Louis A. Romano is an American

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 four terms 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 1992 to 2000, where he represented the 33rd Legislative District

33rd Legislative District (New Jersey)

New Jersey's 33rd Legislative District is one of 40 in the state, covering the Hudson County municipalities of Guttenberg, Hoboken, Union City, Weehawken and West New York, as well as portions of Jersey City...

.

Early life

Romano earned his undergraduate degree from Fordham University

Fordham University

Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...

, with a major in Social Studies, earned a Master of Arts

Master of Arts (postgraduate)

A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...

 from Seton Hall University

Seton Hall University

Seton Hall University is a private Roman Catholic university in South Orange, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1856 by Archbishop James Roosevelt Bayley, Seton Hall is the oldest diocesan university in the United States. Seton Hall is also the oldest and largest Catholic university in the...

 in Professional Education and was awarded a Doctor of Education

Doctor of Education

The Doctor of Education or Doctor in Education degree , in Latin, Doctor Educationis, is a research-oriented professional doctorate that prepares the student for academic, administrative, clinical, or research positions in educational, civil, and private organizations.-Differences between an Ed.D...

 from New York University

New York University

New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...

. 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 1951 to 1953, attaining the rank of corporal. A resident of West New York, New Jersey

West New York, New Jersey

West New York is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States, situated upon the New Jersey Palisades. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 49,708.-Geography:...

, Romano was employed by the West New York School District

West New York School District

West New York School District is a public school district serving students in kindergarten through 12th grade in West New York, New Jersey, United States...

.

Assemblyman

Romano was first elected to the General Assembly in 1991, together with Bernard Kenny

Bernard Kenny

Bernard F. Kenny, Jr. is an American Democratic Party politician, who served in the New Jersey State Senate from 1993 to 2008, where he represented the 33rd Legislative District...

 of Jersey City

Jersey City, New Jersey

Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...

, defeating Republican candidates Antonio Miguelez and A. Lazaro Guas. Romano won re-election to the Assembly three times with Rudy Garcia

Rudy Garcia (New Jersey)

Raul "Rudy" Garcia is an American Democratic Party politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1993 to 2000, where he represented the 33rd Legislative District. He also served as the mayor of Union City.-Early life:...

 of Union City

Union City, New Jersey

Union City is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. According to the 2010 United States Census the city had a total population of 66,455. All of the city is on land, an area of...

 as his running mate, soundly defeating Republicans Mary C. Gaspa and Armando C. Hernandez in 1993, Raphael S. Alvarez and Joseph Liuzzi in 1995, and Michael Alvarez and Freddy Gomez in 1997. He served in the Assembly on the Appropriations Committee and the Joint Budget Oversight Committee.

In the June 1999 primaries, the Hudson County

Hudson County, New Jersey

Hudson County is the smallest county in New Jersey and one of the most densely populated in United States. It takes its name from the Hudson River, which creates part of its eastern border. Part of the New York metropolitan area, its county seat and largest city is Jersey City.- Municipalities...

 Democratic Party organization was looking for "new blood" and chose to give its official support to West New York mayor Albio Sires

Albio Sires

Albio Sires is the U.S. Representative for , serving since a special election in 2006. The district includes most of Jersey City, as well as most of the Latino neighborhoods of Newark. He is a member of the Democratic Party...

, as well as Romano's fellow Assemblymember Rudy Garcia. Despite losing the endorsement, Romano ran in the Democratic primary and lost, making him the only one of the 80 incumbents in the Assembly to lose their primary bid.