Gerard Scharfenberger

Gerard P. Scharfenberger (born November 29, 1958) is an American politician, adjunct professor and Republican Party politician who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly representing the 13th Legislative District since 2020, replacing Amy Handlin. Scharfenberger had previously served on the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders and as Mayor of Middletown Township.[2][3][4][5]

Gerard Scharfenberger
Scharfenberger c. 2018
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly
from the 13th district
Assumed office
January 14, 2020
Serving with Vicky Flynn
Preceded byAmy Handlin
Member of the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders
In office
February 3, 2018 – January 7, 2020
Preceded bySerena DiMaso
Succeeded byNick DiRocco
Mayor of Middletown Township
In office
2016–2017
Preceded byStephanie C. Murray
Succeeded byKevin Settembrino
In office
2013–2014
Preceded byAnthony P. Fiore
Succeeded byStephanie C. Murray
In office
2010–2011
Preceded byPamela Brightbill
Succeeded byAnthony P. Fiore
In office
2007–2008
Preceded byRosemarie Peters
Succeeded byPamela Brightbill
Personal details
Born (1958-11-29) November 29, 1958[1]
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
ResidenceMiddletown Township, New Jersey
Alma materRutgers University (BA)
Hunter College (MA)
CUNY Graduate Center (PhD)
WebsiteLegislative Website

Background

Scharfenberger was born in Brooklyn and is a resident of Middletown Township, New Jersey. Before entering politics, Scharfenberger was an archaeologist who worked on historical sites around Monmouth County.[6] Scharfenberger has worked as an adjunct professor of archaeology at Monmouth University.[7][8]

Political career

Scharfenberger was first elected to the Middletown Township Committee in 2005. He served as Mayor in 2007, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2016 and 2017 and Deputy Mayor in 2006 and 2009.[9] During his time as Mayor, Scharfenberger served on Chris Christie's 2009 transition team and from, 2010 to 2018, as Director of the Office for Planning Advocacy.[10] Scharfenberger was fired from the latter position after refusing to attend a Phil Murphy press conference in support of the governor's support for a federal property tax deduction.[11] Scharfenberger has also served on the Middletown Landmarks Commission since 1996.

Scharfenberger ran briefly for the State Assembly in 2017, but dropped out when incumbent Amy Handlin withdrew from a State Senate race against eventual winner Declan O'Scanlon.[12] Scharfenberger was appointed to the Monmouth County Board of chosen freeholders after Serena DiMaso was elected to the State Assembly in 2018, winning the subsequent election against Democrat Larry Luttrell.[13] Scharfenberger then ran for the State Assembly in 2019, winning alongside DiMaso.

General Assembly

Scharfenberger opposed a State Senate measure requesting that the Library of Congress remove General Phillip Kearny's statue from Statuary Hall, stating, "However well-meaning intentions may be, the eradication of symbols from our rich historic past must be prevented."[14]

During the COVID-19 pandemic in New Jersey, Scharfenberger refused to accept his legislative salary on the grounds that his constituents' unemployment claims were not adequately fulfilled.[15][16] In his letter to the state treasurer, Scharfenberger wrote, "I cannot, in good conscience, continue to accept a salary while these issues remain unresolved and my constituents struggle through no fault of their own."

Committees

Committee assignments for the current session are:[17]

  • Environment and Solid Waste
  • Higher Education
  • Regulated Professions

District 13

Each of the 40 districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey Senate and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly.[18] The representatives from the 13th District for the 2022—23 Legislative Session are:[19]

Personal life

Scharfenberger is married to wife Geraldine and has two children, Alannah and Dan.[10] Scharfenberger's son-in-law, Tony Perry, currently serves as Mayor of Middletown and was previously Chief of Staff for state senator Joe Kyrillos.[20][21]

Scharfenberger's son, Dan, is a Republican Party strategist in New Jersey.

Electoral history

New Jersey Assembly
New Jersey general election, 2021[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Gerard Scharfenberger 51,324 31 Increase 1.5
Republican Victoria Flynn 50,823 31 Increase 1.5
Democratic Erin Howard 31,731 19 Decrease 1.5
Democratic Allison Friedman 31,816 19 Decrease 1.5
New Jersey general election, 2019[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Gerard Scharfenberger 25,155 29.9 Increase 1.0
Republican Serena DiMaso 24,649 29.3 Increase 1.8
Democratic Barbara Singer 17,240 20.5 Decrease 1.4
Democratic Allison Friedman 17,181 20.4 Decrease 1.0

Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders
New Jersey general election, 2018[24]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Gerard Scharfenberger 129,679 51.71
Democratic Larry Luttrell 120,932 48.23

Middletown Township Committee
New Jersey general election, 2016[25]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Gerard Scharfenberger 20,257 31.42
Republican Kevin Settembrino 19,418 30.12
Democratic Mary Jo Fabiano 11,813 18.32
Democratic Raphael Borgess 11,268 17.48
Independent Brian Largey 1,690 2.62
New Jersey general election, 2013[26]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Gerard Scharfenberger 11,839 31.52
Republican Kevin Settembrino 11,295 30.07
Democratic Linda Baum 7,243 19.28
Democratic Patricia Olsen 7,177 19.11
New Jersey general election, 2010[27]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Gerard Scharfenberger 12,448 28.51
Republican Kevin Settembrino 12,295 28.16
Democratic Sean Byrnes 9,640 22.08
Democratic Mary Mahoney 9,275 21.24
New Jersey general election, 2007[28]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Gerard Scharfenberger 7,498 26.02
Democratic Sean Byrnes 7,309 25.36
Democratic Janet Moscuzza 7,047 24.45
Republican Tristan Nelson 6,958 24.14
New Jersey general election, 2004[29]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Thomas Hall 17,876 27.74
Republican Gerard Scharfenberger 17,141 26.60
Democratic Patricia Olsen 14,198 22.03
Democratic Steven Borbely 13,174 20.44
Independent Joseph McGrath 2,043 3.17

References
  1. Friedman, Matt. "Downtown Hackensack's nickname is amazing". Politico. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  2. "Gerard Scharfenberger". Ballotpedia.
  3. "Freeholder Gerry Scharfenberger Gerald Scharfenberger elected to State Assembly". newjerseyglobe.com. November 5, 2019. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  4. "Gerald Scharfenberger elected to State Assembly". New Jersey Globe. November 6, 2019. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  5. Johnson, Brent (November 6, 2019). "N.J. election 2019: Republicans could regain some seats in the state Assembly". nj. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  6. Draz, Lori. "Digging Up the Past on Middletown Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger". The Journal. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  7. "Gerard P. Scharfenberger, Ph.D." Monmouth University. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  8. Cervenka, Susanne. "Monmouth County Freeholder race: Crude comments, patronage jobs alleged". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  9. "Freeholder Gerry P. Scharfenberger, Ph.D." Monmouth County. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  10. "Middletown Mayor Took State Job Before Election". Atlantic Highlands Herald. November 5, 2010. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  11. Wildstein, David (February 12, 2018). "Murphy fires Scharfenberger". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  12. Wildstein, David (November 2018). "Scharfenberger won't rule out Assembly bid". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  13. Hanlon, Christine Giordano. "November 6, 2018 General Election". Monmouth County Clerk. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  14. Smith, Muriel J. (March 4, 2020). "Assemblyman Opposes Removing General Kearny Statue". Atlantic Highlands Herald. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  15. Wildstein, David (April 20, 2020). "Scharfenberger won't take Assembly salary until constituents get unemployment checks". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  16. "Scharfenberger Requests Salary Be Withheld Until Constituent UE Claims Processed". InsiderNJ. April 20, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  17. Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed February 20, 2022.
  18. New Jersey State Constitution 1947 (Updated Through Amendments Adopted in November, 2020): Article IV, Section II, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 28, 2022.
  19. Legislative Roster for District 13, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 11, 2022.
  20. Zimmer, Russ. "Tony Perry appointed to Middletown committee". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  21. Rotolo, Chris (January 14, 2019). "Middletown Welcomes Three to Township Committee, Perry Is Mayor". Two River Times. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  22. "N.J. election 2021: Results from state Assembly races and statewide ballot question". NJ.com. November 2, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  23. "N.J. election 2019: Results from state Assembly races and statewide ballot question". NJ.com. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  24. "Official Election Results for Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders For General Election 11/05/2018 Election". Monmouth County, New Jersey Clerk. November 29, 2018. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  25. "Official Election Results for Middletown Township Committee For General Election 11/08/2016 Election". Monmouth County, New Jersey Clerk. November 29, 2016. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  26. "Official Election Results for Middletown Township Committee For General Election 11/05/2013 Election". Monmouth County, New Jersey Clerk. November 29, 2013. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  27. "Official Election Results for Middletown Township Committee For General Election 11/02/2010 Election" (PDF). Monmouth County, New Jersey Clerk. November 29, 2010. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  28. "Official Election Results for Middletown Township Committee For General Election 11/05/2007 Election". Monmouth County, New Jersey Clerk. November 29, 2016. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  29. "Official Election Results for Middletown Township Committee For General Election 11/02/2004 Election". Monmouth County, New Jersey Clerk. November 29, 2004. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
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