John V. Azzariti

John Azzariti
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly
from the 39th district
Assumed office
January 9, 2024
Serving with Robert Auth
Preceded byDeAnne DeFuccio
Personal details
Born (1966-02-01) February 1, 1966 (age 58)
Political partyRepublican
Residence(s)Saddle River, New Jersey, U.S.
Education
WebsiteLegislative webpage

John V. Azzariti Jr. (born February 1, 1966) is an American physician and Republican Party politician serving as a member of the New Jersey General Assembly for the 39th legislative district, having taken office on January 9, 2024.

Biography[edit]

A resident of Saddle River, New Jersey, Azzariti earned his undergraduate degree at Case Western Reserve University and received his medical degree at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey - New Jersey Medical School. He is employed as a physician anesthesiologist.[1]

Elective office[edit]

Azzariti served on the Saddle River borough council from 2019 to 2023 after having served on the borough's board of health from 2009 to 2018 and on the zoning board of adjustment in 2018.[1]

In 2021, after Holly Schepisi announced that she would leave her Assembly seat to run for the Senate seat that became vacant following the death of Gerald Cardinale, Azzariti ran to fill the second Assembly seat with Schepisi's support, but the Republicans chose DeAnne DeFuccio.[2] After DeFuccio announced in 2023 that she would not run for re-election for a second term, Azzariti again received Schepisi's support and won the Republican convention for the second Assembly seat with incumbent Robert Auth.[3][4] Auth and Azzariti defeated Democrats Damon J. Englese and John F. Vitale in the 2023 New Jersey General Assembly election.[5][6] Azzariti was one of 27 members elected for the first time in 2023 to serve in the General Assembly, more than one-third of the seats.[7]

Electoral history[edit]

39th Legislative District General Election, 2023[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert Auth (incumbent) 33,061 27.0
Republican John V. Azzariti 32,340 26.4
Democratic John Vitale 29,046 23.7
Democratic Damon Englese 28,183 23.0
Total votes 122,630 100.0
Republican hold
Republican hold

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Assemblyman John V. Azzariti Jr. (R), New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 11, 2024.
  2. ^ McDonald, Terrence T. "Upper Saddle River councilwoman chosen to replace Schepisi in Assembly", The Record, April 1, 2021. Accessed January 11, 2024. "DeAnne DeFuccio, a Republican Upper Saddle River councilwoman and attorney, will fill the 39th District Assembly seat vacated when Holly Schepisi ascended to the state Senate last week.... Her competition for the appointment was Saddle River Councilman John Azzariti, who was Schepisi's choice to replace her."
  3. ^ Fox, Joey. "Schepisi, Auth, Azzariti hold 39th district for GOP", New Jersey Globe, November 7, 2023. Accessed January 11, 2024. "Azzariti got an unanticipated path to the Assembly this year after Assemblywoman DeAnne DeFuccio (R-Upper Saddle River) decided to retire after just one full term in office. With Schepisi’s backing, Azzariti easily won the GOP convention to succeed her; he had previously been one of Schepisi’s running mates during the 39th district’s chaotic 2021 GOP primary."
  4. ^ Wildstein, David. "Azzariti beats Caliguire for Bergen GOP line in 39th district; Schepisi, Auth win easily", New Jersey Globe, March 21, 2023. Accessed January 11, 2024. "Saddle River Councilman John Azzariti handily defeated former Bergen County Freeholder Todd Caliguire for the Bergen County Republican organization line for an open State Assembly in the 39th district, while State Sen. Holly Schepisi (R-River Vale) won a landslide victory against a primary challenger. Assemblyman Bob Auth (R-Old Tappan) was the top vote-getter with 216 votes, and Azzariti finished second with 159. Caliguire was dealt yet another loss, finishing a distant third with 109 votes."
  5. ^ Connolly, Julio. "NJ election results 2023: State Senate, Assembly seats decided", The Record, November 9, 2023. Accessed December 23, 2023.
  6. ^ Official List Candidates for General Assembly for General Election November 7, 2023, New Jersey Department of State, December 6, 2023. Accessed December 23, 2023.
  7. ^ Wildstein, David. "37 new lawmakers take office at noon", New Jersey Globe, January 9, 2024. Accessed January 9, 2024. "The 221st New Jersey Legislature begins today, with 37 new lawmakers – nearly one-third of the legislature – being sworn in at noon. That number includes ten new Senators and 27 new members of the General Assembly."
  8. ^ "Candidates for General Assembly - For GENERAL ELECTION 11/07/2023 Election" (PDF). New Jersey Department of State. Retrieved December 6, 2023.