Michael B. Lavery
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = Chairman
| name = Michael B. Lavery
| honorific-suffix = Esq.
| image =
| imagesize =
| smallimage =
| caption =
| order =
| office1 = Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee
| term_start1 = June 26, 2017
| term_end1 = November 7, 2017
| term_start2 = December 15, 2020
| term_end2 = June 10, 2021
| Deputy1 =
| predecessor1 = Sam Raia
| successor1 = Doug Steinhardt
| predecessor2 = Doug Steinhardt
| successor2 = Bob Hugin
| office3 = Mayor of Hackettstown
|term_start3 = 2005
|term_end3 = 2011
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Republican
| residence =
| spouse =
| children =
| alma_mater =
| occupation = Lawyer
| religion =
| signature =
| website = [https://www.lsaclaw.com/ www.lsaclaw.com]
}}
Michael B. Lavery is an American politician and lawyer who served as the mayor of Hackettstown from 2005 to 2011 and as Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee on two separate occasions. First for six months in 2017 and for a second time between 2020 and 2021.
Career
=Legal career=
Before being involved in politics, Lavery worked as a lawyer admitted to the Warren County bar and specialized in commercial litigation, general litigation and municipal litigation for the Lavery, Selvaggi, Abromitis & Cohen law firm which he was a founding partner of.{{cite web |title=Michael B. Lavery, Esq. |url=https://warrencountybar.org/item/michael-b-lavery-esq/ |website=warrencountybar.org |access-date=November 15, 2022}}
Following his 2017 term as Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee Lavery became the legal council for the New Jersey Republican State Committee from 2017 to 2020. Following his second exist as chairman he became the Township Attorney for Parsippany–Troy Hills, Hardwick, Lopatcong, Mansfield, Oxford, Greenwich, and Washington.{{cite web |last1=Cahill |first1=Frank L. |title=Michael B. Lavery Appointed as Township Attorney |url=https://parsippanyfocus.com/2022/01/05/michael-b-lavery-to-be-appointed-as-township-attorney/ |website=parsippanyfocus.com |access-date=November 15, 2022}}
=Political career=
Lavery's political career started in 2005 when he was elected as a Republican to two terms as mayor of Hackettstown serving until 2011. Additionally he worked on the Warren County Republican Committee and was a legislative aid to Leonard Lance{{cite web |title=Michael B. Lavery |url=https://www.apportionmentcommission.org/Lavery.asp |website=www.apportionmentcommission.org |publisher=New Jersey Legislative Appointment Commission |access-date=November 15, 2022}} He was appointed as the Commissioner for the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission on June 25, 2015, by governor Chris Christie.{{cite web |last1=Del Re |first1=John |title=Leadership Matters – 10/31/2018 |url=https://wnti.centenaryuniversity.edu/leadership-matters-10-31-2018/ |website=wnti.centenaryuniversity.edu |access-date=November 15, 2022}} On June 26, 2017, he was elected to be the Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee following his endorsement from gubernatorial candidate Kim Guadagno.{{cite web |last1=Selvaggi |first1=Michael S. |title=Lavery Elected GOP Chairman |url=https://www.lsaclaw.com/news/2017/lavery-elected-gop-chairman |website=www.lsaclaw.com |access-date=November 15, 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Friedman |first1=Matt |title=STEINHARDT out as state GOP chairman at dramatic meeting — REPUBLICANS still divided — CHRISTIE lets radio host party in gov's mansion |url=https://www.politico.com/tipsheets/new-jersey-playbook/2017/06/14/steinhardt-out-as-state-gop-chairman-at-dramatic-meeting-republicans-still-divided-christie-lets-radio-host-party-in-govs-mansion-220822 |website=www.politico.com |access-date=November 15, 2022}} As chairman he focused entirely on getting Guadagno elected governor and dispelling any criticisms towards her from other Republicans.{{cite web |last1=Pizarro |first1=Max |title=Getting to Know New GOP State Chairman Mike Lavery: The InsiderNJ Introductory Interview |url=https://www.insidernj.com/getting-know-new-gop-state-chairman-mike-lavery-insidernj-introductory-interview/ |website=www.insidernj.com/ |access-date=November 15, 2022}} When Guadagno lost the 2017 New Jersey gubernatorial election, Lavery resigned as chairman.{{cite web |last1=Pizarro |first1=Max |title=Steinhardt Wins Unanimous Support to Lead the NJGOP |url=https://www.insidernj.com/steinhardt-wins-unanimous-support-lead-njgop/ |website=www.insidernj.com |access-date=November 15, 2022}} He would be re-elected the chairman on December 15, 2020, following the resignation of his successor Doug Steinhardt after the 2020 election.{{cite web |last1=Wildstein |first1=David |title=Lavery wins race for Republican State Chairman |url=https://newjerseyglobe.com/campaigns/lavery-wins-race-for-republican-state-chairman/ |website=newjerseyglobe.com |access-date=November 15, 2022}} During this second term he decried election integrity outlining a series of voting reforms he and the New Jersey Republican Committee would like to see implemented in the state.{{cite web |last1=Stile |first1=Charles |title=NJ GOP wants 'election integrity' as Trump base wallows in denial I Movers and Shakers |url=https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/columnists/charles-stile/2021/03/05/nj-gop-calls-election-integrity-trump-bases-wallows-denia/6886616002/ |website=www.northjersey.com |access-date=November 15, 2022}} He would be replaced without opposition in 2021 by Bob Hugin, the Republican candidate for the 2018 United States Senate election in New Jersey, at the suggestion of the Republican candidate in the 2021 New Jersey gubernatorial election Jack Ciattarelli.{{cite web |title=Bob Hugin Named As Next Chair of NJGOP |url=https://www.insidernj.com/bob-hugin-named-next-chair-njgop/ |website=www.insidernj.com |access-date=November 15, 2022}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Chairmen of the New Jersey Republican State Committee}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lavery, Michael}}
Category:Chairmen of the New Jersey Republican State Committee
Category:Lawyers from Warren County, New Jersey
Category:New Jersey Republicans
Category:Mayors of places in New Jersey
Category:People from Hackettstown, New Jersey
Category:20th-century American lawyers
Category:21st-century American lawyers