Gerald Luongo

Gerald J. Luongo (born June 2, 1938) is an American politician who served as mayor of Washington Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey from 1989 until 2000 and served one term in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1998 to 2000, where he represented the 4th Legislative District.

Gerald Luongo
Mayor of Washington Township, New Jersey
In office
1989–2000
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly
from the 4th district
In office
January 13, 1998 – January 11, 2000
Preceded bySean F. Dalton
Succeeded byRobert J. Smith II
Personal details
BornJune 2, 1938 (age 81)
Political partyRepublican (since 1995)
Other political
affiliations		Democratic (until 1995)
Alma materJuilliard School (AA)
Trenton State College (BA, M.Ed)
Southwestern University (PhD)

Education

Luongo was born and raised in Collingswood, New Jersey.[1] He earned an associate degree in music from the Juilliard School, a bachelor's and a master's degree in education and music from Trenton State College, and a Ph.D. in administration and communications from Southwestern University.[2]

Career

Luongo was employed as principal at Vineland High School in Cumberland County.[3] He served on the Washington Township Public School District board of education from 1972 to 1981.[2]

In 1988, Luongo ran and won as the Democratic candidate for mayor of Washington Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey.[4] In that role, he served on the Washington Township Planning Board.[2] He switched parties in 1995 and ran unsuccessfully for the General Assembly that year.[5][6] In 1997, he was elected to the General Assembly, winning a seat with Republican running mate and incumbent George Geist.[7] In the Assembly, he served on the Education Committee and the Local Government and Housing Committee.[2]

Despite efforts by pro-gun-rights organizations to support Geist and Luongo in the 1999 race, Luongo faced negative advertisements that focused on a land deal that was said to have aided investors close to him.[8] Luongo took offense at Democratic Party ads that depicted Luongo as a "Godfather", criticizing the ads as a slur against Italian Americans.[9]

In the 1999 general elections, Geist took one seat, but Luongo was edged out for the second seat by Democrat Robert J. Smith II, who won the second seat and by Democrat David F. Carlamere who came in third place.[10][11]

Luongo proposed legislation in 1999 to create an official New Jersey Nature Card that could be used for debit and credit transactions by residents and would earn money for the state based on the volume of purchases to fund endangered species protection and other environmental efforts, similar to a program that had already been initiated in Washington Township that had raised $30,000 for recreation in the township.[12]

Conviction

In April 2002, Luongo was sentenced to serve 13 months in jail for his role in misusing campaign and community program funds for personal use, which included rent and mortgage payments, car payments, credit card bills, vacations and restaurant celebrations.

He was ordered by U.S. District Judge Anne Elise Thompson to make restitution of nearly $15,000, along with fines in excess of $20,000, which in total equal the amount that Luongo misappropriated as stipulated in his plea agreement.[13] During his 11 months at Federal Prison Camp, Eglin, Luongo wrote the book Surviving Federal Prison Camp: An Informative and Helpful Guide for Prospective Inmates, which he self-published in February 2004.[14] After his release, Luongo attempted to form a new charter school in Gloucester County but his request was denied by the state.[15]

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References
  1. Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey, Volume 208, Part 1, p. 246. J.A. Fitzgerald., 1998. Accessed April 22, 2020. "Assemblyman Luongo was bom June 2, 1938, in Collingswood where he attended public schools."
  2. "Assemblyman Gerald J. Luongo". Archived from the original on February 25, 1998. Retrieved 2016-11-24.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link), New Jersey Legislature. Accessed June 10, 2010.
  3. Langfitt, Frank. "Luongo Is Elected Washington Twp. Mayor", The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 9, 1988, backed up by the Internet Archive as of December 23, 2018. Accessed November 26, 2016. "Luongo, 50, who served as president of the township school board, is principal of Vineland High School."
  4. Turcol, Thomas (November 5, 1995), "Candidates Deluge Votes with Last-Minute and Ads", The Philadelphia Inquirer, p. B02
  5. Kinney, David (October 31, 1995). "For region in flux, a varied slate". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved April 21, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  6. "Official List General Election Returns for the Office of General Assembly for Election Held November 7, 1995" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. December 4, 1995. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  7. "Official List General Election Returns for the Office of General Assembly for Election Held November 4, 1997" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. December 2, 1997. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  8. Kocieniewski, David. "Assembly Races Draw Big Money and Little Interest", The New York Times, November 2, 1999. Accessed June 10, 2010.
  9. Staff. "Luongo Asks Assembly Challengers To Pull Godfather TV Ad; The Republican Called It A Slur Against Italian Americans. Democrats Said The Term Referred Only To An Attitude.", The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 29, 1999. Accessed June 10, 2010.
  10. "Official List, Candidate Returns for General Assembly for November 1999 General Election" (PDF). January 10, 2010. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  11. Staff. "Luongo Beaten In Assembly Race Democrat Robert J. Smith 2d Defeated Him In The Fourth District. Incumbents Won In Other Hard-Fought Contests.", Philadelphia Inquirer, November 3, 1999. Accessed June 10, 2010.
  12. Sucato, Kirsty. "N.J. LAW; Trenton Considers 2000 Computer Bug and Animal Fur", The New York Times, March 14, 1999. Accessed June 10, 2010.
  13. Staff. "Former Mayor in Gloucester County Sentenced to 13 Months for Using Campaign, Community Project Funds for Own Use", United States Department of Justice press release dated April 3, 2002. Accessed June 10, 2010.
  14. Stowe, Stacey. "Experts Say Prison Camp Is Bleak, But Bearable", The New York Times, March 19, 2005. Accessed April 22, 2020.
  15. Caffrey, Michelle (October 10, 2013). "Former Washington Township mayor's performing arts charter school rejected by state". NJ.com. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
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