Hal Wirths Explained

Hal Wirths
Office1:Member of the New Jersey General Assembly from the 24th District
Term Start1:January 9, 2018
Term End1:January 9, 2024
Alongside1:Parker Space
Predecessor1:Gail Phoebus
Office2:Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
Term Start2:May 24, 2010
Term End2:August 1, 2016
Governor2:Chris Christie
Predecessor2:David J. Socolow[1]
Successor2:Aaron R. Fichtner[2]
Office3:Member of the Sussex County Board of Chosen Freeholders
Term Start3:January 1, 2000
Term End3:May 24, 2010
Successor3:Parker Space
Office4:Director of the Sussex County Board of Chosen Freeholders
Term Start4:January 1, 2004
Term End4:December 31, 2004
Predecessor4:Susan Zellman
Successor4:JoAnn D'Angeli
Term Start5:January 1, 2008
Term End5:December 31, 2008
Predecessor5:Susan Zellman
Successor5:Glen Vetrano
Birth Name:Harold J. Wirths
Parents:Wallace R. Wirths
Birth Date:5 April 1965
Party:Republican
Education:Upsala College
Website:Legislative Website
Assembly Republican Website

Harold J. Wirths (born April 5, 1965) is an American Republican politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2018 to 2024, representing the 24th Legislative District. He previously served as Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development from May 24, 2010 to August 1, 2016, appointed by former Governor Chris Christie in 2010.[3] [4]

Early life

Wirths is the adopted son of Wallace R. Wirths (1921–2002), a former Westinghouse executive, author, newspaper columnist and radio commentator, who was a benefactor of Upsala College in East Orange, New Jersey (now defunct),[5] from which Wirths would go on to graduate with an associates degree in business.https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/90929/harold-wirths

Wirths was a small business owner in Sussex County in northwestern New Jersey, owning and managing furniture stores located near Hamburg, New Jersey. He also helped to establish Noble Community Bank, which today is part of Highlands State Bank, and he served on the Highlands Bank board of directors.[6] Wirths resides in Wantage Township, New Jersey with his wife and two daughters.

Sussex County Board of Chosen Freeholders

Wirths ran for Sussex County's Board of Chosen Freeholders as a Republican and served as a freeholder for nearly a decade from 2000 to 2010. He resigned from that post to become Labor Commissioner and was succeeded as Freeholder by Parker Space.[7]

Labor Commissioner

Chris Christie nominated Wirths to be the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (2010-2016) and was sworn in on May 24, 2010. One of his focuses as commissioner, was to modernize the state's unemployment insurance benefits system and reducing waste attributed to benefits fraud. He served on the boards of several state government commissions and authorities, including the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, New Jersey State Ethics Commission, New Jersey State Employment and Training Commission, and the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority.

Under the leadership of Commissioner Wirths, the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development launched an employer-focused approach to reshape the state's workforce development and training programs.[8]

New Jersey Assembly

In 2017, he ran for the New Jersey General Assembly in the 24th Legislative District, bracketed with Parker Space and won election with 30,028 votes (27.91% of the ballots cast).[9]

Electoral history

New Jersey Assembly

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Department of Labor and Workforce Development. https://web.archive.org/web/20161013073222/http://lwd.state.nj.us/labor/index.shtml. dead. 13 October 2016. Wayback Machine. 27 April 2019.
  2. Web site: Department of Labor and Workforce Development. https://web.archive.org/web/20161013073222/http://lwd.state.nj.us/labor/index.shtml. dead. 13 October 2016. Wayback Machine. 27 April 2019.
  3. Office of the Governor, State of New Jersey. Harold J. Wirths: Commissioner for the New Jersey Department of Labor. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  4. Department of Labor and Workforce Development, State of New Jersey. About the Commissioner. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  5. Strunksy, Steve. "In Brief; Dream of a College Tinged With Sadness", The New York Times, August 2, 1998. (Retrieved July 10, 2012).
  6. https://archive.today/20130628202332/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=61897384&ticker=HSBK "Highlands Bankcorp Inc (HSBK:OTC US) - Executive Profile: Harold J. Wirths, Former Director, Highlands Bancorp, Inc."
  7. https://www.njherald.com/story/news/2013/03/05/space-says-he-ll-resign/4004838007/ "Space says he'll resign as freeholder later this month"
  8. Web site: Department of Labor and Workforce Development About the Commissioner. fkloepping. lwd.state.nj.us. 2016-08-05.
  9. https://nj.gov/state/elections/2017-results/2017-official-general-election-results-general-assembly.pdf#page=30 Official List Candidates for General Assembly for General Election November 7, 2017