Tea Party Candidates Run For New Jersey State Assembly
By Lon (Alonzo) Hosford
The New Jersey Tea Party movement has evolved to the ultimate political action of grassroots citizen candidates running for office.
Barry Funt Tea Party Candidate for NJ Assembly District 27 www.funtforassembly.org
Probably the first of a trend in candidates nationwide, New Jersey has spawned over 40 first time like minded citizen candidates for the 2009 State Assembly elections.
The candidates have grouped together as the Citizens for Assembly.
Barry Funt, speaking without a teleprompter at The Morristown Tea Party School Choice event on September 30, 2009, said “No one is a professional politician in this group. We work for a living. Some are … semi-retired.
Barry is a newcomer to politics. He attended the event for his own interest and was asked to speak after being recognized in the audience. He identifies himself with the Tea Party audience and sees himself as a citizen moved to becoming a candidate for office.
“I’ve never been involved with politics before. I am a Tea Party person just like you guys. I’ve been stirred to action like all you have. I am sure some of you before this tea party movement started – its the first time you ever got out of your chair, couch – I’m that person”
Tea Party activism is only a part of the New Jersey citizen movement. Barry points out, “through out this State people are standing up.” He finds people in communities are taking citizen action on issues of jobs, education and violence outside of the Tea Party movement.
“There are other citizens movements that are happening in urban centers. I go to Newark – Stop the Violence Rallies – there are people taken to the streets who are demanding a better life and to end the violence. … I think these are tea party people in a different name …”
The new grassroots citizen NJ Assembly candidates have adopted a citizen friendly agreement of 10 issues permeating the community movements. The agreement is called the Common Sense Pledge. Read the full story at Common Sense Pledge A Citizen Friendly Contract for NJ. The Citizens For Assembly plus other candidates have the needed seats to implement all of these once in office. All NJ Gubernatorial candidates need to take notice, the next Tea Party may be in the NJ Assembly.
