Marge Roukema

Marge Roukema
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 5th district
In office January 3, 1983 – January 3, 2003
Preceded by	Millicent Fenwick
Succeeded by	Scott Garrett
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 7th district
In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1983
Preceded by	Andrew Maguire
Succeeded by	Matt Rinaldo
Personal details
Born	Margaret Scafati (1929-09-19)September 19, 1929 Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	November 12, 2014(2014-11-12) (aged 85) Wyckoff, New Jersey, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Richard Roukema
Alma mater	Montclair State University Rutgers University, Newark

Margaret "Marge" Roukema (née Scafati; September 19, 1929 – November 12, 2014) was an American politician who represented New Jersey in the U.S. House of Representatives for twenty-two years as a Republican.

A graduate of Montclair State College, Roukema's first career was as a teacher in the Ridgewood Public Schools. She began her political career in the local board of education, becoming the vice president of the body in 1970. In 1980, she challenged three-term incumbent Democratic Congressman Andrew Maguire, and won in what was then the 7th District. She was one of several Republicans swept into office by Reagan's coattails. After decennial redistricting, Roukema's district was renumbered as the 5th District and became significantly more Republican than its predecessor. She was handily reelected in 1982 and nine more times after that with almost no opposition.

Roukema was a moderate Republican, as was the case with most Republicans from the Northeast. She faced a primary challenge from the right in 1992, defeating Louis Sette by a 62%–25% margin. In 1998, State Assemblyman Scott Garrett, a considerably more conservative Republican, challenged her in the primary. Roukema managed to fight him off, and did so again in 2000.

With the prospect of another primary challenge from Garrett in 2002 (in a district made even more conservative on paper by redistricting), as well as facing the loss of her subcommittee chairs due to caucus term limits, the Ridgewood Republican opted not to seek a 12th term and retired from politics. Garrett won the nomination with 45% of the vote and went on to win the seat, despite Roukema's refusal to endorse him; State Senator Gerald Cardinale, who Roukema endorsed in the primary to succeed her, came in third with 25% of the vote, behind State Assemblyman David C. Russo with 26%.

She was an honorary board member of the National Organization of Italian American Women.

Death

On November 12, 2014, Roukema died at Christian Health Care Center in Wyckoff, New Jersey at the age of 85. She had Alzheimer's disease.

External links

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Appearances on C-SPAN