Thomas P. Foy

Thomas P. Foy(March 13, 1951 – September 1, 2004) was an AmericanDemocratic Partypolitician who served in both houses of theNew Jersey Legislaturerepresenting the7th Legislative District,which covers portions ofBurlington CountyandCamden County.He served in theGeneral Assemblyfrom 1984 to 1990, and was appointed to fill a vacancy in theNew Jersey Senate,serving there from 1990 to 1992.

Born in Burlington, NJ, Foy was an honors graduate ofDuke University(1973). Later, Foy attendedRutgers School of Law–Camden,graduating in 1977. Foy worked as an attorney specializing inlabor relations.He had been general counsel to the New JerseyAFL-CIOin the 1980s, and was later employed as senior vice president of business development forHill International,where he worked on issues relating to the firm's construction projects on theTappan Zee BridgeandInterstate 287inWestchester County, New York.

His first elected office was to theBurlington TownshipCouncil, where his brother would later serve as mayor. He was elected to the General Assembly and served there until 1990. He was named in November 1990 to fill a vacancy in the Senate left byCatherine A. Costato become Director of theNew Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control,and served there from 1990 to 1992.In a party convention in January 1991,Jack Caseywas chosen to fill the remaining portion of the term remaining in the General Assembly seat that had been vacated by Foy the previous month.

In the wake of voter frustration with tax increases enacted byGovernor of New JerseyJames Florioin 1990, Foy supported legislation that would allow voters to vote their state legislators out of office byreferendum.Florio later recalled Foy's contributions in getting the minimum wage increased in the state, saying that "New Jersey was ahead of the nation in getting a minimum wage of $5.15 an hour, and Tom was vital in its effort". Foy was deputy political director for Florio's successful 1989 run for governor.

Foy died at age 53 of aheart attackhe suffered at aWashington, D.C.train station on September 1, 2004, while returning to New Jersey from a meeting with diplomats from the Middle East. He was survived by his wife and two children.