State Senator Nicholas Asselta

www.asseltaclarkdonohue.com

Biography
Born on August 17, 1951, Senator Nick Asselta grew up in Vineland, New Jersey. The son of a Vineland Police Officer, Asselta graduated from Vineland High School, Cumberland County College and the Frederick Military Academy. He also attended Rider College and the Glassboro State College Management Institute.

After college, Asselta worked for 23 years as Marketing and Production Director for Times Graphic Inc., a Gannett Company subsidiary. Upon his election in 1995 to the New Jersey State Assembly, he became an independent consultant. He has been married to Nancy Small-Asselta since 1980 and they reside in Vineland. Nancy Small-Asselta owns and operates her own interior design company which is also based in Vineland.

Over the past two decades, Senator Asselta has been an educator, a coach and a community leader. From 1978 until 1981, he served as an adjunct faculty member at Atlantic County Community College where he served as the head basketball coach. Asselta was also the basketball coach at Vineland High School from 1985 to 1987. In 1993, he was elected to the Vineland Board of Education and on January 23, 1995 he was sworn in as a member of the New Jersey General Assembly to fill an unexpired term. In November of that same year, he was elected to his first full term, representing New Jersey's First Legislative District in the General Assembly. Having completed four terms in the General Assembly, Nick Asselta was sworn into the State Senate on January 13, 2004.

During his time in the Assembly, Asselta fought for our children's education, our community's access to health care, and the concerns of our country's veterans. In addition, he has spent a great deal of energy fighting for the economic stability of Cape May, Cumberland and Atlantic counties, particularly regarding the tourism industry. As a current member of the Senate Committee on Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation, the Committee on Urban and Community Affairs, and the Senate State Government Committee, Asselta has played a major role in ensuring that South Jersey's voice is heard in Trenton.

Regarding his steadfast support of those individuals who defend out country’s liberty and honor, the Senator was instrumental in locating the necessary state funding to complete the construction of the new Vineland Veterans’ Home. The original Vineland Veterans’ Home was built by Asselta's great-grandfather, James D. Pasquale and his father, Carl Asselta served as a board member of the Home for 17 years. He considers the completion of this facility as a highlight of his career in public service.

Senator Asselta is one of the leading proponents for New Jersey’s seniors in the State Senate. Recently, he was an instrumental sponsor of Senate Bill 1642, the “Independence, Dignity and Choice in Long-Term Care Act.” Senate Bill 1642 will adjust New Jersey’s long-term care funding structure to provide more options to New Jersey’s seniors. The measure creates a coordinated, statewide long-term care system designed to ensure that those who need care receive it, and that they have more opportunities to choose between community-based, home-based and nursing home care. Senator Asselta was successful in ensuring the bill’s passage, and Governor Corzine signed S1642 into law on June 21, 2006.

In addition, Senator Asselta introduced Senate Bill 1752, the “Pharmacy Quality Improvement and Error Prevention Act,” which will establish a 24-member "Medication Error Prevention Task Force" to provide guidelines for the New Jersey State Board of Pharmacy to utilize in implementing medication error prevention, pharmacy quality improvement, and consumer education programs on this topic. Asselta is working tirelessly to push this bill through the legislative process to eliminate the frequency of drug-related errors that New Jerseyans often experience.

Senator Asselta is leading the movement to improve Southern New Jersey’s infrastructure. One of his accomplishments in improving our state’s transportation involves legislation which would direct the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Transportation to allocate monies for concept development and design of a Route 55 extension. Route 55 is a vital roadway to our tourism region, and desperately needs to be expanded to allow for an easier traffic flow.

Senator Asselta believes that our infrastructure system works hand in hand with the state of our economy. Asselta has worked arduously to revitalize unique tourism and economic venues in the First Legislative District. As a result of the Senator’s efforts, Cape May County now has a passenger rail service for the first time since 1980. In addition, Asselta included Ocean City and Wildwood in the legislation for the state’s 35 Special Improvement Districts. Due to his efforts, new, vibrant downtown areas are being reborn in those popular tourist destinations, with New Jersey’s financial assistance.

Another of Senator Asselta’s accomplishments in the tourism industry involves legislation to establish a New Jersey Travel & Tourism Commission, Senate Bill 291. This bill also appropriates $20 million for at least two welcome centers, which is of particular importance to the First Legislative District, where tourism is a vital component to a healthy economy.

Due to its enormous importance, Senator Asselta continually strives in the Legislature on behalf of the Jersey Shore and the tourism industry. In the coming years, Senator Asselta will continue to devote himself to provide the best quality of life for his constituents and of those throughout the State.