Overview

Robert W. Singer was born on October 29, 1947, in New York City. He grew up in New York public schools and served in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserves from 1966 to 1972. He is married to the former Caryl Lynn Russo and has four children, including Sarri Singer. He has been a resident of Lakewood Township, New Jersey, for decades.

Singer built a career spanning municipal, county, and state government. He served on the Lakewood Township Committee from 1980 to 2010, one of the longest continuous municipal tenures in New Jersey history. During that period, he served as Mayor in 1983, 1985–1986, 1994, and 2009. He retired from the Township Committee in 2010, choosing not to seek re-election after nearly thirty years of service.

Singer entered the New Jersey General Assembly in 1986, representing the Ocean County-based 10th district. He served from 1986 to 1990, then returned to the Assembly in 1992 representing the 30th district, where he served as Majority Whip from 1992 to 1993. In 1993, following the death of Senator John E. Dimon, Singer was selected by Republican committee members to fill the Senate vacancy. He was sworn into the New Jersey Senate on October 14, 1993, and has been re-elected continuously since then.

In the Senate, Singer has held multiple leadership positions: Assistant Majority Leader (1997–2001), Co-Republican Majority Leader (2002–2003), Conference Leader (2008–2017), and Deputy Republican Leader (2018–present). He is the most senior senator currently serving in the legislature, having completed more than three decades in the upper house.

Singer serves as Vice President of Corporate Relations at Community/Kimball Medical Center. He has also served on the Monmouth-Ocean Development Council Board of Directors since 2001, as Chairman of the Lakewood Municipal Utility Authority since 1999, and as Vice Chairman of the Ocean County Board of Health since 1999. He serves on the Board of Trustees of Georgian Court University in Lakewood.

He has been designated Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America National Legislative Officer and has served on the New Jersey-Israel Commission, the Governor's Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS and Related Blood-Borne Pathogens, and the New Jersey Advisory Council on End-of-Life Care.

Political Career

New Jersey State Senator, District 30 (1993–present); sworn in October 14, 1993; current term ends January 11, 2028; re-elected 1997, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2013, 2017, 2021, 2023

Deputy Republican Leader, New Jersey State Senate (2018–present)

Republican Conference Leader, New Jersey State Senate (2008–2017)

Co-Republican Majority Leader, New Jersey State Senate (2002–2003)

Assistant Majority Leader, New Jersey State Senate (1997–2001)

New Jersey General Assembly, District 30 (1992–1993); Majority Whip (1992–1993)

New Jersey General Assembly, District 10 (1986–1990)

Mayor, Lakewood Township (1983, 1985–1986, 1994, 2009)

Lakewood Township Committee (1980–2010)

Key Policy Areas

Health policy and senior services

Economic development and technology industry support

Commerce and insurance regulation

Higher education

Veterans affairs

Legislative oversight and government efficiency

Notable Actions / Initiatives

Longest-serving Republican senator in modern New Jersey history; most senior senator currently in legislature

Served as prime sponsor of economic development measures supporting biotechnology and computer software firms

Authorized creation of Urban Enterprise Zones in the 30th District

Served on New Jersey Commission on Science and Technology, recognized at state and national levels for technology industry support

Served on New Jersey-Israel Commission and Governor's Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS

Designated Jewish War Veterans National Legislative Officer (2011–2012)

Member of bipartisan Aviation Caucus

Education

Not publicly available

Personal

Birth date: October 29, 1947 (age 78 as of 2026)

Residence: Lakewood Township, New Jersey

Spouse: Caryl Lynn Russo

Children: Four, including Sarri Singer

Profession: Vice President of Corporate Relations, Community/Kimball Medical Center

Military Service: U.S. Coast Guard Reserves (1966–1972)