township until 1921. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 43,010....
. After a career as a realtor, he spent the rest of his life in politics as a Republican. He served on the Parsippany-Troy Hills
Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey
Parsippany-Troy Hills Township, commonly called Parsippany, is a township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 50,649. The name Parsippany comes from the Lenape Native American word parsipanong, which means "the place where...
Township Council in 1970. In 1973, he was elected to the Morris County
Morris County, New Jersey
Morris County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, about west of New York City. According to the United States 2010 Census, the population was 492,276. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Morristown....
Board of Chosen Freeholders
Board of Chosen Freeholders
In New Jersey, the Boards of Chosen Freeholders are the county legislatures in each of that state's 21 counties.- Origin :New Jersey's system of naming county legislators "freeholders" is unique in the United States...
, becoming the board's chairman and the county's de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
chief executive.
In 1975, he was elected to 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...
and served there eight years, the last four as minority leader. He was elected to the House from New Jersey's 11th congressional district
New Jersey's 11th congressional district
New Jersey's Eleventh Congressional District is currently represented by Republican Rodney Frelinghuysen. The district is a suburban Republican-leaning district that is centered in Morris County....
in 1984, defeating 11-term incumbent Joseph Minish
Joseph Minish
Joseph George Minish was an American Democratic Party politician from New Jersey who represented in the United States House of Representatives....
by 11 points amid the landslide by Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
that year. Gallo got a major assist when a court-ordered redrawing of New Jersey's congressional districts drew most of heavily Republican Morris County into the 11th, turning it into one of the most Republican districts in the Northeast. Gallo was reelected four times, never facing serious opposition.
He had been nominated for a sixth term in 1994, but dropped out of the race on August 29, 1994, due to prostate cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
. He died at the age of 58 at St. Clare's-Riverside Hospital in Denville
Denville, New Jersey
Denville is a township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 16,635. Denville is known as the "Hub of Morris County" for its location along major transportation routes at the center of the county...
on November 6, 1994. State Assemblyman Rodney Frelinghuysen
Rodney Frelinghuysen
Rodney P. Frelinghuysen is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1995. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education and career:...
was named to replace Gallo on the ballot, and was elected two days after Gallo's death.
The Dean and Betty Gallo Prostate Cancer Center at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey
Cancer Institute of New Jersey
The Cancer Institute of New Jersey is a cancer treatment and research institution in New Brunswick, New Jersey. CINJ is one of only 41 Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the nation designated by the National Cancer Institute and the only one in New Jersey....
is named in his honor.
Along with Howard McKeon
Howard McKeon
Howard Philip "Buck" McKeon is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education and career:...
of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Gallo introduced the Religious Freedom Restoration Act
Religious Freedom Restoration Act
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993, Pub. L. No. 103-141, 107 Stat. 1488 , codified at through , is a 1993 United States federal law aimed at preventing laws that substantially burden a person's free exercise of their religion. The bill was introduced by Howard McKeon of California and...
into the U.S. House of Representatives on March 11, 1993.
External links
- Congressional Votes database from The Washington PostThe Washington PostThe Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...