Anthony Imperiale Archives

Marie Villani, Newark city councilwoman for 20 years, dies at 100

July 17, 2021 10:26 pmJuly 19, 2021 9:39 am

HMarie L. Villani, a six-term Newark City Councilwoman and the first woman to win a citywide election in the state’s largest city, died on July 13. She turned 100 on July 4. Villani was appointed to fill an at-large city...

Sherrill endorses Fontoura for re-election

May 16, 2021 2:07 pmMay 17, 2021 12:13 am

Praising his efforts to get guns off the streets and his role in responding COVID-19, Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair) has endorsed Armando Fontoura for re-election to an 11th term as Essex County Sheriff. “Sheriff Fontoura and his office have played...

Trailblazer: Congressman Donald Payne Sr.

January 18, 2021 12:10 amJanuary 17, 2021 1:57 pm

Donald Payne, Sr. (1934-2012) was the first Black to represent New Jersey in the U.S. House of Representatives. He had run for Congress twice before winning the seat in 1988. In 1970, Payne became the first African American to serve...

Trailblazer: Mayor Kenneth Gibson

January 18, 2021 12:09 amJanuary 17, 2021 1:51 pm

Kenneth Gibson (1932-2019) became the first Black to serve as mayor of a major northeastern city when he ousted two-term incumbent Hugh Addonizio in 1970. Gibson had served as an engineer for the New Jersey Highway Department and as the...

Trailblazer: Speaker S. Howard Woodson

January 18, 2021 12:04 amJanuary 16, 2021 10:31 pm

Rev. S. Howard Woodson (1916-1999) was the first Black to serve as Speaker of the New Jersey State Assembly. He held the post in 1974 and 1975. He was the first black to serve as a Speaker in any state...

Happy Birthday, Jim Florio

August 29, 2020 8:16 pmAugust 30, 2020 12:02 am

Happy Birthday to former Gov. Jim Florio, who turned 83 today. Florio has been a fixture in New Jersey politics since 1969, when he won a seat in the New Jersey. He spent fifteen years as a congressman from South...

N.J. Supreme Court: The Byrne Court

June 7, 2020 10:03 pmJune 7, 2020 10:57 pm

Gov. Brendan Byrne’s first opportunity to nominate a Supreme Court Justice came in early 1975 when Associate Justice Nathan Jacobs turned 70. He asked former Chief Justice Joseph Weintraub to vet candidates for the post. His pick was Sidney Schreiber,...