Robert A. Roe
Robert A. Roe (born February 28, 1924, in Wayne, New Jersey) is an American Democratic Party politician and convicted drunken driver who represented New Jersey in the United States House of Representatives for over twenty-three years, serving from November 4, 1969 to January 3, 1993.
Roe attended college at Oregon State University in Corvallis and Washington State University in Pullman.
During World War II, Roe served in the Army. Roe served as a committeeman of Wayne Township 1955–1956. In 1956, He became the mayor, serving in that capacity until 1961. He also served on the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders from 1959–1963, and as Freeholder Director in 1962 and 1963.
In 1963, he was appointed as the Commissioner of the New Jersey Conservation and Economic Development Department and served until his 1969 resignation.
In 1969, Congressman Charles S. Joelson resigned from Congress. On November 4, Roe was elected as Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election. Roe had a mostly liberal voting record, but he was pro-life on abortion. During the 1980s, conservative radio talk show host Bob Grant often bitterly attacked Roe on his program.
In 1977, he was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for Governor.
Roe served as Chairman of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology (1987–1991) and the Committee on Public Works and Transportation 1991–1993.
Roe retired after the 1992 election and later worked as a consultant.
The former lawmaker was convicted of driving drunk when he crashed into a minivan in Rockaway Township, New Jersey in 1993, seriously injuring a woman and her 15-year-old daughter. In January 2008 a bill was passed to name Route 23 after the former Congressman. Mothers Against Drunk Driving is protesting against the plan to name the highway after a man who seriously injured two people while driving drunk. A spokesman stated that Governor Jon Corzine did not know about the accident when he signed the bill and that a second bill would have to be passed by the New Jersey Legislature to overturn the naming.[1]
References
- ^ Jennings, Rob. "MADD: Put brakes on plan to name road after ex-lawmaker who drove drunk - Former Rep. Robert A. Roe had crashed, seriously hurt two", Daily Record (Morristown), February 12, 2008. Accessed February 12, 2008.
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