Charles Louis Bassano (born October 29, 1942) is an American

Republican Party Republican Party is a name used by many political parties around the world, though the term most commonly refers to the United States' Republican Party. Republican Party may also refer to: Africa *Republican Party (Liberia) * Republican Part ...

politician who served in both the New Jersey General Assembly and the

New Jersey Senate The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. There are 40 legislative districts, representing districts with an average population of 232, ...

, where he represented constituencies covering portions of

Union County, New Jersey Union County is a county in the northern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the county's population was 575,345, making it the seventh-most populous of New Jersey's 21 counties. Its county seat is Elizabeth.

and later part of Essex County.

Biography

He was born on October 29, 1942. Bassano attended Bloomfield College, where he majored in business. He was an owner of Bassano Oil, a fuel oil distribution business. Active in the Young Republicans, Bassano was elected to the State Assembly in 1971, at the age of 29. He defeated three-term Democratic Assemblyman Henry F. Gavan by 2,572 votes; Bassano ran 304 votes ahead of his own running mate, two-term Assemblyman

Herbert H. Kiehn Herbert Henry Kiehn Sr. (December 19, 1908 – July 1987) was an American Republican Party politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1968 to 1974. Biography He was born on December 19, 1908, in Manhattan, New York City. Kiehn m ...

. Gavan's running mate was

Donald Lan Donald Paul Lan Sr. (December 19, 1930 – April 29, 2019) was an American Democratic Party politician who served as Secretary of State of New Jersey from 1977 to 1982. He was appointed to the post by Governor Brendan Byrne. Lan has been the Un ...

, who later became

New Jersey Secretary of State The secretary of state of New Jersey oversees the Department of State, which is one of the original state offices. The Secretary is responsible for overseeing artistic, cultural, and historical programs within the U.S. state of New Jersey, as we ...

and briefly a candidate for the 1981 Democratic nomination for Governor. Bassano ran for re-election to a second term in 1973 in the new 20th Legislative District, but lost his seat in the Watergate Democratic landslide. Democrats Joseph L. Garrubbo and John J. McCarthy defeated Bassano and his running mate, former Union County Freeholder Charles S. Tracy. In 1974, Bassano ran for a seat on the Union Township Committee, where he served one three-year term. He was the Roads and Fire Departments Commissioner.,

New Jersey Legislature The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the ...

. Accessed May 25, 2010. He returned to the Legislature in 1975, running for the Assembly with Frank X. McDermott, who had lost his State Senate seat two years earlier. Bassano and McDermott defeated Garrubbo and his running mate, Westfield Mayor Brian W. Fahey. Bassano won by 1,156 votes. He was re-elected in 1977 and 1979, running with

Chuck Hardwick Charles Leighton Hardwick (born November 8, 1941) is an American Republican Party politician and business leader who served as Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly and was a candidate for Governor of New Jersey. Early life Hardwick was bo ...

. Bassano was elected to the State Senate from the 21st district in 1981, ousting freshman Democratic Senator Anthony E. Russo by 2,705 votes, 52%-48%. Bassano beat Russo two more times, by 566 votes in 1983 (50.5%-49.5%) and by 4,007 votes (56%-44%) in 1987. Bassano won a fourth term in 1991 with 72% of the vote against

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Planning Board member Elly Manov and with 64% in 1993 against Cathy Perselay Seidman. he was unopposed in his bid for a sixth term in 1997. He served as Assistant Senate Majority Whip in 1987 and 1988, as Senate Minority Whip in 1989 and as Assistant Senate Minority Leader in 1990 and 1991. In the Senate, Bassano served on the Health Committee, as Chair of the Senior Citizens, Veterans' Affairs and Human Services Committee and as Vice Chair of the Women's Issues, Children and Family Services Committee. On April 16, 2001, Bassano resigned from the Senate to join the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. He was succeeded in the Senate by Kevin O'Toole.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bassano, C. Louis 1942 births Living people Bloomfield College alumni New Jersey city council members Republican Party members of the New Jersey General Assembly Republican Party New Jersey state senators People from Union Township, Union County, New Jersey Politicians from Union County, New Jersey