Robert MENENDEZ, Congress, NJ (1954)

MENENDEZ, Robert, a Senator and a Representative from New Jersey; born in New York, N.Y., on January 1, 1954; graduated from Union Hill High School, Union City, N.J., 1972; B.A., Saint Peter’s College, Jersey City, N.J., 1976; J.D., Rutgers University School of Law, Newark, N.J., 1979; lawyer, private practice; member of the Union City, N.J., board of education 1974-1978, and chief financial officer 1978-1982; mayor of Union City, N.J., 1986-1992; member of the New Jersey state general assembly 1987-1991; member of the New Jersey state senate 1991-1993; elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Third and to the six succeeding Congresses, and served from January 3, 1993, to January 16, 2006, when he resigned to become a U.S. senator; chair, House Democratic Caucus (One Hundred Eighth through One Hundred Ninth Congresses); appointed on January 17, 2006, to the United States Senate to fill vacancy caused by resignation of Jon S. Corzine; service began and took the oath of office on January 18, 2006; elected to the U.S. Senate in 2006 for the term ending January 3, 2013; chair, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (2008-2011).

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present