Robert M. "Bob" Gordon (born July 3, 1950) is an American politician serving as a commissioner of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. Prior to being commissioner, Gordon was a Democratic Party politician who served in the New Jersey Senate from January 8, 2008 to April 4, 2018 representing the 38th Legislative District. He also served in the General Assembly from 2004 to 2008. Early life and education Gordon was born in Paterson and grew up in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political economy from Williams College in 1972, a Master of Public Policy from the University of California, Berkeley, and an MBA in finance and health care management from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Career Gordon began his career an analyst in the Congressional Budget Office from 1975 to 1977. Gordon served on the Fair Lawn Borough Council from 1986 to 1995, on its Planning Board from 1986 to 1995 and was Mayor of Fair Lawn, New Jersey from 1988 to 1991. He was the Fair Lawn Fire Commissioner from 1986 to 1995 and served on the Fair Lawn Ethics Board from 1999 to 2003. During this time he also served as an aide in the New Jersey Office of the Governor from 1990 to 1991. He was also a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1988 and 1992. In 1996, Gordon ran in the Democratic primary for the open Congressional seat in the 9th district but was defeated in a landslide against former Englewood mayor Steve Rothman. He served on the Democratic State Committee from 1993 to 1998. Gordon is a real estate development consultant in addition to being a state senator. New Jersey Assembly In the 2003 election, Gordon and Joan Voss unseated the incumbents, Green Party candidate Matt Ahearn and Republican Rose Marie Heck, to win the Assembly seats. Bergen County Freeholder and Paramus Councilwoman Connie Wagner replaced Gordon on the Democrats' 2007 Assembly ticket. New Jersey Senate Gordon was the 2007 Democratic nominee to succeed outgoing Senator Joseph Coniglio and won the seat with 59.9% of the vote. He was re-elected in 2011 and served on the Legislative Oversight Committee (Chair), the Transportation Committee (Vice-Chair), and the Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. In the 2013 election, the then-increasingly popular Governor Chris Christie targeted the 38th Legislative District to unseat Gordon. However,