Wilfredo Caraballo

Wilfredo Caraballo (born January 1, 1947 in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico) is an American Democratic Party politician, who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1996–2008, where he represented the 29th legislative district. Caraballo served as the Assembly's Speaker Pro Tempore in the 2006-2008 legislative session, he was the Parliamentarian from 2002–2006 and Associate Minority Leader from 1998-2001.
Caraballo served in the Assembly on the Regulated Professions and Independent Authorities Committee (as Chair) and on the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards.
Caraballo was one of New Jersey's presidential electors casting the state's 15 Electoral College votes after the 2004 presidential election. New Jersey's electors cast their ballots on December 13, 2004 in the State House Annex, in Trenton, where all 15 votes were cast for the Democratic Party candidate John Kerry.
Assemblyman Caraballo served as New Jersey Public Advocate and Public Defender from 1990–1992, resigning in protest of Republican efforts to reduce his powers. He was a trustee of the South Orange-Maplewood School District Board of Education from 1987-1990. Caraballo was a member of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission from 1988-1990. He served on the South Orange Budget Advisory Committee from 1986-1987. He has also served as president for the Hispanic National Bar Association.
Caraballo was a Distinguished Visiting Professor at New York University School of Law in 1986 and served as associate dean of Seton Hall Law School from 1988 through March 1990, where he was instrumental in creating the LEO program to create opportunities for disadvantaged students to attend Seton Hall.
Caraballo received a B.A. from St. Joseph's Seminary and College in Philosophy (1969) and was awarded a J.D. from the New York University School of Law (1975). He is currently a tenured Professor of Law at the Seton Hall University School of Law. Caraballo was born in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, and currently resides in Newark, New Jersey.
In the June 5, 2007 primary election, Caraballo failed to win nomination for a new term after an internal battle with the party and political machines.
Carabello is running candidate for Councilman At-Large for the Municipal Council of Newark on slate of mayoral candidate Shavar Jeffries.

Each of the forty districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey Senate and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly. The other representatives from the 29th Legislative District for the 2006-2007 Legislative Session were:

• Assemblyman William D. Payne, and
• Senator Sharpe James