Gerald H. Zecker

Who is Gerald H. Zecker?

Gerald H. Zecker is an American Republican Party politician who served 18 years in the New Jersey General Assembly, from 1984 to 2002, where he represented the 34th Legislative District, losing office after several heavily Democratic communities were added to his district in the 2001 apportionment following the 2000 United States Census. He served as mayor of Clifton, New Jersey from 1978 to 1982.

An insurance executive by profession, Zecker earned an undergraduate degree in business and accounting from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He served on Clifton's City Council from 1974 to 1986, on its planning board from 1976 to 1985 and was the city's mayor from 1978 to 1982.

Zecker was first elected to the Assembly in 1983, filling the seat occupied by Terry LaCorte, a one-term Republican incumbent who gave up his seat to mount an unsuccessful primary challenge to State Senator Joseph L. Bubba. He served in the Assembly as Assistant Minority Leader in 1990, as Deputy Minority Leader in 1991, as Speaker Pro Tempore from 1992 to 1995 and as Deputy Speaker starting in 1996. Zecker served on the Education Committee and the Policy and Regulatory Oversight Committee.