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Robert D. Clifton

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Robert D. Clifton
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly
from the 12th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 10, 2012
Serving with Alex Sauickie
Preceded by
Member of the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders
In office
January 1, 2005 – January 10, 2012
Preceded byEdward J. Stominski
Succeeded bySerena DiMaso
Mayor of Matawan, New Jersey
In office
October 1, 1996 – January 18, 2005
Preceded byRobert Shuey
Succeeded byBeatrice Duffy
Personal details
Born (1968-12-31) December 31, 1968 (age 55)
Matawan, New Jersey
Political partyRepublican
SpouseTracy Clifton
Children2
Residence(s)Matawan, New Jersey
Education
OccupationDirector of Local Government Affairs, Comcast Cable
Websitewww.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-roster/342/assemblyman-clifton

Robert D. Clifton (born December 31, 1968) is an American Republican Party politician who has represented the 12th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly since January 10, 2012. He previously served on the Monmouth County, New Jersey Board of Chosen Freeholders from 2005 until he took office in the Assembly.

Early life

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Clifton was born and raised in Matawan, where he attended local elementary schools and St. John Vianney High School. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science at Rider College (now Rider University) and a master's degree in political science at the University of Richmond.[1] He has been employed by Comcast Cable as Director of Government and Community Affairs since 2001.[1] Prior to that, Clifton was Director of Industry Relations for the New Jersey Pavement and Asphalt Association, where he acted as liaison between the trade association and municipalities throughout the state regarding road improvement issues. He also served as an assistant to the Deputy Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Labor and a legislative aide to former Assemblyman Michael Arnone.

Monmouth County Politics

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Clifton was the Mayor of Matawan from 1996 until 2005. He was appointed mayor in October 1996 upon the resignation of Robert Shuey.[2][3] In addition, he served on the borough's unified Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment, the Board of Health, and the Monmouth County Board of Drug & Alcohol Abuse Services. He also served as chairman of the Bayshore Conference of Mayors. In order to focus on his position as a newly elected Freeholder, he resigned from his mayoral post on January 18, 2005.[3] As Freeholder, Clifton oversaw Finance and Information Technology which includes Department of Finance, the Monmouth County Improvement Authority, Information Technology Services, Department of Purchasing, Records Management and the County Treasurer. Clifton served three terms on the Board of Chosen Freeholders, elected in 2004, 2007, and 2010. In 2008, he served as Deputy Director of the Board; Clifton was succeeded in that post by John D'Amico, Jr. in 2009. At the January 7, 2010 annual reorganization, he was again chosen as Deputy Director and at the January 6, 2011 annual reorganization, he was chosen as Director of the Monmouth County, New Jersey Board of Chosen Freeholders.[4]

New Jersey Assembly

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In 2011, after legislative redistricting, Clifton ran for the Assembly seat in the 12th District that was opened when Samuel D. Thompson ran for New Jersey Senate.[5] He and his running mate Ronald S. Dancer defeated the Democratic candidates, William Spedding and Catherine Tinney Rome, in the general election.[6] He was sworn in on January 10, 2012.

Committees

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  • Budget
  • Housing and Community Development
  • Transportation and Independent Authorities

District 12

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Each of the 40 districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey Senate and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly.[7] The representatives from the 12th District for the 2024—2025 Legislative Session are:[8]

Personal life

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Clifton lives in Matawan with his wife Tracy and his two sons.[9]

Electoral history

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Assembly

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12th Legislative District General Election, 2023[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert D. Clifton (incumbent) 28,200 32.0
Republican Alex Sauickie (incumbent) 27,061 30.7
Democratic Paul Sarti 16,767 19.0
Democratic Raya Arbiol 16,164 18.3
Total votes 88,192 100.0
Republican hold
Republican hold
12th legislative district general election, 2021[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ronald S. Dancer (incumbent) 47,595 33.37%
Republican Robert D. Clifton (incumbent) 46,378 32.52%
Democratic Michael Palazzolla 24,642 17.28%
Democratic Raya Arbiol 23,993 16.82%
Total votes 142,608 100.0
Republican hold
12th Legislative District General Election, 2019
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ronald Dancer (incumbent) 23,866 32.19%
Republican Robert Clifton (incumbent) 23,173 31.25%
Democratic David Lande 13,909 18.76%
Democratic Malini Guha 13,194 17.8%
Total votes 74,142 100%
Republican hold
New Jersey general election, 2017[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Ronald S. Dancer 30,348 29.3 Decrease 0.2
Republican Robert D. Clifton 29,610 28.5 Increase 0.5
Democratic Gene Davis 21,441 20.7 Increase 0.3
Democratic Nirav Patel 20,397 19.7 Decrease 0.6
Libertarian Anthony J. Storrow 1,016 1.0 N/A
Libertarian Daniel A. Krause 938 0.9 N/A
Total votes '103,750' '100.0'
New Jersey general election, 2015[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Ronald S. Dancer 15,164 29.5 Decrease 3.3
Republican Robert D. Clifton 14,433 28.0 Decrease 3.7
Democratic David W. Merwin 10,496 20.4 Increase 2.9
Democratic Robert P. Kurzydlowski 10,449 20.3 Increase 3.7
Green Stephen N. Zielinski Sr. 945 1.8 N/A
Total votes '51,487' '100.0'
New Jersey general election, 2013[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Ronald S. Dancer 32,188 32.8 Increase 2.5
Republican Robert D. Clifton 31,059 31.7 Increase 2.6
Democratic Lawrence J. Furman 17,119 17.5 Decrease 2.9
Democratic Nicholas Nellegar 16,312 16.6 Decrease 3.7
For the People Diane Bindler 1,354 1.4 N/A
Total votes '98,032' '100.0'
New Jersey general election, 2011[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ronald S. Dancer 22,345 30.3
Republican Robert D. Clifton 21,469 29.1
Democratic William "Bill" Spedding 15,077 20.4
Democratic Catherine Tinney Rome 14,969 20.3
Total votes 73,860 100.0

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Assemblyman Robert D. Clifton, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed August 9, 2012.
  2. ^ McGee, Beverly (September 25, 1996). "Matawan Mayor Shuey resigns" (PDF). The Independent (Long Branch). Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  3. ^ a b Rosenberg, Michelle (January 18, 2005). "Clifton steps down as mayor of Matawan". The Independent (Long Branch). Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  4. ^ Minutes, Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders
  5. ^ "Turnover in N.J. Legislature is slight". Asbury Park Press. January 10, 2012. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  6. ^ "Assembly District 12". NJ Spotlight Voter Guide. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  7. ^ New Jersey State Constitution 1947 (Updated Through Amendments Adopted in November, 2020): Article IV, Section II, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 28, 2022.
  8. ^ Legislative Roster for District 12, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed September 28, 2022.
  9. ^ "Assemblyman Rob Clifton - New Jersey Assembly Republicans". New Jersey Assembly Republicans. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  10. ^ "Candidates for General Assembly - For GENERAL ELECTION 11/07/2023 Election" (PDF). New Jersey Department of State. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  11. ^ "Official List, Candidates for General Assembly For GENERAL ELECTION 11/02/2021 Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. November 30, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  12. ^ "2017-official-general-election-results-general-assembly.pdf" (PDF). New Jersey Secretary of State. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  13. ^ "2015-official-ge-results-nj-general-assembly.pdf" (PDF). New Jersey Secretary of State. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  14. ^ "2013-official-general-election-results-general-assembly.pdf" (PDF). New Jersey Secretary of State. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  15. ^ "2011-official-gen-elect-gen-assembly-results-121411.pdf" (PDF). New Jersey Secretary of State. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
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New Jersey General Assembly
Preceded by Member of the New Jersey General Assembly for the 12th District
January 12, 2012 – present
With: Ronald S. Dancer 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by
Edward J. Stominski
 Monmouth County At-large Freeholder
January 1, 2005 – January 12, 2012 		Succeeded by
Serena DiMaso
Preceded by Monmouth County Freeholder Director
2011 – 2012 		Succeeded by
John P. Curley
Preceded by
Robert Shuey
 Mayor of Matawan, New Jersey
October 1996 – January 18, 2005 		Succeeded by
Beatrice Duffy
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