John V. Azzariti Explained

John V. Azzariti Jr. (born February 1, 1966) is an American physician and Republican Party politician serving as a member of the New Jersey General Assembly for the 39th legislative district, having taken office on January 9, 2024.

Biography

A resident of Saddle River, New Jersey, Azzariti earned his undergraduate degree at Case Western Reserve University and received his medical degree at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey - New Jersey Medical School. He is employed as a physician anesthesiologist.^[1]

Elective office

Azzariti served on the Saddle River borough council from 2019 to 2023 after having served on the borough's board of health from 2009 to 2018 and on the zoning board of adjustment in 2018.^[1]

In 2021, after Holly Schepisi announced that she would leave her Assembly seat to run for the Senate seat that became vacant following the death of Gerald Cardinale, Azzariti ran to fill the second Assembly seat with Schepisi's support, but the Republicans chose DeAnne DeFuccio.^[2] After DeFuccio announced in 2023 that she would not run for re-election for a second term, Azzariti again received Schepisi's support and won the Republican convention for the second Assembly seat with incumbent Robert Auth.^{[3] [4]} Auth and Azzariti defeated Democrats Damon J. Englese and John F. Vitale in the 2023 New Jersey General Assembly election.^{[5] [6]} Azzariti was one of 27 members elected for the first time in 2023 to serve in the General Assembly, more than one-third of the seats.^[7]

Notes and References

1. https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-roster/493/assemblyman-azzariti Assemblyman John V. Azzariti Jr. (R)
2. McDonald, Terrence T. "Upper Saddle River councilwoman chosen to replace Schepisi in Assembly", The Record, April 1, 2021. Accessed January 11, 2024. "DeAnne DeFuccio, a Republican Upper Saddle River councilwoman and attorney, will fill the 39th District Assembly seat vacated when Holly Schepisi ascended to the state Senate last week.... Her competition for the appointment was Saddle River Councilman John Azzariti, who was Schepisi's choice to replace her."
3. Fox, Joey. "Schepisi, Auth, Azzariti hold 39th district for GOP", New Jersey Globe, November 7, 2023. Accessed January 11, 2024. "Azzariti got an unanticipated path to the Assembly this year after Assemblywoman DeAnne DeFuccio (R-Upper Saddle River) decided to retire after just one full term in office. With Schepisi’s backing, Azzariti easily won the GOP convention to succeed her; he had previously been one of Schepisi’s running mates during the 39th district’s chaotic 2021 GOP primary."
4. [David Wildstein|Wildstein, David]
5. Connolly, Julio. "NJ election results 2023: State Senate, Assembly seats decided", The Record, November 9, 2023. Accessed December 23, 2023.
6. https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2023/2023-official-general-results-general-assembly.pdf Official List Candidates for General Assembly for General Election November 7, 2023
7. [David Wildstein|Wildstein, David]