Joe Ariyan
Joe Ariyan is an Armenian-American from New Jersey, Joe Ariyan was raised in a middle-class family in Basking Ridge, Somerset County, New Jersey. As a first-generation American, Joe was taught from a young age that there is no substitute for education and hard work. He was raised to honor his family, his Country and his community.
Joe Ariyan was taught that when you see something wrong, you have an obligation to speak out and, if possible, offer your contribution to making it right. Community service has always been part of his life.
On August 26, 1977, as a young boy with his parents and brothers, he marched on the Mall in Washington D.C., in support of equal rights for women and the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). At the University of South Carolina, from which he graduated in 1990, he served his community as a member of the local chapter of the United States Junior Chamber (a/k/a The Jaycees). While majoring in Insurance & Risk Management as well as Business Management, Joe received an academic scholarship from the Insurance Department and was chosen as a student representative to the local insurance industry. While in law school at Widener University School of Law, Joe volunteered his services by preparing tax returns for those requiring assistance through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA).
Since graduating law school in 1995, and having passed the bar exams in both New Jersey and New York, Joe Ariyan has called Bergen County his home. He is proud to live in Saddle River, with his wife, Susan, who was raised in Ramsey, and their son, Joseph. Since 2000, Joe Ariyan has practiced law, as a founding member of Ariyan, Khoury & Schildiner, LLP, located in Hackensack, New Jersey.
In 2004, Joe Ariyan was appointed by Dennis McNerney, Bergen County Executive and confirmed by the Board of Chosen Freeholders, as the first Public Advocate for Land Use in Bergen County history; in which capacity he continues to serve. Joe Ariyan is a Commissioner on the Northwest Bergen County Utilities Authority, and also serves as the Public Defender in the Borough of Hillsdale. Joe Ariyan also served as the Public Defender in the Borough of River Edge (2000-2001, when appointed by a Republican administration), and he completed his four (4) year term on the District IIA - North, Ethics Committee (2002-2006), which reviews and prosecutes ethics grievances against attorneys.
Now, Joe Ariyan believes it is time to not only speak out AbOUT a problem in our community but to fix it. By taking his public service to the next level – elected office – Joe Ariyan offers his service to District 39 and the State of New Jersey. Like the great majority of the people of District 39, Joe Ariyan is proud to be a moderate, objective, reasonable person; compassionate on social issues, tough on punishment for criminals, and fiscally responsible.