Jim Florio | |
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Florio in 2000
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49th Governor of New Jersey | |
In office January 16, 1990 – January 18, 1994 |
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Preceded by | Thomas Kean |
Succeeded by | Christine Todd Whitman |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 1st district |
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In office January 3, 1975 – January 16, 1990 |
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Preceded by | John E. Hunt |
Succeeded by | Rob Andrews |
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly from 5th Legislative District |
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In office January 8, 1974 – January 3, 1975 Serving with Ernest F. Schuck |
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Preceded by | District created |
Succeeded by | Ronald J. Casella |
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly from Legislative District 3D |
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In office January 13, 1970 – January 8, 1974 Serving with John J. Horn |
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Preceded by | Lee B. Laskin |
Succeeded by | District dissolved |
Personal details | |
Born |
James Joseph Florio August 29, 1937 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Lucinda Florio |
Alma mater |
The College of New Jersey (B.A.) Rutgers School of Law–Camden (J.D.) |
Religion | Roman Catholic |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/branch | United States Navy |
Years of service | 1955-1975 |
Rank | Lieutenant Commander |
James Joseph "Jim" Florio (born August 29, 1937) is a Democratic politician who served as the 49th Governor of New Jersey from 1990 to 1994, the first Italian American to hold the position (he is of half Italian ancestry). He also served as a member of the United States House of Representatives for 15 years between 1975 and 1990.
Florio was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. His father was of Italian descent and his mother was a Protestant of Scottish, Irish, and German descent. In Brooklyn, he attended Erasmus Hall High School.
He attended Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey) and received a law degree from Rutgers School of Law–Camden (1967). He was an amateur boxer. He served as an enlisted man in the United States Navy from 1955 to 1958, and afterwards was a reservist until 1975 eventually achieving the rank of Lieutenant Commander. After being admitted to the bar, Florio became the assistant city attorney for the City of Camden, a position he would hold until 1971. He was the borough solicitor for the New Jersey towns of Runnemede, Woodlynne, and Somerdale from 1969 until 1974.
In both 1969 and 1971, Florio was elected to represent Legislative District 3D in the New Jersey General Assembly, covering portions of Camden County, each time with Democratic running mate John J. Horn, whom Florio had served as a legislative aide while he was still in law school. He was elected in 1973, together with Ernest F. Schuck, to represent the 5th Legislative District in the General Assembly, which covered portions of Camden Couny and Gloucester County; Florio resigned in 1975 to take a seat in Congress.