NJEA offers its condolences to the family of Gov. Jim Florio. He served as New Jersey’s governor from 1990 to 1994 after seven terms representing New Jersey in the U.S. House of Representatives and two terms in the New Jersey General Assembly.
NJEA’s officers, President Sean M. Spiller, Vice President Steve Beatty and Secretary-Treasurer Petal Robertson offered this remembrance:
“We offer our deepest condolences to Gov. Florio’s family and loved ones. Our schools are safer, and our environment is cleaner because of the governor’s leadership. Signing into law in 1990 the strictest ban at the time on military assault-style weapons, Gov. Florio kept these dangerous firearms out of the hands of those who should never have them. As a member of Congress, he sponsored the Superfund law leading to the cleanup of toxic sites throughout New Jersey and the nation. His protection of the state’s Pinelands through legislation creating the Pinelands National Reserve is a lasting legacy to his leadership and an enduring treasure for generations to come. Gov. Florio’s willingness to stand by what he believed was right rather than what was politically expedient remains a model for all those who seek to lead and is a testament to his character.”
