Eldridge Hawkins Jr. facts for kids

Eldridge Hawkins, Jr. (born July 25, 1979) served as the Mayor of Orange, New Jersey. Orange is a city with about 33,000 residents in Essex County, New Jersey. As mayor, he helped lead efforts to update state laws about how cities work with public employee groups.

After being mayor, Mr. Hawkins worked for the New Jersey Department of State. He helped connect with communities and worked on important policies and laws. He was also the President of the New Jersey United States Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees). Besides his political work, he is a professional in law enforcement and a businessman. He is also a martial arts expert with over 30 years of experience. He is a member of the USA Unified Martial Arts Hall of Fame. Shihan Eldridge Hawkins, Jr. holds a 5th Degree Black Belt in United States Ju-Jitsu and Fusion Kenpo. He also has a 7th Degree Black Belt in American Style Nunchaku. The United States Ju-Jitsu Federation recognizes him as a national leader in martial arts.

Early Life and Education

Eldridge Hawkins, Jr. was born in 1979 in Livingston, New Jersey. His father, Eldridge Hawkins, was a Civil Rights lawyer and a former Assemblyman. His mother, Linda Cofer Hawkins, was a businesswoman and community leader. Eldridge grew up in West Orange, New Jersey and went to Seton Hall Preparatory School.

He then attended Rider University, earning a degree in Business Administration in 2001. After college, he worked in business and law enforcement. He was the Director of Operations for the Carl Lewis Fund, Inc. He also worked as a Licensed Realtor Associate. In 2002, he started his career with the West Orange Police Department. After receiving awards for his service, he retired as a Police Officer. He continued his education, earning a degree in Criminal Justice from Thomas Edison State College. He also got a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Seton Hall University. Later, he earned a law degree (Juris Doctor) from Mitchell Hamline School of Law.

Becoming Mayor

Eldridge Hawkins, Jr. moved to Orange and planned to run for the City Council in 2008. However, the current mayor, Mims Hackett, faced legal issues and decided not to run again. Hawkins then chose to run for mayor instead.

He was new to politics compared to the other candidates. But he promised to make Orange safer, ensure honesty in government, and help the city grow. His background in law enforcement was a big help, as people in the city were worried about crime. Many important leaders supported his campaign, including former Governor Richard Codey and Newark Mayor Cory Booker. On May 13, 2008, at just 28 years old, he was elected Mayor by a close vote.

Leading Orange

Hawkins became mayor on July 1, 2008, during a difficult economic time for the U.S. One of his first big goals was to improve the Orange Police Department. He brought in a new police director and started community policing programs. He also held events where people could turn in guns and updated police technology. These changes helped reduce crime and improved trust between the police and state and federal law enforcement.

His next major goal was to help Orange grow and strengthen its tax base. He improved the city's water system to allow for more building projects. He also had the Walter G. Alexander Houses, an old housing project, taken down. He secured state and federal money to replace it with new, lower-rise homes.

Hawkins worked to get Orange recognized as a "Transit village". This meant the state would provide help for development around Orange's two train stations. To make Orange a better place for shopping and entertainment, he got funding for the city's Valley Arts district. He also named the historic Italian neighborhood "Little Italy" and made plans to improve the city's main shopping areas.

To get more citizens involved, Hawkins started televising and streaming City Council meetings online. He also held regular public meetings and encouraged ordinary citizens to serve on city boards. He updated the city website to make it easier for people to share their ideas and get help.

Working with Others

Mayor Hawkins had many plans but faced less money coming into the city. So, he created partnerships between the city and private organizations. He worked with St. Barnabas Health Care System to provide health services to older residents. He also partnered with the Heinz Foundations to offer low-cost prescription drugs. He created a partnership with the Profeta Urban Investment Foundation, Seton Hall University Business School, and the Intersect Fund. This partnership helped Orange entrepreneurs with advice and loans.

Facing Financial Challenges

Orange faced a big cut in state funding. Hawkins worked to help New Jersey cities manage their money better. He pushed for changes in laws about pensions and health benefits for city workers. He also spoke out against cuts to the state's Urban Enterprise Zone program. He became the Chairman of the Management Reform Committee for the NJ League of Municipalities. In this role, he led other mayors in asking for changes to state laws. To avoid a large property tax increase, he had to lay off some firefighters, police, and other city workers.

These layoffs and tough talks with employee groups gained national attention. News channels like Fox Financial News and CNN reported on the challenges faced by cities and the workers. In March 2011, Orange received a federal grant. This grant helped Hawkins reach an agreement with the firefighters' union. The grant, along with changes in work rules, allowed the city to rehire the laid-off firefighters and hire more. This important agreement was also reported nationally.

2012 Election and Beyond

In 2012, Hawkins ran for reelection but faced strong challengers. He was narrowly defeated by Dwayne Warren. After leaving office, Hawkins started Black Belt Security & Investigations, LLC, a private security company. As a former mayor and security expert, he appeared on TV and radio in 2013. He discussed school safety and gun control, suggesting armed guards in schools and a balanced approach to gun laws.

Martial Arts Journey

Eldridge Hawkins, Jr. started training in Chinese Kenpo-Kung Fu when he was young. He earned his Black Belt in June 2001. He holds Black Belt ranks in Fusion Kenpo and Chinese Kenpo Kung Fu. His martial arts teachers connect him to famous Grand Masters like Ed Parker and Moses Powell. Hawkins also has recognized rank in Kenpo-Jujitsu and United States Ju-Jitsu.

He is skilled with various martial arts weapons. He holds a 7th Degree Black Belt in American Style Nunchaku (ASN), a tournament system. He is a certified instructor for the "American Style Nunchaku Federation" (ASNF). He is also certified by the United States Martial Arts Federation (USMAF). Hawkins created his own self-defense system called Ken-Fu Nunchaku Jutsu. He teaches Nunchaku forms online through VirtualNunchaku.com. In 2022, Hawkins was inducted into the USA Unified Martial Arts Hall of Fame.

Awards and Groups

• United States Martial Arts Federation Hall of Fame Member - National Kobudo Sensei
• United States Ju Jitsu Federation Hall of Fame Member - National Ju Jitsu Sensei
• Senior Instructor - Baker's Red Iron Dragon Fusion Kenpo Academy
• Vice President - United States Martial Arts Federation
• Vice President (US Operations) - American Style Nunchaku Federation
• 1st Place Champion – Adult Division, Black Belt Weapons; Upland Martial Arts (Open Tournament).
• 2nd Place Winner – Free Fighting Division, Black Belt Men Over 200 Lbs.; Challenge of Champions XII (Open Tournament).
• Life Member – New Jersey Police Honor Legion
• President of the New Jersey Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees) and founder of the Orange-Essex Jaycees, the first chapter in a New Jersey urban community
• Selected by Ebony Magazine in 2009 as an “Outstanding Young American Leader.”
• Member, Phi Beta Sigma fraternity
• Chairman, Orange Democratic Committee.
• Member, Maplewood & Oranges Chapter, NAACP.
• Master Mason, Bethel Lodge No. 10, F & AM - PHA Orange, NJ
• Youth Role Model Award – National Association of Negro Business & Professional Women's Clubs, Inc.

More Information

• [1] Official Municipal Accomplishments of Eldridge Hawkins, Jr.
• “Orange attracting shoppers and keeping businesses downtown”. NJ Municipalities. NJ League of Municipalities January 2010.
• “New development turns Orange into green”. Enterprise Magazine, NJ Chamber of Commerce, October 2010.
• “The towns need more powers on arbitration and civil service”. Orange Transcript November 2, 2010.
• "Innovation continues in Orange”. NJ Municipalities NJ League of Municipalities December 2010.
• [2]. Election shocker in Orange: Mayor ousted after first term despite fierce re-election campaign
• [3]. Orange Mayor Eldridge Hawkins fighting crime, but also battling critics and lawsuits
• [4]. Essex County election results: Montclair, Orange get new mayors
• [5]. Winners and Losers: Municipal Elections Edition
• [6]. "Official Website of Eldridge Hawkins, Jr.