John Adler

John Herbert Adler (August 23, 1959 – April 4, 2011) was an American lawyer, politician and a member of the Democratic Party who served for one term as the U.S. representative for NJ's 3rd congressional district from 2009 until 2011.

From 1988 until 1989, Adler served on the Cherry Hill Township Council.

While serving on the council, Adler passed the township's ethics ordinance.

In 1990, Adler challenged incumbent Jim Saxton for his seat in New Jersey's 3rd Congressional District.

Adler was defeated by Saxton by a margin of 60% to 40%.

Adler was elected in 1991 to the New Jersey Senate, where he served from 1992 until his inauguration into the U.S. House of Representatives in 2009.

While in the Senate, Adler served on the Judiciary Committee (as Chair) and the Environment Committee.

Prior to joining Congress, Adler was a member of the New Jersey Senate from 1992 to 2009, where he represented the 6th Legislative District.

Only a few months after leaving the House, Adler unexpectedly died after suffering from endocarditis as a result of getting a staph infection.

He served on the New Jersey Israel Commission since 1995, and on the New Jersey Intergovernmental Relations Commission from 1994 to 2002.

Adler was co-sponsor of the New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act, enacted in 2006, which banned smoking in almost all public places.

On September 20, 2007, Adler announced that he planned a second challenge to Saxton.

By this time, the district had been renumbered as New Jersey's 3rd congressional district.

The district stretches from the suburbs of Philadelphia to Ocean County.

Adler was one of three co-sponsors of a Senate bill submitted in 2008 that would extend the smoking ban to casinos and simulcasting facilities, which had been exempted in the earlier version of the ban.

Adler co-sponsored legislation that strips government pensions from public employees who are convicted of or plead guilty to corruption charges.

Adler co-sponsored a bill that would expand voting rights for military personnel and New Jersey citizens overseas to include state and local elections.

The bill was signed into law on August 12, 2008, by Governor Corzine.

U.S. Congressman Adler was ranked by The National Journal as one of the ten most centrist members in the House of Representatives.

He is ranked as 50.5 percent liberal and 49.5 percent conservative.

Adler was in favor of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Adler voted against the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), and later voted to end the program.

In January 2009, Adler announced his first bill as a U.S. Representative: the Safeguarding America's Seniors and Veterans Act, which mandated a one-time payment of $500 to persons eligible for Social Security, railroad retirement, or veterans disability benefits.

According to a statement by Adler's office, the bill was necessary because "the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 fails to address the needs of our seniors and veterans".

The bill attracted 11 cosponsors; it was referred to the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health, and progressed no further.

Adler voted for the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

In November 2009 and March 2010, Adler voted against House and the Senate Health Care bills.

He did not sign a petition circulated by Iowa Republican Steve King calling for a complete repeal of the law.

Adler voted in favor of the American Clean Energy and Security Act.

He lost his 2010 congressional election to former Philadelphia Eagles football player Jon Runyan.

In 2012, his widow Shelley announced her candidacy for the seat, but she ended up losing to Runyan.

Adler was born in Philadelphia, the son of Mary Louise (née Beatty) and John Herbert Adler.

His ancestry included German (including Bavarian), English, and Irish.

He moved to Haddonfield, New Jersey when he was two years old.

His father owned a small dry cleaning store.

When Adler was in high school, his father died after a series of heart attacks.

Adler and his mother lost the family business, and survived off his father's Social Security benefits for widows and minors.

He attended Haddonfield Memorial High School.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in government from Harvard College and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School.

He paid for law school through student loans, grants, and working odd jobs throughout college.