Ronald Rice

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Ronald Rice bigraphy, stories - New Jersey State Senator

Ronald Rice : biography

December 18, 1945 –

Ronald L. Rice (born December 18, 1945) is an American Democratic Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey State Senate since 1986, where he represents the 28th Legislative District. While serving in the Senate, Rice has held a variety of different leadership roles including Associate Minority Leader (1998-2001), Assistant Deputy Minority Leader (1994-1997), and Assistant Majority Leader (1990-1991). His son, Ronald C. Rice, is a city councilman in Newark, New Jersey. He is the fourth-most senior senator in the state, behind Richard Codey, Gerald Cardinale, and Raymond Lesniak.

2006 Mayoral bid

Rice had run for unsuccessfully for Mayor of Newark in 1998.

On March 6, 2006, Rice entered the mayoral race again, noting "that Mayor James had encouraged him to run but noted that if the mayor decided to join the race, his candidacy could change.". The New York Times, March 6, 2006 On March 27, 2006, James announced that he would not seek a sixth term, preferring to focus on his seat in the New Jersey Senate. NJ.com / Star-Ledger, March 28, 2006.

On Election Day, May 9, 2006, Newark’s nonpartisan election took place. Former City Councilman Cory Booker won with 72% of the vote, soundly defeating Rice, the runner-up, who received 23%., ABC News, May 9, 2006.

Career

Rice served 16 years on the Newark City Council (1982-1998), and he was the Deputy Mayor of Newark, a position he held from 2002 until March 2006. He stepped down as deputy mayor in order to run for mayor.

Rice serves in the Senate on the Community and Urban Affairs Committee (as Chair), the Joint Committee on the Public Schools and the Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.

Rice was one of New Jersey’s presidential electors casting the state’s Electoral College votes after the 2004 presidential election. New Jersey’s electors cast their ballots on December 13, 2004 in the State House Annex, in Trenton, where all 15 votes were cast for the Democratic Party candidate John Kerry., National Archives and Records Administration. Accessed July 10, 2007.

Rice received an A.S. from Essex County College in Police Science, a B.S. from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Administration and Planning and an M.A. from Rutgers University in Criminal Justice. He has also attended but never graduated from the Rutgers School of Law—Newark., New Jersey Legislature. Accessed April 14, 2008.

February 13, 2012: Rice was one of only two Democrats in the NJ Legislature to vote no on marriage equality, opposing passage of a bill mandating marriage equality in New Jersey, the other dissenting Democrat was Jeff Van Drew.Staff. , The Star-Ledger, February 13, 2012. Accessed June 24, 2012. "Two Democrats, Sen. Ronald Rice (D-Essex) and Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-Cape May), voted no."

Election History

District 28

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 28th District for the 2012-2013 Legislative Session are:, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 11, 2012.

  • Assemblyman Ralph R. Caputo and
  • Assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker