Mending New Jersey’s brand, lowering taxes, spurring economic development, and protecting the shore
top the to-do list of this multi-tasking State Senator

by Laura D.C. Kolnoski • PHOTOS BY AMESS E PHOTOGRAPHY

State Senator Joseph M. Kyrillos, Jr’s career path was first blazed during a fourth grade trip to Washington, D.C. The youngster who would go on to a life in public service was enthralled with the nation’s
capital and motivated by the idea that a career in public service was a noble calling.

His family history also inspired patriotism. Kyrillos’s father came to the United States from Lebanon and became a doctor like his father before him. His mother, who graduated from Columbia University at age 50, kept the books. His Paternal grandfather was a tool and die maker at Thomas Edison’s factory, and his sister is a physician and professor at Philadelphia’s Thomas Jefferson Medical School. One of his brothers is a company executive in San Diego, and his youngest brother is a former publisher of Travel + Leisure and Food & Wine Magazine.

“My family really represents the American dream,” Kyrillos said. “We weren’t rich, but we were comfortable. My parents worked hard to make sure their children received a top-notch education and had every opportunity to succeed. I was very lucky.” Kyrillos decided to turn that good fortune into a career improving the lives of others.

Much has been made in political circles about Kyrillos’s endorsement of Jeb Bush over New Jersey Governor Chris Christie for President. His relationship with the Bush family began in the 1980s when Kyrillos first met Jeb in Miami where he was Dade County Republican Chairman. The two kept in touch since, and in 1984, Kyrillos worked for Vice President George H. W. Bush on the Reagan-Bush campaign.

“It was on that campaign I began my strong association with the Bush family that continues to this day,” Kyrillos said.“ I think Jeb was a great and successful two-term Florida Governor, super smart and a terrific guy—that is why I strongly support him for President.” After the Reagan-Bush campaign, Kyrillos traveled
the country as special assistant to the Secretary of the Interior and at 27, he ran for the New Jersey General Assembly, serving two terms before being sworn into the Senate in 1992. In 2001, he was selected chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee, serving for three and a half years.

“In that role I helped facilitate the logistics and implementation of the 2004 Republican National Convention
in New York City,” he said. “One of the exciting moments of my political career was when I read the delegate count for President George W. Bush’s nomination for re-election on the convention floor.” He also served as chairman of Mitt Romney’s 2008 presidential campaign. Kyrillos swore Christie into his first term as Morris County freeholder in 1995, chaired his 2009 gubernatorial campaign, and worked on Christie’s transition team. In 2012, he ran for the U. S. Senate against winning incumbent Robert Menendez.

“I believe the role of government is to provide freedom and economic opportunities,” Kyrillos said, adding a major focus of his legislative career has been economic development and job creation. Chairman of the Economic Development Committee in the 1990s, his 13th district includes Aberdeen Township, Atlantic Highlands, Fair Haven, Hazlet, Highlands, Holmdel, Keansburg, Keyport, Little Silver, Marlboro, Middletown, Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Rumson, Sea Bright, and Union Beach.

“I had a hand in every economic incentive bill that passed during that time,” he said. “I was the chief sponsor
of the Business Employment Incentive Program bill, which resulted in hundreds of thousands of direct and indirect jobs in New Jersey. I was also the sponsor of the Grow New Jersey bill, our state’s current business incentive program.”

Kyrillos has voted more than 115 times to reduce taxes and fees, but acknowledges that fiscal problems persist

“While I was proud to sponsor the governor’s two percent property cap, there is more to be done to get property taxes under control,” he said. “Our state’s property tax problem has many causes, one being the duplication of government functions—from schools to snow plows—among smaller municipalities. I have long been a proponent of municipalities sharing services where it makes sense. Regionalization and shared services are important parts of the equation, but meaningful pension and arbitration reforms that reduce labor costs are essential. There’s simply not enough money in the state budget or potential revenue raisers to sustain the current system.” He supports the recommendations of Governor Christie’s Pension and Benefits Commission.

Kyrillos is also targeting the state’s school funding formula, saying it unfairly shortchanges suburban school districts, forcing homeowners to pay more, and he is working with others to phase out New Jersey’s estate tax. “Our state has some of the highest taxes in the country; families can no longer afford to stay here,” he said. “A logical place to begin reversing this trend is by reforming the estate tax. Allowing people to hold on to more of their hard earned money will give them a reason to remain in New Jersey and contribute to our economy, especially as they get older.”

Eye on Economic
Development

He points to the redevelopment of Fort Monmouth (closed by the U.S. Army in 2005 and currently undergoing a state led revitalization effort) as a source of promising economic development. He sponsored the 2008 Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Planning Act to begin turning the once-thriving 1,126- acre base into a hub of technology, education, business, residential, and recreational use.

“While recreating new businesses and housing will take a while, we’re making good progress in recruiting businesses, especially in the technology sector, to develop and create jobs there,” he said. “We need to work on improving New Jersey’s brand so businesses will want to come and grow here.” Kyrillos also wants to remove the ban on sports betting in New Jersey in a bi-partisan initiative aimed at job creation and retention at Monmouth Park and Atlantic City. “It will provide a financial lifeline to Atlantic City casinos, putting people to work and generating economic activity,” he explained. “Gaming activity would also be allowed at state racetracks, which will help rejuvenate a historically important sector that is currently experiencing difficult times. The racetracks provide jobs and economic activity, and they also support horse farms and maintain open space.” (Monmouth Racetrack and some of the state’s equine industry are located in Kyrillo’s district.) Another bill he sponsored to promote online crowd funding was on the governor’s desk in October.

“The bill will allow New Jersey-based entrepreneurs to seek up to $1 million in private investment in increments of up to $5,000 from unaccredited investors residing in New Jersey, and will not cost a single tax dollar,” he said. “At a time when conventional sources of financing are scarce, this bill will help New Jersey’s innovators seek private capital from the investing public to develop their products or services right here in our state. Crowd funding will level the playing field, giving those without access to Wall Street a chance to gain startup capital quickly and grow their businesses.”
At the Beach
The lifelong Monmouth County resident was an early proponent of clean ocean and beach legislation and advocated for green and open space. He sponsored the Environmental Infrastructure Trust, which finances water quality infrastructure projects that enhance ground and surface water resources and helps foster responsible and sustainable economic development. He and his staff also worked to aide families and businesses following Superstorm Sandy, and still do.

“I know how critical protecting New Jersey beaches is to our quality of life and economy,” said Kyrillos, citing the state’s $40 billion tourism industry. “Increasing funding for shore protection should be a no-brainer, particularly after Sandy. One of the first bills I helped pass in 1993 was the Shore Protection Fund, which provided the first stable source of funding for shore protection.” He was recently Legislator-in-Residence for Stockton University, and spoke to students there about the importance of coastal preservation and eco-tourism policies.

His philanthropic endeavors include numerous boards and commissions: the American Council of Young Political Leaders, the Bayshore Senior Day Center, Count Basie Theatre, Monmouth County Historical Association, New Jersey Historical Society, Prevention First, Rainbow Foundation, and the Two River Theatre Company.
No Laurel-Resting Here
A graduate of the Lawrenceville School, Kyrillos has a Political Science degree from Hobart College and a Masters in Public Communication from Boston University. In the private sector, he is Senior Managing Director at Newmark Grubb Knight Frank (a commercial real estate services firm) and a director at the investment advisory firm Newport Capitol of Red Bank. He was introduced to his wife Susan by Governor Christie when she worked on President Bush’s 1992 re-election campaign. (The couple have two children, Max, 16, and Georgia, 13.) Kyrillos was re-elected to the State Senate for a four-year term in 2013.

On the Senator’s to-do list is funding the state’s Transportation Trust Fund, which he said, “is on the brink of bankruptcy, and critical to ensuring New Jersey has a viable and stable transportation infrastructure. We don’t even have enough money in the fund to fix the many roads and bridges in need of repair.” Pragmatic about his future in politics, he confided that people approach him frequently to run for governor.

“You never say never in politics, but running for statewide office as a Republican in an increasingly Democratic “I have a lot of respect for [Governor Christie], but I’m a pretty independent guy, and I’m going to do what I think is right for New Jersey and America.” state has become more challenging each year,” he said. “I would love to run statewide again if I thought I could be successful. I’m not sure, given the Democratic demographics and trends of our state, a victory would be in the cards.” Kyrillos made
news in October when he was one of three Republicans voting with Democrats to override Governor Christie’s veto of a bipartisan gun safety bill.

“I’ve had a long and historic relationship with Chris, it’s become almost folklore,” Kyrillos said. “I still have a lot of respect and affection for him, but I’m a pretty independent guy, and I’m going to do what I think is right for New Jersey and America. Most times I’ve agreed and will continue to agree with his policies, but when I don’t, I’m going to say so. It has nothing to do with politics; it’s about doing what I feel is right and representing the best interests of my district and the state.”

“It’s been a great privilege to serve in the State Senate, representing the people of Monmouth County and the State of New Jersey,” he further reflected. “I’ve served in the legislature most of my adult life, and I’m grateful for the people’s confidence, support, and the responsibility they have bestowed. The most gratifying aspect of serving in state government is the ability to make a difference in so many people’s lives. My staff and I help everyone, no matter who they are, to give them a leg up, help cut through red tape, and make sure they are getting the services they need.”

Senator Joseph M. Kyrillos, Jr.
10 Highway 35, 2Nd Floor, Red Bank
732.671.3206Senator Joseph M. Kyrillos, Jr.
10 Highway 35, 2Nd Floor, Red Bank
732.671.3206