John F. Gaffney (March 23, 1934 – August 27, 1995) was an American Republican Party politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly, where he represented the 2nd Legislative District from 1992 until his death.
[2] As Freeholder Director in 1989, Gaffney supported a ballot initiative that would allow voters to reduce insurance premiums, which have been among the highest in the nation, through the elimination of an annual $150 fee assessed on each vehicle that goes toward funding coverage for high-risk drivers.
[3] Darryl F. Todd had won the June 1991 primary as one of the two Republican Assembly challengers in the 2nd District, covering portions of Atlantic County.
[5] With incumbent Republican Dolores G. Cooper having chosen not to run for re-election, Gaffney ran together in the 1991 general election with fellow newcomer Egg Harbor Township Schools superintendent Frederick P. Nickles against one-term incumbent Democrat Fred Scerni and his running mate, Atlantic County freeholder Tom Foley; Gaffney and Nickles ran on a platform opposing income tax hikes, pushing for a one-percent reduction in the 7% state sales tax rate and targeting school funding to Abbott districts.
[11] He was succeeded by Francis J. Blee, a city council member in Absecon who was selected as his replacement by the Republican county committee and sworn into office on September 18, 1995.