Ellen Karcher (born February 28, 1964) is an American Democratic Party politician, who served in the

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

State Senate In the United States, the state legislature is the legislative branch in each of the 50 U.S. states. A legislature generally performs state duties for a state in the same way that the United States Congress performs national duties at ...

from 2004 until 2008, where she represented the 12th Legislative District. 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 Sout ...

with a

B.A. A Bachelor of Arts (abbreviated B.A., BA, A.B. or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is the holder of a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the liberal arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree ...

from

Rutgers University Rutgers University ( ), officially Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a Public university, public land-grant research university consisting of three campuses in New Jersey. Chartered in 1766, Rutgers was originally called Queen's C ...

with a double major in English and Political Science. She received an M.A. from the

Eagleton Institute of Politics The Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University was established in 1956 with an endowment from Florence Peshine Eagleton (1870–1953), and it focuses on state and national politics through education and public service. Ruth Mandel served ...

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 The Phi Beta Kappa Society () is the oldest academic honor society in the United States. It was founded in 1776 at the College of William & Mary in Virginia. Phi Beta Kappa aims to promote and advocate excellence in the liberal arts and sciences, ...

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. She was elected to the second class of Rodel Fellows at the Aspen Institute. Karcher is a medical policy and research advisor. She was an adjunct professor at Rutgers University where she taught courses in mass media and politics, mass political behavior, Congress and the Presidency. She is affiliated with the

American Political Science Association The American Political Science Association (APSA) is a professional association of political scientists in the United States. Founded in 1903 in the Tilton Memorial Library (now Tilton Hall) of Tulane University in New Orleans, it publishes four ...

as well as a section member of State Politics and Policy. Karcher served on the Marlboro Township Council from 2002 to 2004, where she was 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 ...

, copy from

Internet Archive The Internet Archive is an American 501(c)(3) organization, non-profit organization founded in 1996 by Brewster Kahle that runs a digital library website, archive.org. It provides free access to collections of digitized media including web ...

dated January 25, 2008. Accessed November 23, 2008. In the 2003 election, she 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 had been the subject of ethics scandals. 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,

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 fo ...

, 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 The ''Princeton Packet'' is a weekly newspaper serving the Princeton, New Jersey area. The company traces its lineage to 1786. Packet Media, LLC. is the publisher of 5 community newspapers, a weekly arts and entertainment supplement and a series ...

'', July 27, 1999. Accessed September 21, 2007. In the 2007 general election, Karcher lost her bid for another term to Republican candidate Jennifer Beck.Beck wins; Dems control both houses
''

Asbury Park Press The ''Asbury Park Press'', formerly known as the ''Shore Press'', ''Daily Press'', ''Asbury Park Daily Press'', and ''Asbury Park Evening Press'', is the third largest daily newspaper in the state of New Jersey. Established in 1879, it has been o ...

'', November 6, 2007. Accessed November 6, 2007. Since 2008, Karcher has owned and operated a lavender farm in Monmouth County, NJ

References

External links

Senator Karcher's Campaign WebsiteSenator Karcher's Legislative Website
from

as of January 25, 2008
Senator Ellen Karcher

Project Vote Smart Vote Smart, formerly called Project Vote Smart, is an American non-profit, non-partisan research organization that collects and distributes information on candidates for public office in the United States. It covers candidates and elected offic ...

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 state legislators in New Jersey Jewish American women in politics 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 20th-century American Jews 21st-century American Jews 21st-century American women politicians 21st-century members of the New Jersey Legislature