Representative Michael James Pappas

Michael James Pappas (born December 29, 1960) is an American politician and former one-term Republican congressman from New Jersey, serving in the United States House of Representatives from 1997 to 1999. A Greek American, he was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and later became known for his staunchly conservative positions, his involvement in high-profile national issues during the late 1990s, and his continued engagement in New Jersey state and local politics. He is currently the Township Administrator in Bridgewater, New Jersey, and was an unsuccessful candidate for State Senator in New Jersey’s 16th legislative district in the 2021 and 2023 elections.

Pappas was raised in central New Jersey and educated in Somerset County. He graduated from Alma Preparatory School in Zarephath, New Jersey, a small religiously affiliated institution located along the Raritan River. He went on to attend Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey. His early life in New Brunswick and Franklin Township, together with his Greek American heritage and education in New Jersey institutions, helped shape his interest in public service and local government.

Pappas entered politics at a young age in the early 1980s. He was elected to the Franklin Township Council in Somerset County and served from 1982 to 1987, including two years as mayor of Franklin Township. While still in his twenties, he gained experience in municipal governance, budgeting, and local land-use issues. In 1984, he was elected to the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders, where he served for twelve years, from 1984 to 1996. During his tenure as a Freeholder, he worked alongside future New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman, who also served on the board during portions of that period. His long service in county government established him as a prominent Republican figure in central New Jersey and provided a platform for his eventual run for Congress.

In 1996, Pappas sought federal office in New Jersey’s 12th congressional district after the incumbent Republican, Dick Zimmer, vacated the seat to run for the United States Senate. Pappas won a competitive Republican primary, defeating State Senator John O. Bennett and Assemblyman Leonard Lance, who would later serve in Congress from New Jersey’s 7th district. In the general election, he prevailed over Lambertville Mayor David DelVecchio, securing a seat in the 105th Congress. He served one term, from January 3, 1997, to January 3, 1999, representing a district that included portions of central New Jersey and participating in the legislative process during a period marked by divided government and contentious national debates.

As a member of the House of Representatives, Pappas was known as a staunch conservative, in contrast to many New Jersey Republicans who tended to be more moderate. He advocated for a stronger national defense, the elimination of the capital gains tax, and policies favorable to small businesses. Among his notable efforts was his role in securing the release of the battleship USS New Jersey to the state of New Jersey for use as a museum, reflecting his interest in military history and veterans’ issues. He also supported efforts to revive a national missile defense program often referred to as “Star Wars,” a continuation of strategic defense initiatives first advanced in the 1980s. During his term, he was a strong supporter of the impeachment of President Bill Clinton. His highly publicized singing on the House floor of a parody titled “Twinkle, Twinkle, Kenneth Starr,” in praise of Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr, drew national attention and controversy, and it contributed to his defeat in the 1998 general election by Democrat Rush Holt.

After leaving Congress in January 1999, Pappas remained active in Republican politics. In 2000, he sought to regain his former House seat in the 12th district, entering a contentious Republican primary against his predecessor, Dick Zimmer. Running as the more conservative candidate, Pappas lost the primary to Zimmer by a margin of 62 percent to 38 percent. Zimmer went on to face incumbent Democrat Rush Holt in the general election, which Holt narrowly won, thereby retaining the seat for the Democratic Party.

During the administration of President George W. Bush, Pappas continued his public service at the federal level by working for the U.S. Small Business Administration in Washington, D.C. In that role, he was involved in policies and programs affecting small businesses nationwide, building on his long-standing interest in entrepreneurship and local economic development. He remained in Washington through the end of the Bush administration and returned to New Jersey in 2009 after the presidency concluded.

Pappas subsequently focused on local government administration in New Jersey. In June 2016, he was hired as the Borough Administrator of High Bridge, New Jersey, where he managed day-to-day municipal operations, budgeting, and public services. In December 2019, he was named by Bridgewater Mayor-elect Matt Moench to serve as Bridgewater Township’s next Township Administrator, a position he currently holds. In this capacity, he oversees one of Somerset County’s largest municipalities, drawing on decades of experience in both elected and appointed public roles.

In the 2020s, Pappas returned to electoral politics at the state level. In 2021, he announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for State Senator in New Jersey’s 16th legislative district, a district that had shifted from reliably Republican to competitive following the 2011 redistricting, which removed Bridgewater and added Princeton. The incumbent senator, Christopher “Kip” Bateman, a moderate Republican who had narrowly won re-election in 2017, chose to retire. Early in the race, Pappas again found himself in competition with Dick Zimmer, who, like Pappas, was returning to electoral politics after more than a decade. After Pappas secured the Republican organization line in Somerset County, which comprises a significant portion of the district, Zimmer withdrew from the race. Pappas went on to win the Republican primary in June 2021 but was defeated in the November 2021 general election by Democrat Andrew Zwicker, then serving as the district’s Assemblyman. He later sought the State Senate seat again in the 2023 election in the 16th legislative district but was unsuccessful. Throughout his career, Pappas has remained an active Republican figure in New Jersey, combining legislative experience, federal service, and local government administration.