Marge Roukema
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Jersey
In office
January 3, 1981 – January 3, 2003
Preceded byAndrew Maguire
Succeeded byScott Garrett
Constituency7th district (1981–1983)[1]
5th district (1983–2003)[1]
Personal details
Born
Margaret Scafati

(1929-09-19)September 19, 1929
Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedNovember 12, 2014(2014-11-12) (aged 85)
Wyckoff, New Jersey, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseRichard Roukema
EducationMontclair State University (BA)

Margaret "Marge" Roukema (née Scafati; September 19, 1929 – November 12, 2014) was an American politician from the state of New Jersey. A Republican, Roukema served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1981 to 2003.

Early life and education

Roukema was born Margaret Scafati on September 19, 1929 in Newark, New Jersey. She was the daughter of Claude and Margaret Scafati. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and political science from Montclair State College in 1951, and she also did graduate work at Montclair State. In addition, she took graduate courses in city and regional planning at Rutgers University.[2]

Career

Roukema began her career as a high school American history teacher in Ridgewood, New Jersey.[3] She also served as a member of the Ridgewood School Board from 1970 to 1973.[2]

U.S. House of Representatives

In 1978, Roukema ran for Congress against incumbent Democratic Congressman Andrew Maguire, losing by approximately 9,000 votes. In 1980, Roukema challenged Maguire again and won; her campaign was helped by successful Republican presidential candidate Ronald Reagan's presence at the top of the ticket. She was re-elected 11 times without facing serious Democratic opposition.[2]

Roukema in 1982

Roukema was a moderate Republican[4] known for her staunch support for the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).[5] During her congressional career, she represented New Jersey's 7th and 5th congressional districts, respectively.[1] In 1992, she faced a primary challenge from three other Republicans and prevailed.[6] In 1998, conservative Republican State Assemblyman Scott Garrett, challenged her in the Republican primary. Roukema managed to fight him off, and did so again in 2000.[5]

Retirement

With the prospect of another primary challenge from Garrett in 2002 (in a district made even more conservative on paper by redistricting), as well as facing the loss of her subcommittee chairs due to caucus term limits, the Ridgewood Republican opted not to seek a 12th term and retired from politics.[7] Despite Roukema's refusal to endorse him,[8][9] Garrett was elected as her successor.[5] She left office in 2003.[2] At the time of her retirement, Roukema was the longest-tenured female member of Congress.[10]

Personal life and death

Roukema was married to psychiatrist Richard W. Roukema. The Roukemas had three children: Greg, Todd, and Meg. Todd Roukema died of leukemia in October 1976.[2]

On November 12, 2014, Roukema died in Wyckoff, New Jersey at the age of 85. She had Alzheimer's disease.[5]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Marge Roukema". congress.gov. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "ROUKEMA, Margaret Scafati | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives". history.house.gov. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
  3. ↑ "ROUKEMA, Margaret Scafati 1929-2014". bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  4. ↑ Yardley, William (November 13, 2014). "Marge Roukema, Congresswoman, Dies at 85; Backed Family Leave" – via NYTimes.com.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Dick, Jason (November 12, 2014). "New Jersey Republican Marge Roukema Dies at 85". Roll Call.
  6. ↑ "Fifth Congressional District - Primary Results" (PDF). NJ.gov. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  7. ↑ Staff. "BRIEFING: POLITICS; ROUKEMA RETIRING", The New York Times, November 11, 2001. Accessed January 29, 2011. "Representative Marge Roukema, a leading voice in the Republican Party's moderate wing since her election in 1980, said last week that she would retire after her current term. Ms. Roukema, 72, of Ridgewood, is the longest-serving woman in Congress."
  8. ↑ Kocieniewski, David. "Forrester to Represent G.O.P. in Race to Unseat Torricelli", The New York Times, June 5, 2002. Accessed March 30, 2008. "In the Republican primary to replace Representative Marge Roukema, who is retiring from her Fifth Congressional District seat, State Assemblyman E. Scott Garrett, defeated State Senator Gerald Cardinale, whom Mrs. Roukema had endorsed. With all precincts reporting, Mr. Garrett had 46 percent, to 25 percent for Mr. Cardinale and 26 percent for Assemblyman David C. Russo."
  9. ↑ "Capital briefs", Human Events, October 28, 2002. Accessed November 1, 2007. "In New Jersey, retiring liberal GOP Rep. Marge Roukema has for months refused to endorse conservative Scott Garrett, the Republican nominee to succeed her in the 5th District."
  10. ↑ "Long-serving New Jersey congresswoman Marge Roukema dies". Yahoo News. November 12, 2014.
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