HUDSON COUNTY — 10th District Rep. Donald Payne, 77, who inherited parts of Hudson County due to Census redistricting this year, died of colon cancer on March 6. He was the first and currently only African-American congressman from New Jersey.
In addition to a wider area, he represented parts of Jersey City and Bayonne.
“Congressman Donald Payne was my friend,” said Rep. Steve Rothman in a statement on Tuesday. “He was also a giant. History will record that Donald Payne saved literally tens of thousands of lives in his work in the United States, Northern Ireland, and Africa over a lifetime of public service. In his long journey to become a congressman, he traveled many different paths as a father, husband, grandfather, great-grandfather, teacher, longshoreman, among a list too long to describe briefly. He was a true pioneer and champion for civil and human rights.”
“New Jersey has lost one of its greatest leaders in the fight for equality and fairness for all Americans, and one of the greatest advocates for families of the Garden State,” said Rep. Bill Pascrell. “I was proud to serve alongside him in the fight to keep our cities safer, to provide greater opportunities for our young people and to give all Americans access to quality affordable health care.”
“I am deeply saddened to hear about the death of my colleague Congressman Donald Payne,” said Rep. Albio Sires. “The residents of the 10th Congressional District have lost a great leader and the Payne family has lost a beloved patriarch. My sympathies go out to his son Councilman Donald Payne Jr, his daughters Nicole and Wanda and his grandchildren. Human rights, health-care and education were among his top priorities. His leadership efforts in these areas will succeed him for many years to come.”
Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz said “I am deeply saddened by the passing of my colleague, Congressman Donald Payne. As the first African American elected to represent New Jersey in Congress, Don was truly a tireless champion for the City of Newark, for the 10th Congressional District and for all of the less fortunate among us who needed a voice in the halls of power. As a former chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressman Payne was a fierce advocate for workforce protections for America’s working families, and as a leading advocate of quality education, he was an active supporter of funding for Head Start, Pell Grants and affordable student loans. So many of us also knew him as a powerful voice for peace in the Darfur conflict, and as a former Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health, he dedicated himself to the critical mission of addressing the HIV/AIDS pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa.”
“Mary Pat and I offer our condolences to the Payne family on the loss of Congressman Payne. He was a leader with great compassion for every person he had the honor of representing. He was a great role model for every person in New Jersey who aspires to public service. He was a true gentleman and we considered him a friend,” said Gov. Christopher Christie who preparing an Executive Order to have flags lowered in the congressman’s honor.