Holly Schepisi
Holly T. Schepisi | |
---|---|
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly from the 39th district | |
Assumed office January 10, 2012 Serving with Robert Auth | |
Preceded by | Charlotte Vandervalk |
Deputy Minority Leader of the New Jersey General Assembly | |
Assumed office January 14, 2020 | |
Leader | Jon Bramnick |
Preceded by | David Wolfe |
Asisstant Minority Leader of the New Jersey General Assembly | |
In office January 9, 2018 – January 14, 2020 | |
Leader | Jon Bramnick |
Preceded by | Position Established |
Succeeded by | Vacancy |
Personal details | |
Born | December 20, 1971 |
Nationality | American |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Paul Garfinkel |
Children | Two |
Residence(s) | River Vale, New Jersey |
Alma mater | Catholic University of America (BA) Fordham University (JD) |
Occupation | Attorney |
Website | Legislative web page |
Holly T. Schepisi (born December 20, 1971) is an American lawyer, businesswoman, and Republican Party politician who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly, representing the 39th legislative district since January 10, 2012. She has served as Deputy Minority Leader since January 14, 2020 and served as Assistant Minority Leader for two years before then. She resides in River Vale with her husband Paul Garfinkel and their two children.[1] In March 2015, she suffered a brain aneurysm but is expected to fully recover after surgery in the summer of 2015.[2]
Biography and early life
Schepisi is the daughter of John A. Schepisi, a lawyer and former chairman of the Bergen County Republican Organization.[3] She earned a B.A. degree from The Catholic University of America in politics and psychology in 1993, and a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law in 1997. While in college, she worked at the 1992 Republican National Convention, interned for Organization of American States, Congresswoman Marge Roukema, and a member of the British Parliament.[1] In 2007, she began serving as the Township Attorney for River Vale, a position she held until 2011. In addition, she was also a public defender for Oakland (2012–2014) and an alternate prosecutor for Old Tappan (2010–2011) and Westwood (2002–2011).[4]
New Jersey Assembly
In August 2011, Charlotte Vandervalk announced her retirement from the General Assembly seat in the 39th district.[3] A resident of River Vale, Schepisi was selected by the Bergen County Republican Organization to take Vandervalk's place on the ballot, and in the general election she and her running mate Bob Schroeder defeated the Democratic candidates, Anthony Iannarelli Jr. and Michael McCarthy.[5][6] She was sworn in on January 10, 2012.[7]
Tenure
In 2014, Schepisi introduced a bill that would have weakened vaccination requirements for school children. The bill would have allowed certain children under the age of six to attend school without receiving a Hepatitis B vaccine. Schepisi stated that the debunked link between vaccines and autism was not her "primary rationale" for introducing the bill. The bill did not become law.[8] In the summer of 2017, Schepisi held the first of several planned public hearing in Paramus with various civic leaders on mandated affordable housing under the Mount Laurel Doctrine with local mayors and other state assembly members.[9] In October 2018 Schepisi joined, then republican State Senator Dawn Addiego and republicans Kristin Corrado, Amy Handlin, DiAnne Gove, Serena DiMaso, BettyLou DeCroce, and Nancy Munoz in calling for an investigation into Governor Phil Murphy's hiring practices.[10]
Committee Assignments
- Health
- Housing
District 39
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. New Jersey's 39th Legislative District encompasses parts of Bergen, Passaic Counties. The current representatives from the 39th District to the 219th New Jersey Legislature are:
- Senator Gerald Cardinale (R)
- Assemblyman Robert Auth (R)
- Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi (R)
Electoral History
New Jersey Assembly
2019
In what was one of the most competitive races in 2019 Schepisi and her running mate Robert Auth won re-election by 6,000 and 4,000 votes respectively. During the campaign, controversy surrounding Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick's law website drew the teams democrat opponents Gerald Falotico, and John Birkner to call on them to condemn the website.[11]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Holly Schepisi (Incumbent) | 30,705 | 28.2% | 1.1 | |
Republican | Robert Auth (Incumbent) | 28,786 | 26.4% | 0.2 | |
Democratic | John Brinker, Jr. | 17,557 | 22.9% | 1.1 | |
Democratic | Gerald Falotico | 17,332 | 22.3% | 0.2 | |
Total votes | '108,691' | '100.0' |
2017
In the tightest election of Schepisi's career in the Assembly she still won re-election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Holly Schepisi (Incumbent) | 34,158 | 27.4 | 3.9 | |
Republican | Robert Auth (Incumbent) | 32,739 | 26.2 | 2.6 | |
Democratic | Jannie Chung | 29,126 | 23.3 | 3.0 | |
Democratic | Annie Hausmann | 28,862 | 23.1 | 3.4 | |
Total votes | '124,885' | '100.0' |
2015
In a generally bad year for republicans in New Jersey Schepisi and Auth cruised to re-election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Holly Schepisi (Incumbent) | 22,016 | 31.3 | 1.1 | |
Republican | Robert Auth (Incumbent) | 20,227 | 28.8 | 0.8 | |
Democratic | John DeRienzo | 14,258 | 20.3 | 0.6 | |
Democratic | Jeffrey Goldsmith | 13,840 | 19.7 | 1.4 | |
Total votes | '70,341' | '100.0' |
2013
In 2013 Governor Chris Christie easily beat democrat Barbara Buono and Schepisi and her new running mate Robert Auth easily beat their democrat opponents.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Holly Schepisi (Incumbent) | 36,873 | 32.4 | 2.1 | |
Republican | Robert Auth | 33,680 | 29.6 | 1.3 | |
Democratic | Donna C. Abene | 22,450 | 19.7 | 0.9 | |
Democratic | Anthony N. Iannarelli Jr. | 20,785 | 18.3 | 0.0 | |
Total votes | '113,788' | '100.0' |
2011
After the 2011 re-districting the 39th District was still widely considered "safe republican". Schepisi ran for the Assembly for the first time and easily placed second.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Robert Schroeder (Incumbent) | 26,572 | 30.9 | |
Republican | Holly Schepisi | 26,111 | 30.3 | |
Democratic | Michael J. McCarthy | 16,200 | 18.8 | |
Democratic | Anthony N. Iannarelli Jr. | 15,784 | 18.3 | |
Independent | Clinton Bosca | 1,425 | 1.7 | |
Total votes | 86,092 | 100.0 |
References
- ^ a b "Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi". New Jersey Assembly Republicans. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
- ^ Racioppi, Dustin (May 29, 2015). "River Vale Assemblywoman recovering from surgery after brain aneurysm". The Record. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
- ^ a b Max Pizarro (2011-08-31). "Schepisi consolidates support in LD39". PolitickerNJ.com. Retrieved 2012-01-29.
- ^ "Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi". New Jersey Legislature. Retrieved 2012-01-29.
- ^ Deena Yellin (2011-11-08). "GOP incumbents Cardinale and Schroeder, newcomer Schepisi win in 39th District". The Record (Bergen County). Retrieved 2012-01-29.
- ^ Official List Candidate Returns for General Assembly For November 2011 General Election, New Jersey Department of State, December 14, 2011. Accessed January 29, 2012.
- ^ "Turnover in N.J. Legislature is slight". Asbury Park Press. 2012-01-10. Retrieved 2012-01-29.
- ^ Avril, Tom. "Vaccine rules under fire from state lawmakers". https://www.inquirer.com. Retrieved 2019-07-08.
{{cite web}}
: External link in
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- ^ Assemblywoman hears mayors concerns on court-mandated affordable housing https://njersy.co/2syG9yI
- ^ "GOP women call for investigation of Murphy hiring". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
- ^ "LD39 Dems call on incumbents to condemn Bramnick over website". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
- ^ "2019-official-general-results-general-assembly.pdf" (PDF). New Jersey Secretary of State. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
- ^ "2017-official-general-election-results-general-assembly.pdf" (PDF). Wayback Machine. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 December 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
- ^ "2015-official-ge-results-nj-general-assembly.pdf" (PDF). Wayback Machine. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
- ^ "2013-official-general-election-results-general-assembly.pdf" (PDF). Wayback Machine. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
- ^ "New Jersey Division of Elections". New Jersey Secretary of State. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
External links
- 1971 births
- Living people
- Businesspeople from New Jersey
- Fordham University School of Law alumni
- Members of the New Jersey General Assembly
- New Jersey lawyers
- New Jersey Republicans
- People from River Vale, New Jersey
- Catholic University of America alumni
- Women state legislators in New Jersey
- 21st-century American politicians
- 21st-century American women politicians