Jamie Fox
{{Short description|American political consultant (1954–2017)}}
{{distinguish|Jamie Foxx}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{infobox person
|name = Jamie Fox
|image =
|birth_name = James Patrick Fox
|birth_date = {{birth date|1954|10|30}}
|birth_place = Elizabeth, New Jersey, U.S.
|death_date = {{Death date and age|2017|2|20|1954|10|30}}
|death_place = Camden, New Jersey, U.S.
|alma_mater = Villanova University
|occupation = Politician
|party = Democratic
}}
James Patrick Fox (October 30, 1954 – February 20, 2017) was an American politician and political strategist.{{cite web|last=Santiago|first=Katherine|title=High-profile political strategist Jamie Fox helps Gov. Corzine's re-election campaign as unpaid adviser|url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/08/highprofile_political_strategi.html|work=The Star-Ledger|date=August 7, 2009 |publisher=The Star-Ledger|accessdate=January 19, 2011}} He twice served as New Jersey Commissioner of Transportation and also worked for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ).
Biography
Fox was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and grew up in Union Township, Union County, New Jersey. His father was head basketball coach at St. Patrick High School, where Fox attended but was too short to play on the team.Hedges, Chris. [https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/15/nyregion/public-lives-mcgreevey-s-chief-of-staff-prefers-off-stage-politics.html "Public Lives; McGreevey's Chief of Staff Prefers Off-Stage Politics"], The New York Times, April 15, 2003. Accessed September 14, 2019. "Mr. Fox, a small man who bristles with nervous energy, was the son of a well-known high school basketball coach, Edward Fox, known as Buzzy, who guided the St. Patrick's team in Elizabeth to many division and state championships. Mr. Fox was expected to hit the court. There was the issue of his height.". He attended Villanova University where he earned a degree in political science.
He was a long-time aide to former U.S. Sen. Robert Torricelli, serving as Torricelli's Chief of Staff in the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives. He also served on the staff of former New Jersey Gov. James Florio.
From 1999 to 2001, Fox served as the Executive Director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, while Torricelli was the chairman of the committee. In 2002, Fox was appointed by New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey as the New Jersey Commissioner of Transportation. While serving as Transportation Commissioner, Fox also served as Chairman of the New Jersey Transit Board of Directors.
In 2003, McGreevey appointed Fox as Chief of Staff to the Governor, a position he held until McGreevey's resignation in November 2004. Following McGreevey's resignation, he became Deputy Executive Director of the PANYNJ, where he administered the New York region's three airports, seaports, the PATH commuter train system and the development of the World Trade Center site.
He announced his intention to leave the Port Authority on July 1, 2007, in order to become a private consultant. While serving at the Port Authority, Fox also served as a Commissioner of the New Jersey Local Finance Board.
In September 2008, Fox became a Senior Advisor for the Obama/Biden campaign, working out of the Florida HQ in Tampa. Following the campaign, he returned to Fox and Shuffler.{{What|date=January 2011}} During this time he was lobbyist for United Airlines.
An art collector whose specialty was items related to his political travels, Fox was a resident of Lambertville, New Jersey.Sullivan, John. [https://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/01/nyregion/in-person-mcgreevey-goes-for-muscle.html "IN PERSON; McGreevey Goes for Muscle"], The New York Times, December 1, 2002. Accessed October 23, 2011.
In 2014, Governor Chris Christie nominated Fox to join his cabinet as New Jersey Commissioner of Transportation.{{cite web|url=http://www.northjersey.com/news/christie-nominates-democrat-for-key-cabinet-job-1.1091065|title=Christie nominates two key lobbyists, one a Democrat, to Cabinet jobs|author=MELISSA HAYES and CHRISTOPHER MAAG|work=NorthJersey.com}}
Fox was under investigation by the Justice Department. His communications were subpoenaed by federal investigators looking into corruption at the PANYNJ.{{cite web|url=http://www.northjersey.com/news/port-authority-inquiry-puts-n-j-transportation-chief-in-unwanted-spotlight-1.1266565|title=Port Authority inquiry puts N.J. transportation chief in unwanted spotlight}} Fox, in his capacity as a United Airlines lobbyist, was alleged to have helped arrange the so-called "Chairmans flight" for Port Authority Chairman David Samson.{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-28/the-dinner-proposal-that-led-united-into-corruption-probe|title=The Dinner Proposal That Led United Into a Corruption Probe|date=April 28, 2015|work=Bloomberg.com|accessdate=October 3, 2015}} In September 2015, Fox was accused of violating ethic laws by two former state officials for not recusing himself from a meeting that discussed United Airlines involvement in Atlantic City Airport.{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2015/09/nj_transportation_chief_accused_of_ethics_violations_reports_say.html|title=N.J. transportation chief accused of ethics violations, reports say|work=NJ.com|date=September 30, 2015 |accessdate=October 3, 2015}} He resigned in October 2015,{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/traffic/index.ssf/2015/10/fox_resigns_as_transportation_commissioner.html#incart_river_home|title=Jamie Fox resigns as N.J. Transportation Commissioner|work=NJ.com|date=October 3, 2015 |accessdate=October 3, 2015}}{{cite web|author1=Boburg, Shawn |author2=Racioppi, Dustin |url=http://www.northjersey.com/news/nj-transportation-commissioner-jamie-fox-stepping-down-1.1424405 |title=Christie's DOT chief steps down |publisher=NorthJersey.com |date= |accessdate=February 21, 2017}} further stating that the investigation did not influence the decision.{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2015/10/united_probe_had_zero_to_do_with_my_resignation_nj_commissioner_says.html#incart_river_home |title=United probe had 'zero' to do with my resignation, N.J. commissioner says |publisher=NJ.com |date= October 6, 2015|accessdate=February 21, 2017}}
Fox died of heart failure in Camden, New Jersey, at the age of 62.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/21/nyregion/jamie-fox-a-backstage-force-in-new-jersey-state-politics-dies-at-62.html?_r=0 |title=Jamie Fox, a Backstage Force in New Jersey State Politics, Dies at 62 |first=Sam |last=Roberts |authorlink=Sam Roberts (newspaper journalist) |newspaper=The New York Times |date=February 21, 2017}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/14/10/20/fox-calls-for-transportation-tax-new-tunnel-expanded-light-rail/ NJ Spotlight interview October 2014]
- [http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/15/02/01/strategy-gives-governor-political-cover-on-possible-gas-tax-hike/ NJ Spotlight Feb 2015]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Fox, Jamie}}
Category:American political consultants
Category:State cabinet secretaries of New Jersey
Category:Port Authority of New York and New Jersey people
Category:American gay politicians
Category:Politicians from Elizabeth, New Jersey
Category:People from Lambertville, New Jersey
Category:People from Union Township, Union County, New Jersey
Category:The Patrick School alumni
Category:Villanova University alumni
Category:LGBTQ people from New Jersey