Anthony M. Bucco

Party: Republican

District: 25th Legislative District, New Jersey

Current Position: Senate Republican Leader

Anthony M. Bucco is a lifelong resident of Morris County who has built a career in public service spanning over four decades. Born February 24, 1938, he has been deeply involved in his community through volunteer work and professional leadership.

Bucco's commitment to service began in 1980 when he first volunteered with the Boonton Volunteer Fire Department, where he attained the rank of captain and continues to serve. He is a founding member of Daytop, an adolescent drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility in Mendham, and served on the Governor's Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse from 1998 to 2009. He has also served as a commissioner of the Morris County Sheriff's Crime Stoppers program since 1998 and received the Rotary's highest honor as a Paul Harris Fellow while serving as President of the Boonton-Mountain Lakes Rotary Club.

Bucco has been recognized for his advocacy on behalf of individuals with disabilities and his leadership in addressing New Jersey's opioid epidemic. At age 8, he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer; external radiation treatment and tumor removal caused permanent loss of vision in his right eye and affected his vocal cords. Despite these challenges, he participates annually in the American Cancer Society's "Relay for Life."

Bucco resides in Boonton with his wife and has six grown children and five grandchildren.

Education

Bucco earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and managerial economics in 1984 from Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. He obtained his law degree from Seton Hall Law School in 1987 and was admitted to the New Jersey Bar that same year.

Political Experience

Bucco served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2010 to 2019, including two years as Republican conference leader. He has represented the 25th Legislative District in the New Jersey Senate since 2019.

In the Senate, Bucco has held several leadership positions, including Senate Republican Leader since 2023 and Republican Whip from 2022 to 2023. He is a member of the Senate Committee on Judiciary.

As a municipal attorney specializing in local government law at the firm Murphy McKeon, P.C., Bucco has focused on property tax control and reform. During his time in the Assembly, he voted for historic bipartisan legislation to cap property taxes, sponsored bills for middle-class tax relief, and received an "A" rating for protecting taxpayers. He has never voted for a tax increase.