Joseph A. Palaia
Encyclopedia
Joseph A. Palaia is an American
Republican Party
politician
, who served in the New Jersey
State Senate
from 1989 to 2008, where he represented the 11th Legislative District.
Before entering politics Joe Palaia was an educator, and principal of the Wanamassa elementary school. in Ocean Township New Jersey . Prior to entering the Senate, Senator Palaia served in a variety of state and local elected offices. He served on the Monmouth County
Board of Chosen Freeholders
from 1979 to 1981 and was a member of the Ocean Township
Council from 1967 to 1971 until he ran for Mayor in 1971. Palaia served as Ocean Township's Mayor
until 1979.
In 1982, Joseph was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly
, the lower house
of the New Jersey Legislature
, where he served until 1989, when he was elected to the state Senate
. In 1984, he served as the Assembly's Assistant Minority Whip.
He was elected to the Senate in 1989 and since served there in a variety of leadership roles. From 1992 to 1993, Palaia was the Assistant Majority Leader
and from 1994 to 2003 he was President Pro Tempore
of the Senate. In 2002-2003 he was the Republican President Pro Tempore when the Senate was evenly split 20-20. Senator Palaia was a member of the Senate Education Committee.
Palaia is a graduate of New Jersey's Rider College
where he received a B.S.
degree in Business Administration, and was awarded an M.Ed. from Rutgers University
in Administration and Supervision. Palaia was born in Neptune, New Jersey
and currently resides in Ocean Township. Palaia's daughter Denise has followed her father into education and is presently principal of Wayside Elementary School.
In 1998 the Deal Test Site in Ocean Township was renamed Palaia Park
in his honor.
and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly
. The other representatives from the 11th Legislative District during the 2006-2008 legislative session were:
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 served in the New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
State 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 1989 to 2008, where he represented the 11th Legislative District.
Before entering politics Joe Palaia was an educator, and principal of the Wanamassa elementary school. in Ocean Township New Jersey . Prior to entering the Senate, Senator Palaia served in a variety of state and local elected offices. He served on the Monmouth County
Monmouth County, New Jersey
Monmouth County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, within the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 630,380, up from 615,301 at the 2000 census. Its county seat is Freehold Borough. The most populous municipality is Middletown Township with...
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...
from 1979 to 1981 and was a member of the Ocean Township
Ocean Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey
Ocean Township is a township located in east central Monmouth County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 27,291.Oakhurst and Wanamassa Ocean Township is a township located in east central Monmouth County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
Council from 1967 to 1971 until he ran for Mayor in 1971. Palaia served as Ocean Township's Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
until 1979.
In 1982, Joseph 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...
, the lower house
Lower house
A lower house is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the upper house.Despite its official position "below" the upper house, in many legislatures worldwide the lower house has come to wield more power...
of the New Jersey Legislature
New Jersey Legislature
The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...
, where he served until 1989, when he was elected to the state 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...
. In 1984, he served as the Assembly's Assistant Minority Whip.
He was elected to the Senate in 1989 and since served there in a variety of leadership roles. From 1992 to 1993, Palaia was the Assistant Majority Leader
Majority leader
In U.S. politics, the majority floor leader is a partisan position in a legislative body.In the federal Congress, the role differs slightly in the two houses. In the House of Representatives, which chooses its own presiding officer, the leader of the majority party is elected the Speaker of the...
and from 1994 to 2003 he was President Pro Tempore
President pro tempore
A President pro tempore is a constitutionally recognized officer of a legislative body who presides over the chamber in the absence of the normal presiding officer...
of the Senate. In 2002-2003 he was the Republican President Pro Tempore when the Senate was evenly split 20-20. Senator Palaia was a member of the Senate Education Committee.
Palaia is a graduate of New Jersey's Rider College
Rider University
Rider University is a private, coeducational and nonsectarian university located chiefly in Lawrenceville, in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States...
where he received a B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in Business Administration, and was awarded an M.Ed. from Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
in Administration and Supervision. Palaia was born in Neptune, New Jersey
Neptune Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 27,690 people, 10,907 households, and 6,805 families residing in the township. The population density was 3,366.8 people per square mile . There were 12,217 housing units at an average density of 1,485.4 per square mile...
and currently resides in Ocean Township. Palaia's daughter Denise has followed her father into education and is presently principal of Wayside Elementary School.
In 1998 the Deal Test Site in Ocean Township was renamed Palaia Park
Deal Test Site
The Deal Test Site is located in Ocean Township, New Jersey.The Joe Palaia Park was originally started as the Foxburst Farm, a tract which is now the southern portion of the park. It was purchased by Western Electric, , in 1919. The site was later expanded with an additional purchase by AT&T in...
in his honor.
District 11
Each of the forty districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey SenateNew 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...
and two members 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...
. The other representatives from the 11th Legislative District during the 2006-2008 legislative session were:
- Assemblyman Steve CorodemusSteve CorodemusSteve Corodemus is an American Republican Party politician, who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1992-2008, where he represented the 11th legislative district....
, and - Assemblyman Sean T. KeanSean T. KeanSean T. Kean is an American Republican Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey Senate since being sworn in to office on January 8, 2008, where he represents the 11th legislative district, filling the seat vacated by Joseph A. Palaia...
External links
- Senator Palaia's Senate Legislative Website
- Senator Palaia's web site
- Senator Joseph A. Palaia, Project Vote SmartProject Vote SmartProject Vote Smart is a non-profit, non-partisan research organization that collects and distributes information on candidates for public office in the United States...
- New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure form for 2006 (PDF)
- New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure form for 2005 (PDF)
- New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure form for 2004 (PDF)