William J. Brennan, known as Bill Brennan, is a former firefighter, lawyer,
gadfly and activist. He was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for
Governor of New Jersey
The governor of New Jersey is the head of government of New Jersey. The office of governor is an elected position with a four-year term. There is a two consecutive term term limit, with no limitation on non-consecutive terms. The official r ...
in the
2017 election.
Background
Brennan worked as a firefighter in
Rochester, New Hampshire
Rochester is a city in Strafford County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 32,492 at the 2020 census. In addition to the downtown area, the city contains the villages of East Rochester, Gonic, and North Rochester. Rochester is ...
and became a
Teaneck, New Jersey
Teaneck () is a township in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is a bedroom community in the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 U.S. census, the township's population was 39,776, reflecting an increase of 516 (+1.3%) f ...
firefighter in April 1993. He was elected Secretary of Teaneck Firefighter's Association, Firemen's Mutual Benevolent Association, Local #42 (FMBA) in 1993 and president in 1994. Brennan filed numerous lawsuits against Teaneck's government and fire officials regarding firehouse closures and other budget cuts, among other things, including harassment. Brennan won a $3 million judgment against left its fire department in 2006.
Brennan attended
Caldwell College and
Seton Hall Law School
Seton Hall University School of Law is the law school of Seton Hall University, and is located in downtown Newark, New Jersey. Seton Hall Law is the only private law school in New Jersey, and, according to the ''U.S. News & World Report'' ranki ...
. He is a member of the
New Jersey Bar
The New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA) is a voluntary bar association for the state of New Jersey.
History
In June 1899, 74 attorneys launched NJSBA in Atlantic City; annual dues were $5.00. Within the next decade, the Canon of Ethics was ...
.
He has since been active in
northern New Jersey
North Jersey comprises the northern portions of the U.S. state of New Jersey between the upper Delaware River and the Atlantic Ocean. The designation of northern New Jersey with a distinct toponym is a colloquial one rather than an administrati ...
politics and legal system. In 2010, he began producing "New Jersey Civil Circus," a program on a local public access TV channel broadcast by
William Paterson University
William Paterson University, officially William Paterson University of New Jersey (WPUNJ), is a public university in Wayne, New Jersey. It is part of New Jersey's public system of higher education.
Founded in 1855 and was named after American ju ...
, and later cancelled by them. He was awarded damages.
Political office candidacy
In 2011 he made an unsuccessful bid to represent the
40th Legislative District in the
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.
Since the election of 1967 (1968 Session), the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts f ...
, winning about 18% of the vote.
On December 5, 2016, Brennan announced his intention to seek the nomination as Democratic candidate for the
New Jersey gubernatorial election of 2017, the primary for which took place on June 6. The general election takes place on November 7. In June 2017, Governor
Chris Christie
Christopher James Christie (born September 6, 1962) is an American politician, lawyer, political commentator, lobbyist, and former federal prosecutor who served as the 55th governor of New Jersey from 2010 to 2018.
Christie, who was born in N ...
said he had "admiration for everyone of them that's in the race, except for the knucklehead from, you know, where is he from, from Wayne, I think, or, whatever", referring to Brennan, who took the comment as an endorsement. Brennan garnered 11,061, or 2%, of the vote.
Positions
* Increase state income tax by 2 percent on income over $750,000 to raise $600 million to $700 million in additional tax revenue.
* "Reduce dependence on public assistance" by raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour.
* Legalise marijuana to "generate revenue and reduce the burden on our criminal justice system while generating new employment opportunities."
* Target municipal costs associated with public employees for reductions, including removing from federal Social Security program and divert these contributions to the state pension system and to an employee-controlled retirement accounts
* Support
wind power development in NJ
* Proposes
NJ Transit
New Jersey Transit Corporation, branded as NJ Transit, and often shortened to NJT, is a state-owned public transportation system that serves the U.S. state of New Jersey, along with portions of New York State and Pennsylvania. It operates bu ...
with a mix of additional funding sources such as marijuana sales tax revenue and what he calls a "CEO pay inequality surcharge" on executives making exponentially more than their lowest-paid employees. He wants to convert Madison Square Garden, which sits above New York's Penn Station, into an integrated Port Authority bus and train terminal by at the end of lease.
* Focus on "green" infrastructure. He says, "All new infrastructure will incorporate a renewable energy component. Bridges will harness hydro power from the rivers they cross, covered roadways will incorporate solar panels, high points on infrastructure will generate wind energy and deep borings will include geothermic capacity."
Official misconduct citizen's complaints
Brennan filed a complaint in September 2016 in the
Fort Lee municipal court, alleging
official misconduct
An official is someone who holds an office (function or mandate, regardless whether it carries an actual working space with it) in an organization or government and participates in the exercise of authority, (either their own or that of their su ...
by
New Jersey Governor
The governor of New Jersey is the head of government of New Jersey. The office of governor is an elected position with a four-year term. There is a two consecutive term term limit, with no limitation on non-consecutive terms. The official res ...
Chris Christie
Christopher James Christie (born September 6, 1962) is an American politician, lawyer, political commentator, lobbyist, and former federal prosecutor who served as the 55th governor of New Jersey from 2010 to 2018.
Christie, who was born in N ...
in regard to the
Fort Lee lane closure scandal
The Fort Lee lane closure scandal, also known as the George Washington Bridge lane closure scandal or Bridgegate, was a political scandal involving a staff member and political appointees of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie colluding to cr ...
. The complaint specifically said that Christie had failed to stop the closure then in progress when, according to Wildstein's sworn testimony, Christie heard about it from Baroni and Wildstein on Wednesday, September 11, 2013, the third day of the closure. The complaint alleged that Fort Lee and its mayor "were deprived the benefit and enjoyment of their community as a consequence of this intentional evil minded act."
On April 4, 2017 Brennan filed a citizen's complaint in
Newark
Newark most commonly refers to:
* Newark, New Jersey, city in the United States
* Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey; a major air hub in the New York metropolitan area
Newark may also refer to:
Places Canada
* Niagara-on-the ...
municipal court against
David Samson, former Chairman of the
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, PANYNJ; stylized, in logo since 2020, as Port Authority NY NJ, is a joint venture between the U.S. states of New York and New Jersey, established in 1921 through an interstate compact authorize ...
who resigned on March 28, 2014 in the aftermath of the lane closure scandal.
and later pleaded guilty to extortion and bribery charges. He stated that Samson's confession to extortion and bribery was "ancillary to official misconduct."
Essex County Judge Marvin Adames said will decide on April 24 if there's probable cause to issue a criminal summons for Samson to face possible state
official misconduct
An official is someone who holds an office (function or mandate, regardless whether it carries an actual working space with it) in an organization or government and participates in the exercise of authority, (either their own or that of their su ...
charges. On April 24, the complaint was dismissed because the presiding judge found that Brennan had
no standing because he was far removed and suffered no direct damage.
See also
*
List of people involved in the Fort Lee lane closure scandal
The Fort Lee lane closure scandal, also known as the George Washington Bridge lane closure scandal or Bridgegate, is a U.S. political scandal in which a staff member and political appointees of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a Republican, col ...
References
External links
Brennan 2017*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brennan, Bill
1968 births
Date of birth missing (living people)
Living people
Activists from New Jersey
American firefighters
American political activists
Caldwell University alumni
Candidates in the 2017 United States elections
New Jersey Democrats
People from Teaneck, New Jersey
People from Wayne, New Jersey
Seton Hall University School of Law alumni