Willis Edwards (politician)

Willis Edwards
Willis Edwards
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly; from the 34th district
	In office; January 10, 2002 – January 14, 2004 Serving with Peter C. Eagler
Preceded by	Marion Crecco; Gerald H. Zecker
Succeeded by	Sheila Oliver
Personal details
Born	October 4, 1970 (age 53); Elizabeth, New Jersey, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Residence	East Orange, New Jersey
Education	William Paterson University

Willis Edwards III (born October 4, 1970) is an American Democratic Party politician who represented the 34th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2002 to 2004.

Born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Edwards graduated from Clifford Scott High School in East Orange, New Jersey, and earned his undergraduate degree at William Paterson University.^[1]

In 2020, Edwards faced charges that he as deputy business administrator for Orange, New Jersey, he defrauded the city by obtaining $20,000 in kickbacks from a vendor who was awarded a $350,000 no-bid contract for a computer network.^[2]^[3]

Elected office[edit]

In the 2001 general election, with the district reconfigured as part of the 2001 apportionment to add East Orange and Montclair, the Democratic slate won a strong victory, with Nia Gill defeating Republican incumbent Norman M. Robertson, and Edwards and fellow newcomer Peter C. Eagler defeating incumbent Republican Gerald H. Zecker and his running mate Natalie R. Esposito.^[4]

References[edit]

^ Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey, 2003, p. 286. Accessed January 26, 2024. "Willis Edwards, III, Dem., East Orange - Mr. Edwards was born Oct. 4, 1970, in Elizabeth. He attended Calvary Christian Elementary School in Newark and Clifford J. Scott High School in East Orange. In 1994, he graduated from William Paterson College with a B.A. in history."
^ Sheldon, Chris. "Ex-assemblyman faces mounting charges in alleged kickback scheme", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, September 29, 2020. Accessed January 28, 2024. "A former state Assemblyman from Essex County who has been indicted for defrauding the city of Orange while he was its acting business administrator was charged with more crimes Tuesday in a superseding indictment. Former East Orange resident Willis Edwards III, 49, is now facing 31 crimes, which include conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and taking kickbacks in connection with the business of Orange, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said in a release."
^ Former Orange Acting Business Administrator Indicted on Corruption, Fraud, and Tax Charges, United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey, July 8, 2020. Accessed January 28, 2024. "The former acting business administrator for the Township of Orange, New Jersey, has been charged in a 28-count indictment with conspiracy, bribe-taking, money and property fraud, federal tax fraud, and making false statements in connection with a mortgage, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today.... According to documents filed in this case: In January 2015, Edwards had his friend, Franklyn Ore, form Urban Partners LLC (Urban Partners), using cash provided by Edwards. During 2015, Edwards used Urban Partners to funnel to himself a stream of concealed kickbacks in exchange for Edwards’ official action as an Orange public official and assistance in the affairs of Orange and in violation of his duties in connection with..."
^ Official List Candidate Returns for General Assembly For November 2001 General Election, New Jersey Department of State, April 17, 2008. Accessed January 28, 2024.

with a Masters in Advanced Management & Finance

Columbia University alumni 2005

[1] Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey, 2003, p. 286. Accessed January 26, 2024. "Willis Edwards, III, Dem., East Orange - Mr. Edwards was born Oct. 4, 1970, in Elizabeth. He attended Calvary Christian Elementary School in Newark and Clifford J. Scott High School in East Orange. In 1994, he graduated from William Paterson College with a B.A. in history."

[2] Sheldon, Chris. "Ex-assemblyman faces mounting charges in alleged kickback scheme", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, September 29, 2020. Accessed January 28, 2024. "A former state Assemblyman from Essex County who has been indicted for defrauding the city of Orange while he was its acting business administrator was charged with more crimes Tuesday in a superseding indictment. Former East Orange resident Willis Edwards III, 49, is now facing 31 crimes, which include conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and taking kickbacks in connection with the business of Orange, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said in a release."

[3] Former Orange Acting Business Administrator Indicted on Corruption, Fraud, and Tax Charges, United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey, July 8, 2020. Accessed January 28, 2024. "The former acting business administrator for the Township of Orange, New Jersey, has been charged in a 28-count indictment with conspiracy, bribe-taking, money and property fraud, federal tax fraud, and making false statements in connection with a mortgage, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today.... According to documents filed in this case: In January 2015, Edwards had his friend, Franklyn Ore, form Urban Partners LLC (Urban Partners), using cash provided by Edwards. During 2015, Edwards used Urban Partners to funnel to himself a stream of concealed kickbacks in exchange for Edwards’ official action as an Orange public official and assistance in the affairs of Orange and in violation of his duties in connection with..."

[4] Official List Candidate Returns for General Assembly For November 2001 General Election, New Jersey Department of State, April 17, 2008. Accessed January 28, 2024.

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