Chris Daggett | |
---|---|
Independent candidate for Governor of New Jersey |
|
Election date November 3, 2009 |
|
Running mate | Frank Esposito |
Opponent(s) |
Jon Corzine (D) Chris Christie (R) 10 Others |
Incumbent | Jon Corzine |
Personal details | |
Born |
Christopher Jarvis Daggett March 7, 1950 Orange, New Jersey, U.S. |
Political party | Independent |
Spouse(s) | Bea Horvath Daggett |
Alma mater |
University of North Carolina, B.A. University of Massachusetts Amherst, Ed.D. |
Christopher Jarvis "Chris" Daggett (born March 7, 1950) is the President and CEO of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, one of the largest foundations in New Jersey. A former regional administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, he ran as an independent candidate for Governor of New Jersey in 2009, garnering 5.8% of the vote.
Daggett was born in Orange, New Jersey and was raised in Linwood. He later moved to Bernards Township and attended Ridge High School. He graduated from the University of North Carolina and went on to the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he received a Doctor of Education degree in 1977.
Daggett returned to New Jersey and worked on the 1977 gubernatorial campaign of Republican Party candidate Raymond Bateman against the incumbent Brendan Byrne.
In 1981, he joined the campaign of Republican gubernatorial candidate Thomas Kean. When Kean was elected Governor, Daggett served as deputy chief of staff specializing in education policy. In 1984, Daggett was named regional administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency for Region 2, which includes New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. He was recommended for the position by Governor Kean.