James Beach: Difference between revisions
| Line 31: | Line 31: | ||
==Career== |
==Career== |
||
James “Jim” Beach is a member of the New Jersey State Senate and the Co-Chairman of the Camden County Democratic Committee. A lifelong resident of Camden County, Beach has served in elected office for 18 years: as a County Freeholder, the Camden County Clerk, and now as a State Senator, serving New Jersey’s sixth legislative district. |
|||
A resident of [[Voorhees Township, New Jersey|Voorhees Township]], Beach first entered [[Camden County, New Jersey|Camden County]] politics after responding to a 1990 recruitment ad that county Democrats had posted seeking prospective candidates to burnish the party's image and help retain the Democrat's control on county government. Beach showed up at his interview with his tax bill complaining about his taxes, and was described by Freeholder Jeffrey L. Nash as just what the party was seeking in a candidate, "regular people complaining about their taxes".<ref name=Philly/> He was elected to the Camden County [[Board of Chosen Freeholders]] in 1991, and was named as Freeholder Director in 1993. Beach was elected as Camden County Clerk in 1995.<ref name=Philly/> |
|||
He served as County Clerk until 2009, until winning a December 2008 special election convention to replace [[John Adler]] in the Senate, who had won a seat in the [[United States House of Representatives]].<ref name=Philly>Burton, Cynthia. [http://www.philly.com/inquirer/politics/nj/35357179.html "Camden County clerk to fill John Adler's term"], ''[[Philadelphia Inquirer]]'', December 2, 2008. Accessed March 16, 2009.</ref> With the endorsement of [[George Norcross]], Beach ran unopposed in the convention. Beach must win a November 2009 special election in order to remain in the Senate through the end of Adler's four-year term.<ref>http://www.politickernj.com/editor/25770/norcross-picks-beach-adler-senate-seat</ref> Beach saw his salary drop from $153,437 annually as County Clerk to $49,000 as State Senator, and indicated after his selection to fill the Senate seat that he would seek additional employment to supplement his salary, ensuring that there was no conflict with his position as Senator.<ref name=Philly/> Beach was soon hired by [[Camden County College]] for a part-time job as an advisor, allowing him to collect an annual salary of $10,400 and remain in New Jersey's Public Employee Retirement System, for which county clerks but not state senators are eligible.<ref>http://blog.nj.com/njv_editorial_page/2009/07/another_example_of_the_need_fo.html</ref> After critical editorials in ''[[The Star-Ledger]]'' and the ''[[Camden Courier-Post]]'' accused Beach of abusing the public pension system, Beach left the Camden County College job.<ref>http://blogs.app.com/politicspatrol/2009/07/31/less-sunny-now-for-this-beach/</ref> |
|||
A Camden Catholic High School alum, Beach graduated from Midwestern College with dual Bachelor of Sciences degrees in Psychology and Physical Education, and later obtained a Master’s degree in Personnel Services from Rowan University. The football coach turned public servant worked for over 25 years as a school teacher and administrator in the Camden and Black Horse Pike school districts. |
|||
Beach had worked as an educator and football coach at schools including both [[St. Joseph High School (Camden, New Jersey)]] and [[Woodrow Wilson High School (New Jersey)|Woodrow Wilson High School]] in Camden and [[Highland Regional High School]] in [[Blackwood, New Jersey|Blackwood]], and had been director of vocational education at the [[Black Horse Pike Regional School District]].<ref name=Philly/> |
|||
In 1991, Beach was elected to the Camden County Board of Chosen Freeholders and was named Freeholder Director in 1993, where he oversaw the county’s 2,600 employees and the services that they provide. In 1996, Beach ran for Camden County Clerk and was subsequently re-elected three times. As Clerk, he oversaw an array of county services, including business registrations, land titles and passport services, managed all county-wide elections, and served as the liaison to the Camden County Veterans Office. A staunch advocate for veterans of all ages, Beach was instrumental in developing Camden County’s first Veterans Memorial Cemetery and a new Veterans Health Clinic at Cooper Hospital in Camden. As Clerk, he conducted various veterans’ metal ceremonies, including the awarding World War II Normandy metals to over 1200 Camden County veterans. |
|||
In January 2009, Beach was appointed to fill the New Jersey State Senate seat vacated by former State Senator and current Congressman John Adler. Upon his swearing in, Senator Beach was assigned to the Senate Environment Committee, where immediately sponsored legislation to reform the State’s site remediation program, support farmland preservation and encourage green initiatives statewide. He was subsequently also named to the Senate Labor Committee, where he continues to serve as an advocate for hardworking New Jerseyans, and was re-elected for the duration of the unexpired term the following November. |
|||
In January 2010, Beach was appointed to Chair New Jersey’s first Senate Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and was also named to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. |
|||
Among the legislation that he has introduced since assuming his Senate seat, Beach is most proud of a package of ten bills that will allow law enforcement to more swiftly and more effectively capture and prosecute child predators, furthering the Attorney General’s initiative for Internet safety. Beach also continues to fight for New Jersey’s veterans, introducing legislation to create job, education and housing opportunities for returning servicemen, as well as benefits for veterans of all ages. |
|||
Senator Beach has served on a number of charity and community boards, including the Camden County Red Cross, the Kennedy Hospital Community Advisory Board, Samaritan Hospice, United Way, Junior Achievement and the Southern New Jersey March of Dimes. |
|||
==District 6== |
==District 6== |
||
Revision as of 15:47, 28 January 2010
James Beach | |
|---|---|
| Member of the New Jersey Senate from the 6th district | |
| Assumed office 2009 | |
| Preceded by | John Adler |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 28, 1946 |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Linda |
| Children | Jimmy, Kristie |
| Residence | Voorhees Township |
| Alma mater | Midwestern College Rowan University |
| Website | Legislative web page |
James "Jim" Beach (born October 28, 1946) is an American Democratic Party politician who has served in the New Jersey Senate since 2009, where he represents the 6th legislative district. He serves in the Senate on the Environment and Labor Committees.[1]
Education
Beach has earned a B.S. degree in psychology from Midwestern College and a M.A. degree in personnel services from Rowan University.[1]
Career
James “Jim” Beach is a member of the New Jersey State Senate and the Co-Chairman of the Camden County Democratic Committee. A lifelong resident of Camden County, Beach has served in elected office for 18 years: as a County Freeholder, the Camden County Clerk, and now as a State Senator, serving New Jersey’s sixth legislative district.
A Camden Catholic High School alum, Beach graduated from Midwestern College with dual Bachelor of Sciences degrees in Psychology and Physical Education, and later obtained a Master’s degree in Personnel Services from Rowan University. The football coach turned public servant worked for over 25 years as a school teacher and administrator in the Camden and Black Horse Pike school districts.
In 1991, Beach was elected to the Camden County Board of Chosen Freeholders and was named Freeholder Director in 1993, where he oversaw the county’s 2,600 employees and the services that they provide. In 1996, Beach ran for Camden County Clerk and was subsequently re-elected three times. As Clerk, he oversaw an array of county services, including business registrations, land titles and passport services, managed all county-wide elections, and served as the liaison to the Camden County Veterans Office. A staunch advocate for veterans of all ages, Beach was instrumental in developing Camden County’s first Veterans Memorial Cemetery and a new Veterans Health Clinic at Cooper Hospital in Camden. As Clerk, he conducted various veterans’ metal ceremonies, including the awarding World War II Normandy metals to over 1200 Camden County veterans.
In January 2009, Beach was appointed to fill the New Jersey State Senate seat vacated by former State Senator and current Congressman John Adler. Upon his swearing in, Senator Beach was assigned to the Senate Environment Committee, where immediately sponsored legislation to reform the State’s site remediation program, support farmland preservation and encourage green initiatives statewide. He was subsequently also named to the Senate Labor Committee, where he continues to serve as an advocate for hardworking New Jerseyans, and was re-elected for the duration of the unexpired term the following November.
In January 2010, Beach was appointed to Chair New Jersey’s first Senate Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and was also named to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
Among the legislation that he has introduced since assuming his Senate seat, Beach is most proud of a package of ten bills that will allow law enforcement to more swiftly and more effectively capture and prosecute child predators, furthering the Attorney General’s initiative for Internet safety. Beach also continues to fight for New Jersey’s veterans, introducing legislation to create job, education and housing opportunities for returning servicemen, as well as benefits for veterans of all ages.
Senator Beach has served on a number of charity and community boards, including the Camden County Red Cross, the Kennedy Hospital Community Advisory Board, Samaritan Hospice, United Way, Junior Achievement and the Southern New Jersey March of Dimes.
District 6
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. The other representatives from the 6th District for the 2008-2009 Legislative Session are:
- Assemblyman Louis Greenwald, and
- Assemblywoman Pamela Rosen Lampitt
References
- ^ a b Senator Beach's legislative web page, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed March 16, 2009.
External links
- Senator Beach's legislative web page, New Jersey Legislature
- Project Vote Smart - James Beach profile