Norman M. Robertson
Encyclopedia
Norman M. Robertson is an American
Republican Party
politician and attorney who served a single term in the New Jersey Senate
, from 1998 to 2002.
He earned his undergraduate degree from Rutgers University
with a major in Political Science and was awarded his law degree from the Fordham University School of Law
. An attorney by profession, Robertson served on the Passaic County
Board of Chosen Freeholders
, where he was the Chairman of the Freeholder Finance and Administration Committee. He was also Chairman of the Passaic County Utilities Authority and served on the Urban Economic Development Task Force.
In the 1997 Republican primary, Robertson, a Clifton
native, defeated five-term incumbent Joseph L. Bubba, who was the only incumbent Senator to lose a seat that year. Robertson won the general election in 1997 with 53.9% of the vote, defeating Democrat Joan Waks, who had garnered 46.1% of the vote. While in the Senate, Robertson served as Vice Chair of the Senior Citizens, Veterans' Affairs and Human Services Committee, on the Judiciary Committee and on the State Government, Banking and Financial Institutions Committee.
Robertson, a white Republican, sharply criticized the Apportionment Commission's
2001 redistricting map
, stating that his "belief is that the map is racist" because it reduced the voting strength of African-American voters in Essex County
calling it "the result of a manipulation of the African-American community to serve the white political establishment".
Robertson lost his bid for re-election in 2001 to Nia Gill
, after heavily Democratic communities had been added to the 34th District as part of the 2001 redistricting, changing what had been a Republican stronghold for nearly two decades prior, giving Gill a landslide victory over Robertson. In a three-way race, Gill took the seat with 64.9% of the votes cast, Robertson receiving 34.4% and Marie Yvrose Celestin receiving under one percent of the vote.
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 and attorney who served a single term 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 1998 to 2002.
He earned his undergraduate degree 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...
with a major in Political Science and was awarded his law degree from the Fordham University School of Law
Fordham University School of Law
Fordham University School of Law is a part of Fordham University in the United States. The School is located in the Borough of Manhattan in New York City, and is one of eight ABA-approved law schools in that city.-Overview:According to the U.S. News & World Report, 1,516 J.D. students attend...
. An attorney by profession, Robertson served on the Passaic County
Passaic County, New Jersey
Passaic County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 501,226. Its county seat is Paterson...
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...
, where he was the Chairman of the Freeholder Finance and Administration Committee. He was also Chairman of the Passaic County Utilities Authority and served on the Urban Economic Development Task Force.
In the 1997 Republican primary, Robertson, a Clifton
Clifton, New Jersey
Clifton is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 84,136. The 2010 population represented an increase of 5,464 residents from its population of 78,672 in the 2000 Census, making it the state's 11th largest...
native, defeated five-term incumbent Joseph L. Bubba, who was the only incumbent Senator to lose a seat that year. Robertson won the general election in 1997 with 53.9% of the vote, defeating Democrat Joan Waks, who had garnered 46.1% of the vote. While in the Senate, Robertson served as Vice Chair of the Senior Citizens, Veterans' Affairs and Human Services Committee, on the Judiciary Committee and on the State Government, Banking and Financial Institutions Committee.
Robertson, a white Republican, sharply criticized the Apportionment Commission's
New Jersey Redistricting Commission
The New Jersey Redistricting Commission is a constitutional body of the government of New Jersey. Like Arizona, Idaho, Hawaii, Montana, and Washington; the redistricting is completed within an independent, bipartisan commission...
2001 redistricting map
New Jersey Legislative Districts, 2001 redistricting
The members of the New Jersey Legislature are chosen from 40 electoral districts. Each district elects one Senator and two Assemblymen.New Jersey is one of only seven states with nested state legislative districts, in which two or more state House are coextensive with a single state Senate seat. In...
, stating that his "belief is that the map is racist" because it reduced the voting strength of African-American voters in 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...
calling it "the result of a manipulation of the African-American community to serve the white political establishment".
Robertson lost his bid for re-election in 2001 to Nia Gill
Nia Gill
Nia H. Gill is an American Democratic Party politician, who has been serving in the New Jersey State Senate since 2002, where she represents the 34th Legislative District....
, after heavily Democratic communities had been added to the 34th District as part of the 2001 redistricting, changing what had been a Republican stronghold for nearly two decades prior, giving Gill a landslide victory over Robertson. In a three-way race, Gill took the seat with 64.9% of the votes cast, Robertson receiving 34.4% and Marie Yvrose Celestin receiving under one percent of the vote.