Kenneth D. Merin (born 1947) is an American Republican Party politician and lawyer who served two stints as the New Jersey Commissioner of Insurance.
Kenneth Merin | |
|---|---|
| Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Insurance | |
| In office May 10, 1986 – January 16, 1990 | |
| Governor | Thomas Kean |
| Preceded by | Hazel Frank Gluck |
| Succeeded by | Jasper J. Jackson |
| In office October 9, 1984 – January 10, 1985 Acting: April 16, 1984 – October 9, 1984 | |
| Governor | Thomas Kean |
| Preceded by | Joseph F. Murphy |
| Succeeded by | Jasper J. Jackson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1947 |
| Political party | Republican |
| Alma mater | George Washington University (BA, LLM) Seton Hall University (JD) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1969–1972 |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
Early life
editHe is a 1969 graduate of George Washington University.[1] From 1969 to 1972, Merin served in the U.S. Army, where he was a decorated infantry officer during the Vietnam War. He received his J.D. degree from Seton Hall University School of Law in 1975. In 1980, he received a LL.M. from the George Washington University Law School. From 1975 to 1980, Merin was a legislative attorney for the Congressional Research Service, the public policy research arm of the United States Congress.[citation needed]
Kean Administration
editIn 1981, Merin joined the campaign of Thomas Kean for Governor of New Jersey as the Director of Research. After Kean was elected Governor, Merin joined his administration as the Deputy Chief Counsel to the Governor.[citation needed] He also served on the Board of Directors of New Jersey Transit.[2]
Following the resignation of Joseph F. Murphy as state Insurance Commissioner in March 1984, Kean appointed Merin to serve as Acting Commissioner.[3] He was later nominated to serve as Commissioner and won confirmation by the New Jersey State Senate.[citation needed]
A resident of Lawrence Township, Mercer County, New Jersey, Merin was appointed by Kean on January 12, 1985, to serve as Director of Policy and Planning in the Governor's office. He replaced Gary Stein, who had been appointed by Kean to the New Jersey Supreme Court.[4]
On February 9, 1986, Kean announced that Merin would return to the cabinet as Insurance Commissioner.[5] He held that post until the end of the Kean administration in 1990.[citation needed]
Private Sector
editAfter leaving state government, Merin headed the Insurance Coverage practice at Purcell Ries Shannon Mulcahy & O'Neill, a New Jersey law firm.[citation needed] He served as a Director of DSL.net, a nationwide provider of broadband communications services.[citation needed] He also served as president and CEO of the Charles Hayden Foundation.[6]
References
edit- ^ "Kenneth D Merin Profile | Bedminster, NJ Lawyer | Martindale.com".
- ^ NARVAEZ, ALFONSO A. (15 December 1982). "PANEL IN JERSEY VOTES TO CANCEL 20% FARE RISE". New York Times. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
- ^ Sullivan, Joseph F. (18 March 1984). "AN INSURANCE COMMISSIONER'S LIABLILITIES". New York Times. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
- ^ "Shift in Top Personnel Is Announced by Kean". New York Times. 13 January 1985. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
- ^ Sullivan, Joseph (9 February 1986). "POLITICS; KEAN SHIFTS AIDES; MORE MOVES AHEAD". New York Times. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
- ^ "The Charles Hayden Foundation". www.charleshaydenfoundation.org/. Retrieved 22 March 2016.