Dick Zimmer

Dick Zimmer
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Jersey's 12th district
In office
January 3, 1991 – January 3, 1997
Preceded byJim Courter
Succeeded byMike Pappas
Member of the New Jersey Senate
from the 23rd district
In office
April 23, 1987 – January 3, 1991
Preceded byWalter E. Foran
Succeeded byWilliam E. Schluter
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly
from the 23rd district
In office
January 12, 1982 – April 23, 1987
Serving with Karl Weidel
Preceded byArthur R. Albohn
James J. Barry Jr.
Succeeded byWilliam E. Schluter
Personal details
BornRichard Alan Zimmer
(1944-08-16)August 16, 1944
DiedDecember 31, 2025(2025-12-31) (aged 81)
PartyRepublican
Spouse
Marfy Goodspeed
(m. 1965)
Children
EducationYale University (BA, LLB)

Richard Alan Zimmer (August 16, 1944 – December 31, 2025) was an American Republican Party politician from New Jersey, who served in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature and in the United States House of Representatives. He was the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate from New Jersey in 1996 and 2008.

Zimmer was known for his sponsorship of Megan's Law, a landmark criminal justice reform bill passed in response to the 1994 murder of Megan Kanka. He was known for his fiscal conservatism, opposing spending and taxes which he viewed as excessive and supporting the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act.