Wednesday, Oct 14, 2015
by Michelle Wood
The Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University will present “The Road to Trenton Runs Through Rider: An Evening with Hon. Raymond Lesniak,” member of the New Jersey Senate, on Monday, Oct. 19. A light reception will begin at 6 p.m. Remarks begin at 7 p.m., followed by a question-and-answer feature with the audience. The event will take place in the Mercer Room in Daly Dining Hall on Rider’s Lawrenceville campus. The event is free and open to the public.
“At the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics, we believe that any serious candidate considering a run for governor of New Jersey should make a stop at Rider University to meet our students,” explained Dr. Benjamin Dworkin, director of the Rebovich Institute. “We want our campus community and the public at large to have the chance to consider all of these people who seek to lead our great state.”
Lesniak has served over thirty years in the State Assembly and has been heavily involved with many different legislative efforts throughout the years. One of his most well-known enactments is his Tax Incremental Financing Act, which granted New Jersey the powerful tool to attract private investments and create more available jobs. Lesniak’s enactment is responsible for creating numerous permanent jobs across the state. In addition, Lesniak currently chairs the Senate Economic Growth Committee, which produces and works toward reasoned solutions for the nation’s most critical issues.
When not involved with the legislation, Lesniak is a strong advocate for social justice. He has authored two books, The Road to Abolition: How New Jersey Abolished the Death Penalty and What’s Love Got to Do With It?: The Case for Same Sex Marriage. Within his books, Lesniak explains his fight for same-sex marriage legalization in New Jersey and his efforts to eliminate the death penalty in the state.
Today, Lesniak is actively considering a campaign for governor of New Jersey in 2017. A lifelong resident of Elizabeth, Lesniak graduated from Rutgers in 1971 and received his Juris Doctorate degree from St. John’s Law School in 1974. He also served in the U.S. Army from 1967 to 1969 achieving the rank of Specialist Fourth Class.
Advance reservations to attend “The Road to Trenton Runs Through Rider: An Evening with Hon. Raymond Lesniak” are requested by calling Susan Cuccia at 609-896-5350 or emailing [email protected].