Kevin J. Rooney (born January 13, 1960) is an American Republican Party politician who represented the 40th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2016 to 2024.[1] Rooney served in the General Assembly as Deputy Republican Whip from 2021 to 2022 and served as the Deputy Minority Conference Leader from 2022 to 2024.[2] Before serving in the Assembly, Rooney served as a Committeeman in Wyckoff.
Rooney won the 2013 version of the Food Network series Chopped, donating his $10,000 winnings to Oasis – A Haven for Women and Children based in Paterson.[5]
Rooney is the Managing Partner of HMS Global Holdings, LLC. He resides in Wyckoff with his wife Hayley Shotmeyer Rooney. They have four children and four grandchildren.[6]
Early political career
Rooney served on the Wyckoff Zoning Board from 1999 to 2009. He was first elected to the Wyckoff Township Committee in 2009 and was as a member until 2016. He served as deputy mayor in 2010 and 2014, and was selected as the township's mayor in 2011, 2015 and 2016.[2]
New Jersey General Assembly
In December 2016, Rooney became an Assemblyman representing the 40th Legislative District of New Jersey when he was selected to complete Scott Rumana's term in the Assembly when Rumana resigned his seat after he was appointed to serve as a judge in New Jersey Superior Court.[7]
In 2019, Democrats Maria Martini Cordonnier and Micheal Sedon won the primary to challenge Rooney and his running mate Christopher DePhillips. However, Sedon dropped out of the general election and was replaced with former Bergen County Freeholder Julie O'Brien. During the election, Rooney and DePhillips skipped a debate hosted by the League of Women Voters, claiming it was unfair.[9] The Democrats lost to the incumbents.
In the 2017 election incumbent David C. Russo retired, so Republican Christopher DePhillips ran for the open seat as a team with Rooney. Democrats Christine Ordway and Paul Vagianos and independent Anthony J. Pellechia also vied for the two Assembly seats. Rooney and DePhillips won the general election.
^Nesi, Chris. "Four are vying for two seats on the governing body", Suburban News, October 22, 2009. Accessed January 25, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Kevin J. Rooney... Education: Northern Highlands Regional High School, 1977. Graduated from Ramapo College in Mahwah in 1980."
^Gerace, Joseph M. "Rooney Wins Chopped Crown; Former mayor says he'll donate his $10,000 prize to charity.", Wyckoff Patch, February 25, 2013. Accessed November 14, 2017. "In a televised battle for culinary supremacy, Wyckoff Committeeman Kevin Rooney took home the Chopped crown Sunday night on The Food Network.... Rooney won $10,000 for his victory, and told northjersey.com that he'd give the prize away to charity."
^About, Kevin J. Rooney. Accessed May 6, 2022. "He and his wife, Hayley, have lived in Wyckoff for over 25 years where they raised their four children: Victoria, Jordan, Austin and Cassidy. In addition to their four children, Kevin has four grandchildren: Gryffin, Scarlett, Liam, and Brodie."
^Wildstein, David. "Bergen, Passaic, Essex back Corrado, DePhillips and Barlas in 40th district next year", New Jersey Globe, November 10, 2022. Accessed January 11, 2024. "With about one-third of the newly drawn 40th legislative district now sitting in Essex County, State Sen. Kristin Corrado (R-Totowa) and Assemblyman Christopher DePhillips (R-Wyckoff) will seek re-election next year on a ticket with Essex County GOP Chairman Al Barlas running for the State Assembly – a move that has the support of party leaders in Bergen, Passaic and Essex. The move leaves Assemblyman Kevin Rooney (R-Wyckoff) without a seat next year as party leaders adjust for the realities of legislative redistricting that puts seven Essex County municipalities into the district."
