Paul Kramer
Encyclopedia
Paul Kramer is an American
Republican Party
politician. He served four terms in the New Jersey General Assembly
, where he represented the 14th Legislative District from 1992 to 2000.
, where he majored in a Accounting. He served in the United States Air Force
from 1952 to 1956. He was employed as Finance Director of Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey
. Kramer served from 1966 to 1976 as the Assistant Comptroller for the City of Trenton, New Jersey
, was chair of the Hamilton Township Improvement Authority from 1980 to 1984 and was a member of the Mercer County
Board of Chosen Freeholders
from 1985 to 1992.
, in a wave of Republican victories following voter dissatisfaction with Democratic Governor of New Jersey
James Florio
. The two were re-elected in 1993, 1995 and 1997. Kramer served in the Assembly on the Banking and Insurance Committee and the Labor Committee, and was Assistant Majority Leader starting in 1998. In the 1999 election, Kramer and Wright were narrowly defeated by Democrats Linda R. Greenstein
and Gary Guear
, with the incumbents losing votes in Hamilton Township, where Democrat Glen Gilmore
won the race for mayor. The two losses were among the three seats Republicans lost in the Assembly in the 1999 elections, though they retained their majority. Kramer and Wright ran again in 2001, losing for a second time to Greenstein and Guear.
Kramer was the Assembly sponsor in 1994 of a package of seven bills known as Megan's Law
that were approved one month after the rape and murder of Hamilton Township seven-year-old Megan Kanka
by Jesse Timmendequas, a sex offender who had been previously convicted of sex crimes and had lived, together with two other sex offenders, across the street from Kanka. The bills required sex offender registration
, with a database tracked by the state, community notification of registered sex offenders moving into a neighborhood and life in prison without a chance of parole for those convicted of a second sexual assault. Kramer expressed incredulity at the controversy created by the bills, saying that "Megan Kanka would be alive today" if the bills he proposed had been law.
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. He 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...
, where he represented the 14th Legislative District from 1992 to 2000.
Early career
Kramer earned his undergraduate degree from Rider CollegeRider University
Rider University is a private, coeducational and nonsectarian university located chiefly in Lawrenceville, in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States...
, where he majored in a Accounting. He served in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
from 1952 to 1956. He was employed as Finance Director of Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey
Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey
Hamilton Township is a Township in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township had a total population of 88,464...
. Kramer served from 1966 to 1976 as the Assistant Comptroller for the City of Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
, was chair of the Hamilton Township Improvement Authority from 1980 to 1984 and was a member of the Mercer County
Mercer County, New Jersey
As of the census of 2000, there were 350,761 people, 125,807 households, and 86,303 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,552 people per square mile . There were 133,280 housing units at an average density of 590 per square mile...
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 1985 to 1992.
Assemblyman
Kramer was elected to the General Assembly in 1991 together with Barbara WrightBarbara Wright (politician)
Barbara Wright is an American Republican Party politician who served four terms in the New Jersey General Assembly, from 1992 to 2000, where she represented the 14th Legislative District...
, in a wave of Republican victories following voter dissatisfaction with Democratic 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...
James Florio
James Florio
James Joseph "Jim" Florio is a Democratic politician who served as the 49th Governor of New Jersey from 1990 to 1994, the first Italian American to hold the position...
. The two were re-elected in 1993, 1995 and 1997. Kramer served in the Assembly on the Banking and Insurance Committee and the Labor Committee, and was Assistant Majority Leader starting in 1998. In the 1999 election, Kramer and Wright were narrowly defeated by Democrats Linda R. Greenstein
Linda R. Greenstein
Linda R. Greenstein is an American Democratic Party politician who represents the 14th legislative district in the New Jersey Senate. She previously served in the General Assembly from 2000 to 2010...
and Gary Guear
Gary Guear
Gary L. Guear, Sr. is an American Democratic Party politician, who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2000–2004, where he represented the 14th Legislative District.-Biography:...
, with the incumbents losing votes in Hamilton Township, where Democrat Glen Gilmore
Glen Gilmore
Glen D. Gilmore is the principal of the Social Media Marketing firm, Gilmore Business Network . A practicing attorney , Gilmore also serves as the Senior Social Media Advisor to Memphis-based Howell Marketing....
won the race for mayor. The two losses were among the three seats Republicans lost in the Assembly in the 1999 elections, though they retained their majority. Kramer and Wright ran again in 2001, losing for a second time to Greenstein and Guear.
Kramer was the Assembly sponsor in 1994 of a package of seven bills known as Megan's Law
Megan's Law
Megan's Law is an informal name for laws in the United States requiring law enforcement authorities to make information available to the public regarding registered sex offenders. Individual states decide what information will be made available and how it should be disseminated...
that were approved one month after the rape and murder of Hamilton Township seven-year-old Megan Kanka
Megan Kanka
The murder of Megan Kanka occurred on July 29, 1994 in Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey. The 7 year old Kanka was raped and murdered by her neighbour Jesse Timmendequas...
by Jesse Timmendequas, a sex offender who had been previously convicted of sex crimes and had lived, together with two other sex offenders, across the street from Kanka. The bills required sex offender registration
Sex offender registration
Sex offender registration is a system in various states designed to allow government authorities to keep track of the residence and activities of sex offenders, including those who have completed their criminal sentences. In some jurisdictions , information in the registry is made available to the...
, with a database tracked by the state, community notification of registered sex offenders moving into a neighborhood and life in prison without a chance of parole for those convicted of a second sexual assault. Kramer expressed incredulity at the controversy created by the bills, saying that "Megan Kanka would be alive today" if the bills he proposed had been law.