Anthony Imperiale
Anthony M. Imperiale Sr. (July 10, 1931 – December 27, 1999) was a member of the New Jersey Legislature from Newark, New Jersey.[1]
Anthony Imperiale | |
|---|---|
| Member of the New Jersey Senate from the 30th district | |
| In office January 8, 1974 – January 10, 1978 | |
| Preceded by | District created |
| Succeeded by | Frank E. Rodgers |
| Member of the New Jersey General Assembly | |
| In office January 11, 1972 – January 8, 1974 | |
| Preceded by | Ronald Owens George C. Richardson |
| Succeeded by | District eliminated |
| Constituency | District 11-B |
| In office January 8, 1980 – January 12, 1982 | |
| Preceded by | John F. Cali |
| Succeeded by | John V. Kelly Buddy Fortunato |
| Constituency | 30th district |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 10, 1931 Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | December 27, 1999 (aged 68) Livingston, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Political party | Independent (1970–79) Republican (after 1979) |
| Children | 7 |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Marine Corps |
| Battles/wars | Korean War |
Early life
He was born on July 10, 1931, in Newark, New Jersey. He later served in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War. In the 1960s he opposed desegregation busing in the United States.
1967 Newark riots
During the 1967 Newark riots, Imperiale advocated armed white self-defense and formed the volunteer North Ward First Aid Squad ostensibly to escort North Ward residents, most of whom were Italian-American, through racially troubled neighborhoods.[1]
The group was accused of vigilantism, and Governor Richard J. Hughes called Imperiale's followers "Brownshirts". At one point during the riots, Imperiale warned that "when the Black Panther comes, the white hunter will be waiting."[1]
In 1969, the group disbanded.[1]
Political career
Newark City Council
Imperiale was elected to the Newark City Council in 1968 and re-elected in 1970.
In 1970, he ran for mayor, but finished third in a six-man field. He failed to advance to the run-off between incumbent mayor Hugh Addonizio and Kenneth A. Gibson.
State Assembly
Imperiale was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly in 1971. Running as an independent on a "For the People" ticket, he received the most votes in a field of 7 candidates.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Anthony Imperiale | 13,857 | 23.59% | |
| Democratic | Frank Megaro | 12,436 | 21.17% | |
| Democratic | Paul Policastro (incumbent) | 10,825 | 18.43% | |
| Republican | C. Richard Fiore (incumbent) | 8,215 | 13.99% | |
| Republican | Ralph D'Ambola | 7,351 | 12.52% | |
| Independent | Ronald J. DelMauro | 3,323 | 5.66% | |
| Independent | Nicholas A. Ciufi III | 2,729 | 4.65% | |
| Total votes | 58,736 | 100.00% | ||
On his arrival in the Assembly in 1972, Imperiale declined to join either major party. He went so far as to plant his seat in the aisle separating the two parties and refused to move out of the way.[1] At the time, Democrats had a slim 40-39 advantage in the chamber.[3]
State Senate
In 1973, Imperiale ran as an independent for the New Jersey State Senate, seeking an open seat in the newly created 30th district, which comprised Newark's East Ward, and the towns of Harrison and Kearny. Imperiale received 24,756 votes (49%), against Democrat Gregory J. Castano with 18,286 votes (36%) and Fiore, with 7,131 votes (14%).[4]
1974 mayoral campaign
Imperiale ran for Mayor of Newark in 1974 against incumbent Kenneth Gibson, but lost with 43.7% of the vote.
He was defeated for re-election to the State Senate in 1977 against Frank E. Rodgers, the Mayor of Harrison, New Jersey.
Return to State Assembly
He was again elected to the State Assembly in 1979, this time as a Republican. He defeated three-term Democratic Assemblyman John F. Cali.
1981 gubernatorial campaign
He gave up his Assembly seat in 1981 to seek the Republican nomination for Governor of New Jersey, finishing 6th in a field of 8 candidates with 5% of the vote.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Thomas Kean | 122,512 | 30.75 | |
| Republican | Lawrence Francis Kramer | 83,565 | 20.98 | |
| Republican | Bo Sullivan | 67,651 | 16.98 | |
| Republican | James Wallwork | 61,816 | 15.52 | |
| Republican | Barry T. Parker | 26,040 | 6.54 | |
| Republican | Anthony Imperiale | 18,452 | 4.63 | |
| Republican | John K. Rafferty | 12,837 | 3.22 | |
| Republican | Richard McGlynn | 5,486 | 1.38 | |
| Total votes | 398,359 | 100.00 | ||
Later, Imperiale made unsuccessful bids for Essex County Freeholder, Essex County Sheriff, and U.S. Representative.[1]
Personal life
After leaving office, Imperiale founded a volunteer ambulance company in Newark. As a volunteer paramedic, he was praised by his former political rivals and for his generosity, sense of humor, and commitment to equal treatment.[1]
In 1984, Imperiale's son Anthony Jr. was sentenced to nine years in prison for shooting and wounding a minor who was making noise outside his bedroom window.[1]
In 1987, Imperiale's son Michael was shot and wounded by an off-duty police officer after the two got in a car accident.[1]
He died on December 26, 1999, at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, New Jersey of complications related to kidney failure.[1]
References
- David M. Halbfinger (December 28, 1999). "Anthony Imperiale, 68, Dies; Polarizing Force in Newark". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
Anthony Imperiale, a race-baiting civic leader and politician from Newark who became a national symbol of the backlash against urban unrest by wielding a baseball bat to defend his white neighborhood during the 1967 riots, died Sunday at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston of complications related to kidney failure. He was 68. ...
- "NJ Assembly 11-B". OurCampaigns.com. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
- "Trailblazer: Speaker S. Howard Woodson". New Jeresy Globe. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
- "Richard C. Fiore". OurCampaigns.com. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
- "Candidates for the Office of Governor - State of New Jersey" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. 1981. Retrieved August 17, 2015.