Codey, Baer stated that "I officially tender my resignation as State Senator, representing District 37 in the New Jersey Legislature, effective today, September 8, 2005, at 11:59 p.m." On Election Day on November 9, 2005, voters chose Loretta Weinberg to serve the remaining portion of Baer's four-year term of office, which ended in January 2008. Succession in Senate After Baer's resignation, Assemblywoman Loretta Weinberg of Teaneck and Hackensack Police Chief Ken Zisa faced off in balloting by the Bergen County Democratic Committee on September 15. 2005. to fill Baer's seat on an interim basis and to fill his ballot spot for the November General Election. Zisa outpolled Weinberg at the September 15 caucus, with Representative Steve Rothman — in his role overseeing the Special Convention — ruling that ballots from the so-called "Tenafly Five" should not be counted, as their names had not been filed with the County Committee within the prescribed thirty-day limit. On October 5, 2005, after an extended court battle, Weinberg was ultimately successful in her bid to replace Baer, with the five previously uncounted ballots opened and cast for Weinberg, providing the necessary margin of victory. Weinberg was sworn into office on November 10, 2005 to assume Baer's vacant seat. District 37 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 37th Legislative District for the 2004-2005 Legislative Session were: Assemblyman Gordon M. Johnson, and Assemblywoman Loretta Weinberg Family Baer was a resident of Englewood, New Jersey. He was married to Linda Pollitt Baer, a State Administrative Law Judge and former Bergen County Freeholder. His children are David Baer and Laura Baer and his stepchildren are Lara (Pollitt) Rodriquez and Roger Pollitt. He died on June 24, 2007 following several years of ill-health. References External links . Byron Bear's Resignation Press Release New Jersey Senate Democrats Website Biography 1929 births 2007 deaths Columbia University alumni Cornell University alumni Democratic Party members of the New Jersey General Assembly Democratic Party New Jersey state senators New York University alumni People from Englewood, New Jersey Politicians from Bergen County, New Jersey 20th-century American politicians