Paul Aronsohn
Encyclopedia
— Scott Garrett
(R) won in 2004 with 58% of the vote against an underfunded Anne Wolfe
in what is normally a Republican district. His strongly conservative views were the subject of some controversy: for example, he was one of only a few Republicans to vote against the emergency aid to Hurricane Katrina
victims. He opposed renewing the Voting Rights Act
. Democrat Paul Aronsohn challenged Garrett; with more support from the Democrats as well as several towns within the district won by Corzine in the governor's race, it was thought that this could be a pickup opportunity. This district gave George W. Bush
a 184,530 - 137,019 plurality over John Kerry
in 2004 and the district was one of two New Jersey districts carried by Bob Dole
in 1996 when he lost badly in the rest of the state. CQPolitics rating: Republican Favored. Results: Garrett defeated Aronsohn, 55% to 44%.
nominee. Aronsohn was 40 years old and lived in Ridgewood
at the time of the election. He was a former staffer in the Clinton Administration and in the administration of former Governor of New Jersey
Jim McGreevey
. He worked on foreign policy
and national security
issues in Clinton's State Department and worked as Communications Director and Spokesman
for former governor McGreevey for one year. Aronsohn recently resigned his position as a public affairs executive for Pfizer
to focus on his campaign. Aronsohn is a graduate of George Washington University
, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts
degree in Political Communication
and a Master of Arts
in Political Science
. During school, he was a congressional intern for former Democratic Senator Bill Bradley
of New Jersey and Senator Charles Robb of Virginia
. Aronsohn also served three American ambassadors to the United Nations:Madeleine Albright
, Bill Richardson, and Richard Holbrooke
.
On September 22, 2006, Aronsohn appeared on The Colbert Report as part of the program's Better Know a District
segment, after Garrett declined to appear.
Scott Garrett
Ernest Scott Garrett is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district includes much of the northwestern portion of the state...
(R) won in 2004 with 58% of the vote against an underfunded Anne Wolfe
Anne Wolfe
Anne Wolfe is an American politician. She was the 2004 Democratic Party candidate for the United States House of Representatives for New Jersey's Fifth Congressional District...
in what is normally a Republican district. His strongly conservative views were the subject of some controversy: for example, he was one of only a few Republicans to vote against the emergency aid to Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
victims. He opposed renewing the Voting Rights Act
Voting Rights Act
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is a landmark piece of national legislation in the United States that outlawed discriminatory voting practices that had been responsible for the widespread disenfranchisement of African Americans in the U.S....
. Democrat Paul Aronsohn challenged Garrett; with more support from the Democrats as well as several towns within the district won by Corzine in the governor's race, it was thought that this could be a pickup opportunity. This district gave George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
a 184,530 - 137,019 plurality over John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
in 2004 and the district was one of two New Jersey districts carried by Bob Dole
Bob Dole
Robert Joseph "Bob" Dole is an American attorney and politician. Dole represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996, was Gerald Ford's Vice Presidential running mate in the 1976 presidential election, and was Senate Majority Leader from 1985 to 1987 and in 1995 and 1996...
in 1996 when he lost badly in the rest of the state. CQPolitics rating: Republican Favored. Results: Garrett defeated Aronsohn, 55% to 44%.
Paul Aronsohn
Paul Aronsohn was the Democratic PartyDemocratic 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...
nominee. Aronsohn was 40 years old and lived in Ridgewood
Ridgewood, New Jersey
Ridgewood is a village in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the village population was 24,958. Ridgewood is an affluent suburban bedroom community of New York City, located approximately northwest of Midtown Manhattan.The Village of Ridgewood was...
at the time of the election. He was a former staffer in the Clinton Administration and in the administration of former Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
Jim McGreevey
Jim McGreevey
James Edward "Jim" McGreevey is an American Democratic politician. He served as the 52nd Governor of New Jersey from January 15, 2002, until he resigned from office at 11:59 pm on November 15, 2004. His term was set to expire on January 17, 2006...
. He worked on foreign policy
Foreign policy
A country's foreign policy, also called the foreign relations policy, consists of self-interest strategies chosen by the state to safeguard its national interests and to achieve its goals within international relations milieu. The approaches are strategically employed to interact with other countries...
and national security
National security
National security is the requirement to maintain the survival of the state through the use of economic, diplomacy, power projection and political power. The concept developed mostly in the United States of America after World War II...
issues in Clinton's State Department and worked as Communications Director and Spokesman
Spokesman
A spokesperson or spokesman or spokeswoman is someone engaged or elected to speak on behalf of others.In the present media-sensitive world, many organizations are increasingly likely to employ professionals who have received formal training in journalism, communications, public relations and...
for former governor McGreevey for one year. Aronsohn recently resigned his position as a public affairs executive for Pfizer
Pfizer
Pfizer, Inc. is an American multinational pharmaceutical corporation. The company is based in New York City, New York with its research headquarters in Groton, Connecticut, United States...
to focus on his campaign. Aronsohn is a graduate of George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in Political Communication
Political communication
Political communication is a sub-field of political science and communication that deals with the production, dissemination, procession and effects of information, both through media and interpersonally, within a political context...
and 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...
in Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
. During school, he was a congressional intern for former Democratic Senator Bill Bradley
Bill Bradley
William Warren "Bill" Bradley is an American hall of fame basketball player, Rhodes scholar, and former three-term Democratic U.S. Senator from New Jersey. He ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic Party's nomination for President in the 2000 election.Bradley was born and raised in a suburb of St....
of New Jersey and Senator Charles Robb of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. Aronsohn also served three American ambassadors to the United Nations:Madeleine Albright
Madeleine Albright
Madeleine Korbelová Albright is the first woman to become a United States Secretary of State. She was appointed by U.S. President Bill Clinton on December 5, 1996, and was unanimously confirmed by a U.S. Senate vote of 99–0...
, Bill Richardson, and Richard Holbrooke
Richard Holbrooke
Richard Charles Albert Holbrooke was an American diplomat, magazine editor, author, professor, Peace Corps official, and investment banker....
.
On September 22, 2006, Aronsohn appeared on The Colbert Report as part of the program's Better Know a District
Better Know A District
Better Know a District is a recurring segment on The Colbert Report. It offers a humorous explanation of a different United States Congressional district in each segment and generally includes an interview with that district's member of Congress.- Structure :Each segment begins with basic...
segment, after Garrett declined to appear.
External links
- Paul Aronsohn.com - Official Website
- Garrett’s Foe in N.J. 5 Is Credible, But Still the Underdog, CQPolitics.com, by Rachel Kapochunas, October 10, 2006