Gary Schaer
Gary Steven Schaer (born September 11, 1951) is an American Democratic Party politician who represents the 36th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly since he took office on January 10, 2006.[2] In March 2023, Schaer was hired as the executive director of the Passaic County Improvement Authority.[6] Schaer unsuccessfully ran for Mayor of Passaic in 1997 finishing behind incumbent Margie Semler and councilman Samuel Rivera.In situations in which the legislature is in session on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, when the dictates of his Orthodox Jewish faith prohibit him from participating in forbidden forms of work, he has appointed an aide to formally cast a ballot on his behalf, a policy permitted by the Assembly's rules, as long as the legislator is in the building.[3] He held the Deputy Speaker position in the Assembly from 2012 to 2023 and was Chair of the Budget Committee from 2014 to 2017.