State Sen. Fred Madden To Retire After 2 Decades Holding Seat

SOUTH JERSEY — State Sen. Fred Madden will join a growing list of New Jersey lawmakers retiring at the end of the term. Madden has represented the 4th Legislative District, which features portions of Camden and Gloucester Counties, for nearly two decades.

Before joining the State Legislature, Madden rose through the New Jersey State Police ranks, serving as acting superintendent in 2002. The Democrat was elected to the office in 2004 against incumbent candidate George Geist, a Republican.

Since Madden's election in 2004, the district flipped blue. The 4th District has only elected one Republican since — Domenick DiCicco, who served one term in the State Assembly from 2010-12. But redistricting made the district more favorable for Republicans in the upcoming race, with the additions of Buena, Buena Vista and Franklin Township.

Madden joins more than a dozen state lawmakers who won't run for re-election. All seats in the State Senate and Assembly are on the ballot this November.

In the upcoming election, the 4th District will include the following municipalities: Buena, Buena Visa, Chesilhurst, Gloucester Township, Waterford, Winslow, Franklin, Monroe, Newfield and Washington Township.

In the State Senate's current session, Madden chairs Senate Labor Committee; vice-chairs the Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee; and serves on the Judiciary Committee.

"Across a career spanning nearly 50 years, Fred Madden has dedicated himself to public service as a decorated New Jersey State Trooper, Acting Superintendent of the State Police, and a respected state Senator," Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement. :With his background in law enforcement, New Jersey today is safer because of his efforts, especially our children. And as the longtime chairman of the Senate Labor Committee, workers today have more secure safeguards for themselves and their families because of the laws he wrote and helped pass."

Madden, 68, graduated from Gloucester Catholic High School in Gloucester City in 1972. He then earned a degree in law enforcement from Camden County College with a Bachelor of Arts from Glassboro State College, now Rowan College of South Jersey.

The Washington Township resident held several ranks in the State Police, from trooper to lieutenant colonel before becoming the agency's acting superintendent. After retiring from State Police in 2002, he worked as the chief of investigations in the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office.

Under Madden's command, the State Police established its online sex-offender register and a computer-crimes initiative to combat identity theft and internet crimes against children. He was also a member of New Jersey's State Domestic Preparedness Task Force to address counter-terrorism.

When Madden ran for Geist's seat, the election became the most expensive in New Jersey State Senate history. Madden's campaign spent about $4.2 million, while Geist's spent $1.9 million.