Eldridge Hawkins
Encyclopedia
Eldridge Hawkins was an American
lawyer and Democratic Party
politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly
from 1972 to 1978.
Hawkins was born on September 4, 1940, in East Orange, New Jersey
. Hawkins is a lawyer, and served from 1970 to 1972 as the city prosecutor of East Orange. In 1971, Hawkins was elected to the District 11E of the New Jersey General Assembly
at the age of 31, along with his running mate, Caldwell
mayor Peter Stewart. In 1973, Hawkins ran for the Assembly in the 26th District with Richard Codey
and Frank J. Dodd
for the New Jersey Senate
, with all three winning seats. In the 1977 Democratic primary for the Senate seat, Hawkins and tennis star Althea Gibson
challenged incumbent Frank J. Dodd, who had the support of Essex County
Democratic organization under County Chairman Harry Lerner. With Gibson and Hawkins splitting the anti-organization vote, Dodd won the nomination and the subsequent general election.
His son, Eldridge Hawkins, Jr.
, was elected as mayor of Orange, New Jersey
in 2008.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer and 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 1978.
Hawkins was born on September 4, 1940, in East Orange, New Jersey
East Orange, New Jersey
East Orange is a city in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census the city's population 64,270, making it the state's 20th largest municipality, having dropped 5,554 residents from its population of 69,824 in the 2000 Census, when it was the state's 14th most...
. Hawkins is a lawyer, and served from 1970 to 1972 as the city prosecutor of East Orange. In 1971, Hawkins was elected to the District 11E of 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...
at the age of 31, along with his running mate, Caldwell
Caldwell, New Jersey
Caldwell is a borough located in northwestern Essex County, New Jersey, about outside of New York. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 7,822....
mayor Peter Stewart. In 1973, Hawkins ran for the Assembly in the 26th District with Richard Codey
Richard Codey
Richard James Codey is an American Democratic Party politician who served as the 53rd Governor of New Jersey from November 2004 to January 2006. He has served in the New Jersey Senate since 1981 and served as the President of the Senate from 2002 to January 2010. He represents the 27th Legislative...
and Frank J. Dodd
Frank J. Dodd
Frank J. "Pat" Dodd was an American businessman and Democratic Party politician who served as President of the New Jersey Senate from 1974 to 1975.-Early life:...
for 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...
, with all three winning seats. In the 1977 Democratic primary for the Senate seat, Hawkins and tennis star Althea Gibson
Althea Gibson
Althea Gibson was a World No. 1 American sportswoman who became the first African-American woman to be a competitor on the world tennis tour and the first to win a Grand Slam title in 1956. She is sometimes referred to as "the Jackie Robinson of tennis" for breaking the color barrier...
challenged incumbent Frank J. Dodd, who had the support of Essex County
Essex County, New Jersey
Essex County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the United States 2010 Census, the population was 783,969, ranking it third in the state after Bergen County and Middlesex County; Essex County's population has declined from 786,147 as of the bureau's...
Democratic organization under County Chairman Harry Lerner. With Gibson and Hawkins splitting the anti-organization vote, Dodd won the nomination and the subsequent general election.
His son, Eldridge Hawkins, Jr.
Eldridge Hawkins, Jr.
Eldridge Hawkins, Jr. is the Mayor of Orange, New Jersey, a city of 33,000 residents in Essex County, New Jersey with an annual $53 Million operating budget. As Chair of the Management Reform Committee of the N.J...
, was elected as mayor of Orange, New Jersey
Orange, New Jersey
The City of Orange is a city and township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 30,134...
in 2008.