Parker Space

Parker Space (born December 4, 1968) is an American Republican Party politician, and owner of Space Farms Zoo and Museum. Space has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since March 2013, where he represents the 24th Legislative District.[2]

Parker Space
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly from the 24th District
Incumbent
Assumed office March 21, 2013 Serving with Hal Wirths
Preceded by	Gary R. Chiusano
Member of the Sussex County Board of Chosen Freeholders
In office June 6, 2010 [1] – March 21, 2013
Preceded by	Hal Wirths [1]
Succeeded by	George F. Graham [1]
Personal details
Born	December 4, 1968 Wantage Township, New Jersey
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Jill Space
Children	Three
Residence	Wantage Township, New Jersey
Website	Legislative Website Assembly Republican Website Space Farms Website

Personal life

Space is a farmer and restaurant owner who also owns Space Farms Zoo and Museum in the Beemerville section of Wantage Township in Sussex County, New Jersey.[2] He has served with the Wantage Fire Department as a volunteer firefighter since 1989 and the department's chief 2001–2002.[3][2]

Sussex County Board of Chosen Freeholders

Space was appointed to the Sussex County Board of Chosen Freeholders in 2010 following the appointment of Harold J. Wirths to head the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Space won a full three-year term in the 2010 general election and was chosen as Freeholder Director in 2013.[4]

New Jersey Assembly

He served as freeholder until his appointment to the General Assembly filling a vacancy left by the resignation of Gary R. Chiusano in 2013.[2][5][6] Chiusano was appointed to the vacant position of Sussex County Surrogate, and Space was chosen by a convention called of party delegates from municipalities to fill the vacancy per New Jersey state law.[6] Space received 103 of the 158 delegate votes cast, defeating Bader Qarmout, John Wroblewski, and Mark Quick.[6] He was elected to his own full term in November 2013, then again in 2015 and 2017.

Committees

• Agriculture and Natural Resources
• Commerce and Economic Development
• Labor

Controversies

Space was criticized for playing Solitaire on the job during a debate on minimum wages.[7][8] In a candidate forum in October 2015, Space was quoted as saying: "There is nothing better than an unregistered gun, believe me."[9] In August 2017, Space was criticized for posting a photo of himself and his wife posing in front of a Confederate flag, which was superimposed with a picture of Hank Williams Jr.'s face. The inscription on the flag read: "If the South would've won, we would've had it made."[10] On August 31, 2017, Space was recorded calling opponent Kate Matteson, saying "[...] And you can put that on the record. She is (an) elitist 1 percenter, an elitist who's a bitch. Gina, I've never met. I can't say anything bad about her. But Kate, I can. Because I know she's a bitch." [11]

District 24

New Jersey's 24th Legislative District-2011 Apportionment

Each of the 40 districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey Senate and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly.[12] The other representatives from the 24th District for the 2018-2019 Legislative Session are:[13][14]

• Senator Steve Oroho (R)
• Assemblyman Parker Space (R)
• Assemblyman Hal Wirths (R)

Electoral History

New Jersey Assembly

New Jersey general election, 2017[15]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Parker Space (Incumbent)	33,873	30.7	4.3
	Republican	Harold J. Wirths	30,820	27.9	5.4
	Democratic	Kate Matteson	22,456	20.3	6.4
	Democratic	Gina Trish	20,200	18.3	4.8
	Green	Aaron Hyndman	1,568	1.4	N/A
	Green	Kenny Collins	1,518	1.4	2.9
Total votes			'110,435'	'100.0'

New Jersey general election, 2015[16]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Parker Space (Incumbent)	18,058	35.0	1.2
	Republican	Gail Phoebus	17,217	33.3	2.7
	Democratic	Jacqueline Stapel	7,165	13.9	2.4
	Democratic	Michael F. Grace	6,998	13.5	0.4
	Green	Kenneth Collins	2,227	4.3	N/A
Total votes			'51,665'	'100.0'

New Jersey general election, 2013[17]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Alison Littell McHose (Incumbent)	37,399	36.0	5.4
	Republican	Parker Space (Incumbent)	35,093	33.8	4.0
	Democratic	Susan M. Williams	16,883	16.3	0.2
	Democratic	William (Bill) Weightman	14,411	13.9	1.9
Total votes			'103,786'	'100.0'

References

1. "Board of Freeholders". Wayback Machine. Archived from the original on 4 December 2004. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
2. New Jersey State Legislature. Members: Legislative District 24 - Assemblyman Parker Space (R) (2013). Retrieved 9 July 2013.
3. "ssemblyman Parker Space". New Jersey Assembly Republicans. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
4. "Parker Space And Richard Vohden To Lead Sussex County Board Of Chosen Freeholders In 2013" (Press release). Sussex County. January 4, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
5. George, Andrew. "N.J. Assembly seat open as Gary Chiusano is confirmed for Sussex County surrogate post" in The Express-Times (7 February 2013). Retrieved 9 July 2013.
6. George, Andrew. "Parker Space selected to fill 24th District vacancy in N.J. Assembly" in The Express-Times (25 February 2013). Retrieved 9 July 2013.
7. "Assemblyman Parker Space Plays Games While We Work For Poverty Wages".
8. "EDITORIAL: Parker Space, and the race to the bottom". USA Today. Retrieved 2017-11-10.
9. "'Nothing Better Than an Unregistered Gun' Says GOP Assemblyman". Observer. 2015-10-28. Retrieved 2017-11-10.
10. "N.J. lawmaker's photo with Confederate flag sparks criticism". NJ.com. Retrieved 2017-11-10.
11. "Lawmaker in Confederate flag flap recorded using vulgar term about opponent". NJ.com. Retrieved 2017-11-10.
12. Article IV, New Jersey State Constitution (1947).
13. Legislative Roster 2018-2019 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 21, 2018.
14. District 24 Legislators, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 21, 2018.
15. "Official List, Candidates for General Assembly For GENERAL ELECTION 11/07/2017 Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. November 29, 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 5, 2017. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
16. "Official List, Candidates for General Assembly for GENERAL ELECTION 11/03/2015 Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
17. Official List; Candidates for General Assembly For GENERAL ELECTION 11/05/2013 Election, New Jersey Department of State, December 4, 2013. Accessed February 11, 2014.

External links

• Members: Assemblyman Parker Space (New Jersey Legislature official website)