Joe Kyrillos
Member of the New Jersey Senate
from the 13th district
In office
January 14, 1992 – January 9, 2018
Preceded byJames Phillips
Succeeded byDeclan O'Scanlon
Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee
In office
2001–2004
Preceded byChuck Haytaian
Succeeded byTom Wilson
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly
from the 13th district
In office
January 12, 1988 – January 14, 1992
Preceded byJoseph Azzolina
Succeeded byJoseph Azzolina
Personal details
Born
Joseph M. Kyrillos Jr.

(1960-04-12) April 12, 1960
Kearny, New Jersey, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseSusan Doctorian
Children2
EducationHobart College (BA)
Boston University (MS)
WebsiteSenate website

Joseph M. Kyrillos Jr. (born April 12, 1960) is an American Republican Party politician and businessman from New Jersey. Kyrillos served in the New Jersey State Senate from 1992 to 2018, where he represented the 13th Legislative District, and in the General Assembly from 1988 to 1992.[1]

Kyrillos started the consulting firm SK partners and is employed with Newport Capital Group, Red Bank, a financial services firm. He is affiliated with Woodmont Properties, a regional real estate development company and is senior managing director of Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, a commercial real estate services firm.[2]

From 2001 to 2004, Kyrillos served as Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee and a member of the Republican National Committee. In that role, he facilitated the logistics and implementation of the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York City and read the delegate count for President George W. Bush’s nomination for re-election on the convention floor. He was the New Jersey Chairman of Mitt Romney’s campaign in 2008, and in 2009, he served as the Chairman of Governor Christie's successful campaign and as a member of the transition team. He served as a close advisor to former Florida Governor Jeb Bush in the 2016 Republican Party presidential primaries.[2][3]

Early life and education

Joseph M. Kyrillos Jr. was born April 12, 1960, in Kearny, New Jersey, one of four children of a pediatrician, Dr. Joseph M. Kyrillos, and his wife, Marguerite Kyrillos (née Shlala), who wed on May 11, 1958.[4] His father and his mother's parents immigrated to the United States from Lebanon. His maternal grandfather worked as a tool and die maker at Thomas Edison's factory in West Orange. His mother graduated from college at age 50.[5]

Kyrillos graduated from Rumson Country Day School and the Lawrenceville School.[6] He received a B.A. degree from Hobart College in Political Science and was awarded an M.S. from Boston University in Communications.[1]

After graduating from college, Kyrillos worked for Vice President George Bush during the 1984 Reagan-Bush campaign.[7] Following the campaign, he served as Special Assistant to Secretary of the Interior Donald Hodel from 1985 to 1987.[8]

Kyrillos has served on the Executive Committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures and as a trustee of the American Council of Young Political Leaders.[2]

New Jersey Assembly (1988–1992)

Elections

Kyrillos was first elected to the New Jersey General Assembly in 1987, together with his incumbent running mate Joann H. Smith, with both candidates receiving more than $25,000 each in campaign funding from the $1.1 million spent by the New Jersey Republican State Committee to support candidates statewide.[9][10] In 1989, he won re-election to a second term.[11] After spending two terms in the Assembly, he retired to run for the seat in the New Jersey Senate in 1991.[12]

Tenure

Kyrillos strongly opposed Democratic Governor Jim Florio's tax increases, citing his opposition to "the Florio tax plan" repeatedly in his campaign advertising.[13] He also opposed the Abbott districts.

Committee assignments

  • Assembly Education Committee[14]

New Jersey Senate (1992–2018)

Elections

In 1991, Kyrillos decided to run for the 13th District seat in the New Jersey Senate. He defeated incumbent appointed Senator James T. Phillips 68%-32%.[15][16] In 1993, after redistricting, he won re-election to a second term with 64% of the vote.[17] In 1997, he won re-election to a third term with 63% of the vote.[18]

After redistricting, the 13th district became more competitive. In 2001, he won re-election to a fourth term (two-year term) with 64% of the vote.[19] He won re-election to a fifth term in 2003 against former state assemblyman Bill Flynn 54%-41%.[20] In 2007, he won re-election to a sixth term with 61% of the vote.[21] In 2011, he won re-election to a seventh term, defeating Hazlet Mayor Chris Cullen, 60%-37%.[22]

Tenure

When Republicans held the legislative majority in the Statehouse, Kyrillos served as Majority Conference Leader and chaired standing committees on economic development and coastal resources.[2]

Kyrillos was ranking member of the Economic Growth, Judiciary and Legislative Oversight committees.[23]

On October 25, 2016, Kyrillos told Observer.com that he would not seek a re-election for the 2017 State Senate elections.[24] He was succeeded by Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon in 2018.

Committee assignments

  • Senate Natural Resources and Tourism Committee (Chairman)[25]
  • Senate Economic Growth Committee
  • Senate Judiciary Committee
  • Senate Oversight Committee[1]
Other positions

District 13

Each of the forty districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey Senate and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly. The Assembly representatives from the 13th District for the 2014–2015 Legislative Session were:[26]

Other political activities

1992 congressional election

In 1992, Kyrillos ran for the United States House of Representatives but was defeated by incumbent Democrat Frank Pallone in a competitive race, falling short by about 10 points.[27]

2001–2004: Chairman, New Jersey Republican State Committee

From 2001 to 2004, Kyrillos served as Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee and a member of the Republican National Committee, where he worked to elect Republicans who shared his vision. In that role, he facilitated the logistics and implementation of the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York City and read the delegate count for President George W. Bush's nomination for re-election on the convention floor.[2]

2008 Romney presidential campaign

Kyrillos was the New Jersey Chairman of Mitt Romney's 2008 presidential campaign.[7]

2009 Christie gubernatorial campaign

In 2009, Kyrillos served as chairman of Chris Christie's successful gubernatorial campaign and was a member of the Governor's Transition Committee, serving as the liaison to all transition sub-committees.[28]

2012 U.S. Senate election

In June 2011, Kyrillos filed an exploratory committee for a potential race in either 2012 or 2014.[29][30]

On January 19, 2012, Kyrillos officially decided to run for the U.S. Senate, citing unemployment, housing prices and the national debt as issues he would tackle in the Senate.[31][32] Kyrillos won the Republican nomination on June 5, 2012. He opposed Democratic incumbent Bob Menendez in the November 6th general election, in which he was defeated 58.4% to 40%.

Memberships

Kyrillos has served on the boards of the American Council of Young Political Leaders, National Conference of State Legislatures Foundation, Bayshore Senior Day Center, Count Basie Theatre, Garden State Arts Center Foundation, Monmouth County Historical Association, New Jersey Historical Society, Prevention First, Rainbow Foundation, and the Two River Theatre Company.[8]

Personal life

Kyrillos is married to Susan Doctorian Kyrillos and has two children, Max and Georgia.

Election history

New Jersey State Senate elections, 2013[33]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Kyrillos (incumbent) 40,762 68.1
Democratic Joseph Marques 18,289 30.6
The People's Choice Mac Dara F. Lyden 774 1.3
Republican hold
United States Senate election in New Jersey, 2012[34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Bob Menendez (incumbent) 1,987,680 58.87% +5.50%
Republican Joseph Kyrillos 1,329,534 39.37% -4.98%
Libertarian Kenneth R. Kaplan 16,803 0.50% -0.15%
Green Ken Wolski 15,801 0.47%
Independent Gwen Diakos 9,359 0.28%
Independent J. David Dranikoff 3,834 0.11%
Independent Inder "Andy" Soni 3,593 0.11%
Independent Robert "Turk" Turkavage 3,532 0.10%
Socialist Greg Pason 2,249 0.07%
Independent Eugene M. LaVergne 2,198 0.07%
Independent Daryl Brooks 2,066 0.06%
Majority 658,146 19.49%
Turnout 3,376,649
New Jersey State Senate elections, 2011[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joseph M. Kyrillos (incumbent) 24,121 60.0
Democratic Christopher G. Cullen 14,785 36.7
Constitution Stephen J. Boracchia 556 1.4%
Keep Monmouth Green Karen Anne Zaletel 519 1.3%
Jobs-Economy-Honesty Mac Dara F. Lyden 260 0.6%
Republican hold
New Jersey State Senate elections, 2007[35]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joseph M. Kyrillos (incumbent) 25,119 60.7
Democratic Leonard L. Inzerillo 16,267 39.3
Republican hold

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Senator Kyrillos' legislative web page, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed February 21, 2008.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Joe Kyrillos for Senate".
  3. ↑ "One of Chris Christie's biggest allies is throwing his support to Jeb Bush". Business Insider. Retrieved 2016-10-05.
  4. ↑ "Joe Kyrillos hitches wagon to Gov. Christie in bid to win U.S. Senate seat". August 30, 2012.
  5. ↑ "A Q + A with State Sen. Joseph Kyrillos". 26 August 2012.
  6. ↑ Independence Day Honors, Lawrenceville School, July 4, 2005. Accessed September 21, 2007.
  7. 1 2 "Press Release - Governor Mitt Romney Announces New Jersey State Leadership". The American Presidency Project. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  8. 1 2 "Joseph M. Kyrillos Jr". Joseph Kyrillos profile. State Surge. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
  9. ↑ Staff. "STATE GOP COMMITTEE SPENT $1.1 MILLION ON '87 ELECTION BIDS", The Philadelphia Inquirer, January 20, 1988. Accessed June 25, 2012. "The GOP committee spent heavily in the 13th District, doling out $25478 apiece to Assemblywoman Joann Smith (R., Middlesex), who was re-elected, and Assemblyman Joseph Kyrillos (R., Monmouth), who begins his first term."
  10. ↑ "Candidates for the Offices of State Senate and General Assembly" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. 1987. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Candidates for the Office of General Assembly" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. 1989. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Kyrillos biography". New Jersey State Senate. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
  13. ↑ King, Wayne. "G.O.P. Runs Against Florio, Who's Not Running", The New York Times, September 24, 1991. Accessed June 22, 2012. "Nonetheless, 'the Florio factor' is already established political jargon in New Jersey, an integral part of discussions about races like the one in the 13th Legislative District in Monmouth and Middlesex Counties. Joseph Kyrillos, the Republican Assemblyman who is trying to take away the Senate seat of Jim Phillips, mentions the Governor and 'the Florio tax plan' no fewer than four times in a 60-second radio commercial, and Mr. Phillips not once."
  14. ↑ Staff. "FAST ACTION PROMISED ON SCHOOLS RULING RAISES QUESTIONS OF COST", The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 6, 1990. Accessed June 25, 2012. "Assemblyman Joseph Kyrillos (R., Monmouth), a member of the Education Committee, said crafting a response to the court ruling would take time."
  15. ↑ King, Wayne (October 24, 1991). "Florio Urges Democrats To Fight Back". The New York Times. Retrieved July 3, 2015. State Senator James T. Phillips, Democrat of Old Bridge, who is filling out an unexpired term and was not in the Legislature when the taxes were approved last year...
  16. ↑ "Official Results - General Election - November 5, 1991" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. 1991. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Official list - General Election Returns for the Office of Senate and Assembly" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. November 24, 1993. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Official Results - General Election Returns for the Office of State Senate" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. December 2, 1997. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  19. ↑ "Official List - Candidate Returns for State Senate For November 2001 General Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. April 17, 2008. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  20. ↑ "Official List - Candidate Returns for State Senate For November 2003 General Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. December 2, 2003. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  21. ↑ "Official List - Candidate Returns for State Senate For November 2007 General Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. December 3, 2007. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  22. 1 2 Official List Candidate Returns for State Senate For November 2011 General Election, New Jersey Department of State, December 14, 2011. Accessed January 9, 2012.
  23. ↑ Hunger, Matt. "Kyrillos looks to the right and left at four challengers fighting long odds for his seat". NJ Spotlight. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  24. ↑ "Exclusive: Joe Kyrillos Declines to Seek Re-Election". The New York Observer. 25 October 2016.
  25. ↑ McGarry, Michael. "SHORE SUMMIT AT SEA ON WAY TO FUND PLANS", The Press of Atlantic City, February 19, 1992. Accessed June 25, 2012. "'That's the political question we have to answer,' state Sen. Joseph N. Kyrillos Jr., R-Monmouth, chairman of the Senate Natural Resources and Tourism Committee, said later."
  26. ↑ "Legislative Roster 2014-2015 Session". New Jersey Legislature. Archived from the original on November 2, 2013. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  27. ↑ King, Wayne. "THE 1992 ELECTIONS: NEW JERSEY -- U.S. HOUSE RACES; All 10 Incumbents Win Re-election, and Democrats Keep Majority in Delegation', The New York Times, November 4, 1992. Accessed June 15, 2011. "The Democrats also retained the seat held by Frank Pallone Jr., an incumbent. He defeated his Republican opponent in the Sixth District, State Senator Joseph M. Kyrillos, with a margin of 55 percent to 45 percent with 85 percent of the vote counted."
  28. ↑ Johnson, Glen. "Romney Still in the Political Hunt" , Associated Press, April 10, 2008. "New Jersey state Sen. Joseph Kyrillos, who served as Romney's New Jersey campaign chairman, said he has received four thank-you phone messages from Romney, which is more telling than the buttoned-down persona of the campaign."
  29. ↑ Burton, Cynthia. "Republican Kyrillos, running now for state Senate, eyes 2012 Senate run", The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 14, 2011. Accessed June 15, 2011.
  30. ↑ Pizarro, Max. Source: Kyrillos sets up exploratory committee for U.S. Senate run", PolitckerNJ, June 12, 2011. Accessed June 15, 2011.
  31. ↑ Delli Santi, Angela (January 19, 2012). "GOP NJ Sen. Kyrillos to run for US Senate". Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
  32. ↑ Pizarro, Max (January 19, 2012). "Kyrillos's formal statement on running for U.S. Senate". Politicker NJ.
  33. ↑ "Official List Candidates for State Senate For GENERAL ELECTION 11/05/2015 Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. December 4, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 4, 2015. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  34. ↑ "Official List Candidates for US Senate - For GENERAL ELECTION 11/06/2012" (PDF). New Jersey Secretary of State. December 6, 2012. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  35. ↑ Official List Candidate Returns for State Senate For November 2007 General Election, New Jersey Department of State, December 3, 2007. Accessed June 22, 2012.
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