James R. Hurley

James R. Hurley (January 29, 1932 – June 17, 2023) was an American Republican politician from Millville, New Jersey. He was a member of the New Jersey Legislature from 1968 to 1990, and had stints as the Republican leader in both houses.

Career Hurley served on Cumberland County's first Board of Chosen Freeholders.

On January 2, 1990, Hurley stepped down from the Senate, after he was appointed a member of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission by Governor Thomas Kean. He was reappointed in 1992 by Governor James Florio and in 1997 by Governor Christine Todd Whitman. On October 29, 1998, he was appointed the commission's fifth Chairman and served in that capacity until 2002.

In 1976, Hurley made an unsuccessful run for the House of Representatives in against William J. Hughes, who had unseated the Republican incumbent in the previous election of 1974. However, Hughes defended his seat and convincingly won the election with 62% of the vote to Hurley's 38%.

As a state senator in August 1983, Hurley received a reprimand from a legislative ethics panel for accepting a $10,000 fee in a land deal between Wawa, Inc. and the state.

Outside politics Hurley worked in public relations and advertising. He created the non-profit Affordable Homes of Millville Ecumenical (AHOME) and served on its board of directors. In December 2010, Hurley was named AHOME's first Chairman Emeritus. The James R. Hurley Industrial Park in Millville is named for him.

Hurley died June 17, 2023, at the age of 91.