The son of Leonard T. Connors, he grew up in Surf City, New Jersey and gained his first exposure to politics as a child while helping his father run for city council. He moved to Toms River in 1978 and to Lacey Township four years later, where he was first encouraged to run on his own for elected office. Though initially reluctant to run for election, Connors said that "perhaps the urge to enter politics was a latent kind of urge for me".[4] Connors served on the Lacey Township Committee from 1985 to 1990 and was Mayor of Lacey Township from 1986 to 1989.[2] Connors was Executive Director from 1988 to 1989 and was Deputy Executive Director from 1982 to 1988 of the New Jersey Commission on Capital Budgeting and Planning during the Administration of former GovernorThomas Kean.
New Jersey Assembly
Connors was elected to the Assembly in 1989 and was sworn in on January 9, 1990. He served as Assistant Majority Leader of the Assembly from 1992 to 1996.[5] He sponsored a law enacted in January 2000 requiring installation of ignition interlock devices in cars of repeat drunk driving offenders and of a 1998 law requiring criminal background checks for nurse aides and home personal care licensing applicants.
New Jersey Senate
Connors succeeded his father, Leonard T. Connors, who served in the New Jersey Senate from 1982 to 2008.[6]
In January 2023, Connors announced that he would not be a candidate for reelection after 33 years of service in the New Jersey Legislature.[7]
^Staff. Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey: 2004 Edition, p. 258. Lawyers Diary and Manual, LLC. ISBN 9781577411871. Accessed December 14, 2016. "Christopher J. Connors, Rep., Lacey. Assemblyman Connors was born in Ridgewood on June 26, 1956. He was graduated from Southern Regional High School, and attended Stockton College, where he received his degree in business administration in 1978."
^Staff. "Mayor got his ears wet in politics as a tot", Asbury Park Press, January 27, 1986. Accessed December 14, 2016. "Chris Connors grew up around politics. He was five years old when his father became a Surf City councilman. During his father's campaigns, he did everything from licking envelopes to going door-to-door in Surf City to promote his father."
^Previti, Emily. "Era ends today for Connors in Senate", The Press of Atlantic City, January 7, 2008. Accessed February 1, 2012. "Today marks the last legislative session for state Sen. Leonard T. Connors, who has held the seat for a quarter-century.... The 78-year-old will be succeeded by his son, Assemblyman Christopher Connors, R -Ocean, Burlington, Atlantic, who will be sworn in to his Senate seat..."
^Larsen, Erik; and Davis, Mike. "Christopher Connors not seeking reelection to NJ Senate", Asbury Park Press, January 3, 2023. Accessed March 20, 2023. "After more than three decades in the Legislature, state Sen. Christopher Connors, R-Lacey, will bow out at the end of this year. Connors, 66, announced Tuesday that he wouldn't seek reelection to a sixth term in the state Senate, capping off a 33-year stint representing the 9th Legislative District, including 17 years as an assemblyman."
6.2
6.2