to secure state funding for crucial development projects in the Atlantic City region including the Atlantic City Corridor Project (now "Tanger Outlets The Walk"), Boardwalk Hall, the Atlantic City Rail Terminal, the Atlantic City–Brigantine Connector, The Borgata, the Quarter at Tropicana Casino, "The Pier Shops at Caesars" now "Playground Pier"), the Atlantic City Convention Center, and Atlantic City International Airport. In 1991, after suing the governor of New Jersey to protect the rights of coastal homeowners, Gormley wrote and secured passage for a constitutional amendment that defined and delineated the rights of property owners who held riparian lands. The amendment resolved a protracted and contentious legal dispute that had pitted the state's jurisdictional powers against private ownership rights. In 1992, Gormley wrote a constitutional amendment that shifted the cost for the operation of the county court system to the state, creating a more coordinated and modern justice system. Racial Profiling Hearings As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Gormley led a 2001 investigation into the practice of racial profiling by New Jersey State Police. The nine days of hearings chaired by Gormley ultimately led to the enactment of reform legislation to eradicate the practice of racial profiling, including the creation of a system of oversight and monitoring to maintain integrity in law enforcement practices. Electoral history Over the course of his career, Gormley ran for higher office three times and lost in the primary each time. He ran for governor in 1989, the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994 and the U.S. Senate in 2000, when he lost to Bob Franks by 3,700 votes. 1989 Race for Governor (Republican primary) Jim Courter (R), 29.02% W. Cary Edwards (R), 22.04% Chuck Hardwick (R), 21.29% William Gormley (R), 17.17% Gerald Cardinale (R), 8.33% Tom Blomquist (R), 0.98% Lois Rand (R), 0.66% James A. Kolyer, III (R), 0.51% 1994 Race for U.S.House (Republican primary) Frank LoBiondo (R), 54.47% William Gormley (R), 35.26% Robert D. Green (R), 10.27% 2000 Race for U.S. Senate (Republican primary) Bob Franks (R), 35.68% William Gormley (R), 34.10% James W. Treffinger (R), 17.66% Murray Sabrin (R), 12.56% Charitable projects Gormley has also been active in a number of philanthropic efforts and charitable projects in the Atlantic City region, benefitting organizations such as the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Big Brothers and Big Sisters and the Sisters of Christian Charity. Gormley also helped lead fundraising efforts to