John J. Giblin (February 14, 1909 – December 20, 1975) was an American Democratic Party politician and labor leader.
Early life Giblin was born in Ireland on February 14, 1909, and came to the United States at age 19. He worked in the power plant at the Newark offices of the Prudential Insurance Company from 1929 until 1942, when he became the Supervisor of Heating and Repairs for the Newark Public Schools.
In 1942, Giblin became a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 68. He was elected Business Manager and President of the union in 1948 and held that post until his death. He had also served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the International Union of Operating Engineers in Washington, D.C.
Political career In May 1953, Giblin was elected to the Newark Charter Study Commission, which recommended a change to the mayor-council form of government.
In November 1954, he was elected to the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders. He served as a New Jersey State Senator in 1966 and 1967.
The U.S. Supreme Court decision in Reynolds v. Sims (more commonly known as One Man, One Vote), required redistricting by state legislatures for congressional districts to keep represented populations equal, as well as requiring both houses of state legislatures to have districts drawn that contained roughly equal populations, and to perform redistricting when needed. Because of its population, Essex County gained three Senate seats.
In 1965, he was elected New Jersey State Senator. He was defeated for re-election in 1967. Giblin and his three running mates defeated four Republicans, including the incumbent, Senate Minority Leader C. Robert Sarcone.
New Jersey held a constitutional convention in 1966 to address reapportionment issues created by the One Man, One Vote decision. Following redistricting, Essex County gained two more seats, for a total of six. In 1967, Giblin and his Democratic running mates were defeated by a slate of Republican Senate candidates.
Giblin again sought election to the State Senate in 1971, running on an independent ticket. He finished 11th for five seats, finishing more than 50,000 votes behind the low-votegetting candidate.
He also served as Clerk to the Essex County Jury Commission, and a member of The New Jersey State Board of Mediation.
Personal Giblin and his wife, the former Teresa Moran, had five children, including Thomas P. Giblin, a longtime New Jersey Assemblyman and former New Jersey Democratic State Chairman, and Vincent Giblin, the President of the international Union of Operating Engineers. A resident of West Orange, Giblin died at Mountainside Hospital in Glen Ridge, New Jersey.via Associated Press. "John J. Giblin", The New York Times, December 21, 1975. Accessed February 18, 2016.
Election results
1965 Essex County State Senator General Election
Winner Party Votes Loser Party Votes Nicholas Fernicola Democrat 145,589 C. Robert Sarcone Republican 128,815 Maclyn Goldman Democrat 143,794 Irwin I. Kimmelman Republican 116,205 John J. Giblin Democrat 143,040 James E. Churchman, Jr. Republican 112,995 Hutchins F. Inge Democrat 135,959William F. Tompkins Republican 112,128 George C. Richardson Independent 10,409 Kendrick O. Stephenson Independent 5,970 David Blumgart Independent 5,305 Frederick Waring Independent 44,76
1967 Essex County State Senator General Election
Winner Party Votes Loser Party Votes Michael Giuliano Republican 122,354 Nicholas Fernicola Democrat 91,812 Gerado Del Tufo Republican 119,956 John J. Giblin Democrat 89,297 Alexander Matturri Republican 119,152 Maclyn Goldman Democrat 88,796 James Wallwork Republican 118,834David Mandelbaum Democrat 85,131 Milton Waldor Republican 117,280 Victor Addonizio Democrat 83,587 David W. Dowd Republican 115,568 Hutchins Inge Democrat 83,543
1971 Essex County State Senator General Election
Winner Party Votes Loser Party Votes Michael Giuliano Republican 92,166 Milton Waldor Republican84,736 Ralph DeRose Democrat 91,380 Martin L. Greenberg Democrat 82,291 James Wallwork Republican 88,632 Matthew G. Carter Republican 77,418 Frank J. Dodd Democrat 86,041Henry Smolen Democrat 76,190 Wynona Lipman Democrat 85,644 Frederic Remington Republican 73,663 John J. Giblin Essex Bi-Partisan21,688 John F. Monica Essex Bi-Partisan21,072 Sylvester L. Casta Essex Bi-Partisan19,015 Joseph J. Bradley Essex Bi-Partisan16,348 Richard P. Weitzman Essex Bi-Partisan15,733 Joseph A. Santiago Unity-Victory-Progress5,483
References