Kim Guadagno facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kim Guadagno
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Guadagno in 2011
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| 1st Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey | |
| In office January 19, 2010 – January 16, 2018 |
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| Governor | Chris Christie |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Sheila Oliver |
| 33rd Secretary of State of New Jersey | |
| In office January 19, 2010 – January 16, 2018 |
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| Governor | Chris Christie |
| Preceded by | Nina Wells |
| Succeeded by | Tahesha Way |
| 75th Sheriff of Monmouth County, New Jersey | |
| In office January 1, 2008 – January 19, 2010 |
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| Preceded by | Joseph Oxley |
| Succeeded by | Shaun Golden |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Kimberly Ann McFadden
April 13, 1959 Waterloo, Iowa, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican (until 2021) Independent (2021–present) |
| Spouse |
Michael Guadagno
(m. 1991) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Ursinus College (BA) American University (JD) |
Kimberly Ann Guadagno (born April 13, 1959) is an American lawyer and politician. She made history as the first Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey. She also served as the 33rd Secretary of State for New Jersey. Her time in these important roles was from 2010 to 2018.
In 2017, Guadagno was the Republican candidate for Governor of New Jersey. She ran in the election but lost to Phil Murphy, a Democrat.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Kimberly Ann McFadden was born on April 13, 1959, in Waterloo, Iowa. She was the middle child in a family of five children. Her parents were Mary Patricia "Pat" and Charles A. "Chuck" McFadden Jr. Because her father worked in sales, her family moved to many different places.
Kim went to Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree there in 1980. Later, in 1983, she received her law degree (called a Juris Doctor or J.D.) from the Washington College of Law. This school is located in Washington, D.C..
Career in Public Service
Starting as a Lawyer
Kim Guadagno began her career as a lawyer for the United States government. She worked as an Assistant United States Attorney in New York and New Jersey. She also served as an Assistant New Jersey Attorney General.
From 1994 to 1998, she was a deputy chief in the U.S. Attorney's office. Her team focused on cases involving public officials who broke the law. She handled important cases against people like Thomas D'Alessio and Nicholas Bissell. These cases were recognized as some of the best federal prosecutions at the time.
From 1998 to 2001, she was a deputy director in the Division of Criminal Justice. Here, she oversaw cases about large financial scams. She also supervised the case against David L. Smith, who created the "Melissa" computer virus. From 2003 to 2009, she taught legal writing at Rutgers School of Law–Newark. In 2005, she was elected as a commissioner for Monmouth Beach.
Monmouth County Sheriff
In 2007, Kim Guadagno was elected as the 75th Sheriff of Monmouth County. She took office in 2008, becoming the first woman to hold this position. As Sheriff, she was in charge of Monmouth County's largest law enforcement agency. This agency had almost 700 employees.
Her responsibilities included overseeing:
- The Law Enforcement Division.
- A large correctional facility (jail).
- A youth detention center.
- The Civil Division.
- The Public Safety and 911 Emergency Dispatch Center.
During her time as Sheriff, her office received the Department of Defense Pro Patria Award. This award honors employers who support employees serving in the National Guard and Reserve. Her office also earned a special "Six Star" accreditation. This was for excellence in law enforcement, corrections, correctional healthcare, and youth detention. The Monmouth County Sheriff's Office was the first of its kind in the U.S. to receive this award.
Sheriff Guadagno also expanded "Project Lifesaver." This program uses special bracelets with tracking devices. These devices help officers find people with Alzheimer's or Autism who might wander off and get lost.
Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State
On July 20, 2009, Chris Christie, who was running for governor, chose Kim Guadagno as his running mate. This was the first time New Jersey voters chose a lieutenant governor. Christie and Guadagno won the election on November 3, 2009.
On January 19, 2010, Guadagno was sworn in as New Jersey's first Lieutenant Governor. Governor Christie also appointed her as New Jersey's Secretary of State. In this role, she worked on growing the economy and making government rules simpler.
As Secretary of State, Guadagno was responsible for many important areas:
- Arts and Culture: She oversaw programs related to New Jersey's artistic, cultural, and historical heritage.
- Volunteerism: She managed projects that encouraged people to volunteer and serve their communities.
- State Archives: She supervised the state's research facility for historical public records.
- Tourism: She led the Division of Travel and Tourism, which promotes New Jersey as a great place to visit.
- Elections: She was the Chief Elections Official. She chaired the Board of State Canvassers, which officially confirms election results.
- Community Programs: She oversaw divisions like the Governor's Office of Volunteerism and the Office of Faith Based Initiatives.
Running for Governor
In 2017, Kim Guadagno became the Republican candidate for governor. She won the primary election in June 2017. However, she lost the general election to Democrat Phil Murphy on November 7, 2017. She received about 42% of the votes, while Murphy received 56%.
After Politics
In April 2018, Guadagno joined the law firm Connell Foley as a partner. She worked in their Jersey City office.
In May 2019, Guadagno became the CEO and president of Fulfill NJ. This organization was formerly known as The Foodbank of Monmouth and Ocean County. During her two years there, she helped manage food delivery during the COVID crisis.
In July 2021, Guadagno left the Republican Party. She registered as an independent voter. Today, she is a partner at Connell Foley law firm. She is also the President and Executive Director of Mercy Center Corporation in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Mercy Center is a non-profit organization that helps thousands of families and runs a tuition-free middle school for girls.
Personal Life
Kim Guadagno moved to New Jersey in 1991. She has lived in Monmouth Beach since marrying Michael Guadagno in 1991. Her husband was a judge for the New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division. He was appointed as a judge in 2005 and became an Appellate Division judge in 2012.
The Guadagnos have three sons. One son, Kevin, graduated from the United States Air Force Academy. He is now an F-35 fighter pilot. Another son, Michael, was on the crew team at Dartmouth College.
See also
- List of female lieutenant governors in the United States
