Arnold J. D'Ambrosa (born 1933) was an American official who served in the

New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...

General Assembly A general assembly or general meeting is a meeting of all the members of an organization or shareholders of a company. Specific examples of general assembly include: Churches * General Assembly (presbyterian church), the highest court of presby ...

from 1974 to 1976 from the 22nd Legislative District. His political career was cut short by scandal.

Biography

The Rahway Democratic Municipal Chairman and the city's Director of Public Works, D'Ambrosa was elected Assemblyman in 1973, the beneficiary of the Watergate scandal that helped Democrats score massive gains in the legislative elections. D'Ambrosa and his running mate,

Betty Wilson Betty Rebecca Wilson (21 November 1921 – 22 January 2010) was considered one of the greatest woman cricketers of all time. She represented Australia in Women's Test cricket between 1947–48 and 1957–58. Wilson batted right-handed, and was ...

, defeated two Republican incumbents,

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and

Arthur Manner Arthur A. Manner (December 18, 1912 - August 1981) was an American Republican Party politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1972 to 1974. He served as a Mayor and Township Committeeman in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey and as ...

. He took office as an Assemblyman in January 1974. In July, he was arrested. Prosecutors charged him with selling an air conditioner owned by the City of Rahway for $600 and keeping the money. He was also accused of taking a $200 bribe from a contractor, as well as lying to a Grand Jury and misusing city assets (materials and employees) for work on his vacation home in

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. He remained in office, but was not a candidate for re-election to a second term in 1975. In January 1976, just before the expiration of his term, he was sentenced to nine months in jail after admitting to charges of

embezzlement Embezzlement is a crime that consists of withholding assets for the purpose of conversion of such assets, by one or more persons to whom the assets were entrusted, either to be held or to be used for specific purposes. Embezzlement is a type ...

bribery Bribery is the Offer and acceptance, offering, Gift, giving, Offer and acceptance, receiving, or Solicitation, soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official, or other person, in charge of a public or legal duty. With reg ...

, perjury and official misconduct. Rahway also fired him from his Public Works job. After prison, D'Ambrosa relocated to Point Pleasant, where he owns a nautical supply business. He is a Republican and contributes to GOP candidates.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:D'Ambrosa, Arnold 1933 births Living people Republican Party members of the New Jersey General Assembly People from Rahway, New Jersey People from Point Pleasant, New Jersey