Jack Trafford, fabled authority on N.J. local government, dies at 88

The legendary Jack Trafford, a hugely respected expert on state and local government who spent 37 years at the New Jersey League of Municipalities, died on Saturday morning after a long illness.  He was 88.

Trafford joined the league in 1958, when he was in his 20s, and became executive director in 1980 following the retirement of Robert Furst.  He led the organization, which advocates for municipal governments, until his retirement in 1995.

“His leadership work at the League in the 1980s and early 1990s tirelessly promoted New Jersey’s municipalities, advocating for them with federal and state legislations and offices to ensure local governments got their fair share of revenues and striving to ease the burdens on local property taxpayers,” said Michael Cerra, the current executive director.

During his tenure at the League of Municipalities, Trafford  was the editor of the league’s magazine – many of his original photos appeared in the publication – and worked in the legislative analysis program and the Bureau of Municipal Information.   He helped initiate independent training and education programs for local officials.

According to Cerra, who announced Trafford’s passing, the former league official helped guide municipalities in their push for tort reform and for their statutory authority to form alliances to insure against liability claims.  Cerra said that the passage of the Municipal Joint Insurance and Excess Liability Fund led to affordable options to traditional local insurance agreements.

“His leadership work at the League in the 1980s and early 1990s tirelessly promoted New Jersey’s municipalities, advocating for them with federal and state legislations and offices to ensure local governments got their fair share of revenues and striving to ease the burdens on local property taxpayers,” Cerra said.

Trafford is survived by his two children and five grandchildren.