Tuesday, March 06, 2012

Donald Payne Dead: New Jersey Congressman Dies After Battle With Cancer

Donald Payne Dead: New Jersey Congressman Dies After Battle With Cancer: Rep. Donald Payne (D-N.J.) has died after a battle with colon cancer, The New Jersey Star-Ledger reports. He was 77.

More from Beth DeFalco of the Associated Press:

U.S. Rep. Donald Payne, the first black elected to represent New Jersey in Congress, died Tuesday. He was 77.

Payne's brother, William, said he died at St. Barnabas Hospital.

The 12-term member of the House had announced in February that he was undergoing treatment for colon cancer and would continue to represent his district.

He had held his congressional seat since 1988 and was elected to a 12th term in 2010. He represented the 10th District, which includes the city of Newark and parts of Essex, Hudson and Union counties.