Dennis L. Riley

Dennis L. Riley (born September 13, 1945) is an American Democratic Party politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly, where he represented the 4th Legislative District from 1980 to 1990.

Personal life

Born in Ottawa, Illinois on September 13, 1945, Riley was educated on the undergraduate level at Xavier University and the University of Cincinnati, receiving a J.D. degree in 1972 from the Rutgers School of Law–Camden. As a practicing lawyer, Riley was a partner at Riley and DiCamillo. In addition to serving as an assistant counsel to Camden County, Riley has represented zoning, planning and rent control boards or served as prosecutor in the municipalities of Chesilhurst, Clementon, Lindenwold and Winslow Township across Camden County. He had been appointed to serve on the planning board in Gloucester Township, New Jersey.Staff
''Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey: 1987 edition''
p. 243. E. J. Mullin, 1987. Accessed September 13, 2016. "Mr. Riley was born Sept. 13, 1945, in Ottawa, Ill. He studied at Xavier University and the University of Cincinnati, and received his law degree at the Camden Law School of Rutgers University in 1972, the year of his admission to the bar."

He has a son, born in 1979.

Elected office

In 1979, James Florio, then a Congressman, encouraged Daniel Dalton and Riley to run in the June primary under the label of the "Florio Democratic Team" against three-term incumbents Kenneth A. Gewertz and Francis J. Gorman, who had the support of Angelo Errichetti and the Camden County Democratic Organization. Dalton (with 31.3% of the vote) and Riley (with 28.3%) won the two ballot spots in the primary balloting.Results of the Primary Election Held on June 5, 1979
, Secretary of State of New Jersey. Accessed September 16, 2016.

A resident of Gloucester Township, Riley and Democratic running mate Daniel J. Dalton were elected in the November 1979 general election to represent the 4th District in the General Assembly, which covered portions of Burlington County, Camden County and Gloucester County.Results of the General Election Held on November 6, 1979
, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections. Accessed September 13, 2016. With Burlington County removed from the 4th District and portions of Atlantic County, and with Dalton running for the New Jersey Senate seat that had been held by Democrat Joseph A. Maressa, Riley was elected together with running mate Anthony S. Marsella; he was reelected with Marsella in 1983, 1985 and 1987.Candidates for the Offices of State Senate and General Assembly – 1981
, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections. Accessed September 13, 2016.Candidates for the Offices of State Senate and General Assembly – 1983
, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections. Accessed September 13, 2016.Candidates for the Office of General Assembly – 1985
, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections. Accessed September 13, 2016.Candidates for the Offices of State Senate and General Assembly – 1987
, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections. Accessed September 13, 2016.

As a member of the General Assembly, Riley led the South Jersey Assembly Coalition and served on the Mobile Home Tax Study Commission (as chairman), the Independent Authorities and Commissions Committee (as vice chairman) and as a member of the Legislative Services Commission.

In March 1981, a month after he had sponsored legislation to require casinos to offer patrons table games with a $2 minimum bet, Riley was ejected from two casinos in Atlantic City – Bally's Park Place and the Brighton Hotel and Casino – which had alleged that he was counting cards while playing blackjack. Characterizing himself as "a very good basic skills player" at blackjack who lacks the ability to count cards, Riley described being rudely ejected from the Brighton Casino after running up winnings of $3,500; he complained at the casino to a representative of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission regarding the incident, but said that no action was taken to address his issues with his treatment by the casino.

A bill introduced and doggedly pursued by Riley was signed into law in May 1986 by Governor Thomas Kean, granting volunteer coaches and officials in Little League charged that Riley had abused his position in office as a way to get work for his law firm with several of the municipalities in the district; Riley rejected the claims and expressed his confidence that he would prevail in the general election and would be chosen as Assembly Speaker in the new legislative session.

South Jersey Democratic Party leader George Norcross informed Riley in February 1989 that he would not get official party support in the June 1989 party primary for a sixth term, with Riley's ballot spot – and Assembly seat – to be handed over to Ann A. Mullen, who had worked as a legislative aide to Riley and was serving as mayor of Gloucester Township. At a press conference convened by Norcross a few hours after the private meeting, Riley stated that the actions to withdraw support for him were in poor taste, but that he wasn't bitter and looked forward to devoting more time to his legal practice and spending the full summer at his home on the Jersey Shore in Sea Isle City. Riley told ''The Press of Atlantic City'' that his decade of service in the Assembly had left him "fatigued" and that he felt relief from the weight that was removed from him by being replaced by Mullen, who he publicly endorsed as his successor. In October 1989, Riley organized a farewell party attended by his parents, along with 300 constituents and fellow members of the legislature, marking his departure from the Assembly.Shabe, John D
"Saying Goodbye To Riley"
''The Philadelphia Inquirer'', October 4, 1989. Accessed September 13, 2016. "That's because there will be no more campaigning for Riley, who is nearing the end of his fifth term as a state assemblyman from the Fourth District. Riley is not running for re-election in November, and more than 300 of his colleagues and constituents came to the party Friday to bid him farewell."

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Riley, Dennis L.
1945 births
Living people
People from Gloucester Township, New Jersey
People from Sea Isle City, New Jersey
People from Ottawa, Illinois
Politicians from Camden County, New Jersey
Rutgers School of Law–Camden alumni
University of Cincinnati alumni
Xavier University alumni
New Jersey lawyers
Democratic Party members of the New Jersey General Assembly