Gerard Scharfenberger

Gerard P. Scharfenberger (born November 29, 1958) is an American politician, adjunct professor and Republican Party politician who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly representing the 13th Legislative District since 2020, replacing Amy Handlin. Scharfenberger had previously served on the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders and as Mayor of Middletown Township. Background Scharfenberger was born in Brooklyn and is a resident of Middletown Township, New Jersey. Before entering politics, Scharfenberger was an archaeologist who worked on historical sites around Monmouth County. Scharfenberger has worked as an adjunct professor of archaeology at Monmouth University. Political career Scharfenberger was first elected to the Middletown Township Committee in 2005. He served as Mayor in 2007, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2016 and 2017 and Deputy Mayor in 2006 and 2009. During his time as Mayor, Scharfenberger served on Chris Christie's 2009 transition team and from, 2010 to 2018, as Director of the Office for Planning Advocacy. Scharfenberger was fired from the latter position after refusing to attend a Phil Murphy press conference in support of the governor's support for a federal property tax deduction. Scharfenberger has also served on the Middletown Landmarks Commission since 1996. Scharfenberger ran briefly for the State Assembly in 2017, but dropped out when incumbent Amy Handlin withdrew from a State Senate race against eventual winner Declan O'Scanlon. Scharfenberger was appointed to the Monmouth County Board of chosen freeholders after Serena DiMaso was elected to the State Assembly in 2018, winning the subsequent election against Democrat Larry Luttrell. Scharfenberger then ran for the State Assembly in 2019, winning alongside DiMaso.