(TRENTON) – Cliffside Park resident Clinton Calabrese took the oath of office on Thursday to represent the 36th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly.
Calabrese will replace former Assemblywoman Marlene Caride, who stepped down from her seat to lead the state Department of Banking and Insurance in the Murphy administration.
“It is an honor and privilege to serve the people of the 36th district and this great state. As many already know, I come from a long line of public servants. Some might even say it is in my blood,” said Calabrese. “I’m excited to follow in this most honorable family tradition, and work with Speaker Coughlin and my fellow colleagues on policies that will help move our state forward.”
Calabrese currently works as a principal in Alkova Companies, which identify investment and development opportunities in the real estate market.
Prior to that, he worked as an analyst for Deutsche Bank in their London office, where he successfully managed a major project that uncovered, and then eliminated, redundant company expenditures. He also worked as director of acquisitions for premier real estate firm Russo Development.
Calabrese also served on the Cliffside Park Board of Education from 2009 to 2010, where he negotiated contracts and personally developed a system of surveying students, parents and teachers to gain their input on improving schools. He also served on the Cliffside Park Board of Adjustment.
Calabrese obtained a bachelor’s degree in business administration from St. Joseph’s University, and a master’s degree in real estate from New York University.
He is the grandson of Gerald Calabrese, a former NBA player who served as mayor of Cliffside Park for fifty years. His father is Gerald Calabrese, Jr., the Cliffside Park Democratic Municipal Chairman, and his uncle is Thomas Calabrese, who served as a Cliffside Park councilman for fifteen years before becoming mayor in 2016.