Thomas H. Kean Jr.

Thomas H. Kean Jr. (born September 5, 1968) was the Republican Party nominee for the U.S. Senate from New Jersey. He unsuccessfully ran against Democrat Bob Menendez, who was appointed to replace Jon S. Corzine, who became governor of New Jersey.

Biography
The son of former New Jersey governor and 9/11 Commission chairman Thomas Kean, Sr., Thomas Kean Jr. attended Dartmouth College and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. In 2001, he was appointed to the New Jersey State Assembly and later was elected to keep the seat. In 2003 Kean was appointed to the New Jersey State Senate. He later won election to keep the seat. In the State Senate Kean was elected Senate Minority Whip and was on the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. He and his wife Rhonda have two children. 

2006 Senate Race
Kean's has spent much of his race for seat of appointed Sen. Bob Menendez distancing himself from the national Republican Party and President Bush. Kean has called for the resignation of Donald Rumsfeld, he supports civil unions, and he refuses to run a campaign that seeks to only energize the Republican base.

Kean has also spent much of energy trying to paint Menendez as a corrupt political "boss". As the race has neared the finish line Kean has been known to relentlessly repeat the words "under federal investigation" when discussing his opponent.

On the issues Kean has previously opposed minimum wage increases; he supports free trade and favors making President Bush's tax cuts permanent; he is pro-choice and supports embryonic stem cell researchand previously supported the privatization of Social Security.[http://www.goleader.com/00may25/2.htm

Menendez defeated Kean 53% to 45% in the general election. 

Resources

 * Tom Kean for U.S. Senate, official campaign site.
 * Compare where Thomas Kean Jr. stands on the issues - whereIstand.com

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Thoughts of an Average Woman

Articles

 * Steve Kornacki, "Kean prepares to launch '06 U.S. Senate bid ," PoliticsNJ.com, March 9, 2006.
 * "Familiar Name In N.J. Senate Race," CBS News, September 22, 2006.
 * Leonard N. Fleming, "Kean: Carrying on legacy was a gradual decision," Philadelphia Inquirer, October 15, 2006.
 * David Segal, "Kean on Politics," Washington Post, October 23, 2006.
 * Jeff Whelan, "Kean insists he supports civil unions," Star-Ledger, October 27, 2006.
 * John Dickerson, "Kean Enough," Slate, November 1, 2006.
 * Angela Delli Santi, "Kean Jr. in race to claim place in family political dynasty," Newsday, November 4, 2006.

Campaign contact information
Email: info@tomkean.com Phone: 908-789-2100 Fax: 908-789-2109 Mail: 187 Mill Lane Mountainside, New Jersey 07092