By John Burton
MIDDLETOWN – Brent Sonnek-Schmelz said he’s had enough.
“Over the years I’ve become increasingly frustrated with Frank Pallone,” said Sonnek-Schmelz, explaining in part his reason for running against the Democrat for the seat in the U.S. House of Representatives to represent New Jersey’s 6th Congressional District.
“Inefficiencies and unresponsiveness,” from the office of the incumbent Pallone, Sonnek-Schmelz alleged he’s heard time and again from constituents.
Sonnek-Schmelz, 40, an Atlantic Highlands resident, is running as the Republican candidate this year opposing Frank Pallone Jr., who has been a House member since 1988. The 6th Congressional District includes most of the county’s Bayshore area and portions of Middlesex County.
Sonnek-Schmelz offered an anecdote to illustrate his criticism of Pallone: The GOP candidate told of talking to a “self-proclaimed Democrat,” a woman who lives in South Amboy. The woman and her family had been reaching out to Pallone’s office to get her sister a hospital bed for the home, because of the sister’s serious and chronic health conditions. Sonnek-Schmelz alleged Pallone’s office never responded and the family wound up seeking help, and getting it, from the office of U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ).
“These are the kind of things I hear over and over and over again,” Sonnek-Schmelz charged against his incumbent opponent.
Nearly four years after Super Storm Sandy and “people are still hurting,” he said, laying part of the blame at Pallone’s feet. If local and state officials haven’t effectively addressed the situation, “It’s the place of the federal representative to step in,” he maintained.
MIDDLETOWN – Brent Sonnek-Schmelz said he’s had enough.
“Over the years I’ve become increasingly frustrated with Frank Pallone,” said Sonnek-Schmelz, explaining in part his reason for running against the Democrat for the seat in the U.S. House of Representatives to represent New Jersey’s 6th Congressional District.
“Inefficiencies and unresponsiveness,” from the office of the incumbent Pallone, Sonnek-Schmelz alleged he’s heard time and again from constituents.
Sonnek-Schmelz, 40, an Atlantic Highlands resident, is running as the Republican candidate this year opposing Frank Pallone Jr., who has been a House member since 1988. The 6th Congressional District includes most of the county’s Bayshore area and portions of Middlesex County.
Sonnek-Schmelz offered an anecdote to illustrate his criticism of Pallone: The GOP candidate told of talking to a “self-proclaimed Democrat,” a woman who lives in South Amboy. The woman and her family had been reaching out to Pallone’s office to get her sister a hospital bed for the home, because of the sister’s serious and chronic health conditions. Sonnek-Schmelz alleged Pallone’s office never responded and the family wound up seeking help, and getting it, from the office of U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ).
“These are the kind of things I hear over and over and over again,” Sonnek-Schmelz charged against his incumbent opponent.
Nearly four years after Super Storm Sandy and “people are still hurting,” he said, laying part of the blame at Pallone’s feet. If local and state officials haven’t effectively addressed the situation, “It’s the place of the federal representative to step in,” he maintained.
Sonnek-Schmelz, who grew up in Westfield, is married and has lived in Atlantic Highlands since 2007. He is currently serving as vice president of the Atlantic Highlands Board of Education. He holds a law degree, but never practiced law. Sonnek-Schmelz and his brother, Blake, own and operate a Soccer Post franchise, a soccer and sporting goods store in Eatontown. The brothers are planning to take over and relaunch the City Sports sporting goods chain that had gone into bankruptcy.
Sonnek-Schmelz, when he was in college and an unaffiliated voter back in 1998, had actually worked as a volunteer campaign worker for a Pallone campaign, noting, “So, I was a fan at one point.”
And when the opportunity arose he decided to seek the two-year seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“I’m doing this because I’m unhappy,” he explained, in large part, unhappy with career politicians. And “Nothing is happening,” in a Congress, with partisan gridlock resulting in nothing getting accomplished.
Sonnek-Schmelz, when he was in college and an unaffiliated voter back in 1998, had actually worked as a volunteer campaign worker for a Pallone campaign, noting, “So, I was a fan at one point.”
And when the opportunity arose he decided to seek the two-year seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“I’m doing this because I’m unhappy,” he explained, in large part, unhappy with career politicians. And “Nothing is happening,” in a Congress, with partisan gridlock resulting in nothing getting accomplished.
He is calling for term limits, with the president able to only serve two four-year terms, House members should be limited to five terms, meaning 10 years; and the U.S. Senate should be kept to 12 years, two six-year terms.
Describing himself politically as “having a libertarian bent,” Sonnek-Schmelz believes his experience in business lends itself to accomplishing what needs to be done in Washington and in his district. “It gives me a perspective of on how things should run.” One of the biggest obstacles, as the candidate sees it, is the overwhelming burden of government regulations.
Should he win the Nov. 8 election he plans on having someone in his office available to help business people address red tape.
“I think the most important thing about government,” Sonnek-Schmelz, “is we have too much of it and it’s too complicated.”
Describing himself politically as “having a libertarian bent,” Sonnek-Schmelz believes his experience in business lends itself to accomplishing what needs to be done in Washington and in his district. “It gives me a perspective of on how things should run.” One of the biggest obstacles, as the candidate sees it, is the overwhelming burden of government regulations.
Should he win the Nov. 8 election he plans on having someone in his office available to help business people address red tape.
“I think the most important thing about government,” Sonnek-Schmelz, “is we have too much of it and it’s too complicated.”
