Ellen Karcher (born February 28, 1964) is an American

Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...

politician, who served in the New Jersey State Senate from 2004 until 2008, where she represented the 12th Legislative District.

Career

In the 2007 general election, Karcher lost her bid for another term against

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 ...

candidate

Jennifer Beck Jennifer Beck (born January 3, 1967) is an American Republican Party (United States), Republican Party politician who served in the New Jersey State Senate representing the New Jersey's 11th legislative district, 11th Legislative District from 20 ...

.Beck wins; Dems control both houses
''

Asbury Park Press The ''Asbury Park Press'' is a daily newspaper in Monmouth and Ocean counties of New Jersey and has the third largest circulation in the state. It has been owned by Gannett since 1997. Its reporting staff has been awarded numerous national hon ...

'', November 6, 2007. Accessed November 6, 2007. In the 2003 election, Senator Karcher defeated incumbent Republican

Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

Co-President John O. Bennett III, who was plagued by several ethics scandals including confirmed reports of double-billing local municipal governments. Before her election to the Senate, Karcher served on the Marlboro Township Council from 2002 to 2004, where she served as Council President.Senator Karcher's legislative web page

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 ...

, copy from Internet Archive dated January 25, 2008. Accessed November 23, 2008. Karcher resigned from the Marlboro Township Council in January 2004 to take her seat in the Senate. Karcher served on the Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee (Vice Chair), the Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee (Vice Chair), the Transportation Committee and the Joint Legislative Committee on Government Consolidation and Shared Services. Karcher is the third generation of her family to have served in the

. She learned New Jersey politics from her father, the late

Alan Karcher Alan J. Karcher (May 19, 1943 – July 26, 1999) was an American Democratic Party politician whose highest office was Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly. He was a member of the Assembly from 1974 to 1990 and was a one-time candidate for ...

, who served in the Assembly from 1973 to 1990 and as Speaker of the Assembly from 1982 to 1985. Her grandfather, Joseph T. Karcher, served in the Assembly from 1930 to 1933.Alan Karcher dies at 56
'' Princeton Packet'', July 27, 1999. Accessed September 21, 2007.

Personal life

Karcher is a medical policy and research advisor, having performed data collection and analysis of treatment protocols for physicians in a multi-office practice. In addition, Ms. Karcher has been an adjunct professor at Rutgers University for a number of semesters, teaching various subjects, including courses in mass media and politics, mass political behavior, Congress and the Presidency. Additionally, Karcher is affiliated with several professional organizations. She is a member of the

American Political Science Association The American Political Science Association (APSA) is a professional association of political science students and scholars in the United States. Founded in 1903 in the Tilton Memorial Library (now Tilton Hall) of Tulane University in New Orleans, ...

as well as a section member of State Politics and Policy. For several years, she has been an active Hospice volunteer and is an active fundraiser for the

American Heart Association The American Heart Association (AHA) is a nonprofit organization in the United States that funds cardiovascular medical research, educates consumers on healthy living and fosters appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and death ...

, the

American Cancer Society The American Cancer Society (ACS) is a nationwide voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer. Established in 1913, the society is organized into six geographical regions of both medical and lay volunteers operating in more than ...

and CAN. She is also an active member of the Mid Jersey Mothers of Multiples, an organization that meets monthly to discuss the challenges and pleasures of mothering multiple children. Karcher graduated

magna cum laude Latin honors are a system of Latin phrases used in some colleges and universities to indicate the level of distinction with which an academic degree has been earned. The system is primarily used in the United States. It is also used in some So ...

with a B.A. from Rutgers University with a double major in English and Political Science. She received an M.A. from the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University in Political Science and Public Policy. Karcher is a Ph.D. Candidate at Rutgers University in Political Science. As an undergraduate, Karcher was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa honor society and was selected as a Henry Rutgers Scholar, a program designed to bring graduate level work to undergrads. During her masters studies, in addition to teaching undergraduate courses, she was named an Eagleton Fellow. As of 2006, Karcher is married to Dr. John Hochberg. They have three children: Ben, Avie, and Lael. Karcher and her family are members o
Congregation Kol Am
of Freehold. As of 2010, Karcher is a substitute teacher at Collier High School in Marlboro.

References

External links

Senator Karcher's Campaign WebsiteSenator Karcher's Legislative Website
from Internet Archive as of January 25, 2008
Senator Ellen Karcher
Project Vote Smart
New Jersey Senate Democrats website biography of Senator KarcherNew Jersey Legislature financial disclosure form for 2006 (PDF)New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure form for 2005 (PDF)New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure form for 2004 (PDF)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Karcher, Ellen 1964 births Living people Jewish American state legislators in New Jersey Democratic Party New Jersey state senators People from Marlboro Township, New Jersey Politicians from Monmouth County, New Jersey Rutgers University alumni Women state legislators in New Jersey New Jersey city council members Women city councillors in New Jersey 21st-century American Jews 21st-century American women politicians