NJBIA President Philip Kirschner this week urged New Jersey employers to vote in the November 8 elections for State legislative candidates who will work for lower business costs, stronger private-sector job creation, and a better business climate.

“This is a critical election year, and New Jersey employers cannot afford to sit on the sidelines,” said Kirschner said.

“After a number of difficult years in which business was the target of antibusiness policies that raised business taxes and other costs dramatically, we have started to make some progress in the State Legislature,” Kirschner said. “By electing probusiness candidates for the Assembly, we can build on those gains. We can start to rebuild the State’s business climate.”

On November 8, New Jersey voters will elect all 80 members of the New Jersey General Assembly (the next Senate election will be held in 2007) and a new Governor.

Kirschner said employers should pay close attention not only to the gubernatorial race between Democrat Jon Corzine and Republican Doug Forrester, which has garnered most of the media attention, but also to the Assembly races in all 40 legislative districts. Among those races are a few highly competitive ones involving candidates endorsed by NEW JOBS PAC.

NEW JOBS PAC, the largest and most influential political action committee for the State business community, is an independent, nonpartisan organization whose trustees promote a better business climate by endorsing and supporting probusiness candidates for the State Legislature. Kirschner has served as a member of the NEW JOBS Board of Trustees since 2003.

NEW JOBS PAC has endorsed 66 Assembly candidates of both major parties. The NEW JOBS trustees carefully reviewed the candidates’ records, endorsing candidates who have demonstrated a good understanding of the issues facing the business community and a commitment to lowering the cost of doing business in New Jersey.

Kirschner said employers, in addition to supporting probusiness candidates and casting their ballots on November 8, can avail themselves of resources to encourage their employees to vote. Important information about voter registration, absentee ballots and voter rights can be found on the NJ Division of Elections Web site at www.state.nj.us/lps/elections/electionshome.html.

Kirschner said the most competitive races by far are in District 12 (Mercer and Monmouth counties) and District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex counties). There are also important races in District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties), District 2 (Atlantic County), District 11 (Monmouth County), District 13 (Monmouth and Middlesex counties), and District 36 (Bergen, Essex and Passaic counties). Following are details on all of those races.

District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland)
In District 1, veteran Republican Assemblyman Jack Gibson* faces a tough battle to hold onto his seat, which has been targeted by the Democrats, who hope not only to return two-term incumbent Jeff Van Drew to office, but also to elect his running mate, newcomer Nelson Albano. The other Republican candidate in this district, George Cecola, is a virtual unknown.

District 2 (Atlantic)
The Democrats have also targeted District 2, hoping to take both Assembly seats away from their GOP competitors in this long-time, Republican-held district. Former Atlantic City Mayor Jim Whelan and his Democratic running mate Damon Tyner are giving a spirited challenge to the Republican incumbents, veteran Frank Blee* (1995-present) and one-term Assemblyman Kirk Conover*. Veteran Republican Senator Bill Gormley, who also represents District 2, is managing the Blee-Conover campaign, an indication of just how much is at stake in this race.

District 12 (Mercer, Monmouth)
The Republicans lost control of this once solidly GOP district in 2003 as a result of the fallout from a series of articles in the Asbury Park Press that attacked the ethics of District 12 Senator John Bennett, who was co-president of the Senate at the time. The Republicans subsequently lost control of the Senate seat and the two Assembly seats to the Democrats. Today, they are trying to get them back. Both parties are pouring a lot of money into this race. Republican challengers Jennifer Beck*, a Red Bank councilwoman, and Declan O’Scanlon Jr., a Little Silver councilwoman, are trying to unseat Democrat incumbents Robert Morgan* and Michael Panter.

Districts 11 and 13
(Monmouth, Middlesex)
If the Republicans are trying to win back District 12, the Democrats are hoping to replicate their 2003 victory in that district by also taking control of two contiguous voting areas, Districts 11 and 13. In District 11, Republican incumbents Steve Corodemus* and Sean Kean* are fending off a challenge from Democratic candidates Matt Doherty and Jim Reilly. In District 13, Republican incumbent Sam Thompson*, joined by Monmouth County Freeholder Amy Handlin*, is defending his seat against Democratic challengers William Flynn and Michael Dasaro.

District 14 (Mercer, Middlesex)
Like District 1, District 14 is split between the two major parties, a rare circumstance. In this district, the Republican incumbent, Bill Baroni*, and the Democratic incumbent, Linda Greenstein, are trying to hold onto their seats while their respective parties hope to build their base by picking up a second seat. Baroni, a Seton Hall law professor, is seeking a second term, while Greenstein, an attorney, is hoping to win a fourth term. The challengers are Republican Michael Paquette and Democrat Daniel Benson.

District 36 (Bergen, Essex, Passaic)
The loss of the GOP’s lone seat in this split district is all but a forgone conclusion. Veteran Republican Assemblyman Paul DiGaetano decided not to seek a ninth term in this heavily Democratic district last spring when he competed in the gubernatorial primary, which he lost. Now that the popular DiGaetano is retiring, the Democrats are expected to take his seat with little trouble. Vying for seats are Democrat Gary Schaer* and Republican challengers Louis Aloia and Jose Sandoval. Democratic incumbent Fred Scalera is expected to maintain his seat.

*NEW JOBS endorsees are identified with an asterisk.

Reprinted from the October 2005 'Business Voice' newsletter with the permission of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association.