By Sulaiman Abdur-Rahman Trentonian sulaiman@Trentonian.com @Sabdurr on Twitter

HAMILTON — Former lawmaker Paul Kramer, a longtime Hamilton resident who dedicated his life to public service, died Tuesday of natural causes.

He was 86.

The late Kramer, a U.S. Air Force veteran who previously operated a popular bagel shop, built a solid career serving his community, state and nation.

“Saddened by the loss of a lifelong public servant, Assemblyman Paul Kramer,” Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy said Friday on social media. “He was the sponsor of Megan’s Law, which became a national model for protecting kids. Our thoughts and prayers are with his friends, family, and loved ones.”

Kramer’s résumé lists an extensive record of public service: He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1952 to 1956; served as a Mercer County freeholder from 1985 to 1992; served as a Republican state assemblyman from 1992 to 2000; and served as Hamilton Township’s finance director for 24 years under former GOP mayor Jack Rafferty, who famously led the township from 1976 to 2000.

New Mayor Jeff Martin, a fellow Air Force veteran who became Hamilton’s chief political leader on Jan. 1, described Kramer as a “great and well-respected man who was never afraid to work across the aisle.”

Martin, a Democrat, highlighted Kramer’s political career in a statement posted on the township’s Facebook page.

“Today, as Mayor of Hamilton Township, and on behalf of our entire community,” Martin said Thursday, “I wish to express my deepest sympathies and condolences to the entire Kramer family during this difficult time. I trust his family, friends and loved ones will find comfort in knowing Paul’s legacy of service and dedication to our community will live on throughout Hamilton Township, Mercer County and New Jersey.”

Former Republican Gov. Christine Todd Whitman signed the Kramer-sponsored Megan’s Law on Oct. 31, 1994, establishing a sex offender registration and notification system.

Kramer represented New Jersey’s 14th Legislative District covering parts of Mercer and Middlesex counties. One of his biggest political rivals was former Democratic assemblywoman and current State Sen. Linda Greenstein of Plainsboro.

“I was saddened to hear about the death of former Assemblyman Paul Kramer, and I send my sincere condolences to his family,” Greenstein said Friday in a press statement. “Paul led a life of service that will always be remembered. He was responsible for major legislation, including Megan’s Law. A small businessman from Hamilton Township, he was loved throughout the community. He will be missed.”

Kramer used to serve as chairman of the powerful Mercer County Improvement Authority, and he previously served as a member of Hamilton’s Redevelopment Agency and Zoning Board of Adjustment.

After former Republican Mayor John Bencivengo appointed Kramer to the zoning board in 2009, the Air Force veteran in 2012 received a summons to testify before a federal grand jury investigating Bencivengo’s alleged corruption.

“I frankly don’t know why I was called there,” Kramer said in a June 2012 interview with The Trentonian not long after he left the federal courthouse. “I had a grand jury summons, no secret about that. And they asked me questions about my relationship with John Bencivengo and the cooperating witness. I don’t know why my name was even there, you know?”

A trial jury in November 2012 found Bencivengo guilty of each count in the indictment, including money laundering on allegations he accepted $12,400 in bribes from a cooperating witness, Marliese Ljuba, the former health insurance broker for the Hamilton Township School District.

Many area residents expressed their condolences on Facebook upon learning of Kramer’s passing, including Trenton Councilwoman Marge Caldwell-Wilson, former Ewing GOP Mayor Jack Ball and Democratic Freeholder Nina Melker of Hamilton.

“Paul was a great man. Best known for his bagels,” Robin Multop Melone said on Hamilton’s Facebook page. “‘Kramer’s Bagels’ on Tyler St. 2 am waiting outside in Trenton, NJ.”

We remember former Assemblyman Paul Kramer as a modest gentleman who was willing to listen to all sides of political debates and eager to help whenever he could. If you’d like to share your memory, click on the ‘comment’ link below the headline at the top of this post.

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