Information AboutZulima Farber |
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BACKGROUND Zulima Farber fled Cuba with her siblings at age 16 following the takeover by Fidel Castro . Living at first with an aunt until her parents emigrated, she graduated from Memorial High School in West New York , and worked her way through Montclair State College and Rutgers University Law School. Attorney General Farber earlier in her career served as an Assistant Prosecutor in Bergen County and as an Assistant Counsel to then Gov. Brendan Byrne . From 1992 to 1994, she served as state Public Advocate in the Cabinet of former Gov. James Florio . She was the last public advocate to serve in office before former Gov. Christine Todd Whitman abolished the office in 1994. The office was restored in 2005 under legislation signed by former Gov. Richard Codey and Governor Corzine's appointment of Ronald Chen to the position. When Governor Corzine nominated her to become Attorney General, she was a senior partner at the law firm of Lowenstein Sandler PC, one of New Jersey's largest firms. In December 1996, Farber was a member of the New Jersey State . Accessed December 21 , 2006 . Attorney General Farber was reportedly under consideration for a seat on the New Jersey Supreme Court by former Gov. James McGreevey in 2003. McGreevey announced that he would not appoint her to the bench because of unpaid traffic and parking tickets which had led to an arrest warrant being issued for her. The driving record issue would later be raised against General Farber during her confirmation hearing in the New Jersey Senate . NOMINATION AS ATTORNEY GENERAL During her nomination proceedings, Senator Gerald Cardinale , a Republican from Bergen County , directed some of the most pointed queries at Farber. "Can you tell me how many times you've gotten speeding tickets or is it an isolated incident?" Cardinale asked. Farber apologized for her driving history but offered no specifics. "I know very well I have had some personal difficulties with driving,"..."And I thank the governor for giving me a job with a driver." Cardinale asked Farber about the bench warrants; state records show warrants were issued against her in 1996 and 2003. Cardinale, one of two Republicans to oppose Farber's nomination, said that he was concerned about the state appointing someone who had been repeatedly accused of breaking traffic laws as its top law enforcement official. "Your record taken in its totality does not support the notion that you have respect for the law," he said. Later, he said that approving Farber's nomination might send a message "to young people, to the whole population of the state of New Jersey, that it's O.K. to offend the law repeatedly time after time. To have bench warrants issued for your arrest is not an impediment. I cannot bring myself to vote for you." Farber, said she opposed the use of deadly force to protect property and the use of mandatory minimum sentences, which she said takes away discretion from judges. She also promised to vigorously pursue allegations of public corruption. Along with Commissioner of Education Lucille Davy , she has promised to root out wasted spending, and corruption that leaves schools with less money. ACTING GOVERNORSHIP On February 2 , 2006 , Farber became the first Latina to serve as Acting Governor Of New Jersey . This occurred when the Governor, Senate President and Assembly Speaker all left the state for a dinner in Washington, D.C. Under the New Jersey State Constitution , Farber exercised the powers of the Governor until Governor Corzine or one of the legislative leaders returned to the state. FAIRVIEW TRAFFIC STOP INCIDENT Williams' report, released on August 15 , 2006 , concluded that Farber violated the state's code of ethics but did not commit a crime when she showed up at the scene of her boyfriend's traffic stop in May 2006. The report found Farber innocent of the more significant ethical violations she was accused of. She was found not to have requested special favors from any officer or ticket-fixing, nor any "fixing" or inappropriate favors from the Motor Vehicles Commission in regard to the restoration of her boyfriend's driving privileges. RESIGNATION On , August 15 , 2006 Motor vehicle records show that Farber, 61, has had at least 12 , August 15 , 2006 . First Assistant Attorney General '', August 17 , 2006 . Farber has since joined Issues Management, a '', February 22 , 2007 . REFERENCES EXTERNAL LINKS
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