Michael J. Pappas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Mike Pappas | |
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| In office January 3, 1997 – January 3, 1999 |
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| Preceded by | Dick Zimmer |
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| Succeeded by | Rush Holt |
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| Born | December 29, 1960 New Brunswick, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
Michael J. "Mike" Pappas (born December 29, 1960 in New Brunswick, New Jersey) is a former Republican Congressman from New Jersey.
Pappas was born in 1960 in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He is a graduate of Alma Prep in Zarephath, New Jersey, and attended Seton Hall University.
Pappas got into politics in the early 1980s, becoming a member of the Franklin Township township council. He served for five years (mayor for two) from 1982 to 1987. He later would be elected to the Board of Chosen Freeholders for Somerset County, and served from 1984 to 1996, alongside fellow Freeholder Christine Todd Whitman during portions of that period.
In 1996, Pappas won an election to replace Dick Zimmer in the 12th Congressional District in New Jersey (Zimmer ran for the U.S. Senate that year). Unlike most New Jersey Republicans, Pappas was a staunch conservative. His congressional service included pushing for a stronger national defense, the elimination of the capital gains tax, advocacy for small business, securing the release of the battleship USS New Jersey to the state of New Jersey as a museum, a national radio address urging for a national missile defense to protect against rogue states like North Korea and terrorists like Osama Bin Laden
He was a strong supporter of the impeachment of Bill Clinton, and his infamous singing of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Kenneth Starr" on the House floor[1] contributed to his defeat by Rush Holt in 1998.
In 2000, Pappas unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination in the 12th District, losing a highly contentious primary to the more moderate Zimmer.
Currently, Pappas is working for the United States Small Business Administration in Washington D.C.
[edit] Electoral history
| Year | Democrat | Votes | Pct | Republican | Votes | Pct | 3rd Party | Party | Votes | Pct | 3rd Party | Party | Votes | Pct | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | David M. DelVecchio | 125,594 | 47% | Michael Pappas | 135,811 | 50% | Virginia A. Flynn | Independent | 3,955 | 1% | Joseph M. Mercurio | Independent | 2,650 | 1% | * | ||||
| 1998 | Rush D. Holt, Jr. | 92,528 | 50% | Michael Pappas | 87,221 | 47% | Joseph A. Siano | Independent | 2,125 | 1% | Madelyn R. Hoffman | Independent | 1,409 | 1% | * |
[edit] References
- ^ Beiler, David. "Twinkle, twinkle Kenneth Starr: how physicist Rush Holt used the Clinton scandal to oust a Republican congressman - includes related article on Rush Holt Sr", Campaigns & Elections, May 1999. Accessed August 6, 2007. "On the occasion of Clinton special prosecutor Ken Starr's 52nd birthday, Pappas decided to commemorate the event in song, on the House floor. Following the melody of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star," Pappas crooned (or more accurately, croaked):"
- ^ Election Statistics. Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Retrieved on 2007-08-08.
[edit] External links
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
| Preceded by Dick Zimmer |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 12th congressional district 1997–1999 |
Succeeded by Rush Holt |
