On November 3rd 2009 conservatives have a major opportunity to advance their movement in New Jersey with Chris Christie and the Citizens For Assembly.

Why Chris Christie for Conservatives?
I heard arguments why Chris Christie is not the perfect choice for a conservative vote. I have heard arguments that Chris Daggett may be better. True or not Daggett will lose tomorrow. Corzine can win and if he does a big loss for conservatism in New Jersey when conservatives are on a precipice for a great opportunity to advance in New Jersey with Chris Christie despite any doubts.

Conservative Fight In New Jersey Is Not Just This Gubernatorial Race
The conservative fight for New Jersey is a longer term effort that transcends this Gubernatorial race. The fight requires conservatives in the State to focus on the local school boards, townships, cities, counties and the State legislature.  These are the places where the battles are manageable and will make a more sustained change; so much so they can influence candidate choices in future Gubernatorial races and in Washington where problems for the Country are dire.

Chris Christie will have a chance to respond to conservative pressure and he can be measured on the results. That pressure is best channeled into local and State elections for however long it takes. Here  conservatives need to weed out moderates and liberals and replace them with conservatives ideally  through the Republican party, but a Conservative party if that is what it will take.

Citizens For Assembly – A Running Start On November 3rd
Tomorrow you have a running start if you look at the Citizens For Assembly candidates on tomorrow’s ballot for your district. They are the tea party, citizen activists who said they had enough and see their only alternative is to drop what they are doing and band together under a Common Sense Pledge to become candidates in an attempt to remove deeply entrenched Democrats around the State. Conservatives need to take this concept Barry Funt started and use it as guide.

Way Back Machine: Ross Perot
Billionaire Ross Perot on national television dazzled us with charts and graphs about the finances of Washington the other parties found not worthy to share with the voters. This was alluring enough for the only vote I regretted in Presidential elections. Clinton won, Perot lost and the regret was to follow.

Only months later a tax was imposed on Social Security beneficiaries if they decided to go back to work. We would not want seniors motivated to work. Over a certain amount they would lose dollar for dollar in their check.  This affected my widowed mother who came from a family who worked into senior years. She would throttle back and be relegated to work at generally low paying tasks to stay under the threshold. A big misuse of talent gained over a lifetime.

Soon there were the private meetings headed by Hillary Clinton to orchestrate the take over the health industry of the United States. We fought it back but like the poisonous vines we have here in New Jersey they grew back and have us in a death grip.

New Jersey conservatives help Chris Christie and Citizens for Assembly in and then we begin our next advance. The work is easy: go vote tomorrow and remind all fellow conservatives.

Long shot rivals Rev Clenard Childress (I), Barry Funt (R) and Herbert Glenn (R),  report great results and positive momentum in their heavily Democratic New Jersey district races. Matt Freidman from PolitickerNJ.com on 10/27/2009 asked the candidates at the NJ State House about their chances.

Long Shot NJ Assembly District Candidates Express Optimism At NJ State House 10/27/09

Democratic  Controlled Districts With Worse Crime and Economic Opportunities
Childress and Glenn are running in NJ Districts with long term chronic government run problems such as education that provide the foundation for high crime, lack of economic opportunity and corruption.  Both NJ Assembly Districts are controlled for decades by the Democrat party. There apparently is a reluctance on the constituents to change this in the voting booth.  However Childress and Glenn are working hard this year to break that trend.

Voters Are Uniformed About State Representatives
In Childress District 34, covering Clifton City,  East Orange,  Glen Ridge,  Montclair,  and West Paterson, the Democratic incumbents are Thomas P. Giblin and Sheila Y. Oliver. Giblin was elected to the Assembly on November 8, 2005.  Oliver was elected in 2004 and in 2010 and may has enough votes in the Assembly to be elected Speaker in 2010.

Childress points out what he sees as lacking voter knowledge of State representatives that have control over their futures and current plights:

“They know their council person, they know their mayor, they know their governor, they may know their State senator … they depend on party line … the assembly people [running] … .”

Here is the full comment from Rev. Childress

Republican Support Expanded For Long Run Districts
Herbert Glenn says in District 28 covering Belleville,  Bloomfield,  Irvington and  Newark has seen an uptick in Republican support.

“I have gotten significant Republican support. The [Republican] campaign has done a number of things to reach out to my community … that has not happened in a long time.”

Glenn’s Democrat opponents are Ralph R. Caputo and Cleopatra G. Tucker. Caputo served the Assembly 1968 – 1972 and returned in 2008 which in this reporter’s opinion smacks of a retirement appointment. Tucker in the seat since 2008 and replaced her deceased husband who held the seat since 1994. How can there be hope without real change?

Chris Christie Impact
Glenn also sees a deeper impact coming from the NJ governor race. Particularly he sees Daggett weak on effort and Christie making significant effort.

“Dagget hasn’t really put enough effort into local community politics which is the real responsibility towards making those changes happen … “

“I think Chris [Christie] really respects that and he sees that is an important factor.  He has driven his campaign bus up to the community to visit members of the neighborhoods. He has really made an effort in terms of being a Republican candidate to prove that we have a movement here that is not going to be challenged by defeat or victory.”

Here is full comment from Herbert Glenn

Democrat Control From The Economic Troubled to Affluent Districts
Childress and Glenn are in Democrat controlled areas of NJ with serious economic problems that are the worst in the US. Barry Funt challenges a Democratic controlled district that has some affluent communities.  Funt is the heavy Democratic controlled District 27  that covers Caldwell,  Essex Fells,  Fairfield (Essex),  Livingston,  Maplewood,  Newark,  North Caldwell,  Orange,  Roseland,  South Orange,  West Caldwell and  West Orange. It almost makes you question if Democrats work to siphon money from producers to areas where it is well intended but serious wasted through corruption.

Taxes and Likeability Factor Of John McKeon
Funt claims his chances are greater than anyone gives credit as winning.  He points out that one of his opponents John McKeon, also mayor of West Orange, is not liked for raising taxes and other financial maneuvers to increase debt to residents.

“I think we have a way better chance than anyone is given us soley because John McKeon as the mayor of West Orange is not liked. … He’s taxed everyone out their homes. He raised taxes so much in West Organge that Dick Codey had to move to Roseland.” [See “You wouldn’t keep the taxes down!” Dick Codey To John McKeon While Taking Bows For $1 Million to Roseland]

“He’s [McKeon] been involved with a whole bunch of issues there. This most latest issue bond issue for Edison village … . He tried to ram a $40 million dollar bond issue through the town. This was a West Orange issue … effectively to bailout some failed development … . Two hundred people stormed the town council meeting and tried to stop this.”

Here are Barry Funt’s full comments

Funt’s opponents are Mila Jasey and John McKeon. Mila holds her seat since vacated by Mims Hackett on September 10, 2007. McKeon has served in the Assembly as Assistant Majority Whip in 2004 and 2005, and has been the Assistant Majority leader since 2006. He also is mayor of West Orange having a dual role covered by a grandfather law passed in the Assembly remarkably while held office.

Voters in these heavily Democratic Party controlled and troubled districts need to look at the Citizens for Assembly candidates and their Common Sense Pledge.

Top New Jersey Democrat Dick Codey recently moved from West Orange to Roseland where $1 million in extraordinary property tax relief was granted from the DCA (Department of Community Affairs) significantly contributing to fourth-quarter tax bill reductions of $450 per $60,000 of assessed value according to NJ.com.

NJ District 27: Assemblyman John McKeon (D) Left, Assemblywoman Mila Jasey (D) Right, NJ Senator Richard Codey (D) Bottom

With Roseland’s average 2007 home property assessment of $650,000 that can equate to $4,900 in an area where median family yearly income is over $90,000.

Property Tax Aid Cut 37% Statewide

In August Governor Corzine cut town extraordinary property tax relief by $4 million or 37%. As a result 22 towns lost aid. Yet Roseland not receiving aid in 2008 or 2007, received the largest award of all towns for 2009: $1 million.

Roseland is in the NJ 27th District.  Dick Codey is the Democrat Senator for District 27 and the NJ Senate President. Dick Codey often fills in for Governor for John Corzine as well as previous Governors such as the failed Governor McGreevey.  Also in District 27 are Democrat Assemblyman John McKeon and Democrat Assemblywoman Mila Jasey.

Roseland Awards Codey, McKeon and Jasey for $1 Million

On September 29, 2009 Roseland invited Senator Codey, Assemblyman McKeon and Assemblywoman Jasey to a “resolution” ceremony at the town meeting. Moved to the first item on the agenda, the three were thanked for their effort in procuring the $1 million and spoke about their roles as the same resolution for each was read into the Roseland record.

$1 Million Tied to Reelection of Jasey, McKeon and Codey

Assemblywomen Mila Jasey was the second to receive thanks.  Mila  told the Roseland officials “Its always great when we can bring good news so John [McKeon] and I are both running. We hope that you will go to the polls and think well of us …”

Of course the other New Jersey towns not receiving the same aid such as small rural towns, did get bad news as well as did neighboring District 27 towns such as Livingston and West Orange in Mila’s district. Mila is a resident of South Orange.

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Codey Does a Biden Speaking of Conflict

Council member John Duthie seated behind Codey appears to stike a bewildered look when Codey spoke to Roseland Mayor John Avarnites publicly.

“You know mayor I obviously can be accused of a conflict getting the million dollars since I live in town.“

Codey may have taken a cue and switched to a comic transition with “But I did see that I’m here a year and the pot holes on my street finally got filled.”..

Codey Does a Second Biden Speaking of West Orange High Taxes

West Orange Mayor John McKeon starting his acceptance speech for the $1 million of aid to Roseland by saying “Number one mayor and town of Roseland, I don’t care how many trophies you give me, I’m not going to forgive you for taking Codey away from West Orange. Codey chimed in by saying

“You wouldn’t keep the taxes down!”

Codey had moved from West Orange about a year ago.

McKeon goes on to claim that the State only recognized “well run” towns for aid.

“I’m sure that you recognize … a lot of towns had fiscal issues problems and difficulties. But the State only recognized those that were well run and it wasn’t like … throwing bad money or good money after bad.”

How Many Poorly Run Towns Lost State Aid?

The “well run” criteria raises a lot of questions. DCA standards are not published and subject of a lot of controversy according to Senator Gerald Cardinale Republican of 39th District. His district had one town receiving aid in 2008 and none in 2009. Cardinale has called on Governor Corzine to appoint a nonpartisan special investigator to review the State’s Extraordinary Aid Program – see full story at Senator Cardinale Calls for Investigation into Extraordinary Aid Program.

Codey Does a Third Biden

There are various reasons Corzine espoused on cutting aid to towns. Most were to cover the failing New Jersey budget revenues such as stiffing small rural towns for urban towns.

Perhaps one of the most revealing reasons is a town’s influence with Senator Codey. He reveals how the District 27 Democrats worked together to influence the Extraordinary Aid from the DCA for Roseland, the town Codey resides.

“When I am calling the Commissioner of DCA its on behalf of all three of us – whatever Mila does or John Does -  its a team effort … “

This inside report from McKeon about “aid based on how well a town is run” is a vague standard. Following that logic, New Jersey is just littered with poorly run towns and that would include West Orange. It appears to be more a mask for the budget failures of the State and McKeon, Jasey and Codey are the elected Democrats responsible.

West Orange Loses $400,000 – A Well Run Town?

West Orange is one of the towns that lost aid from 2008 to the tune of $400,000. John McKeon is also the Mayor of West Orange. Opponent candidate Barry Funt (R) has harsh words for McKeon.

Barry Funt Citizens For Assembly Candidate in District 27

“Perhaps West Orange is not well run enough to qualify for the property tax relief because Mayor/Assemblyman McKeon is too busy trolling around the State for special interest campaign contributions to keep him in his Assembly seat.”

“I don’t think Roseland received the money because it is well run.  My town of Livingston is well run and also received nothing.”

Barry is running as a Citizens for Assembly candidate. He has adopted the Common Sense Pledge which calls for true property tax reform to help towns like Roseland to have more independence over their tax dollars. Barry would like to see a change to the inside dealings with tax dollars:

“I’m happy that the people of Roseland received property tax relief, but I’m tired of politicians who use our tax dollars to reward insiders.  My property tax relief plan would reduce property taxes for everyone in the state, not just special people.”

Roseland $2 Million Shortfall and 19 Layoffs – A Well Run Town?

According to NJ.com in a September 15th 2009 story, the State of New Jersey denied Roseland a bid to raise its property tax.  Roseland had marched directly into a serious $2 million dollar budget shortfall after laying off 19 borough employees. Using a tax appeal reserve fund gimmick along with the $1 million Codey, McKeon and Jasey procured, the problem was reversed to the point that Roseland is one towns actually reducing taxes and one Codey is a resident. It is still not certain if the tax assessment appeals will lose with the continued downward pressure on all property prices. Worse, next year the extraordinary aid game will be played again and Roseland may get cut to zero like dozens of other towns.

Codey has not offered to return all the tax savings he will accrue.

McKeon Suffers from Government Job Conflicts

Why so many hands in property taxes and some with dual roles? Some are the same hands from multiple government roles. McKeon has a conflict of interest common in New Jersey politics. He is a Mayor and also a NJ State Assemblyman. This cuts his interests and loyalties. Focusing efforts on reductions in Roseland residents’ taxes while not defending the town of West Orange during an election year makes more smoke.

Senator Codey fanned this issue when he quipped about leaving, “You wouldn’t keep the taxes down!”.

Getting back money we send to Trenton is an evil process that needs to be repealed. Real tax reductions and more local control is the alternative.

Exactly what all New Jersey and specifically West Orange property tax payers should be saying at the voting box in November “You wouldn’t keep the taxes down!” as they vote out candidates like Codey, Jasey and McKeon who are part of the past and go with new fresh thinking candidates.

I do not know of any small rural town with such great two camera video recording with what appears as live video switching as Roseland has for their town meetings. See for yourself.

Full Roseland Awards To Democrat Senators Procuring $1 Million in Special Aid

]]> http://www.njcommonsense.com/nj/you-wouldnt-keep-the-taxes-down-dick-codey-to-john-mckeon-while-taking-bows-for-1-million-to-roseland/feed/ 2 http://www.njcommonsense.com/nj/tea-party-candidates-run-for-new-jersey-state-assembly/ http://www.njcommonsense.com/nj/tea-party-candidates-run-for-new-jersey-state-assembly/#comments Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:12:27 +0000 Lon http://www.njcommonsense.com/?p=540 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.

Tea Party activism echoes past the 912 DC event with The Morristown Tea Party hosted movement program on School Choice.

9/29/09 School Choice Program

Offered as an informational discussion series topic on September 29, 2009, the program featured a video from John Stossel along with presentations from local school choice proponents. The program identified the failures in public schools, the school choice solution and the issue in the 2009 NJ Assembly elections.

The main principle behind school choice is about moving the control over education from government to parents through a variety of financial techniques such as vouchers and charter school alternatives.

School Failures Are Not A Local Issue

School choice activist Dan Haggerty points out that everyone needs to look beyond their own local school system for a measurement of school success such as in New Jersey. He argues American schools produce citizens unable to understand issues that impact society.

Dan alludes to the problem in 2008 elections. “You saw during the recent election where some of the people answered questions about politics, about local governance, about the world; they had no idea what the answers were. This is tragic. This effects our whole society.”

Newark Schools Highest Cost In World Producing Students Unprepared

In the State of New Jersey Dan looks at the Newark school system in this light and at the impact on the individual’s life success.

“The schools in Newark take in more money than any education system in the world. $28,000 per student to educate a student in Newark. And they don’t get educated. They get social promotion.”

Dan Haggerty School Choice Activist Expresses Dangers of Failed Schools

For those making it through the system, Dan describes the disastrous consequences.

“And these kids are put out after high school with a substandard education. They think they think they’ve been educated to operate in the real world.”

“The first encounter they have with a job interview; what a shock. They can barely write English, they can barely read English even though its their native language. They’re not going to either get that job or if they do get the job they are not going to function in it. So can you imagine why kids in this area develop a sense of rage about that?”

How to Make Changes To Move to School Choice?

Israel Teitelbaum, co-founded Parents for Free Choice in Education and activist in New Jersey education, provided a positive view of progress in school choice for New Jersey and how audience members can help.

“One way to begin is to point ourselves to the new media. We can all reach out through email, Facebook, Twitter, blogosphere, talk radio. We can get the message out to the world and our friends will pass it on and on and on and it goes at lightening speed today …”

Israel Teitelbaum Outlines Individuals and Political Candidates Actions

Israel points to the opportunity for school choice in the 2009 New Jersey elections. Over 40 NJ Assembly candidates have joined together on bringing school choice to New Jersey. He introduced Barry Funt, the main organizer of the candidates, who later gave an unscheduled talk on the effort. [See related article "NJ Citizens For Assembly Unite To Take Back NJ With Common Sense Pledge"]

Stupid In America

The meeting featured John Stossel’s landmark 20/20 television documentation “Stupid in America”. The documentary opens the hidden issues of parents losing control over education and the damage government run education causes for young lives. It shows how teacher union leadership opposes choices for parents.

John Stossel 20/20 Stupid In America Presentation

The Morristown Tea Party event was recorded on video to include the full length of the presenters’ talks and the audience questions.

The Morristown Tea Party Complete School Choice Event Videos

New Jersey State Assembly 2009 candidates have adopted a Common Sense Pledge that outlines a citizen friendly contract for NJ.

Citizens For Assembly In NJ Common Sense Pledge

Announced at the NJ State House on September 30, 2009, the Common Sense Pledge has the trappings of the 1994 Contract for America. Both were announced only a few weeks before the election. The 1994 Contract for America only 6 weeks and the Common Sense pledge just about 5 weeks.

Both also represent the unusual coalition of campaign platform points. The Contract for America was the first time since 1918 a US Congressional election was run on a national level. The Common Sense Pledge unites NJ Assembly candidates at a statewide level. Common Sense Pledge candidates are running under the banner Citizens for Assembly. The Common Sense Pledge elevates state wide government issues above local issues. Local issues have dominated the NJ legislature and resulted in corruption and mismanagement of State funds to the point of fiscal bankruptcy for a decade.

Different from the Contract for America, candidates pledging support for the Common Sense pledge do not need to have a particular allegiance to a political party. Although most candidates are Republican, independents have joined as well. This calls into question the impact on the NJ Gubernatorial candidates. The planks for the Common Sense pledge are grounded in grass roots sentiments that emerged in 2009 at tea party rallies, town hall meetings and other citizen activism events. The appeal ranges from conservatives through to moderates and independents. The latter often voting for such ideas only to find they do not see them implemented. The elected governor will need to contend with citizens and the Common Sense Pledge legislation.

The Common Sense Pledge

The Common Sense Pledge does not apply any particular NJ Assembly District.

Barry Funt Outlines the Common Sense Pledge

The points are targeted at issues cutting across NJ State districts.

1. True property tax reform: End unfunded state mandates and reform the system that causes excessive reliance on property taxes.
2. Cut taxes and red tape: Promote private sector job growth by changing the climate that has forced citizens and businesses to flee our state.
3. Eliminate undue influence: Expand and enforce pay-to-play rules and conflicts of interest law to include special interest groups that take taxpayer dollars.
4. Zero tolerance for abuse of power: End the culture of corruption by stiffening penalties for violators of the public trust.
5. Free choice for affordable healthcare: Reduce state mandates and promote individual choice and competition.
6. Pension reform: New Jersey’s public pension system has been abused and is broken. Make the system simple and fair for workers and taxpayers alike.
7. Citizen Checks and Balances: Require voter approval for future state and agency debt issuances.
8. Election competition: Restore competitive elections by ending campaign laundering (“wheeling”) to encourage regular citizens to run for office.
9. Choice in education: Improve quality and reduce costs by introducing competition.
10. Stop the violence: Government’s primary responsibility is to protect the public. We pledge to devote the necessary resources to end violence in our communities.

Forty one citizens from various walks of life are placing their careers, businesses and lives on hold to run for the NJ State Assembly.  Calling themselves Citizens For Assembly, they joined together on the steps of the NJ State House in Trenton on September 30, 2009 to announce their combined intentions.

Citizen Candidates for NJ 2009 State Assembly at Trenton State House: www.citizensforassembly.com

Every Day People Stepping Up to Fill a Voting Choice Gap

Reminiscent of the 1994 Contract with America that swept Democrats from power in DC, the nature of the candidates reveals a marked difference.

Barry Funt, a candidate for District 27, echos the sentiments of why these candidates are running , “I decided to run for one simple reason, I did not think there was anyone in my district who represents me”.

Some like Mitchell Dobies have stopped running their businesses. Mitchell, who made his decision only three weeks back, said to dedicate himself to this as a citizen his wife has to assume the role of running his business.  Mitchell is only now organizing a web site and other campaign communication activities. In the mean time his business web site The Aqua Short is how you will reach him.

Most districts have Citizens for Assembly candidates further along. Stepfanie Velez-Gentry, a small business owner and working mother of two, choose to bring her first hand grass roots work with community organizations like the Girl Scouts to the process and thinking in Trenton. Stepfanie is running in District 5.

Growing Citizen Activism To Correct Failures of NJ Government

Barry recognizes the disconnect regular citizens are expressing about their elected officials. “We can see this at Tea Parties, health care town hall meetings and other gatherings all across New Jersey as citizen activism enters the mainstream”. Barry in his address enumerated several recent citizen activism events within NJ.  “In Newark hundreds of citizens have peacefully taken to the streets to try to put and end to urban violence.”   “In Secaucus, Hoboken [and] Ridgefield citizens have gathered at city hall to protest the latest wave of political corruption.”  “In Camden, Elizabeth, Newark and Trenton and in too many other cities with failing schools parents have gathered demanding choice in education.”

Barry Funt Outlines Motives for Citizen Candidates and Common Sense Pledge

The Common Sense Pledge for A New New Jersey

The candidates  pledged an allegiance to the Common Sense Pledge that includes popular reform themes such as true property tax reform, school choice and citizen oversight of the NJ Government. These themes represent the sentiments of the grass roots movements dominating town halls and citizen rallies this year. Werner Graf, running for District 15, describes the team commitment to the pledge designed to take New Jersey Government back for New Jersey citizens. “These folks … are your neighbors and together with you they are the new New Jersey.” “Sick of corruption, intolerant of waste, and committed to building something better in New Jersey for our children.” [See related story: Common Sense Pledge A Citizen Friendly Contract for NJ]

Werner Graf Introduces The NJ Citizens For Assembly Movement

Meeting the NJ Citizens for Assembly Candidates

You can read the candidate biographies yourself, available at  Citizens for Assembly web site, and judge how they represent their About Us page statement  “… not about career politicians or more of the same empty rhetoric — it’s about electing legislators who will truly represent regular Citizens.”

Barry Funt Introduces the Citizens for Assembly Candidates