Garabed "Chuck" Haytaian (January 28, 1938 – November 1, 2024) was an American
Republican Party politician, who was the Speaker of 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 ...
during the 'tax revolt' of the
James Florio
James Joseph Florio (August 29, 1937 – September 25, 2022) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 49th governor of New Jersey from 1990 to 1994. He was previously the U.S. representative for New Jersey's 1st congressional dist ...
–
Christine Todd Whitman era. He was of
Armenian descent.
Political career
Haytaian served in the General Assembly from 1982 to 1996. In 1994, he staged an unsuccessful bid for a seat in the
United States Senate
The United States Senate is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the upper house, with the United States House of Representatives, U.S. House of Representatives being the lower house. Together, the Senate and ...
, falling to incumbent
Frank Lautenberg, 50%−47%. Haytaian was the Chairman of the
New Jersey Republican State Committee from 1995 to 2001.
Sexual harassment accusation
In 1996, Beth Herbert, an administrative assistant at the State House, brought sexual harassment charges against Haytaian. She claimed that over a fifteen-month period, Haytaian would periodically call her into his office and molest her. The worst incidents, according to Herbert, took place after his failed Senate bid in 1994. Haytaian in turn filed charges against Herbert for defamation.
The State paid Herbert $175,000 in a settlement to avoid what they believed would be a more costly legal battle.
Personal life and death
Haytaian was born in
the Bronx
The Bronx ( ) is the northernmost of the five Boroughs of New York City, boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. It shares a land border with Westchester County, New York, West ...
on January 28, 1938. He was a resident of
Independence Township, New Jersey.
Haytaian died on November 1, 2024, at the age of 86.
See also
*
List of American politicians of Armenian descent
References
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1938 births
2024 deaths
American people of Armenian descent
Chairmen of the New Jersey Republican State Committee
Ethnic Armenian politicians
Politicians from the Bronx
People from Independence Township, New Jersey
Speakers of the New Jersey General Assembly
Republican Party members of the New Jersey General Assembly
Politicians from Warren County, New Jersey
Candidates in the 1994 United States elections
20th-century members of the New Jersey Legislature
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