Raymond John Zane (July 23, 1939 – January 8, 2024) was an American 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 ...

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from 1974 to 2002, where he represented the 3rd Legislative District. First elected in 1973 and re-elected seven times as a Democrat, Zane lost re-election in 2001 as a Republican. Zane ran for his seat as a Republican again in 2003 but ultimately dropped out. In later years, he rejoined the Democratic Party before dying on January 8, 2024, at the age of 84.

Early life and education

Born on July 23, 1939, in Woodbury, Zane attended

Woodbury Junior-Senior High School Woodbury Junior-Senior High School (WHS) is a comprehensive community middle school and public high school that serves students in sixth through twelfth grades from Woodbury, in Gloucester County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, as part of t ...

. A star pitcher on the school's baseball team, he was signed by the

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and played until his professional career was ended by injury. Zane earned his undergraduate degree from St. Joseph's College in

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with a major in business administration, then earned his J.D. from

Rutgers School of Law–Camden Rutgers Law School is the law school of Rutgers University, with classrooms in Newark and Camden, New Jersey. It is the largest public university, public law school and the 10th largest law school, overall, in the United States. Each class in the ...

. He was an attorney by profession with the firm of Zane and Lozuke.

Elected office

Before serving in the New Jersey Legislature, Zane was a member of the

Gloucester County, New Jersey Gloucester County ( ) is a County (United States), county in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the county was the state's List of counties in New Jersey, 14th-most populous county

Board of Chosen Freeholders In New Jersey, a Board of County Commissioners (until 2020 named the Board of Chosen Freeholders) is the elected county-wide government board in each of the state's 21 counties. In the five counties that have an elected county executive, the ...

from 1972 to 1974.,

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 ...

. Accessed June 17, 2010. Zane served in the Senate as the Assistant Majority Leader from 1986 to 1989, as the Deputy Assistant Minority Leader from 1992 to 1998 and as Deputy Minority Leader starting in 1998. He served there on the Judiciary Committee and the Legislative Oversight Committee. Zane had been elected to eight terms in office as a Democrat and announced his switch to the Republican Party in February 2001 at a news conference where he was joined by Acting

Governor of New Jersey The governor of New Jersey is the head of government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of governor is an elected position with a four-year term. There is a two consecutive term limit, with no limitation on non-consecutive terms. The ...

Donald T. DiFrancesco and other party leaders. In a refer back to

Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was an American politician and actor who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He was a member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party a ...

, Zane said that "I didn't leave the Democratic Party, but outgrew it." Zane criticized Democratic Party bosses in Camden County and what he perceived as their efforts to bring "boss-style politics" into Gloucester County. Zane had been feuding with Gloucester County Democratic Party head Michael A. Angelini, and the feud had escalated to the point that Zane faced the prospect of a challenge in the Democratic primary from Stephen M. Sweeney, then director of the Gloucester County Board of Chosen Freeholders. In response to Zane's departure from the Democratic Party, Angelini stated that "Ray Zane's career has always been about money", and claimed that Zane had switched parties because his law firm had lost county contracts to service municipalities and school districts. Zane had been earning close to $95,000 a year from contracts with the Deptford Township Schools, the Gloucester County Vocational-Technical School District, the Gloucester County Board of Social Services, and with the municipalities of Greenwich Township, Paulsborp and Penns Grove.Smith, Joseph P
"Zane paid a price for defying the party"
''

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 ...

'', September 24, 2003. Accessed June 17, 2010. Starting in 2000, Zane's paid positions were gradually stripped away from him, including a $40,000 a year position with the Gloucester County Improvement Authority. ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' reported on speculation that Angelini's opposition to Zane stemmed from Zane's relationship with Republican Assembly Speaker Jack Collins and that Zane only offered "lukewarm support" to the Democratic challengers in the 3rd Legislative District.Hanley, Robert
"Democratic State Senator Switches Parties'
''

'', February 23, 2001. Accessed June 17, 2010. Zane went unchallenged in the Republican primary, but was defeated by Sweeney in the 2001 general elections by a margin of 51.5%-48.5%. Sweeney was aided by the strong support of Camden County Democratic head George Norcross III in the Camden portion of the district. The race was the most expensive in New Jersey history at the time, totaling $2.4 million, with Sweeney spending $1.8 million to Zane's $624,000. It was the most expensive legislative race in the state until $4 million was spent in Fred H. Madden's successful race to unseat George Geist in 2003.Mansnerus, Laura
"In Recount, Madden Defeats Geist in Senate Race"
''

'', November 19, 2003. Accessed June 17, 2010.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zane, Raymond 1939 births 2024 deaths County commissioners in New Jersey Lawyers from Gloucester County, New Jersey Democratic Party New Jersey state senators Republican Party New Jersey state senators Politicians from Woodbury, New Jersey Rutgers School of Law–Newark alumni St. Joseph's University (New York) alumni Woodbury Junior-Senior High School alumni 20th-century American lawyers 21st-century American lawyers 21st-century members of the New Jersey Legislature 20th-century members of the New Jersey Legislature