Sean F. Dalton (born March 10, 1962[1]) is an American politician who served as the Prosecutor of Gloucester County, New Jersey from 2002 to 2017. He previously served two terms in the New Jersey General Assembly, where he represented the 4th Legislative District.

Sean Dalton
Prosecutor of Gloucester County, New Jersey
In office
2002–2017
Member of the
New Jersey General Assembly
from the 4th district
In office
1994–1998
Personal details
Born (1962-03-10) March 10, 1962 (age 62)
Camden, New Jersey, U.S.
RelationsDaniel Dalton (brother)
EducationJames Madison University (BA)
Quinnipiac University (JD)

Early life and education

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Dalton was born in Camden, New Jersey, on March 10, 1962,[2] and grew up in Glassboro, New Jersey and graduated from Glassboro High School.[3] Dalton earned his undergraduate degree from James Madison University with a major in political science and psychology and was awarded his J.D. degree from the Quinnipiac University School of Law.[1][4]

Career

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Dalton won an Assembly seat in the 1993 election in a split verdict, with Republican George Geist coming in first, Dalton in second, incumbent Republican Mary Virginia Weber in third place and Dalton's running mate Sandra Love in fourth. Geist and Dalton were re-elected in 1995, with Democrat Chris Manganello in third and Republican Gerald Luongo in fourth.[5] The $1 million spent by the candidates in the 1993 Assembly race was the most of any district in the state, and The New York Times predicted that the parties would spend heavily in the 1995 race as each side tried to gain both seats.[6]

While in the General Assembly, Dalton served as Associate Minority Leader starting in 1996 and was a member of the Commerce and Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee and the Labor Committee.[1] In 1997, Dalton criticized automobile insurance companies for putting money in separate reserve funds to pay for claims that might come in the future, and then asking for rate increases due to lack of profitability, "but it is not a true picture of the company's economic status".[7]

Dalton ran unsuccessfully for the New Jersey Senate seat held by John J. Matheussen, with Matheussen taking 50.7% of the vote, Dalton receiving 46.1% and Jame E. Barber garnering 3.2% of the vote.[8][9] The Times predicted that the 1997 race would be one of "costliest and closest" in the state, with the gubernatorial election that year between Democrat Jim McGreevey and Republican Christine Todd Whitman having a strong effect on the race. Dalton was expected to benefit from the name recognition of his brother, Daniel Dalton, who had served as Secretary of State of New Jersey and had represented the district in the State Senate.[10]

In 2002, Sean F. Dalton was appointed as Gloucester County Prosecutor. In 2007, he was reappointed by Governor Jon Corzine to a second five-year term.[11]

In November 2017, after serving since 2012 on a holdover basis after his second five-year term ended, Dalton left office as Gloucester County Prosecutor, after Governor Chris Christie nominated Charles Fiore to fill the position. Serving over 15 years, he was the longest serving county prosecutor in Gloucester County history.[12][13] He resigned from office in late November after having obtained a position as an Assistant Attorney General of New Jersey.[14] In that capacity, he worked on the implementation of the state's legalization of recreational cannabis. He later joined the law firm of Cooper Levenson, working of counsel in their Atlantic City office.[15]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Assemblyman Sean F. Dalton, backed up by the Internet Archive as of February 5, 1997. Accessed June 17, 2010.
  2. ^ Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey, 1996, p. 239. Accessed March 26, 2023. "Assemblyman Dalton was born March 10, 1962, in Camden."
  3. ^ Sean F. Dalton Gloucester County Prosecutor, Gloucester County, New Jersey. Accessed October 26, 2017. "A Glassboro native, Sean Dalton graduated from Glassboro High School and is a member of the GHS Distinguished Hall of Fame."
  4. ^ Pristin, Terry. "Auto Insurance Reform Push", The New York Times, July 12, 1997. Accessed June 17, 2010.
  5. ^ NJ Assembly 04 - History, OurCampaigns.com. Accessed June 17, 2010.
  6. ^ Peterson, Iver. "On Politics; It's Never Too Early To Look for Some Votes", The New York Times, August 6, 1995. Accessed June 17, 2010.
  7. ^ Peterson, Melody. "Premium Shock", The New York Times, October 19, 1997. Accessed June 17, 2010.
  8. ^ NJ Senate District 04 - History, OurCampaigns.com. Accessed May 26, 2010.
  9. ^ Staff. "Results of Senate Races; The Party Lines Hold in the Senate", The New York Times, November 9, 1997. Accessed June 17, 2010.
  10. ^ DeMasters, Karen. "Some Races Matter More Than Others", The New York Times, November 2, 1997. Accessed June 17, 2010.
  11. ^ Six, Jim. "Dalton to be sworn in for second 5-year term", South Jersey Newspapers, December 13, 2007. Accessed September 24, 2011. "Gloucester County Prosecutor Sean F. Dalton will be sworn in for a second five-year term as the county's top law enforcement officer at 4 p.m. Friday.... Dalton was nominated by Gov. Jon S. Corzine for a second term and confirmed by the New Jersey Senate on Nov. 29. He was initially sworn in as prosecutor May 31, 2002."
  12. ^ Gray, Matt. "Christie names new Democratic prosecutor replacing the one who's been there 15 years", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, November 9, 2017. Accessed December 21, 2017. "Gov. Chris Christie -- with about two months left of his eight years in office -- has nominated a new Democratic prosecutor for Gloucester County, ousting the current one who has held the job since before Christie was elected. Christie named Williamstown attorney Charles Fiore to serve as the next Gloucester County prosecutor, replacing Sean Dalton, also a Democrat."
  13. ^ Zoppo, Avalon R. "Christie replaces Sean Dalton, Gloucester County's longtime prosecutor", The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 10, 2017. Accessed December 21, 2017. "Gov. Christie has appointed a new Gloucester County prosecutor — news that surprised the current prosecutor, who has held the position for a decade and a half. Sean Dalton, the county’s longest-serving prosecutor, said he was caught off guard when he learned Thursday that he would not be reappointed."
  14. ^ Gray, Matt. "Ousted prosecutor lands job at Attorney General's office", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, November 22, 2017. Accessed December 21, 2017. "Dalton will take a position as an assistant attorney general with the state Division of Criminal Justice, state Attorney General Christopher Porrino announced."
  15. ^ "Sean F. Dalton". Cooper Levenson. Retrieved March 25, 2023.