Rafael Fraguela (born June 7, 1955) is an American politician who was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly in 2001 as a Democrat, where he represented the 33rd Legislative District. He then re-registered with the Republican Party and ran unsuccessfully for the New Jersey Senate after the Democrats would not support his candidacy for a second term in the Assembly.Fraguela, Rafael, OurCampaigns.com, December 18, 2003. Accessed June 6, 2010.
Early life and career Born in Cuba, Fraguela emigrated to the United States with his family. Settling in Union City, he graduated in 1974 from Union Hill High School.Fitzgerald's Legislative Manual, 1984, p. 284. Accessed April 13, 2020. "Mr. Fraguela was born June 7, 1955, in Cuba. He moved to Union City as a child and graduated from Union Hill High School in 1974."
Fraguela received his bachelor's degree in social studies from Montclair State College and his master's degree in secondary education/administration supervision from Seton Hall University. He worked as a school principal for the Passaic Board of Education, and as president of the Union City Board of Education from 1988 to 1992.
New Jersey Commissioner Fraguela's first political appointment was as a commissioner on the Hudson County Board of Taxation, from 1990 to 1993. He joined the Union City, New Jersey Board of Commissioners in 1992. In 2000, Fraguela opposed an effort by then-mayor Rudy Garcia to sell Roosevelt Stadium to the Union City Board of Education for $3.5 million as part of an effort to fill a $5 million deficit in the city's budget. Fraguela called the plan "voodoo economics" and supported an effort to have Garcia removed by a recall election.Strunsky, Steve. "In Person; A Former Sports Star Finds Politics A Rougher Field", The New York Times, October 22, 2000. Accessed June 6, 2010. With Rudy Garcia losing support in Union City, Brian P. Stack announced in October 2000 that he would support Fraguela in the Democratic primary to fill the seat in the Assembly that Garcia had been occupyingStrunsky, Steve. "Politics And Government; For Two Young Mayors, It Was A Difficult Week", The New York Times, October 29, 2000. Accessed June 6, 2010.
Together with running mate Albio Sires, Fraguela won election to the Assembly as a Democrat in the November 2001 general election, defeating Republicans Sergio Alonso and Helen Pinoargotty.NJ Assembly 33 - History, OurCampaigns.com. Accessed June 6, 2010.Nardone, Christine. , The Union City Reporter, January 11, 2002. Accessed June 6, 2010.
Assemblymember Fraguela was knocked off the ballot in 2003 by the Hudson County Democratic Party and chose to run for the Senate as a Republican against Bernard Kenny. Fraguela insisted that the Democrats "have been putting aside all the Hispanic Democratic candidates", while "The GOP has had open arms to the Hispanic community". The Democrats gave the ballot spot for the Assembly to Brian P. Stack.Archilla, Dylan M. "Fraguela jumps ship Deposed Democratic assemblyman to run as a Republican", Hudson Reporter, April 11, 2003. Accessed June 6, 2010. Kenny won the general election in November 2003 with an overwhelming majority in the heavily Democratic district, taking 80.9% of the vote to Fraguela's 19.1%NJ Senate District 33 - History, OurCampaigns.com. Accessed June 6, 2010.
Party switch Fraguela had been voting with Republicans in the Assembly, but switched back to vote in favor of Jim McGreevey's stem cell research bill, calling his vote "the right thing to do", saying that "I decided to cast my vote for humanity" after listening to the arguments from both sides.Pearce, Jeremy. "Entering a Brave New World, Warily", The New York Times, January 18, 2004. Accessed June 6, 2010. He was ejected from the Republican caucus on December 15, 2003 after his vote provided the margin of victory for the stem cell bill.Dowling, Matthew J. "Jersey allows stem cell use in research", copy of article from The Star-Ledger, January 5, 2003. Accessed June 6, 2010. He rejoined the Democratic party on December 18, 2003.
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