James J. Barry, Jr.

James J. Barry Jr. (born November 5, 1946) is an American Republican politician from New Jersey. He is former member of the New Jersey General Assembly and former Director of the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs under Governor of New Jersey Thomas Kean.

Early life and education Barry was born in Orange, New Jersey. He spent the bulk of his childhood growing up at Mount Kemble Lake in the New Vernon section of Harding Township, New Jersey, and attended Harding Township School through eighth grade. Graduating in 1960, he moved on to Morristown High School, where he graduated in 1964.

In 1964, Barry left New Jersey for Kansas City, Missouri to enter Park College (now Park University), in Parkville, Missouri, where he would later be awarded the "Distinguished Alumni Award". He graduated in 1969 with a BA in Sociology. He served a term as President of the National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators and President of the National Coalition for Consumer Education.

Later life Following positions at CNBC, Strategic Relations and Ned Ward Realtors, Barry moved on to a position as Broker/Manager of the New Vernon office of Weichert, Realtors "Capital Properties & Estates."

In addition to his position at Weichert, Realtors, Barry is a member and former chairman of the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority (MCMUA), trustee and president of the Washington Association of New Jersey (WANJ) and the longtime president of the Harding Township Republican Club.

Barry sought a return to the State Legislature in 2003 in two separate instances. In February when the local Republican county committees of the 21st Legislative District voted on a replacement for Assemblyman Thomas Kean Jr. who had been appointed to the State Senate, Barry came in second place behind Jon Bramnick in the vote for the remainder of Kean's term in the Assembly. In the regular June primary election, he came in behind incumbents Eric Munoz and Bramnick and two other candidates finishing in last place with 8 percent of the vote.

He has resided in the New Vernon section of Harding Township, New Jersey, with his wife Leslie Breuninger and two children.