John A. Waddington

John A. Waddington
New Jersey State Senator
In office
January 1956 – January 1968
Preceded by John M. Summerill, Jr.
Succeeded by John L. White
Senate Minority Leader
In office
January 1958 – January 1959
Succeeded by Joseph W. Cowgill
Senate Minority Leader
In office
January 1965 – January 1966
Senate Majority Leader
In office
January 1967 – January 1968
Preceded by Sido L. Ridolfi
Succeeded by Frank X. McDermott
New Jersey Assemblyman
In office
January 1954 – January 1956
Preceded by Peter B. Hoff
Succeeded by John W. Davis
Personal details
Born John A. Waddington
(1911-05-10)May 10, 1911
Salem, New Jersey, U.S.
Died June 4, 1981 (1981 -06-04) (aged 70)
Salem, New Jersey, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Kathryn Mulhern Waddington
Alma mater University of Delaware
Religion Society of Friends (Quaker)

John A. Waddington (May 10, 1911 – June 4, 1981) was an American Democratic Party politician who served as Majority Leader of the New Jersey State Senate.

Early life

He was a graduate of the University of Delaware. He was a teacher at Salem High School, and later worked as a personnel director for the du Pont corporation of Delaware As a Quaker, Waddington claimed a religious exemption during World War II. After the war, he did relief and rehabilitation work in Italy with the American Friends Service Committee (Quakers).

New Jersey State Assemblyman

He was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly in 1953.[1] He defeated Republican Peter B. Hoff, who had served as an Assemblyman since 1944.

New Jersey State Senator

Waddington was elected to the New Jersey State Senate in 1955, representing Salem County. He defeated incumbent Republican Senator John M. Summerill by 1,138 votes, 9,836 (53.05%) to 8,698 (46.92%).[2] He was re-elected in 1959, defeating former Assemblyman Peter B. Hoff (whom Waddington unseated in the 1953 Assembly race) by 4,043 votes, 12,215 (59.92%) to 8,172 (40.08%).[3] He won a third term in 1963, defeating Republican Joseph Narrow by 5,253 votes, 13,665 (61.86%) to 8,412 (38.08%).

He had to run again in 1965 after the U.S. Supreme Court, in Reynolds v. Sims (more commonly known as One Man, One Vote), required redistricting by state legislatures for congressional districts to keep represented populations equal, as well as requiring both houses of state legislatures to have districts drawn that contained roughly equal populations, and to perform redistricting when needed.[4] Because of its population, Salem and Cumberland counties were merged into one district with one Senator. He defeated Cumberland County Republican Chairman John J. Spoltore, a former Mayor of Bridgeton, by 7,902 votes, 32,292 (56.92%) to 24,390 (42.99%).[5] He won Salem County by a 2-1 margin, and carried Cumberland by a narrow 577 vote margin.[6] Waddington served as Senate Minority Leader in 1958[7] and 1966, and as the Senate Majority Leader in 1967.[8]

New rounds of court battles and redistricting forced Waddington to run again in 1967, in an election cycle that was less favorable toward Democrats (it was the mid-term election of the second term of Democratic Governor Richard J. Hughes). This time Waddington ran in the Third Senate District, 3A, which included all of Salem County and part of Gloucester County. He was defeated by two-term Republican Assemblyman John L. White (R-Gloucester]] by 4,830 votes, 28,456 (54.6%) to 23,635 (45.4%).[9] Waddington won Salem County by 3,328 votes, but White's margin in the Gloucester County part of the district was 8,149.[10]

Salem County Freeholder

After losing his Senate seat, Waddington was elected to the Salem County Board of Freeholders and served as Freeholder Director.[11]

Candidate for Governor of New Jersey

In 1973, Waddington explored a bid for the Democratic nomination for Governor of New Jersey. He was one of five candidates to be interviewed by a special committee of ten Democratic County Chairmen formed by Democratic State Chairman Salvatore Bontempo in an effort to unite the party establishment behind a single challenger to Republican Governor William Cahill. Waddington decided against entering the race, which was won by Brendan Byrne.[12]

New Jersey Director of Motor Vehicles

Governor Byrne appointed him to serve as the Director of the New Jersey Division of Motor Vehicles in 1974. His nomination was confirmed by the State Senate 39-0.[13]

Death

Waddington died in 1981, at age 70.[14]

References

  1. ↑ Fitzgerald's Legislative Manual of New Jersey. Joseph J. Gribbons. 1959. p. 365.
  2. ↑ "Our Campaigns". Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  3. ↑ "Our Campaigns". Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  4. ↑ "JERSEY ORDERED TO REAPPORTION; Judge Finds Congressional Districts Unconstitutional". New York Times. 21 May 1965.
  5. ↑ "Our Campaigns". Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  6. ↑ "Results of the General Election" (PDF). New Jersey Division of Elections. State of New Jersey.
  7. ↑ Fitzgerald's Legislative Manual of New Jersey. Joseph J. Gribbons. 1959. p. 365.
  8. ↑ "JOHN WADDINGTON, 70, JERSEY AIDE". New York Times. 4 June 1981. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  9. ↑ "Our Campaigns". Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  10. ↑ "Results of the General Election" (PDF). New Jersey Division of Elections. State of New Jersey. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  11. ↑ "JOHN WADDINGTON, 70, JERSEY AIDE". New York Times. 4 June 1981. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  12. ↑ Sullivan, Ronald (31 January 1973). "Insurgent Democrats Reported Urging Byrne to Enter Primary; Invitation Is Declined". New York Times.
  13. ↑ "New Jersey Briefs; 3 Held in High Bail on Heroin Charge College Strike Talks Scheduled Today Waddington Confirmed by Senate A $13.3-Billion U.S. Tax Bill Seen 8-Inch Howitzers to Sound at Dix". New York Times. 4 February 1974.
  14. ↑ "JOHN WADDINGTON, 70, JERSEY AIDE". New York Times. 4 June 1981. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
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