Wilfredo Caraballo

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Wilfredo Caraballo
Member of the
New Jersey General Assembly
In office
January 9, 1996 – January 8, 2008
Serving with Craig A. Stanley (28th district), and William D. Payne (29th district)
Preceded byHarry A. McEnroe
James Zangari
Succeeded byAlbert Coutinho
L. Grace Spencer
Constituency28th district (1996–2002)
29th district (2002–2008)
Public Advocate of New Jersey
In office
April 9, 1990 – July 31, 1992
GovernorJames Florio
Preceded byThomas S. Smith
Succeeded byZulima Farber
Personal details
Born (1947-01-01) January 1, 1947 (age 74)
Yabucoa, Puerto Rico
NationalityAmerican
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceNewark, New Jersey
Alma materSt. Joseph's Seminary and College (BA)
New York University (JD)

Wilfredo Caraballo (born January 1, 1947 in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico) is an American Democratic Party politician, who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1996–2008. He represented the 29th legislative district. Caraballo also served as the Assembly's Speaker pro tempore in the 2006–2008 legislative session, he was the Parliamentarian from 2002–2006 and Associate Minority Leader from 1998–2001.[1]

Background[]

Caraballo received a B.A. from St. Joseph's Seminary and College in Philosophy (1969) and was awarded a J.D. from the New York University School of Law (1975).

Early career[]

Caraballo served on the South Orange, New Jersey Budget Advisory Committee from 1986–1987.[1] He then served was a trustee of the South Orange-Maplewood School District Board of Education from 1987–1990. Caraballo was a member of New Jersey's Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Commission from 1988–1990.

Caraballo was a Distinguished Visiting Professor at New York University School of Law in 1986. He served as associate dean of Seton Hall University School of Law from 1988 through March 1990, where he was instrumental in creating the LEO program to create opportunities for disadvantaged students to attend Seton Hall.

In early 1990, Caraballo left Seton Hall when Governor of New Jersey James Florio brought him into the executive branch of the government of New Jersey, to serve as the New Jersey Public Advocate and Public Defender. Caraballo served from 1990–1992, then resigned in protest of Republican efforts to reduce his powers; when the Republicans took the governorship in 1994, they stopped filling the position.[2]

Caraballo then served as president of the Hispanic National Bar Association, from 1993–1994.

Elected official[]

Each of the forty districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey Senate and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly.

Caraballo was first elected to the New Jersey General Assembly for the 1996–98 term, as an Assemblyman for the 28th Legislative District, containing portions of Essex County, including South Orange, Maplewood and a northwest portion of Newark. He was re-elected in the 28th Legislative District, then was re-elected in the 29th Legislative District after the 2001 redistricting.

Caraballo served in the Assembly on the Regulated Professions and Independent Authorities Committee (as Chair) and on the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards.[1]

In the 2004 presidential election, Caraballo was one of New Jersey's presidential electors, casting the state's 15 Electoral College votes after election day. New Jersey's electors cast their ballots on December 13, 2004 in the State House Annex, in Trenton, where all 15 votes were cast for the Democratic Party candidate John Kerry.[3]

In the June 5, 2007 primary election, Caraballo failed to win nomination to run for the New Jersey General Assembly, 2008–10 term, after an internal battle with the party and political machines.

Later career[]

Caraballo returned to the Seton Hall University School of Law, where he is currently a tenured Professor of Law.[1]

In 2014, Carabello ran as candidate for Councilman At-Large for the Municipal Council of Newark, on the slate of mayoral candidate Shavar Jeffries; neither was elected.[4]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d Assemblyman Caraballo's Legislative Website, accessed April 21, 2007.[dead link]
  2. ^ Gray, Jerry. " Public Advocate Quits in Trenton Over Cutbacks", The New York Times, July 2, 1992. Accessed June 20, 2008. "Public Advocate Wilfredo Caraballo announced his resignation today, saying that Republican budget cuts had weakened the effectiveness of his office, which is the voice of citizens with complaints about government.... Mr. Florio appointed Mr. Caraballo to the posts of Public Advocate and Public Defender in early 1990, recruiting him from Seton Hall Law School, where he was dean."
  3. ^ 2004 Presidential Election: Electoral College Members, accessed April 21, 2007.
  4. ^ Giambusso, David (February 26, 2014). "Newark mayor's race: Jeffries rolls out council slate and senior plan". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved 2014-02-26.

External links[]

New Jersey General Assembly
Preceded by Member of the New Jersey General Assembly
from the 28th district

1996–2002
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the New Jersey General Assembly
from the 29th district

2002–2008
Succeeded by
Retrieved from ""