Wilfredo Caraballo

This article needs to be updated. The reason given is: no idea if this person is active/retired/alive, all the "External links" are dead-links, last new information stated he "is running" for election - over six years ago. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. Last update: 9 March 2014 (October 2020)

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[]

External links[]

• Assemblyman Caraballo's Legislative Website^{[dead link]}
• New Jersey Voter Information Website 2003^{[dead link]}
• Caraballo's Page at Seton Hall University^{[dead link]}
• Interview of Assemblyman Wilfredo Caraballo WNET Caucus New Jersey with Steve Adubato^{[dead link]}
• New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure form for 2006 (PDF)
• New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure form for 2005 (PDF)
• New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure form for 2004 (PDF)