Samuel S. Raia, a well-liked political insider and former local elected official who served as New Jersey Republican State Chairman from 2011 to 2017, died today. He was 77.
Raia was elected mayor of Saddle River in 2007 and re-elected in 2011, running without opposition both times.
He became one of Chris Christie’s top fundraisers during the 2009 gubernatorial campaign and joined Christie in endorsing Donald Trump for president in 2016 after the New Jersey governor’s own White House bid crumbled.
In 2011, Christie selected Raia to lead the state GOP after Assemblyman Jay Webber (R-Morris Plains) stepped down after two years.
A few months later, Raia actively mulled a bid for State Assembly in the 39th district when incumbent Charlotte Vandervalk (R-Montville) decided to retire. Instead, Raia decided not to run, and Vandervalk’s open seat went to Holly Schepisi (R-River-Vale).
He remained as state chairman until Michael Lavery, picked by GOP gubernatorial nominee Kim Guadagno, took office in June 2017. Raia did not seek re-election to a third term as mayor in 2015 and was succeeded by the current mayor, Al Kurpis.
Raia began his political career in 1982 when he won a seat on the Montville Board of Education. He resigned in 1985 to move to Saddle River.
He was elected to the Saddle River Borough Council in 1996 to replace Paul Vermylen. He had no opposition.
After Mayor Ted Anthony declined to seek re-election in 1999, Raia had mulled a run for mayor. Ultimately, he chose to give up his council seat and not challenge Conrad Caruso in the GOP primary.
Raia returned to the council in 2005; he and another Republican, Margaret Carole Fitzpatrick, defeated independent Victor Colin Wafer, a former school board member, by more than a 2-1 margin.
Gov. Thomas Kean had named him to the Insurance Advisory Board.
Raia had headed a concrete supply business, Raia Industries.
