A Renewed Sense of Purpose
Meet some Rutgers alumni who are members of the state legislature and serve the people of New Jersey.
Senator Bob Smith GSNB’74
New Jersey’s 17th Legislative District
Bob Smith is one of the longest-serving members of the New Jersey legislature. The senator has served New Jersey’s 17th legislative district, which includes New Brunswick and Piscataway, since 1986, first as an assemblyman and, since 2001, as a senator. Senator Smith recently won reelection to a sixth state senate term, which began in January. He is the longtime chair of the Senate Environment Committee, or, as the Democratic senator often calls it, “the most interesting committee in Trenton.” In the role, the senator has sponsored an array of far-reaching environmental public policy legislation. Senator Smith is also an attorney with a private practice in Piscataway, where he lives with his wife. They have two children and five grandchildren.
Assemblyman Brian Bergen RBS’15
New Jersey’s 25th Legislative District
Brian Bergen is a member of the Assembly Appropriations Committee and the Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee in the New Jersey legislature. The Republican assemblyman’s recent reelection secured a second term representing New Jersey’s 25th legislative district, which includes parts of Morris and Somerset Counties. The West Point graduate is a decorated U.S. Army combat veteran who flew Apache helicopters in Iraq and is an advocate for veterans. The Denville, New Jersey, native is also a successful small-business man in his hometown, where he and his wife are the parents of two children.
Assemblyman Joe Danielsen UCNB’90
New Jersey’s 17th Legislative District
Joe Danielson is chair of the Assembly Oversight, Reform, and Federal Relations Committee in the New Jersey legislature. Having recently won reelection, the assemblyman began a fifth term representing New Jersey’s 17th legislative district, which includes New Brunswick and Piscataway, in January. The Democratic assemblyman is a successful small-business owner and long-time volunteer firefighter in Franklin Township, Somerset County. Among the assemblyman’s other volunteer pursuits is his prolific fundraising for pediatric cancer research. Assemblyman Danielsen is a veteran of the U.S. Army. He and his wife are the parents of three children.