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Revision as of 16:35, 13 December 2007 by Alansohn (talk | contribs) (recast lead)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)| Donald M. Payne | |
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 10th district | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 3, 1989 | |
| Preceded by | Peter Rodino |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Widowed |
Donald Milford Payne (b. July 16 1934, Newark, New Jersey) is an American Democratic Party politician from New Jersey who represents the state's 10th Congressional district in the United States House of Representatives, which encompasses most of the city of Newark, parts of Jersey City and Elizabeth, and some suburban communities in Essex and Union counties. He is the first African American to represent New Jersey in Congress.
Early Life
Payne was born in Newark, New Jersey and was a 1952 graduate of Barringer High School. He did his undergraduate studies at Seton Hall University. After graduating he pursued post-graduate studies in Springfield College in Massachusetts. Before being elected to Congress in 1988, Payne served in the Newark Municipal Council, was on the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders, was an executive at Prudential Financial, was Vice President of Urban Data Systems Inc., and was a teacher in the Newark Public Schools.
Career
Payne ran against Congressman Peter Rodino in the 1980 and 1986 Democratic primaries but lost both times. Rodino retired in 1988, and Payne easily won his seat in the House of Representatives to become New Jersey's first and currently only African American member of Congress.
Since his election to Congress, he has won all nine successive elections without much challenge. In 2002, Payne ran against no Republican opponent gaining 84.5% of the vote, winning the highest margin of the vote than in any other New Jersey Congressional race. In the 2004 Congressional race the Republicans again had no candidate on the ballot and Payne easily won, with 97% of the vote, against Green Party candidate () Toy-Ling Washington and Socialist Workers Party candidate Sara J. Lobman.
Payne's voting record is considered to be the most consistently liberal of all New Jersey Congressmen. He is pro-choice and against the death penalty. He is a member, and former chair, of the Congressional Black Caucus and was chosen in 2002 by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to serve on the Democratic Steering Committee. The Democratic Steering Committee chooses which House Committees each individual Democratic Congressmen will serve on and also plays a crucial part in shaping the Democratic legislative agenda. In international issues Payne has been active in issues relating to Africa, particularly that of the current conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan.
On June 22 2001 Payne was arrested after protesting against the Sudanese government at Sudan's Embassy in Washington, D.C.. He is a supporter and has endorsed the Genocide Intervention Network.
He was one of the 31 who voted in the House to not count the electoral votes from Ohio in the United States presidential election, 2004.
Payne received an "A" on the liberal Drum Major Institute's 2005 Congressional Scorecard on middle-class issues
Donald Payne's brother, William D. Payne, serves in the New Jersey General Assembly representing the 29th legislative district of New Jersey, his nephew, Craig A. Stanley, serves in the General Assembly representing the 28th legislative district, and his son, Donald M. Payne, Jr., serves as a councilman in the Newark City Council.
In December of 2006, Payne voted against a House resolution brought in honor of the 25-year anniversary of the death of Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Faulkner, condemning the decision by the city of St. Denis, France, to name a street in honor of Mumia Abu-Jamal, who was convicted of Faulkner's murder.
Committee assignments
References
- [http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/nj10_109.gif Map
- May, Clifford D. "After 40 Years Making the Law, Rodino Now Teaches It", The New York Times, January 27, 1989. Accessed December 12, 2007. "Peter Rodino is one of my heroes, said Representative Donald Payne, who this month succeeded Mr. Rodino and became the first black Congressman from New Jersey."
- Congressional biography of Donald Milford Payne, Jr., United States Congress. Accessed June 8, 2007.
- Final Vote Results for Roll Call 7, Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, January 6, 2005. Accessed June 26, 2007.
- Congress at the Midterm: Their 2005 Middle-Class Record, Drum Major Institute. Accessed June 26, 2007.
- 12/12/06 The Democrats' Free Mumia Caucus, Philadelphia Bulletin, December 12, 2006.
External links
- U.S. Congressman Donald M. Payne official House site
- Template:CongBio2
- Federal Election Commission — Donald M Payne campaign finance reports and data
- On the Issues — Donald M. Payne issue positions and quotes
- OpenSecrets.org — Donald M. Payne campaign contributions
- Project Vote Smart — Representative Donald M. Payne (NJ) profile
- SourceWatch Congresspedia — Donald M. Payne profile
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byPeter W. Rodino | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 10th congressional district 1989–Present |
Succeeded byIncumbent |
| New Jersey's current delegation to the United States Congress | |
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| Senators |
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| Representatives (ordered by district) |
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| Chairs of the Congressional Black Caucus | |
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