RIO GRANDE – U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo’s days in his office with a window that overlooks the nearby Capitol will end Nov. 16. That’s when his office there will close to pave the way for the next Second Congressional District representative. His term officially ends Jan. 3, 2019.
As with many others facing retirement, the 72-year-old Rosenhayn native whose family operated a trucking business, and who resides in Atlantic County with his wife, Tina, has no solid plan for future endeavors.
Congressional ethics dictate what he can do once out of office, he said.
In something akin to a victory lap around the sprawling district that encompasses about a third of New Jersey, LoBiondo held the last of his annual meetings with Herald staff members Oct. 15.
Later that day he penned an agreement with Stockton University President Harvey Kesselman to make his papers, mementos and plaques available to students at the Richard E. Bjork Library at Stockton’s main Galloway Township campus.
Midweek, LoBiondo was honored for 23 years in Congress on behalf of the district by the Cape May County Chamber of Commerce. All former chairmen and women were asked to join President Vicki Clark with the ceremony.
LoBiondo’s public service career started in 1984 when he was elected to the Cumberland County Board of Chosen Freeholders. After three years there, he was elected to the state General Assembly representing the 1st Legislative District from 1988-1994.
In 1994, LoBiondo won the first of six terms in Congress.
Asked how Congress’ or his job had changed, since that first oath when he raised his hand and pledged to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic,” LoBiondo replied “Dramatically in many respects.”
“When I first took office no one could conceive of the Sept. 11 (2001) attacks here,” said LoBiondo. “Terrorism was a word we all knew, but it happened in faraway places. It did not affect the U.S.”
In his formative years as a freshman congressman, LoBiondo carefully watched the model of bipartisanship demonstrated by President Bill Clinton and House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
“We had a balanced budget, were paying down the debt, and running a surplus. That was a big thing when I first campaigned, a lot came together,” added LoBiondo. He attributed that to “Gingrich riding herd on cats in the Republicans.”
Rep. James Saxton, a Republican who represented the state’s 3rd District (Burlington and parts of Ocean counties), became a mentor to LoBiondo. “I listened to him how to get things done, kept my mouth shut, listened and asked questions so I could understand how to get results,” he said.
LoBiondo is a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. He chairs the Subcommittee on Aviation; sits on the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, and the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
He also serves on the House Armed Services Committee, and also on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence where he is chair of the 10-member CIA Subcommittee with oversight of the Central Intelligence Agency.
While he cited some high points of his time, LoBiondo was quick to cite the work getting the William Hughes FAA Technical Center secured in the district with 3,500 jobs.
He also pointed to securing the 177th Fighter Wing at its Pomona site, because it has fast flight time to protect New York and Washington, should the need arise.
On a county level, there were never-ending funding struggles for beach replenishment necessary to bolster the local economy. When LoBiondo first took office, he toured the ailing Coast Guard Training Center.
He recalled being taken to the large swimming pool where recruits are trained, only to find “half the pool roped off because the ceiling was falling in, the (firing) range was closed, barracks were not up to code, in some respects, and the piers were falling apart.”
There was talk among the Washington elite of relocating the training center to Petaluma, Calif., which isn’t near the water. LoBiondo believes that Clinton had a favor owed to California, and considered closing the local base.
It was then that LoBiondo forged an alliance with the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg, a Democrat, to “hammer home how important” the Coast Guard training center is to the service, nation, and community.
He recalled the concerted efforts of the City of Cape May, the Cape May County Chamber of Commerce, the county and others.
“We had to work to strengthen this footprint so no one would ever suggest moving it,” said LoBiondo.
The base has been upgraded, its classrooms and barracks are modern, and “It is stable for a long time to come,” he added, “It couldn’t be in better shape.”
That stated, LoBiondo cautioned “Never say any federal facility is guaranteed.”
LoBiondo engaged many peers, especially those representing districts in land-locked states over funding for beach replenishment.
“I had to make that argument when they asked why we are giving money to your district so someone can get a suntan. I told them it was about jobs and the economy, the mom-and-pop businesses that are important to tourism. Without it the lifeblood is gone,” LoBiondo said.
Flood insurance, too, was another of the subjects LoBiondo championed when it seemed in danger of stopping.
Regardless of the intricacies of legislative life, LoBiondo never forgot the constituents of the 2nd District. He reminded his staff, which handled countless calls for a variety of problems, “Treat them as if it was your father, mother, brother or sister who called. What would you do?”
Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton noted at one time he always got a return call from LoBiondo, though it might be late at night.
There was one woman in particular who was assisted by LoBiondo in securing medical care. She would call him annually to thank him and report she was still alive. He said such calls remain among his highest service rewards.
Among constituents, LoBiondo has worked to assist are veterans. He cited new Department of Veterans Affairs community clinics in Vineland and Atlantic County where services are “dramatically different. “I believe a veteran should have a choice between a VA local clinic or doctor or hospital of his or her choice,” LoBiondo said.
At one time there were “less than 12” service providers for veterans, he said.
“Now, there are over 400, all hospitals and many other healthcare providers in the district, every veteran has a choice,” LoBiondo continued.
He lauded Vince Kane, the medical director at the Wilmington VA hospital who attends meetings with veterans and is “right there.”
While the majority of citizens may have the notion that Congress gets nothing done, LoBiondo cited the recent defense appropriation bill that was passed with an overwhelming majority or the FAA bill which passed with 380 bipartisan votes.
“There is a lot of drama, but the good never gets reported…people only hear what’s broken,” LoBiondo said.
Regardless of his time spent in public service, it was not until this year that LoBiondo and his staff received a death threat from a 39-year-old Millville resident, Joseph Brodie.
According to news reports, Brodie had been communicating with staff members on a veteran’s matter. He was convicted Oct. 10 in Camden on two counts of threatening LoBiondo and his staff. His sentencing will take place at a future date.
LoBiondo said Brodie’s girlfriend, fearing that he might carry out his killing scheme, called law enforcement authorities who intervened and prevented the action.
