Senator Bob Smith , District 17, New Jersey

Bob Smith is a Democratic State Senator representing New Jersey's 17th Legislative District, which spans parts of Middlesex and Somerset Counties. Born on March 25, 1947, he has served in the New Jersey Legislature since 1986, first in the General Assembly as Deputy Minority Leader ** and Parliamentarian , and then in the Senate since 2002. A prominent environmental leader, he chairs the **Senate Environment and Energy Committee, serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee and State House Commission , and is an attorney owning Bob Smith and Associates in Piscataway. Notable achievements include authoring the Highlands Preservation Act, Site Remediation Reform , Barnegat Bay cleanup with the nation's strictest fertilizer law, Recycling Enhancement Act, Electronic Waste Management Act, $400 million Green Acres Initiative, and laws advancing solar, offshore wind, and 80% renewable energy by 2050. Earlier, he was Mayor of Piscataway , Township Council member , and chaired its Environmental Commission . He led the Middlesex County Democratic Organization and New Jersey Democratic Task Force on the Environment . Married to the former Ellen Foster, he has two children and seven grandchildren.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in history and master’s in chemistry from University of Scranton; master’s in environmental science from Rutgers University; Juris Doctor from Seton Hall Law School.
• Political Experience:
  • Piscataway Township: Environmental Commission and Planning Board member ; Councilman and Vice President ; Mayor .
  • New Jersey General Assembly, District 17 : Deputy Minority Leader , Parliamentarian .
  • New Jersey Senate, District 17 : Chair, Senate Environment and Energy Committee; Senate Judiciary Committee; State House Commission .
  • Democratic roles: Middlesex County Democratic Organization Chair ; NJ Democratic Task Force on the Environment Chair ; Counsel to NJ State Democratic Platform .