William M. Lanzaro
Encyclopedia
William McKinley Lanzaro (born circa 1937) is an American
Republican Party
politician
who served as sheriff
of Monmouth County, New Jersey
from 1980 to 1995.
mayor
Joseph Lanzaro, William Lanzaro grew up in Morganville, New Jersey
. He attended the Marlboro Public Schools and Matawan Regional High School
. He later moved to Matawan
, where he went into business as the proprietor of Bill Lanzaro's Auto Sales, a Fiat
dealership.
Politically, he became involved in the Matawan Borough Republican Party, eventually becoming its chairman. He ran the successful 1970 campaign of Lillian G. Burry
for borough council.
In 1977, Lanzaro unsuccessfully challenged longtime Democratic
incumbent sheriff Paul Kiernan
. Three years later, he was again the Republican candidate for sheriff, this time defeating Kiernan for a sixth, three year term. Lanzaro, who campaigned on the issue that he would be a full-time sheriff, would go on to serve five terms himself.
Soon after taking office, Lanzaro was faced with a protest by inmates at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution who were demanding more privileges. The jail sustained some damage in the protest.
During Lanzaro's tenure, the Sheriff's Office began participating in the Ident-a-Kid program. Other reforms included the "pay or stay" sweeps, in which parents delinquent in their child support payments are arrested and held until payment is made.
By 1995, Lanzaro had had a falling out with some county Republican Party leaders, and was denied the party organization's endorsement for reelection that year. He challenged the organization-backed candidate, Joseph W. Oxley
, in the Republican primary and was defeated for the Republican nomination. Afterward, he retired from political activity.
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 as sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
of Monmouth County, New Jersey
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...
from 1980 to 1995.
Background
A son of MarlboroMarlboro Township, New Jersey
-Weather:Marlboro is located close to the Atlantic Ocean. Due to the location Marlboro Township has on the Eastern Seaboard, the following weather features are noted:*On average, the warmest month is July where the average high is and the average low is ....
mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
Joseph Lanzaro, William Lanzaro grew up in Morganville, New Jersey
Morganville, New Jersey
Morganville is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Marlboro Township, in Monmouth County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the CDP population was 5,040.Morganville has its own post office, with a ZIP code of 07751....
. He attended the Marlboro Public Schools and Matawan Regional High School
Matawan Regional High School
Matawan Regional High School is a four-year regional public high school located in Aberdeen Township, New Jersey, United States. The school is part of the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District and it is one of Monmouth County's largest schools. It has been accredited by the Middle States...
. He later moved to Matawan
Matawan, New Jersey
Matawan is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 8,810. The name "Matawan" comes from a Native American Lenape word....
, where he went into business as the proprietor of Bill Lanzaro's Auto Sales, a Fiat
Fiat
FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli...
dealership.
Politically, he became involved in the Matawan Borough Republican Party, eventually becoming its chairman. He ran the successful 1970 campaign of Lillian G. Burry
Lillian G. Burry
Lillian G. Burry is an American politician. A member of the Republican Party, she has served on the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders since January 2006. She served as Director of the Board in 2008, the first woman and the first Italian-American to do so in Monmouth County...
for borough council.
In 1977, Lanzaro unsuccessfully challenged longtime Democratic
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...
incumbent sheriff Paul Kiernan
Paul Kiernan
Paul Kiernan was a American Democratic Party politician who served as mayor of Long Branch, and as sheriff of Monmouth County, New Jersey.-Background:...
. Three years later, he was again the Republican candidate for sheriff, this time defeating Kiernan for a sixth, three year term. Lanzaro, who campaigned on the issue that he would be a full-time sheriff, would go on to serve five terms himself.
Soon after taking office, Lanzaro was faced with a protest by inmates at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution who were demanding more privileges. The jail sustained some damage in the protest.
During Lanzaro's tenure, the Sheriff's Office began participating in the Ident-a-Kid program. Other reforms included the "pay or stay" sweeps, in which parents delinquent in their child support payments are arrested and held until payment is made.
By 1995, Lanzaro had had a falling out with some county Republican Party leaders, and was denied the party organization's endorsement for reelection that year. He challenged the organization-backed candidate, Joseph W. Oxley
Joseph W. Oxley
Joseph W. Oxley is an American Republican Party politician who served as sheriff of Monmouth County, New Jersey from 1996 to 2007, and has chaired the Monmouth County Republican Committee since June 2008.-Biography:...
, in the Republican primary and was defeated for the Republican nomination. Afterward, he retired from political activity.