Widow of N.J. Assembly GOP leader to be sworn in

    The widow of Assembly GOP leader Alex DeCroce is to be sworn in Thursday to fill the seat left vacant by his sudden death.

    BettyLou DeCroce has been tapped to lead the 26th District, which includes towns in Essex, Morris and Passaic counties

    The 59-year-old of Parsippany has retired as deputy commissioner of the state Department of Community Affairs.
    Her 75-year-old husband collapsed and died at the Statehouse as the lame-duck legislative session drew to a close on Jan. 9.

    The Asbury Park Press reports that DeCroce is being sworn in the same day a Senate panel is due to vote on an enhanced crime victims’ rights law named after her late husband.

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    She must win the Republican nomination and prevail in the November election to finish the two-year term.

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