William Gormley

For the public policy scholar, see William T. Gormley.

William L. "Bill" Gormley (born May 2, 1946) is an attorney and former American Republican Party politician whose career in New Jersey’s state Legislature spanned four decades. Representing the state’s 2nd Legislative District, which includes most of Atlantic County, Gormley emerged as an influential and dominating figure in New Jersey government and a leader in the continued economic revitalization of the greater Atlantic City region.

Gormley, the son of former Atlantic County Sheriff Gerard Gormley, was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly in 1977, serving until 1982. He served as a member of the state Senate from 1982 to 2007, a length of tenure unmatched in Atlantic County since state Sen. Frank “Hap” Farley’s 31-year-run ended in defeat in 1972.

In his book Boardwalk Empire, which details the history of Atlantic City, author Nelson Johnson said Gormley “earned the respect of every key player in the State House” and grew to become “one of the most power public officials in New Jersey.”[1]

After Gormley chose not to seek re-election to the Senate in 2007, the Press of Atlantic City wrote: “In this age of scripted politicians, Gormley stood out as a gutsy original: combative, complex and an undeniable master of the game of politics. He did not simply pursue success, he stalked it.”[2] The newspaper noted that Gormley left office “without an ethical stain after 30 years in New Jersey politics.” Said Gov. Chris Christie, then U.S. Attorney of New Jersey, “Is he a tough politician? Absolutely. But in my experience, he’s always operated with integrity.”[3]

Education and military service

Gormley received a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame in History and was awarded a J.D. from Villanova University. He served in the United States Marine Corps and was honorably discharged in 1975 with the rank of Captain.

Political career

Early in his career in the state Legislature, Gormley forged a reputation that he would retain until his retirement, that of a bold risk-taker willing to form calculated alliances with the opposing party. In 1981, Gormley was the most vocal member of a small group of Republican lawmakers who aligned with Democrats to pass legislation that eliminated the practice of awarding favorable ballot positions to candidates endorsed by county political organizations. Though the courts would restore the party line years later, the legislation paved the way for Tom Kean to win the Republican gubernatorial primary against the Republican establishment candidate, Paterson Mayor Lawrence “Pat” Kramer. Kean would go on to serve two terms as one of the most popular governors in New Jersey history.

“Getting rid of the party line cracked Kramer and made Kean,” recalled Republican campaign strategist Dave Murray. “What was so impressive about that is there were other guys supporting Kean, but Bill Gormley was the one shouting it from the rooftops. Really, there’s only one word to describe him – and that’s ballsy.”[2]

In 1990, Gormley cast the only Republican vote for then Gov. Jim Florio’s ban on assault weapons and became a target of the National Rifle Association. As political payback, the NRA funded the campaigns of a string of Gormley opponents in both local races and runs for higher office.[4]

Growth of Atlantic City

As a lawmaker, Gormley crafted legislation that paved the way for a development renaissance in Atlantic City. He also holds the rare distinction of having authored and secured approval for two amendments to the New Jersey state constitution.

In 1991, after suing the governor of New Jersey to protect the rights of coastal homeowners, Gormley wrote and secured passage for a constitutional amendment that defined and delineated the rights of property owners who held riparian lands. The amendment resolved a protracted and contentious legal dispute that had pitted the state’s jurisdictional powers against private ownership rights.[5]

Gormley is also credited with developing strategies and writing legislation to secure billions of dollars in state funding for crucial development projects in the Atlantic City region including the Atlantic City Corridor Project (now "Tanger Outlets The Walk"), Boardwalk Hall, the Atlantic City Rail Terminal, the Atlantic City–Brigantine Connector, The Borgata, the Quarter at Tropicana Casino, "The Pier Shops at Caesars" now "Playground Pier"), the Atlantic City Convention Center, and Atlantic City International Airport.

“Most of those projects, when (Gormley) first brought them up, people said no,” said Gov. Kean. “He would always find a way to get them done. He’s the most creative legislator I ever knew. If he wanted to get something done, he would never accept that you can’t do it.”[2]

The editorial board of the Press of Atlantic City wrote that Gormley’s legislative initiatives “were often so ingenious and designed to serve so many public purposes simultaneously that they virtually required a flow chart to understand. But, more often than not, they worked.”

The second constitutional amendment written by Gormley shifted the cost for the operation of the county court system to the state, creating a more coordinated and modern justice system. At the time of its passage, Chief Justice Robert N. Willentz called the amendment “by far the greatest reform and improvement of the judiciary since the constitution of 1947.”[6]

Racial Profiling Hearings: “A Powerful Image”

As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Gormley led a 2001 investigation into the practice of racial profiling by New Jersey State Police. The nine days of hearings chaired by Gormley ultimately led to the enactment of reform legislation to eradicate the practice of racial profiling, including the creation of a system of oversight and monitoring to maintain integrity in law enforcement practices.

Former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, who assisted Gormley in the hearings, said Gormley chaired the hearings “in a way that inspired bi-partisan confidence. He was unbelievably energetic, a tough questioner and a guy who was willing to follow the evidence wherever it led.”[2]

David Rebovich, a political science professor at Rider University and a leading commentator on New Jersey politics, called Gormley’s chairmanship the most powerful part of the hearings. “His demeanor and key questioning created a powerful image and a positive one at a time when many New Jerseyans felt shameful,” Rebovich said.[7]

Electoral history

Over the course of his career, Gormley ran for higher office three times and lost in the primary each time. He ran for Governor in 1989, the U.S. House of Representatives in 1993 and the U.S. Senate in 2000, when he lost to Bob Franks by 3,700 votes.

Charitable projects

Gormley has also been active in a number of philanthropic efforts and charitable projects in the Atlantic City region, benefitting organizations such as the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and the Sisters of Christian Charity. Gormley also helped lead fundraising efforts to build a facility for the Milton and Betty Katz Jewish Community Center in Margate, spearheaded the recruitment of speakers for a lecture series at the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton College (now Stockton University) and, along with his wife Virginia, founded the Atlantic City Friends of Music to raise money to support music and arts programs in Atlantic City schools.

Post-political career

In 2007, New Jersey Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner appointed Gormley chairman of the Public Officers Salary Review Commission.

Gormley is currently a partner in the law firm of DLA Piper. He resides in Margate City, New Jersey with his wife, Virginia.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Johnson, Nelson. Boardwalk Empire.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 McAleer, Pete (10 February 2007). "The life and times of Bill Gormley: Retiring senator thrived on deals that gave new life to Atlantic City" (PDF). Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  3. ↑ Moran, Tom (5 January 2007). "A Tough Man Stands Down - and Trenton Will Miss Him". The Star-Ledger.
  4. ↑ Specter, Michael (25 July 1991). "One State Lawmaker, One Vote and the Political Wrath of the NRA". The Washington Post.
  5. ↑ Sullivan, John (2 March 2003). "The Gadfly". The New York Times.
  6. ↑ Johnson, Tom (30 June 1992). "Court Cost Takeover Plan Clears". The Star-Ledger.
  7. ↑ Parmley, Suzette (19 April 2001). "Gormley Scores Points At Profiling Hearings". The Philadelphia Inquirer.

External links

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