Donald A. Guardian (born June 12, 1953) 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 ...
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 ...
since taking office on January 11, 2022, when he became the first openly gay Republican legislator in state history. He served as the Mayor of
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City, often known by its initials A.C., is a coastal resort city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. The city is known for its casinos, Boardwalk (entertainment district), boardwalk, and beaches. In 2020 United States censu ...
from 2014 to 2017.
Early life and education
Raised in
Palisades Park, New Jersey
Palisades Park is a borough in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 20,292, an increase of 670 (+3.4%) from the 2010 census count of 19,622, ...
and
West New York
West New York is a town in the northern part of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States, situated upon the New Jersey Palisades. As of the 2020 United States census, the town's population was 52,912. The Census Bureau's Population Estimates ...
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America (BSA, colloquially the Boy Scouts) is one of the largest scouting organizations and one of the largest List of youth organizations, youth organizations in the United States, with about 1.2 million youth partici ...
and at the Claridge Hotel, and headed Atlantic City's Special Improvement District for two decades prior to his election as mayor.
After his time as Mayor, Guardian was named as Business Administrator by the
Toms River, New Jersey
Toms River is a township in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. Its mainland portion is also a census-designated place of the same name, which serves as the county seat of Ocean County."Don Guardian taking over as Atlantic City mayor" , "WPVI-TV 6ABC Action News", January 1, 2014. In the
2013 United States elections
The 2013 United States elections were held on Tuesday, November 5, 2013. This off-year election featured several special elections to the United States Congress; two gubernatorial races; state legislative elections in a few states; and numerous ...
, he defeated incumbent
Democratic
Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to:
Politics
*A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people.
*A member of a Democratic Party:
**Democratic Party (United States) (D)
**Democratic ...
openly gay
Coming out of the closet, often shortened to coming out, is a metaphor used to describe LGBT people's self-disclosure of their sexual orientation, romantic orientation, or gender identity.
Framed and debated as a privacy issue, coming out of ...
mayor and first Republican mayor since 1990."Don Guardian sworn in as Atlantic City's new mayor" ''
The Press of Atlantic City
''The Press of Atlantic City'' is the fourth-largest daily newspaper in New Jersey. Originally based in Pleasantville, it is the primary newspaper for southeastern New Jersey and the Jersey Shore. The newspaper designated market runs from Ware ...
'', January 1, 2014. Accessed January 13, 2022. In the 2017 election, Guardian lost re-election to Democratic city councilman, Frank Gilliam.
Guardian was elected to the State Assembly in 2021, alongside fellow Republican
Claire Swift
Claire Swift (born June 9, 1974) is an American Republican Party politician who has represented 2nd Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly since taking office on January 11, 2022.
Early life and education
A 1992 graduate of ...
. They defeated the Democratic slate of incumbent Assemblyman
John Armato
John Armato (born June 13, 1948) is an American Democratic Party politician who represented the 2nd Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2018 to 2022. He replaced Chris A. Brown, who relinquished his seat to run success ...
and Atlantic County Commissioner Caren Fitzpatrick; the district's other Assemblyman, Democrat
Vince Mazzeo
Vincent Mazzeo (born January 6, 1964) is an American Democratic Party politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2014 to 2022, representing the 2nd Legislative District.
Early life
Mazzeo is part owner of B.F. Mazzeo, a gro ...
, did not seek reelection to the Assembly in order to make what would ultimately be an unsuccessful bid for the district's State Senate seat.
On January 11, 2022, Guardian was sworn-in to the New Jersey General Assembly. His election makes him the first openly gay Republican legislator in state history and the only openly gay member of the New Jersey Legislature.
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 th ...
. Accessed April 10, 2022.
*Environment and Solid Waste
*Special Committee on Infrastructure and Natural Resources
*Tourism, Gaming and the Arts
District 2
Each of the 40 districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in 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, ...
and two members 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 ...
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 th ...
. Accessed January 11, 2022.
*Senator
Vincent J. Polistina
Vincent Joseph Polistina (born June 10, 1971) is an American Republican politician who has served in the New Jersey Senate since 2021. He previously served in the New Jersey General Assembly, where he represented the 2nd Legislative District f ...
(R)
*Assemblyman Don Guardian (R)
*Assemblyman
Claire Swift
Claire Swift (born June 9, 1974) is an American Republican Party politician who has represented 2nd Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly since taking office on January 11, 2022.
Early life and education
A 1992 graduate of ...