Nia Gill

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Nia Gill bigraphy, stories - New Jersey State Senator

Nia Gill : biography

March 15, 1948 –

Nia H. Gill (born March 15, 1948; Glen Ridge, New Jersey) is an American Democratic Party politician, who has been serving in the New Jersey State Senate since 2002, where she represents the 34th Legislative District. She ran unsuccessfully as a candidate in the June 2012 primary election to fill the seat in Congress left vacant by the death of Donald M. Payne, the former U.S. Representative for .

Gill serves in the Senate on the Commerce Committee (as Chair), the Legislative Oversight Committee (as Vice-Chair), the Legislative Services Commission and the Judiciary Committee., New Jersey Legislature. Accessed April 7, 2008. She has served as the Senate President Pro-Tempore since January 12, 2010.

Gill was a candidate in the June 5, 2012, primary election to fill the seat in Congress left vacant by the death of Donald M. Payne, the former U.S. Representative for . Also competing for that nomination were Dennis R. Flynn of Glen Ridge, Newark Councilmen Donald Payne Jr. (son of the congressman), Ronald C. Rice (son of State Senator Ronald Rice), Irvington Mayor Wayne Smith, and Cathy Wright of Newark.Moss, Linda; and Porter, Mark S. , The Montclair Times, March 20, 2012. Accessed April 8, 2012. "Gill, a Montclair resident, is one of three candidates who now have publicly declared that they will seek to fill Payne’s vacant Congressional seat. In addition to Gill, Ronald Rice, a Newark Councilman, and Payne’s son, Newark Councilman Donald Payne Jr., had also announced they are running for the 10th District seat.", New Jersey Department of State, April 12, 2012. Accessed June 25, 2012. Payne won in a landslide, garnering 60% of the vote. Rice received 19%, Gill came in third with 17% and the other three candidates split the remaining 5% of the vote.Giambusso, David. , The Star-Ledger, June 5, 2012. Accessed June 25, 2012. "With nearly all of the ballots counted last night, Payne received 60 percent of the vote. His nearest challenger, Rice, received 19 percent while Gill received 17 percent. The other candidates, Irvington Mayor Wayne Smith, Cathy Wright and Dennis Flynn, combined for about 5 percent of the vote.", New Jersey Department of State, June 6, 2012. Accessed June 25, 2012.

Senatorial courtesy

On June 4, 2007, Governor Corzine announced and filed his intent to nominate Stuart Rabner to be the next Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court, replacing James R. Zazzali, who was nearing mandatory retirement age., Courier News, May 31, 2007. Accessed May 31, 2007. Prior to the formal nomination, two members of the New Jersey Senate from Essex County, where Rabner resides, were said to be blocking consideration of his confirmation by invoking "senatorial courtesy", a Senate tradition that allows home county legislators to intercede to prevent consideration of a local nominee. On June 14, 2007, Governor Corzine officially nominated Rabner for the post. State Senator Ronald Rice withdrew his objections to Rabner’s nomination on June 15, 2007, after a meeting with the governor.Associated Press. , The New York Times, June 15, 2007. Accessed June 20, 2007. "Ronald L. Rice, an Essex County Democrat and state senator, said yesterday that he would no longer block Gov. Jon S. Corzine’s nomination for chief justice of the State Supreme Court." Fellow Senator Gill dropped her efforts to block Rabner’s confirmation on June 19, 2007, after meeting with Rabner. While she did not respond to initial media requests to explain the nature of her concerns, anonymous lawmakers cited in The New York Times indicated that the objection was due to Rabner’s lack of bench experience and Governor Corzine’s failure to consider a minority candidate for the post.Jones, Richard G. , The New York Times, June 20, 2007. Accessed June 20, 2007. "Senator Gill had delayed Mr. Rabner’s confirmation hearing by using “senatorial courtesy” — an obscure practice through which senators who represent the home county of nominees may block consideration of their confirmations."