Chuck Haytaian

Garabed "Chuck" Haytaian (January 28, 1938 – November 1, 2024) was an American businessman and Republican Party politician who represented Hunterdon, Sussex and Warren counties in northwestern New Jersey as a member of the New Jersey General Assembly from 1982 to 1996. From 1992 until 1996, he served as Assembly speaker and a leader of the Republican tax revolt. In 1994, he was the Republican nominee for United States Senate, losing a competitive race to Democratic incumbent Frank Lautenberg.

Early life and education Garabed Haytaian was born on January 28, 1938 in the Bronx. His parents were Armenian genocide survivors.

Political career

Warren County freeholder Haytaian became engaged in local politics as president of the Kiwanis Club and a member of the Mansfield Township school board. In 1974, he ran for Warren County freeholder but was defeated by Benjamin Bosco by around 700 votes amid the Democratic wave in the wake of the Watergate scandal. In 1975, Haytaian ran for freeholder again and defeated Christopher Maier by roughly 40 votes. As freeholder, Haytaian unsuccessfully petitioned state senator Wayne Dumont to block Maier's appointment to another freeholder seat using senatorial courtesy. Haytaian and Dumont maintained a grudge until the latter died in 1992.

1994 United States Senate campaign Shortly after Christine Todd Whitman defeated Florio in the 1993 gubernatorial election, Haytaian announced his campaign for U.S. Senate against incumbent Frank Lautenberg. Haytaian centered his campaign on his claim that Lautenberg had lost touch with New Jersey and claimed that he was soft on crime, had opposed federal spending cuts, and had refused to release his tax returns. In one debate, he challenged Lautenberg to name all twenty-one counties in the state.

Later career From 1995 through 2001, Haytaian was chair of the Republican State Committee.

In 1996, Beth Herbert, an administrative assistant at the State House, brought sexual harassment charges against Haytaian. She claimed that over a fifteen-month period, Haytaian would periodically call her into his office and molest her. The worst incidents, according to Herbert, took place after his failed Senate bid in 1994. Haytaian countersued Herbert for defamation.

In 1997, New Jersey paid Herbert $175,000 in a settlement to avoid what they believed would be a more costly legal battle.

Personal life and death He was a resident of Independence Township, New Jersey.

Haytaian died on November 1, 2024, at the age of 86.