Colonel William A. Phillips

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The 1985 New Jersey General Assembly election was held on November 5, 1985.

The elections coincided with Governor Tom Kean's landslide re-election. The result was a historic victory for Kean's Republican Party, which gained 14 seats to retake the majority in the Assembly. As of 2024, this remains the only election since 1973 in which Republicans won any seats in the Senate or Assembly from Hudson County, where they carried four of six seats.

Incumbents not running for re-election

Democratic

  • Thomas W. Long (District 20)
  • Nicholas LaRocca (District 33)

Republican

Every Republican incumbent ran for re-election.

Summary of races

Voters in each legislative district elect two members to the New Jersey General Assembly.

District Incumbent Party Elected Party
1st Legislative District Guy F. Muziani Rep Guy F. Muziani Rep
Joseph W. Chinnici Rep Joseph W. Chinnici Rep
2nd Legislative District J. Edward Cline Rep J. Edward Cline Rep
Dolores G. Cooper Rep Dolores G. Cooper Rep
3rd Legislative District Martin A. Herman Dem Jack Collins Rep
Thomas A. Pankok Dem Gary Stuhltrager Rep
4th Legislative District Anthony S. Marsella Dem Anthony S. Marsella Dem
Dennis L. Riley Dem Dennis L. Riley Dem
5th Legislative District Francis J. Gorman Dem Francis J. Gorman Dem
Wayne R. Bryant Dem Wayne R. Bryant Dem
6th Legislative District John A. Rocco Rep John A. Rocco Rep
Thomas J. Shusted Rep Thomas J. Shusted Rep
7th Legislative District Barbara Kalik Dem Barbara Kalik Dem
Thomas P. Foy Dem Thomas P. Foy Dem
8th Legislative District Harold L. Colburn Jr.[a] Rep Harold L. Colburn Jr. Rep
Robert C. Shinn Jr.[b] Rep Robert C. Shinn Rep
9th Legislative District John T. Hendrickson Jr. Rep John T. Hendrickson Jr. Rep
Jorge A. Rod Dem[c] Jeffrey Moran Rep
10th Legislative District John Paul Doyle Dem John Paul Doyle Dem
Marlene Lynch Ford Dem Robert Singer Rep
11th Legislative District Joseph A. Palaia Rep Joseph A. Palaia Rep
Anthony M. Villane Rep Anthony M. Villane Rep
12th Legislative District Marie Sheehan Muhler Rep Marie Sheehan Muhler Rep
John O. Bennett Rep John O. Bennett Rep
13th Legislative District Jacqueline Walker Dem Joseph Azzolina Rep
Bill Flynn Dem Joann H. Smith Rep
14th Legislative District Joseph L. Bocchini Jr. Dem Joseph L. Bocchini Jr. Dem
Joseph D. Patero Dem John K. Rafferty Rep
15th Legislative District John S. Watson Dem John S. Watson Dem
Gerald S. Naples Dem Gerald S. Naples Dem
16th Legislative District Walter J. Kavanaugh Rep Walter J. Kavanaugh Rep
John S. Penn Rep John S. Penn Rep
17th Legislative District David C. Schwartz Dem David C. Schwartz Dem
Angela L. Perun Rep[d] Bob Smith Dem
18th Legislative District Thomas H. Paterniti Dem Thomas H. Paterniti Dem
Frank M. Pelly Dem Frank M. Pelly Dem
19th Legislative District George Otlowski Dem George J. Otlowski Dem
Alan Karcher Dem Alan Karcher Dem
20th Legislative District Thomas J. Deverin Dem Thomas J. Deverin Dem
Thomas W. Long Dem George Hudak Dem
21st Legislative District Chuck Hardwick Rep Chuck Hardwick Rep
Peter J. Genova[e] Rep Peter J. Genova Rep
22nd Legislative District Bob Franks Rep Bob Franks Rep
Maureen Ogden Rep Maureen Ogden Rep
23rd Legislative District Dick Zimmer Rep Dick Zimmer Rep
Karl Weidel Rep Karl Weidel Rep
24th Legislative District Robert E. Littell Rep Robert E. Littell Rep
Chuck Haytaian Rep Chuck Haytaian Rep
25th Legislative District Rodney Frelinghuysen Rep Rodney Frelinghuysen Rep
Arthur R. Albohn Rep Arthur R. Albohn Rep
26th Legislative District Robert J. Martin[f] Rep Robert J. Martin Rep
Ralph A. Loveys Rep Ralph A. Loveys Rep
27th Legislative District Harry A. McEnroe Dem Harry A. McEnroe Dem
Mildred Barry Garvin Dem Mildred Barry Garvin Dem
28th Legislative District Michael Adubato Dem Michael Adubato Dem
James Zangari Dem James Zangari Dem
29th Legislative District Willie B. Brown Dem Willie B. Brown Dem
Eugene H. Thompson Dem Eugene H. Thompson Dem
30th Legislative District Buddy Fortunato Dem John V. Kelly Rep
Steve Adubato Dem Marion Crecco Rep
31st Legislative District Joe Doria Dem Joe Doria Dem
Joseph Charles Dem Joseph Charles Dem
32nd Legislative District Paul Cuprowski Dem Frank J. Gargiulo Rep
Anthony P. Vainieri Dem Charles J. Catrillo Rep
33rd Legislative District Nicholas LaRocca Dem Ronald A. Dario Rep
Robert A. Ranieri Dem Jose Arango Rep
34th Legislative District Gerald Zecker Rep Gerald Zecker Rep
Newton E. Miller Rep Newton E. Miller Rep
35th Legislative District John Girgenti Dem John Girgenti Dem
Vincent O. Pellecchia Dem Vincent O. Pellecchia Dem
36th Legislative District Robert Hollenbeck Dem Kathleen Donovan Rep
Richard Visotcky Dem Paul DiGaetano Rep
37th Legislative District D. Bennett Mazur Dem D. Bennett Mazur Dem
Byron Baer Dem Byron Baer Dem
38th Legislative District Pat Schuber Rep Pat Schuber Rep
Louis Kosco Rep Louis Kosco Rep
39th Legislative District John E. Rooney Rep John E. Rooney Rep
Elizabeth Randall[g] Rep Elizabeth Randall Rep
40th Legislative District Walter M. D. Kern Rep Walter M. D. Kern Rep
Nicholas Felice Rep Nicholas R. Felice Rep
  1. ^ Colburn won a September 1984 special to complete the unexpired term of Assemblyman Robert J. Meyer, who died of a heart attack.
  2. ^ Shinn won a special election in February 1985 to complete the unexpired term of Assemblyman C. William Haines, who had been elevated to the Senate.
  3. ^ Rod was elected as a Republican in 1983, but switched parties on August 27, shortly before the election.
  4. ^ Perun switched parties on March 14.
  5. ^ Genova won a March 1985 special election to complete the unexpired term of Assemblyman Edward K. Gill, who died of heart disease.
  6. ^ Martin won a January 1985 special election to complete the unexpired term of Assemblyman Dean Gallo, who resigned to join the U.S. House of Representatives.
  7. ^ Randall won a March 1985 special election to complete the unexpired term of Assemblyman John W. Markert.

District 1

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Joseph W. Chinnici 35,610 33.7 Increase 5.5
Republican Guy F. Muziani 33,978 32.1 Increase 6.0
Democratic Raymond A. Batten 18,794 17.8 Decrease 8.0
Democratic Peter L. Amico 17,407 16.5 Decrease 3.4
Total votes '105,789' '100.0'

District 2

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican J. Edward Kline 32,092 34.1 Increase 5.6
Republican Dolores G. Cooper 27,395 29.1 Increase 2.0
Democratic Joel Jacovitz 19,899 21.2 Decrease 1.0
Democratic Lillian E. Bryant 14,634 15.6 Decrease 4.8
Total votes '94,020' '100.0'

District 3

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jack Collins 27,514 26.2 Increase 3.3
Republican Gary W. Stuhltrager 27,032 25.7 Increase 3.5
Democratic Martin A. Herman 25,699 24.5 Decrease 3.7
Democratic Thomas A. Pankok 24,796 23.6 Decrease 3.1
Total votes '105,041' '100.0'

District 4

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Anthony S. Marsella 23,162 27.3 Decrease 3.4
Democratic Dennis L. Riley 22,703 26.8 Decrease 3.4
Republican Frank F. Senatore 19,621 23.1 Increase 2.8
Republican William F. Thomson 19,307 22.8 Increase 3.9
Total votes '84,793' '100.0'

District 5

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Francis J. Gorman 22,828 30.9 Decrease 2.8
Democratic Wayne R. Bryant 22,691 30.7 Decrease 3.6
Republican Charles E. Brimm 14,514 19.6 Increase 3.3
Republican William M. Terrell 13,872 18.8 Increase 3.2
Total votes '73,905' '100.0'

District 6

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican John A. Rocco 32,812 32.7 Increase 4.9
Republican Thomas J. Shusted 31,679 31.6 Increase 3.9
Democratic Carl B. Viniar 18,425 18.4 Decrease 4.8
Democratic Harry Benn 17,382 17.3 Decrease 4.0
Total votes '100,298' '100.0'

District 7

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Barbara Faith Kalik 26,452 29.4 Decrease 1.3
Democratic Thomas P. Foy 25,217 28.0 Decrease 1.8
Republican Renee L. Borstad 19,318 21.4 Increase 0.3
Republican Charles J. Ansert 19,096 21.2 Increase 2.9
Total votes '90,083' '100.0'

District 8

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Harold L. Colburn, Jr. 29,150 34.8 Increase 3.8
Republican Robert C. Shinn, Jr. 29,085 34.7 Increase 3.2
Democratic Claire B. Cohen 12,971 15.5 Decrease 3.6
Democratic Harrison B. Slack 12,285 14.7 Decrease 3.7
Socialist Labor Bernardo S. Doganiero 189 0.2 N/A
Socialist Labor Paul Ferguson 170 0.2 N/A
Total votes '83,850' '100.0'

District 9

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican John T. Hendrickson Jr. (incumbent) 39,031 32.4 Increase 0.9
Republican Jeffrey Moran 37,877 31.4 Increase 1.2
Democratic Jorge A. Rod (incumbent) 23,470 19.5 Increase 0.4
(Decrease10.7)
Democratic Warren E. Hickman 19,420 16.1 Decrease 2.2
"Time for Change" Paul David Hedrich 708 0.6 N/A
Total votes '120,506' '100.0'

District 10

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic John Paul Doyle (incumbent) 30,055 25.9 Decrease 3.3
Republican Robert Singer 29,621 25.5 Increase 1.9
Republican Roden S. Lightbody 28,179 24.2 Increase 3.5
Democratic Marlene Lynch Ford (incumbent) 28,159 24.2 Decrease 1.5
Libertarian Wallace Gluck 217 0.2 N/A
Total votes '116,231' '100.0'

District 11

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Joseph A. Palaia 35,629 34.4 Increase 5.1
Republican Anthony M. “Doc” Villane 35,291 34.1 Increase 4.9
Democratic Craig Alan Frankel 16,298 15.8 Decrease 5.0
Democratic Daniel P. Jacobson 16,242 15.7 Decrease 5.1
Total votes '103,460' '100.0'

District 12

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican John O. Bennett 33,205 32.5 Increase 2.6
Republican Marie Sheehan Muhler 32,346 31.6 Increase 2.0
Democratic Donald M. Lomurro 18,584 18.2 Decrease 2.3
Democratic Michael L. Detzky 18,129 17.7 Decrease 2.3
Total votes '102,264' '100.0'

District 13

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Joseph Azzolina 26,565 26.3 Increase 2.5
Republican Joann H. Smith 25,970 25.7 Increase 4.1
Democratic William E. Flynn 24,418 24.2 Decrease 3.6
Democratic Jacqueline Walker 24,058 23.8 Decrease 3.0
Total votes '101,011' '100.0'

District 14

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Joseph L. Bocchini, Jr. 28,476 26.5 Decrease 2.0
Republican John K. Rafferty 27,960 26.1 Increase 3.8
Democratic Joseph D. Patero 26,707 24.9 Decrease 3.2
Republican Thomas Colitsas 24,189 22.5 Increase 1.4
Total votes '107,332' '100.0'

District 15

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic John S. Watson 25,173 28.2 Decrease 3.0
Democratic Gerald S. Naples 24,893 27.9 Decrease 3.0
Republican Barbara Marrow 19,818 22.2 Increase 3.0
Republican Mary Ann McKee 19,413 21.7 Increase 3.0
Total votes '89,297' '100.0'

District 16

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Walter J. Kavanaugh 37,577 38.9 Increase 4.5
Republican John S. Penn 35,258 36.5 Increase 5.5
Democratic William R. Norris II 11,884 12.3 Decrease 4.8
Democratic Frank M. Reskin 11,596 12.0 Decrease 4.3
Libertarian Stephen Friedlander 363 0.4 Decrease 0.8
Total votes '96,678' '100.0'

District 17

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic David C. Schwartz 21,174 28.1 Decrease 4.4
Democratic Bob Smith 19,556 26.0 Decrease 6.1
Republican Angela L. Perun 19,104 25.4 Increase 7.4
(Decrease 6.7)
Republican Francis J. Coury 15,503 20.6 Increase 4.1
Total votes '75,337' '100.0'

District 18

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Thomas H. Paterniti 30,169 26.7 Decrease 1.8
Democratic Frank M. Pelly 29,490 26.1 Decrease 2.2
Republican S. Elliott Mayo 27,101 24.0 Increase 2.1
Republican Michael Leibowitz 26,280 23.2 Increase 1.9
Total votes 113,040 100.0

District 19

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic George J. Otlowski 26,187 26.7 Decrease 3.3
Democratic Alan J. Karcher 24,803 25.3 Decrease 2.8
Republican Emery Z. Toth 23,673 24.1 Increase 2.8
Republican Robert De Santis 23,544 24.0 Increase 3.4
Total votes '98,207' '100.0'

District 20

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Thomas J. Deverin 19,892 25.5 Decrease 9.4
Democratic George Hudak 18,085 23.1 Decrease 11.7
Republican Michael A. Posnock 14,617 18.7 Increase 3.3
Republican Alice A. Holzapfel 13,134 16.8 Increase 1.8
Experienced-Competent-Courageous Tom Dunn 10,174 13.0 N/A
"Inflation Fighting Housewife" Rose Zeidwerg Monyek 2,240 2.9 N/A
Total votes '78,142' '100.0'

District 21

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Chuck Hardwick 36,474 32.9 Increase 5.9
Republican Peter J. Genova 34,625 31.2 Increase 5.2
Democratic Andrew K. Ruotolo, Jr. 20,526 18.5 Decrease 5.3
Democratic Livio Mancino 18,408 16.6 Decrease 6.6
Independent Fred Palensar III 818 0.7 N/A
Total votes '110,851' '100.0'

District 22

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Maureen Ogden 39,939 36.1 Increase 2.4
Republican Bob Franks 39,284 35.5 Increase 2.4
Democratic John F. Tully, Jr. 15,729 14.2 Decrease 2.6
Democratic Florence Martone 15,650 14.1 Decrease 2.2
Total votes '110,602' '100.0'

District 23

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Richard A. Zimmer 34,051 44.0 Increase 9.4
Republican Karl Weidel 32,587 42.1 Increase 7.8
Democratic Richard C. Allen 10,774 13.9 Decrease 3.3
Total votes '77,412' '100.0'

District 24

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Robert E. Littell 30,616 37.3 Increase 1.3
Republican Garabed “Chuck” Haytaian 29,094 35.4 Increase 0.7
Democratic Robert T. Davis 12,806 15.6 Increase 0.4
Democratic John P. Kilroy, Jr. 9,617 11.7 Decrease 2.3
Total votes '82,133' '100.0'

District 25

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Rodney P. Frelinghuysen 31,695 37.1 Increase 5.4
Republican Arthur R. Albohn 29,043 34.0 Increase 4.6
Democratic Donald Cresitello 12,652 14.8 Decrease 4.9
Democratic Carl A. Mottey 11,955 14.0 Decrease 5.2
Total votes 85,345 100.0

District 26

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Robert J. Martin 31,943 37.6 Increase 1.4
Republican Ralph A. Loveys 31,898 37.5 Increase 4.7
Democratic Claude C. Post 10,697 12.6 Decrease 3.0
Democratic Joseph V. Vender 10,425 12.3 Decrease 3.1
Total votes '84,963' '100.0'

District 27

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Harry A. McEnroe 20,780 31.5 Decrease 5.4
Democratic Mildred Barry Garvin 20,680 31.3 Decrease 5.1
Republican Jean Brozyna 12,345 18.7 Increase 4.9
Republican Chandler Dennis 12,167 18.4 Increase 5.4
Total votes '65,972' '100.0'

District 28

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Michael F. Adubato 12,495 30.4 Decrease 4.1
Democratic James Zangari 12,092 29.4 Decrease 3.0
Republican Joe Imperiale 8,604 20.9 Increase 8.3
Republican Jose Linares 7,896 19.2 Increase 8.5
Total votes '41,087' '100.0'

District 29

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Willie B. Brown 12,736 35.2 Decrease 7.1
Democratic Eugene H. Thompson 12,224 33.7 Decrease 7.9
Republican Della Moses Walker 5,852 16.2 Increase 7.6
Republican Kurt A. Culbreath 5,420 15.0 Increase 7.5
Total votes '36,232' '100.0'

District 30

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican John V. Kelly 30,820 28.3 Increase 3.1
Republican Marion Crecco 28,268 26.0 Increase 8.4
Democratic Stephen N. Adubato, Jr. 25,505 23.4 Decrease 3.2
Democratic Buddy Fortunato 24,290 22.3 Decrease 6.0
Total votes '108,883' '100.0'

District 31

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Joseph V. Doria, Jr. 25,613 31.8 Decrease 8.6
Democratic Joseph Charles, Jr. 24,612 30.6 Decrease 8.8
Republican Nat S. Amadeo 15,380 19.1 Increase 9.1
Republican Bruce M. Shipitofsky 14,942 18.6 Increase 9.5
Total votes 80,547 100.0

District 32

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Frank J. Gargiulo 25,179 27.1 Increase 10.4
Republican Charles J. Catrillo 24,798 26.7 Increase 10.4
Democratic Paul Cuprowski 21,018 22.7 Decrease 9.4
Democratic Anthony P. Vainieri 19,977 21.5 Decrease 10.0
Politicians Are Crooks Edith M. Shaw 896 1.0 Decrease 0.8
Politicians Are Crooks Herbert H. Shaw 877 0.9 Decrease 0.7
Total votes '92,745' '100.0'

District 33

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Ronald A. Dario 20,422 27.9 Increase 10.0
Republican Jose O. Arango 19,748 26.9 Increase 9.7
Democratic Robert A. Ranieri 17,443 23.8 Decrease 8.9
Democratic Mario R. Hernandez 15,671 21.4 Decrease 10.8
Total votes '73,284' '100.0'

District 34

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Gerald H. Zecker 32,025 32.3 Increase 6.1
Republican Newton E. Miller 31,791 32.1 Increase 5.4
Democratic Joseph F. Palumbo 17,784 18.0 Decrease 5.5
Democratic Elisa Leib 17,411 17.6 Decrease 4.1
Total votes '99,011' '100.0'

District 35

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic John A. Girgenti 18,634 30.2 Decrease 7.4
Democratic Vincent “Ozzie” Pellecchia 16,204 26.3 Decrease 8.8
Republican Walter W. Porter, Jr. 13,538 21.9 Increase 8.0
Republican Kenneth Van Rye 13,352 21.6 Increase 8.2
Total votes '61,728' '100.0'

District 36

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Kathleen A. Donovan 24,775 27.4 Increase 7.4
Republican Paul DiGaetano 24,555 27.2 Increase 7.5
Democratic Robert P. Hollenbeck 21,295 23.6 Decrease 7.5
Democratic Richard F. Visotcky 19,764 21.9 Decrease 7.2
Total votes '90,389' '100.0'

District 37

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic D. Bennett Mazur 27,376 27.0 Decrease 3.9
Democratic Byron Baer 27,335 26.9 Decrease 4.5
Republican Nicholas Corbiscello 24,300 23.9 Increase 5.0
Republican Martin Katz 22,453 22.1 Increase 3.4
Total votes '101,464' '100.0'

District 38

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican William P. Schuber 29,606 30.8 Increase 3.9
Republican Louis F. Kosco 29,096 30.2 Increase 3.1
Democratic Thomas K. Hynes 19,033 19.8 Decrease 3.9
Democratic David S. Turetsky 18,190 18.9 Decrease 3.5
Libertarian Richard Kraus 313 0.3 N/A
Total votes '96,238' '100.0'

District 39

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Elizabeth E. Randall 35,172 33.3 Increase 4.4
Republican John E. Rooney 33,358 31.6 Increase 2.9
Democratic Joseph A. Ferriero 18,714 17.7 Decrease 4.2
Democratic Fay Yeager 18,257 17.3 Decrease 3.2
Total votes 105,501 100.0

District 40

General election

New Jersey general election, 1985[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Walter M. D. Kern, Jr. 36,476 35.9 Increase 1.3
Republican Nicholas R. Felice 36,369 35.8 Increase 1.9
Democratic Judy Miller 14,590 14.4 Decrease 1.6
Democratic Carmine J. Cicchino 14,050 13.8 Decrease 1.7
Total votes '101,485' '100.0'

Notes

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an "Candidates for the Office of General Assembly" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 5, 2016. Retrieved December 3, 2015.