Jack Sinagra facts for kids

Jack G. Sinagra (born March 18, 1950 – died August 26, 2013) was an American politician. He was a member of the Republican Party. He served as the mayor of East Brunswick, New Jersey. He also represented the 18th Legislative District in the New Jersey Senate from 1992 to 2001. Later, he became the Chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Jack Sinagra's Life and Career

Early Life and Education

Jack Sinagra was born in Queens, New York City. He went to Bayside High School. In 1972, he graduated from the College of Emporia. He studied Accounting there. After college, he worked as a Senior Vice President and later President at a company called Turtle and Hughes.

Serving as Mayor

Jack Sinagra started his political career in East Brunswick, New Jersey. He was elected to the East Brunswick Township Council in 1987. From 1989 to 1991, he served as the mayor of the township.

During his time as mayor, East Brunswick Township made an important decision. In 1991, they passed a rule to ban cigarette vending machines. This made East Brunswick the first town in New Jersey to do this. It was a big step, even though some companies disagreed with the ban.

Time in the New Jersey Senate

In 1991, Jack Sinagra was elected to the New Jersey Senate. He represented the 18th Legislative District. He won re-election in 1993 and again in 1997.

While in the Senate, he worked on important issues. He was the Chair of the Health Committee. He also served on the Commerce Committee.

• Ending "Double Dipping": One of his promises when he first ran for office was to stop "double dipping." This is when elected officials hold more than one elected job at the same time. In 1992, he helped pass a bill in the State Senate to ban this practice.
• Playground Safety: In 1998, Sinagra sponsored a bill to make playgrounds safer. This law required all public and private playgrounds to have shock-absorbing material around equipment within five years. It also said that wood or metal swing seats needed to be replaced with plastic within 15 years. This helped protect kids playing at playgrounds.

Leading the Port Authority

In 2001, Jack Sinagra was chosen for a very important role. He was nominated to be the Chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. This agency manages important transportation hubs like airports, bridges, and tunnels in the New York and New Jersey area.

He was confirmed for the role and left his Senate seat on October 23, 2001. In December 2001, the Port Authority's Board of Commissioners officially elected him as their Chairman.

Later Life

Jack Sinagra passed away on August 26, 2013, at the age of 63. He lived in New York City.