Paul Anthony Sarlo (born August 31, 1968) is an Italian-American construction industry executive and Democratic Party politician who has served in the New Jersey Senate since 2003, where he represents the 36th legislative district. Sarlo is a former assistant majority leader of the Senate, a position held from 2004 until 2007. He has been the deputy majority leader of the Senate since 2008 and is also mayor of the borough of Wood-Ridge, New Jersey.
Personal life Sarlo was born in Passaic on August 31, 1968, at St. Mary's General HospitalWashburn, Lindy. "St. Mary's praises owner seeking to buy new hospital", The Record, February 4, 2016. Accessed December 5, 2023. "And state Sen. Paul Sarlo, D-Wood-Ridge, noting he was born at the hospital in 1968, said that while debate rages over the question of private ownership of health care institutions in New Jersey, 'this is the perfect fit for St. Mary's and Passaic city.'" to pipefitter and construction supervisor Anthony Sarlo and Providence Munofo, along with his siblings, Diane, Charles and Tom. He grew up in Wood-Ridge, New Jersey, and graduated from Wood-Ridge High School in 1986, where he was a scholar-athlete, earning varsity letters in football, basketball and baseball. He was named First Team All-Division and All-County in baseball and was inducted into the Wood-Ridge High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014.
Sarlo studied civil engineering at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, earning both a B.S. in 1991 and an M.S. in 1993.
He is chief operating officer of Joseph M. Sanzari, Inc., a general contractor specializing in heavy construction, site work and utilities located in Hackensack near Interstate 80. Sarlo has overseen more than $150 million in projects and has worked with a skilled workforce of more than 200 employees. He worked on the Route 4 and Route 17 interchange near Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus, which was completed two years ahead of schedule. He has been a supporter of the construction of LG Electronics USA's headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, abutting The Palisades near the George Washington Bridge.Cohen, Noah. "Six mayors call on LG to lower height of planned Englewood Cliffs office", The Record, February 21, 2014. Accessed May 17, 2022. "The mayors of six Bergen County communities have asked LG Electronics to lower the height of its planned 143-foot headquarters in Englewood Cliffs amid ongoing concerns over the building being visible above the Palisades, northjersey.com reported.... The project has been endorsed by some elected officials, including Bergen Executive Kathleen Donovan, state Sen. Paul Sarlo and Englewood Cliffs Mayor Joseph Parisi."
He married Concetta Maria Sarlo in 1997. Three years later, she became the First Lady of Wood-Ridge on January 1, 2000 following the swearing in of her husband as mayor. Additionally he has two sons named Michael Paul Sarlo and Anthony Joesph Sarlo. Both of Sarlo's sons attended Wood-Ridge Public Schools and participated in the town’s recreation programs. Anthony graduated Lafayette College in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. Currently Anthony works as a Project Engineer along with his dad at Joesph M Sanzari, Inc. Michael is currently at U.S. Naval Academy as a member of the Class of 2027. Sarlo serves as an Executive Board Member on the NJSIAA as an ex officio member.Senator Paul Sarlo, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed April 2, 2022. His brother Thomas has been a councilman in Little Ferry and was appointed to the New Jersey Superior Court in January 2024.Biryukov, Nikita. "N.J. Senate confirms nine new judges as legislative session draws to close", New Jersey Monitor, January 8, 2024. Accessed January 16, 2024. "Among those confirmed Monday were Jason Rockwell, deputy director of the state’s law division, and Thomas Sarlo, the brother of Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen), the upper chamber’s budget committee chairman. Sen. Sarlo recused himself from voting on his brother’s confirmation but defended his selection as a new judge.... Thomas Sarlo is a councilman in Little Ferry."
Mayor of Wood-Ridge Sarlo has served as Mayor of the Borough of Wood-Ridge since January 1, 2000. He was re-elected in 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, and most recently 2023. He was a Councilman from 1995 to 2000 and served as Fire Commissioner.
As Mayor, Sarlo has overseen the redevelopment of the former Curtiss-Wright aircraft manufacturing site in Wood-Ridge, which is now known as Wesmont Station. The project includes a new train station called Wesmont station that opened on May 15, 2016. Nearly 500 units have already been built with an additional 300 units planned to start construction in 2015. The area includes softball and baseball fields as well as a new indoor complex known as the Wood-Ridge Athletic Complex slated to open in 2022."New Athletic Complex Announced for WR, Wood-Ridge Newsletter, 2019. Accessed January 24, 2022.
During Sarlo's tenure as Mayor over 50% of the town's roads have been resurfaced, over 1,000 new trees have been planted, 14th Street Field was built, Donna Ricker Field at Wood-Ridge High School was upgraded with artificial turf, the Robert I. Stoesser The senior center and civic center were renovated and completed in 2012–2013 and Historic Bianchi House was preserved and improved. Additionally, Bowman Park on Jocelyn Avenue, Veterans Park on Valley Boulevard and Bianchi House Park on 2nd Street were all rehabilitated. In 2013 the former Assumption parochial school was transformed into the Wood-Ridge Intermediate School for grades 4 to 6. Plans were in place to upgrade 14th Street Playground, Kohr's Park on 13th Street and the Little League Field on 6th Street in 2014–2015.
On January 1, 2024, Sarlo was sworn into his seventh term as Wood-Ridge Mayor.
Sarlo is a licensed professional engineer and a licensed Professional Planner. He and his wife, Concetta First Lady of Wood-Ridge, have two sons, Anthony (born in 2000), and Michael (born in 2004). Sarlo coaches Little League and Babe Ruth League baseball, Junior football and Junior basketball. He is a parishioner at the Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Assumption Church, is a member of the Lions Club International and the Knights of Columbus and is an honorary member of the New Jersey Policemen's Benevolent Association.
Political career Before his service as State Senator, Sarlo spent one term in the General Assembly, the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature, from 2002 to 2003. He and then-Wallington, New Jersey mayor Walter Wargacki sought to unseat Republican incumbent Paul DiGaetano and take the second seat that was vacated when John V. Kelly decided to challenge for the State Senate (which he lost). Although the Democrats did not gain both seats, Sarlo finished second in the voting and won a seat.
As an Assemblyman, he served as Vice Chairman of the Labor Committee and as a member of the Appropriations Committee. He was a member of the Assembly Light Rail Panel and the Assembly Task Force on Fiscal Responsibility. While in the Assembly, Sarlo was the prime sponsor of the bill creating a $29 million grant to establish a statewide bio-terrorism response plan. He also sponsored legislation to restore the Office of Public Advocate and to provide benefits and incentives for members of volunteer fire departments and rescue squads. He has also taken leading roles on legislation related to the health and welfare of women and children.
Sarlo was appointed as state senator when former District 36 Senator Garry Furnari, an attorney, and mayor of Nutley, was appointed to the New Jersey Superior Court. Sarlo had been the choice of Bergen County Democratic Organization Chairman Joe Ferriero to succeed Furnari.Gohlke, Josh. "Wood-Ridge mayor sworn in as senator; Democrats speed up Sarlo's promotion", The Record, May 20, 2003. Accessed March 29, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Democratic Wood-Ridge Mayor Paul Sarlo took a promotion to the upper house of the Legislature on Monday, when he was sworn in as a state senator, replacing Garry J. Furnari of Nutley, New Jersey Furnari's nomination for a Superior Court judgeship – and its rapid confirmation in an emergency Senate session this month – allowed Sarlo, the choice of Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero and the New Jersey Democratic State Committee, to take his seat." After he was appointed to the State Senate, Frederick Scalera was appointed to fill his vacant seat in the Assembly.O'Dea, Colleen. "Appointees in it for the long haul; Incumbents' chances good for re-election", Daily Record, September 26, 2003. Accessed March 29, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "In the 36th, Sen. Gary Furnari resigned suddenly, saying he wants to spend more time with his family, and the Democrats who were not going to back Furnari quickly elevated Paul Sarlo to succeed him and chose Frederick Scalera to replace Sarlo in the Senate."
In the 2003 general election, Sarlo was challenged by former New Jersey General Assembly member John V. Kelly. Sarlo outspent Kelly by a nearly three-to-one margin in a pivotal race at a time when the Senate was evenly split between the two major parties and a change in party for any one seat could tip control of the upper house.Brennan, John. "St. Patrick's Day fixture John Kelly is dead at 83", The Record, November 1, 2009. Accessed November 2, 2009. Democrats won full control of the Senate and Sarlo won election to a full term in office by a margin of 53–44%.Kocieniewski, David. "The 2003 Election: The Statehouse; Democrats Seize Senate And Widen Assembly Gap", The New York Times, November 5, 2003. Accessed November 2, 2009. Exactly one year after being elected to the state senate Sarlo would serve as Assistant Majority Leader from 2004 to 2007 under Majority Leader Bernard Kenny from Jersey City, New Jersey. Sarlo was re-elected in 2007 by defeating Michael Guarino and in 2011 by defeating Donald DiOrio.Hampton, Deon J. "Democrats holding leads in District 36 races", The Record, November 8, 2011. Accessed November 10, 2011. "Incumbent Democratic state Sen. Paul A. Sarlo, D-Wood-Ridge, had a commanding lead over his Republican challenger, Donald Diorio, late Tuesday night."
In the Senate for the 2018–19 session, Sarlo serves on the Budget and Appropriations Committee (as Chair), the Higher Education Committee, the Judiciary Committee and the Legislative Oversight Committee. On November 23, 2009, the New Jersey Senate Democrats chose Sarlo to replace Barbara Buono, who was chosen to be Majority Leader, replacing Stephen Sweeney, who became President of the New Jersey Senate, on January 12, 2010. Sarlo was Chairman-designate of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee and began his chairmanship on January 12, 2010. He was also on the 2011 New Jersey Apportionment Commission, the committee delegated to redraw the state legislative districts following the 2010 Census.
Sarlo has been a long-time proponent of the EnCap proposal to build golf courses and homes on remediated landfills in the New Jersey Meadowlands. He sponsored a bill in 2004 that enabled three Meadowlands communities -- Lyndhurst, North Arlington, and Rutherford—to negotiate their own deals with EnCap under which the impacted area municipalities would receive 40% - 50% of all future tax revenues.