Holly T. Schepisi (born December 20, 1971) is an American lawyer, businesswoman, and Republican Party politician who is the New Jersey State Senator, representing the 39th legislative district. She previously served in the New Jersey General Assembly, from January 10, 2012, until March 24, 2021. She has served as Deputy Minority Leader since January 14, 2020, and served as Assistant Minority Leader for two years before then. She resides in River Vale with her husband Paul Garfinkel and their two children.[1] In March 2015, she suffered a brain aneurysm but fully recovered after surgery in the summer of 2015.[2] On March 9, 2021, she was chosen to succeed long-serving Senator Gerald Cardinale in the State Senate, who died in office.[3] She was sworn in on March 25, 2021.[4]
Holly T. Schepisi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the New Jersey Senate from the 39th district | |
| Assumed office March 25, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Gerald Cardinale |
| Member of the New Jersey General Assembly from the 39th district | |
| In office January 10, 2012 – March 24, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Charlotte Vandervalk |
| Succeeded by | DeAnne DeFuccio |
| Deputy Minority Leader of the New Jersey General Assembly | |
| In office January 14, 2020 – March 24, 2021 | |
| Leader | Jon Bramnick |
| Preceded by | David Wolfe |
| Succeeded by | Vacant |
| Assistant Minority Leader of the New Jersey General Assembly | |
| In office January 9, 2018 – January 14, 2020 | |
| Leader | Jon Bramnick |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | vacant |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 20, 1971 |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Paul Garfinkel |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence(s) | River Vale, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Catholic University of America (BA) Fordham University (JD) |
| Occupation | Attorney |
| Website | Legislative web page |
Biography and early life
editSchepisi is the daughter of John A. Schepisi, a lawyer and former chairman of the Bergen County Republican Organization.[5] She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from The Catholic University of America in politics and psychology in 1993, and a Juris Doctor from Fordham University School of Law in 1997. While in college, she worked at the 1992 Republican National Convention, interned for Organization of American States, Congresswoman Marge Roukema, and a member of the British Parliament.[1] In 2007, she began serving as the Township Attorney for River Vale, a position she held until 2011. In addition, she was also a public defender for Oakland (2012–2014) and an alternate prosecutor for Old Tappan (2010–2011) and Westwood (2002–2011).[6]
New Jersey Assembly
editIn August 2011, Charlotte Vandervalk announced her retirement from the General Assembly seat in the 39th district.[5] A resident of River Vale, Schepisi was selected by the Bergen County Republican Organization to take Vandervalk's place on the ballot, and in the general election she and her running mate Bob Schroeder defeated the Democratic candidates, Anthony Iannarelli Jr. and Michael McCarthy.[7][8] She was sworn in on January 10, 2012.[9]
Tenure
editIn 2014, Schepisi introduced a bill that would have weakened vaccination requirements for school children. The bill would have allowed certain children under the age of six to attend school without receiving a Hepatitis B vaccine. Schepisi stated that the debunked link between vaccines and autism was not her "primary rationale" for introducing the bill. The bill did not become law.[10] In the summer of 2017, Schepisi held the first of several planned public hearing in Paramus with various civic leaders on mandated affordable housing under the Mount Laurel Doctrine with local mayors and other state assembly members.[11] In October 2018 Schepisi joined then-Republican State Senator Dawn Addiego and Republicans Kristin Corrado, Amy Handlin, DiAnne Gove, Serena DiMaso, BettyLou DeCroce, and Nancy Munoz in calling for an investigation into Governor Phil Murphy's hiring practices.[12]
Committees
editCommittee assignments for the current session are:[6]
- Community and Urban Affairs
- Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens
District 39
editEach of the 40 districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey Senate and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly.[13] The representatives from the 39th District for the 2024—25 Legislative Session are:[14]
- Senator Holly Schepisi (R)
- Assemblyman Robert Auth (R)
- Assemblywoman John V. Azzariti (R)
Electoral history
editNew Jersey Senate
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Holly Schepisi (incumbent) | 34,448 | 54.9 | |
| Democratic | Jodi A. Murphy | 28,264 | 45.1 | |
| Total votes | 62,712 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Holly Schepisi (Incumbent) | 45,985 | 57.2 | ||
| Democratic | Ruth Dugan | 34,065 | 42.3 | ||
| Libertarian | James Tosone | 403 | 0.01 | ||
| Total votes | 80,453 | 100.0 | |||
New Jersey Assembly
edit2019
editIn what was one of the most competitive races in 2019 Schepisi and her running mate Robert Auth won re-election by 6,000 and 4,000 votes respectively. During the campaign, controversy surrounding Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick's law website drew their Democratic opponents, Gerald Falotico and John Birkner, to call on them to condemn the website.[17]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Holly Schepisi (Incumbent) | 30,705 | 28.2% |  1.1
| |
| Republican | Robert Auth (Incumbent) | 28,786 | 26.4% | 0.2
| |
| Democratic | John Brinker Jr. | 17,557 | 22.9% |  1.1
| |
| Democratic | Gerald Falotico | 17,332 | 22.3% | 0.2
| |
| Total votes | '108,691' | '100.0' | |||
2017
editIn the tightest election of Schepisi's career in the Assembly she won re-election.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Holly Schepisi (Incumbent) | 34,158 | 27.4 | 3.9
| |
| Republican | Robert Auth (Incumbent) | 32,739 | 26.2 | 2.6
| |
| Democratic | Jannie Chung | 29,126 | 23.3 | 3.0
| |
| Democratic | Annie Hausmann | 28,862 | 23.1 | 3.4
| |
| Total votes | '124,885' | '100.0' | |||
2015
editIn a generally bad year for Republicans in New Jersey,[citation needed] Schepisi and Auth cruised to re-election.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Holly Schepisi (Incumbent) | 22,016 | 31.3 | 1.1
| |
| Republican | Robert Auth (Incumbent) | 20,227 | 28.8 | 0.8
| |
| Democratic | John DeRienzo | 14,258 | 20.3 | 0.6
| |
| Democratic | Jeffrey Goldsmith | 13,840 | 19.7 | 1.4
| |
| Total votes | '70,341' | '100.0' | |||
2013
editIn 2013 Governor Chris Christie easily beat Democrat Barbara Buono and Schepisi and her new running mate Robert Auth easily beat their Democratic opponents.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Holly Schepisi (Incumbent) | 36,873 | 32.4 | 2.1
| |
| Republican | Robert Auth | 33,680 | 29.6 | 1.3
| |
| Democratic | Donna C. Abene | 22,450 | 19.7 | 0.9
| |
| Democratic | Anthony N. Iannarelli Jr. | 20,785 | 18.3 |  0.0
| |
| Total votes | '113,788' | '100.0' | |||
2011
editAfter the 2011 re-districting the 39th District was still widely considered "safe republican". Schepisi ran for the Assembly for the first time and easily placed second.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Robert Schroeder (Incumbent) | 26,572 | 30.9 | |
| Republican | Holly Schepisi | 26,111 | 30.3 | |
| Democratic | Michael J. McCarthy | 16,200 | 18.8 | |
| Democratic | Anthony N. Iannarelli Jr. | 15,784 | 18.3 | |
| Independent | Clinton Bosca | 1,425 | 1.7 | |
| Total votes | 86,092 | 100.0 | ||
References
edit- ^ a b "Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi". New Jersey Assembly Republicans. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
- ^ Racioppi, Dustin (May 29, 2015). "River Vale Assemblywoman recovering from surgery after brain aneurysm". The Record. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
- ^ "Schepisi narrowly defeats Auth for Cardinale Senate seat". March 10, 2021.
- ^ "Schepisi sworn in to state Senate to fill Cardinale seat". AP NEWS. March 25, 2021. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
- ^ a b Max Pizarro (August 31, 2011). "Schepisi consolidates support in LD39". PolitickerNJ.com. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
- ^ a b Senator Holly T. Schepisi, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed February 20, 2022.
- ^ Deena Yellin (November 8, 2011). "GOP incumbents Cardinale and Schroeder, newcomer Schepisi win in 39th District". The Record. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
- ^ Official List Candidate Returns for General Assembly For November 2011 General Election, New Jersey Department of State, December 14, 2011. Accessed January 29, 2012.
- ^ "Turnover in N.J. Legislature is slight". Asbury Park Press. January 10, 2012. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
- ^ Avril, Tom (November 29, 2018). "Vaccine rules under fire from state lawmakers". inquirer.com. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
- ^ Assemblywoman hears mayors concerns on court-mandated affordable housing https://njersy.co/2syG9yI
- ^ "GOP women call for investigation of Murphy hiring". New Jersey Globe. October 11, 2018. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
- ^ New Jersey State Constitution 1947 (Updated Through Amendments Adopted in November, 2020): Article IV, Section II, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 28, 2022.
- ^ Legislative Roster for District 39, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 11, 2024.
- ^ "Official List, Candidates for State Senate for GENERAL ELECTION 11/07/2023 Election" (PDF). New Jersey Department of State. December 6, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
- ^ "Official List, Candidates for State Senate For GENERAL ELECTION 11/02/2021 Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. November 30, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
- ^ "LD39 Dems call on incumbents to condemn Bramnick over website". New Jersey Globe. October 14, 2019. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
- ^ "2019-official-general-results-general-assembly.pdf" (PDF). New Jersey Secretary of State. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
- ^ "2017-official-general-election-results-general-assembly.pdf" (PDF). Wayback Machine. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 5, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
- ^ "2015-official-ge-results-nj-general-assembly.pdf" (PDF). Wayback Machine. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
- ^ "2013-official-general-election-results-general-assembly.pdf" (PDF). Wayback Machine. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
- ^ "New Jersey Division of Elections". New Jersey Secretary of State. Retrieved February 24, 2020.