Gerald Cardinale

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American politician (1934–2021)

title: "Gerald Cardinale" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1934-births", "2021-deaths", "20th-century-american-dentists", "20th-century-mayors-of-places-in-new-jersey", "21st-century-american-dentists", "mayors-of-places-in-new-jersey", "republican-party-members-of-the-new-jersey-general-assembly", "republican-party-new-jersey-state-senators", "new-york-university-college-of-dentistry-alumni", "people-from-demarest,-new-jersey", "politicians-from-bergen-county,-new-jersey", "politicians-from-brooklyn", "school-board-members-in-new-jersey", "st.-john's-university-(new-york-city)-alumni", "21st-century-members-of-the-new-jersey-legislature", "20th-century-members-of-the-new-jersey-legislature"] description: "American politician (1934–2021)" topic_path: "technology/web" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Cardinale" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American politician (1934–2021) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox officeholder"]

Field	Value
name	Gerald Cardinale
image	State_Senator_Gerry_Cardinale.png
image_size	200px
state_senate1	New Jersey
district1	39th
term_start1	January 12, 1982
term_end1	February 20, 2021
predecessor1	Frank Herbert
successor1	Holly Schepisi
office2	Deputy Majority Leader of the New Jersey Senate
term_start2	January 11, 1994
term_end2	January 8, 2002
leader2	Donald DiFrancesco
successor2	Wayne R. Bryant
office3	Majority Whip of the New Jersey Senate
term_start3	January 14, 1992
term_end3	January 11, 1994
leader3	Donald DiFrancesco
successor3	John A. Girgenti 2004
office4	Assistant Minority Leader of the New Jersey Senate
term_start4	January 13, 1987
term_end4	January 10, 1989
leader4	James R. Hurley
office5	Minority Whip of the New Jersey Senate
term_start5	January 8, 1985
term_end5	January 13, 1987
leader5	S. Thomas Gagliano
state_assembly6	New Jersey
alongside6	John Markert
district6	39th
term_start6	January 8, 1980
term_end6	January 12, 1982
predecessor6	Greta Kiernan
Harold Martin
successor6	Joan M. Wright
birth_date
birth_place	Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
death_date
death_place	Westwood, New Jersey, U.S.
resting_place	Brookside Cemetery
party	Republican
alma_mater	St. John's University (BS)
New York University (DDS)
occupation	Legislator
website	Legislative Webpage
::

| name = Gerald Cardinale | image = State_Senator_Gerry_Cardinale.png | image_size = 200px | state_senate1 = New Jersey | district1 = 39th | term_start1 = January 12, 1982 | term_end1 = February 20, 2021 | predecessor1 = Frank Herbert | successor1 = Holly Schepisi | office2 = Deputy Majority Leader of the New Jersey Senate | term_start2 = January 11, 1994 | term_end2 = January 8, 2002 | leader2 = Donald DiFrancesco | predecessor2 = | successor2 = Wayne R. Bryant | office3 = Majority Whip of the New Jersey Senate | term_start3 = January 14, 1992 | term_end3 = January 11, 1994 | leader3 = Donald DiFrancesco | predecessor3 = | successor3 = John A. Girgenti 2004 | office4 = Assistant Minority Leader of the New Jersey Senate | term_start4 = January 13, 1987 | term_end4 = January 10, 1989 | leader4 = James R. Hurley | predecessor4 = | successor4 = | office5 = Minority Whip of the New Jersey Senate | term_start5 = January 8, 1985 | term_end5 = January 13, 1987 | leader5 = S. Thomas Gagliano | predecessor5 = | successor5 = | state_assembly6 = New Jersey | alongside6 = John Markert | district6 = 39th | term_start6 = January 8, 1980 | term_end6 = January 12, 1982 | predecessor6 = Greta Kiernan Harold Martin | successor6 = Joan M. Wright | birth_date = | birth_place = Brooklyn, New York, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = Westwood, New Jersey, U.S. | resting_place = Brookside Cemetery | party = Republican | alma_mater = St. John's University (BS) New York University (DDS) | occupation = Legislator | website = Legislative Webpage Gerald Cardinale (February 27, 1934 – February 20, 2021) was an American Republican Party politician, who served in the New Jersey State Senate from 1982 until his death in 2021, representing the 39th Legislative District. He also served one term in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1980 until 1982. At the time of his death, he was the second-most senior senator in the state, behind Richard Codey, who also came to office in January 1982, but had served in the General Assembly since 1974. Cardinale was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1984, 1988 and 1992 and served as a Delegate to the New Jersey Republican State Platform Committee in 1983.

Early life

Cardinale was born in Brooklyn on February 27, 1934. He studied chemistry at St. John's University, obtaining Bachelor of Science in 1955. He subsequently earned a D.D.S. from the New York University College of Dentistry in 1959. where he served as mayor from 1975 to 1979. He was also a trustee of the Demarest Public Schools Board of Education from 1967 to 1973, serving as its president from 1969 to 1971.

Political career

New Jersey Assembly

Before his service as State Senator, Cardinale spent one term in the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature, the General Assembly, from 1980 to 1981.

New Jersey Senate

Cardinale served in the State Senate as deputy majority leader from 1994 to 2001, as majority whip from 1992 to 1993, as assistant minority leader from 1987 to 1989 and as minority whip from 1985 to 1986. He served in the Senate on the Commerce Committee, the Judiciary Committee and the Legislative Oversight Committee.

In 2018, Cardinale sponsored a bill alongside Senators Paul Sarlo, Kristin Corrado, Loretta Weinberg, and Joseph Lagana that would push a special election to the following year if a vacancy for the County Sheriff, Clerk, or Surrogate posts if the vacancy occurs 70 days before election day. In March 2019 Cardinale expressed his opposition to marijuana legalization. He called the social justice argument in favor of legalization "B.S." as well as saying it wouldn't solve the budget problems that those in favor of legalization have argued.

After Cardinale's death in February 2021, Holly Schepisi won a Republican Party special convention over Robert Auth to fill the vacant senate seat and was sworn in on March 25, 2021.

Committee assignments

Commerce
Judiciary

Campaign for Congress

After Congresswoman Marge Roukema announced her retirement in 2002, she endorsed Cardinale as her successor in the Republican primary. However, Cardinale finished with 25%, a close third behind State Assemblyman Scott Garrett (the eventual winner, with 45%) and David C. Russo (who received 26% of votes cast).

Personal life

Cardinale married Carole Petrullo in 1959. They attended the same preschool in Brooklyn, but only reconnected years later when three friends set them up on blind dates. They remained married for 62 years until his death. Together, they had five children: Marisa, Christine, Kara, Gary, and Nicole.

Cardinale died on the morning of February 20, 2021, at the Pascack Valley Medical Center in Westwood, New Jersey. He was 86, and suffered a brief illness prior to his death that was not related to COVID-19. Cardinale's funeral was on February 24 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Tenafly, New Jersey. He was buried at Brookside Cemetery in Englewood, New Jersey.

Electoral history

New Jersey Senate

2017

2013

In a year that was good, electorally, for incumbent State Senate Republicans, Cardinale won re-election by over 16,000 votes, and finishing with more than 60% of the vote in Bergen and Passaic Counties.

2011

2011 re-redistricting put part of Passaic County in the district. Democrats nominated Lorraine M. Waldes. Cardinale easily defeated Waldes.

2007

In his second closest election since 1981 at that point, Cardinale defeated Democratic nominee Joseph Ariyan by 5,000 votes.

2003

During the 2003 general election in New Jersey Democrats gained a majority in the State Senate for the first time since 1992, however Cardinale still won re-election easily.

2001

In 2001, Republicans lost two seats in the State Senate making the partisan makeup a 20–20 split. Republicans lost the Governorship with the retirement of Governor Donald DiFrancesco and the election of James McGreevey. Regardless, Cardinale won re-election in the then-safe Republican 39th District.

1997

In 1997 Incumbent Republican Governor Christine Todd Whitman barely squeaked out a re-election win over State Senator and Woodbridge Township Mayor James McGreevey, Cardinale, who at this point was still serving as Deputy Majority Leader under the leadership of Majority Leader John O. Bennett and Senate President Donald DiFrancesco, cruised to re-election.

1993

Cardinale who was serving as Majority Whip easily beat Democratic nominee Stephen Jaffe.

1991

In the 1991 election, Republicans gained an overwhelming Majority in the State Senate. Cardinale was made Majority Whip following the election.

1987

Cardinale easily won re-election to a third term in 1987.

1983

In what was Cardinale's closest election since 1981 he faced now former State Senator Francis X. Herbert, who lost by a little under 2,000 votes.

1981

Then an Assemblyman, Cardinale ran for State Senate for the first time against incumbent Democratic State Senator Frank Herbert, Cardinale beat him by a wide margin.

New Jersey Assembly

1979

In 1979 Cardinale, again ran for General Assembly this time he won coming in first place.

1977

In 1977 Cardinale ran for General Assembly losing to Incumbent Harold Martin and newcomer Greta Kiernan.

United States House of Representatives

| title=2002 Republican Primary - United States House of Representatives 5th District}} |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Scott Garrett |votes = 16,234 |percentage = 44.9% |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = David C. Russo |votes = 9,229 |percentage = 25.7% |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Gerald Cardinale |votes = 9,109 |percentage = 25.5 |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Akram Yosri Abdelrahman |votes = 773 |percentage = 2.1 |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Brian Fox |votes = 665 |percentage = 1.8

New Jersey Governor

| title=1989 Republican gubernatorial primary}} |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = James A. Courter |votes = 112,326 |percentage = 29.0% |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = W. Cary Edwards |votes = 85,313 |percentage = 22.0% |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Chuck Hardwick |votes = 82.392 |percentage = 21.2% |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = William Gormley |votes = 66,430 |percentage = 17.1% |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Gerald Cardinale |votes = 32,250 |percentage = 8.3% |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Tom Blomquist |votes = 3,791 |percentage = 0.9% |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Lois Rand |votes = 2,553 |percentage = 0.6%

References

"New Jersey Legislature". Wayback Machine.
Johnson, Brent. (February 20, 2021). "Longtime N.J. lawmaker Gerald Cardinale dies at 86 following brief illness". Advance Publications.
He was a [[dentist]] by profession, and he had an office in [[Fort Lee, New Jersey]]. He resided in [[Demarest, New Jersey|Demarest]],[http://votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=4165 Senator S. Gerald Cardinale], [[Project Vote Smart]]. Accessed November 23, 2007.
[http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=119 Senator Cardinale's legislative web page], [[New Jersey Legislature]]. Accessed March 20, 2008.
(October 18, 2018). "Senate looks to close Saudino loophole". New Jersey Globe.
(March 12, 2019). "Statements on Marijuana Legalization". New Jersey Globe.
[[David Wildstein. Wildstein, David]]; and Biryukov, Nikita. [https://newjerseyglobe.com/legislature/schepisi-narrowly-defeats-auth-for-cardinale-senate-seat/ "Schepisi narrowly defeats Auth for Cardinale Senate seat"], ''New Jersey Globe'', March 9, 2021. Accessed January 30, 2024. "Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi (R-River Vale) narrowly won a State Senate seat on Tuesday evening, defeating Assemblyman Bob Auth (R-Old Tappan) by eight votes in a special election convention to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Gerald Cardinale last month."
"Gerald Cardinale (R)". New Jersey Legislature.
[[David Kocieniewski. Kocieniewski, David]]. [https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/05/nyregion/forrester-to-represent-gop-in-race-to-unseat-torricelli.html "Forrester to Represent G.O.P. in Race to Unseat Torricelli"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', June 5, 2002. Accessed January 30, 2024. "In the Republican primary to replace Representative Marge Roukema, who is retiring from her Fifth Congressional District seat, State Assemblyman E. Scott Garrett, defeated State Senator Gerald Cardinale, whom Mrs. Roukema had endorsed. With all precincts reporting, Mr. Garrett had 46 percent, to 25 percent for Mr. Cardinale and 26 percent for Assemblyman David C. Russo."
Demasters, Karen. [https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/09/nyregion/briefing-politics-primary-results.html "Briefing: Politics; Primary Results"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', June 9, 2002. Accessed January 30, 2024.
(February 20, 2021). "Senator Gerald Cardinale, D.D.S. obituary". The Record.
(February 20, 2021). "Senator Gerald Cardinale, one of New Jersey's longest-serving legislators, has died". North Jersey Media Group.
(February 20, 2021). "Veteran New Jersey state senator Gerald Cardinale dies at 86". Associated Press.
Wildstein, David. (February 20, 2021). "Senator Gerald Cardinale dies at 86". New Jersey Globe.
"NJ State Senate 39". Our Campaigns.
"2017-official-general-election-results-state-senate.pdf". New Jersey Department of State.
"NJ State Senate 39". Our Campaigns.
"2013-official-general-election-results-state-senate.pdf". New Jersey Department of State.
"2011-official-gen-elect-state-senate-results-121411.pdf". New Jersey Department of State.
"2007-official-general-election-tallies(ss)-12.3.07.pdf". New Jersey Department of State.
"2003g_s_candidate_tally.pdf". New Jersey Department of State.
"2001-general-elect-state-senate-tallies.pdf". New Jersey Department of State.
"1997-general-election-results-state-senate.pdf". New Jersey Department of State.
"1993-general-election-results-state-sen-gen-assembly.pdf". New Jersey Department of State.
"1991-general-election-results-st-senate-gen-assembly.pdf". New Jersey Department of State.
"1987-general-election-results-state-senate-general-assembly.pdf". New Jersey Department of State.
"1983-general-results-senate-gen-assembly.pdf". New Jersey Department of State.
(1981). "1981 General Election Results for State Senate – General Assembly". New Jersey Department of State.
"1979-general-election.pdf". New Jersey Department of State.
"1977-general-election.pdf". New Jersey Department of State.
"NJ District 5 - R Primary". Our Campaigns.
"NJ Governor - R Primary". Our Campaigns.

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