Donald DiFrancesco

Donald DiFrancesco, 2014

Donald Thomas DiFrancesco (born November 20, 1944 in Scotch Plains , New Jersey ) is an American politician ( Republican Party ). He was governor of the state of New Jersey from 2001 to 2002 .

Early years and political advancement

Donald DiFrancesco attended Pennsylvania State University until 1966 and then studied law at the Seton Hall School of Law . He then became a member of a law firm. In 1976 he was elected to the New Jersey House of Representatives; since 1979 he was a member of the State Senate , of which he became President in 1992. In the Senate in 1989, he was involved in the passage of the New Jersey Family Leave Act . According to this law, which was later adopted by the federal government, the jobs of employees who look after family members at home are secured. He also campaigned for the lowering of property taxes, the improvement of the education and health system, environmental protection, the expansion of infrastructure and, in particular, road construction.

Governor of New Jersey and another résumé

After Governor Christine Todd Whitman resigned from office on January 31, 2001 to enter the government of President George W. Bush as head of the Environmental Protection Agency , DiFrancesco had to assume the office of governor as acting Senate President in accordance with the state constitution. Since he remained President of the Senate, he was unusually powerful in this dual function, which made clear the need for a constitutional amendment among MPs. DiFrancesco served as governor between January 31, 2001 and January 8, 2002 for almost a year. The governor's term of office would have continued until January 15; the previous Senate, for which he was not running again, and with it his presidential office, however, had already expired a few days earlier. The aforementioned constitutional amendment from 2005, which introduced the office of vice governor, was also linked to the fact that DiFrancesco's term of office was subsequently declared that of a full governor, as it lasted longer than 180 days. In August 2001, he enjoyed a 54% approval rating from New Jersey residents. It is noteworthy that support for his policies was 48% among supporters of the opposition Democratic Party . However, he gave up his intended candidacy for a full term as governor in April 2001 when he became aware of the great public appraisal of his life and his family through such an election campaign.

Donald DiFranceso later became a board member of a New Jersey-based bank and a member of a law firm. He has three children with his wife Diane DiFrancesco.

Web links

• Donald DiFrancesco in the National Governors Association (English)