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Stephen Sweeney
| Stephen Sweeney | ||
 | ||
| New Jersey State Senate District 3 | ||
| Incumbent | ||
| In office | ||
| 2004-Present | ||
| Term ends | ||
| January 10, 2014 | ||
| Years in position | 9 | |
| Party | Democratic | |
| Leadership | ||
| Senate President | ||
| 2010-Present | ||
| Senate Democratic Majority Leader | ||
| 2008-2009 | ||
| Compensation | ||
| Base salary | $49,000/year | |
| Elections and appointments | ||
| Last election | November 8, 2011 | |
| First elected | 2003 | |
| Next election | November 5, 2013 | |
| Term limits | N/A | |
| Education | ||
| High school | Pennsauken High School | |
| Personal | ||
| Birthday | June 11, 1959 | |
| Place of birth | Camden, NJ | |
| Profession | Businessman | |
| Religion | Catholic | |
| Websites | ||
| Office website | ||
| Personal website | ||
 | ||
Contents |
Biography
Sweeney graduated with a diploma from Pennsauken High School in Pennsauken, New Jersey. He holds the title of General Organizer for the International Association of Ironworkers and is also the director of the Gloucester County Board of Freeholders. He has held the title of director since 1997.[2]
Committee assignments
2010-2011
In the 2010-2011 legislative session, Sweeney served on these committees:
Elections
2013
- See also: New Jersey State Senate elections, 2013
Sweeney is running in the 2013 election for New Jersey State Senate District 3. Sweeney is unopposed in the June 4 Democratic primary. The general election takes place on November 5, 2013.
Sweeney briefly explored a bid for Governor of New Jersey in 2013. He initially confided in party members that he would enter the race only if the presumptive Democratic nominee, Mayor of Newark Cory Booker, declined to run, but then told the The Huffington Post that his final decision would not depend on Booker's. Ultimately, Booker announced in December that he would not enter the race, and Sweeney followed on January 28, 2013, stating on his Facebook page that, rather than campaigning for governor, "my work now needs to be focused on ensuring the Legislature remains in Democratic control."[3][4][5]
2011
Sweeney won re-election to the District 3 Senate seat in the 2011 election. Sweeney was unopposed for the June 7 Democratic primary. He defeated Michael Mulligan (R) in the general election which took place on November 8, 2011. [6]
| New Jersey State Senate District 3 General Election, 2011 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Stephen Sweeney Incumbent |
55.6% | 25,299 | |
| Republican | Michael Mulligan | 44.4% | 20,197 | |
| Total Votes | 45,496 | |||
2007
In 2007 Sweeney was re-elected to the New Jersey State Senate District 3. Sweeney (D) finished with 29,908 votes and was followed by Mark Cimino (R) with 20,645 votes and William Mead with 1,635 votes.[7] Sweeney raised $1,296,848 for his campaign fund.[8]
| New Jersey State Senate District 3 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Stephen Sweeney (D)
|
29,908 | |||
| Mark Cimino (R) | 20,645 | |||
| William Mead | 1,635 | |||
Campaign donors
2011
In 2011, Sweeney received $1,601,993 in campaign donations. The top contributors are listed below.[9]
| New Jersey State Senate 2011 election - Campaign Contributions | |
|---|---|
| Top contributors to Stephen Sweeney's campaign in 2011 | |
| New Jersey Regional Council Of Carpenters | $16,400 |
| New Jersey Association Of Realtors | $13,400 |
| Verizon | $12,400 |
| New Jersey Food Council | $8,700 |
| Building Contractors Association Of New Jersey | $8,500 |
| Total Raised in 2011 | $1,601,993 |
| Total Votes received in 2011 | 25,299 |
| Cost of each vote received | $63.32 |
District 3 ranked fourth in fundraising
As of October 25, candidates for District 3 raised $2,331,779 --according to the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission. This made District 3 number four in fundraising for the 2011 election season.[10]
2007
In 2007, Sweeney collected $1,296,848 in donations.[11]
Listed below are the five largest contributors to his campaign.
| Donor | Amount |
|---|---|
| Gloucester County Democratic Executive Committee | $64,000 |
| Electrical Workers Local 351 | $12,200 |
| Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 9 | $11,700 |
| Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 14 | $10,200 |
| Steamfitters Pipefitters & Apprentices Local 475 | $10,000 |
Endorsements
2011
Labor unions
On August 4, the New Jersey AFL-CIO voted to deny 22 Democrats, most notably Senators Stephen Sweeney and Donald Norcross, their endorsement in the 2011 general election. Earlier this year, these Democrats crossed the aisle and voted in favor of preventing public employee unions from collectively bargaining for health benefits and pensions--a move opposed by state labor unions.[12]
Although their endorsements were voted down, Sweeney and Norcross just barely missed the mark. A two-thirds vote of the endorsement convention is needed to bestow an official endorsement. Sweeney and Norcross fell short with 61% and 59%, respectively.[12]
Four Assembly Democrats (also union officials) who voted against the revocation of bargaining rights received enthusiastic endorsements--Thomas Giblin, Wayne DeAngelo, Joseph Egan and Nelson Albano all received endorsements on August 4. No Republicans were endorsed by the AFL-CIO.[12]
District 3
Sweeney represents New Jersey Senate District 3, which includes the town and city of Alloway and Bridgeton, New Jersey.[13]
Personal
Sweeney and his wife, Patti, have two children.[14] They currently reside in West Deptford, New Jersey.
Recent news
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External Links
References
- ↑ Bills Sponsored by Senators and Representatives
- ↑ Official website of Stephen Sweeney
- ↑ West Deptford Patch, "Steve Sweeney Won’t Run for Governor in ’13," January 28, 2013
- ↑ The Star-Ledger, "Sen. Sweeney to run for governor if Cory Booker declines, sources say," November 28, 2012
- ↑ The Huffington Post, "Steve Sweeney Considering Race For Governor Of New Jersey Against Chris Christie," December 6, 2012
- ↑ New Jersey Department of State, 2011 Official State Senate Primary Candidate List
- ↑ New Jersey State Senate election results
- ↑ Campaign funds
- ↑ Follow the Money - 2011 contributions
- ↑ New Jersey ELEC, "News Release," November 3, 2011
- ↑ http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=95915
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 NJ Spotlight, Sweeney Denied State AFL-CIO Endorsement, Aug. 5, 2011
- ↑ List of New Jersey Districts
- ↑ Stephen Sweeney's Profile on Project Vote Smart
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by - |
New Jersey State Senate District 3 2003–present |
Succeeded by NA |
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