William Hamilton

ELEC Photo

Former Assembly Majority Leader Albert Burstein

Two Democratic members of the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission, who may play a critical role in deciding the fate of Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Lonegan, are Trenton veterans who have spent six decades in New Jersey politics.  Both Albert Burstein and Jerry Fitzgerald English have enjoyed successful political careers, although each fell quite short of achieving their full public service ambitions.

Burstein (D-Tenafly), now 86-years-old, was widely viewed as one of the most intellectually superior and independent members of the New Jersey Legislature, where he served from 1972 to 1982, but he was also a late bloomer who fell short in several opportunities to move up.  Burstein started out in politics in 1959 as counsel to the Jersey City Charter Commission and became active in Tenafly politics in the 1960's.  He was elected to the State Assembly in 1971, when legislative redistricting created a new Englewood/Teaneck seat that leaned toward the Democrats.  Running with Byron Baer, Burstein beat Jim O'Dowd (who would later serve as Bergenfield Mayor and Bergen County Freeholder) by 2,335 votes.

When legislative districts were redrawn for the 1973 elections, the newly-created 37th became even more Democratic.  But neither Burstein nor Baer got the chance to challenge the incumbent Republican Senator, Joseph Woodcock.  That opportunity went to Bergen County Democratic Chairman Matthew Feldman, a former Teaneck Mayor who had served in the Senate from 1966 to 1968.  Feldman easily beat Woodcock and Burstein and Baer coasted to win second terms.

Under the current New Jersey Constitution, only seven Assembly Speakers have won election to the State Senate and only two, William Hamilton (D-Middlesex) and Barry Parker (R-Burlington) were sitting Speakers while running for State Senator.   

Hamilton was serving his first year as Speaker when seven-term incumbent John A. Lynch, Sr. retired in 1977.  Hamilton ran in the Democratic primary for Governor four years later, clearing the way for John A. Lynch, the Mayor of New Brunswick, to win a Senate seat. 

Parker was Speaker in 1971, the year he won a seat in the State Senate.  He was serving as Senate Minority Leader in 1981 when he left the Legislature to seek the Republican nomination for Governor.

Assembly Speaker Marion West Higgins (R-Bergen) ran for State Senator and lost the 1965 general election.  She remains the only woman to have served as Speaker.