By Stephen Appezzato
Four candidates are challenging incumbent U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone for his New Jersey District 6 seat in the House of Representatives this November.
The district consists of 26 Monmouth County communities – Atlantic Highlands, Highlands, Fair Haven, Little Silver, Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Red Bank, Rumson and Sea Bright in The Two River Times area – and most of Middlesex County.
In the run-up to the general election, The Two River Times (TRT) contacted each candidate vying for the position and asked them the same two questions. Their candidate profiles and unedited responses are as follows.
U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (Democrat)
Pallone was born in Long Branch and has represented New Jersey’s Sixth Congressional District since 1993. He began his career in public office serving on the Long Branch City Council and eventually served in the state Senate. Pallone is a graduate of Middlebury College, the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and Rutgers School of Law.
TRT: Why are you seeking reelection?
Pallone: I’m running to make a difference in the lives of the constituents in the 6th Congressional District who want a fair playing field that allows them to work hard, provide for their families and get ahead. People are sick of taxpayer handouts to big corporations and billionaires who always find a way to make sure the rules and tax laws don’t apply to them. Donald Trump’s tax bill expires next year. Its replacement must not cap SALT deductions and must provide tax breaks for middle-class Americans. I have been successful in passing legislation that lowers health care costs like the Affordable Care Act and Medicare prescription drug negotiations in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The IRA also includes historic climate action. I bring home millions of dollars each year to meet the needs of our communities but there is so much more to do to make life easier for working families and restore fundamental rights like a woman’s right to choose.
TRT: If reelected, what issues and policies would you like to focus on in your next term and which are most important to you?
Pallone: As the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, I have a unique opportunity to tackle some of the most pressing issues facing working families in New Jersey and our entire country. I want to expand Medicare prescription drug negotiations to everyone with health insurance bringing expenses down for essential medication. I want to strengthen subsidies in the Affordable Care Act, so every person has the ability to afford the health care they need. I will continue to hold big oil companies accountable for price gouging which drives up prices at the pump. We have been able to reduce the rate of inflation here in America significantly through our economic plans but there is more work that must be done, like fighting corporate greed that is driving up the price of essential goods and services.
Scott Fegler (Republican)
Challenging Pallone from the Republican ticket is Scott Fegler. Fegler was born in Central New
Jersey and grew up in Matawan. He attended Christian Brothers Academy and graduated from St. Joseph’s University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in food marketing. Fegler has worked in the food industry for almost two decades and has served on the USDA Pork Board, along with other trade organizations.
TRT: Why are you seeking election?
Fegler: I’m running for Congress because I believe our country is facing critical challenges that demand real-world experience and practical solutions. As someone who has spent the last 15 years running a cheese plant, employing over 100 hardworking people, and working directly with government agencies like the FDA and USDA, I’ve seen firsthand the impact of government policies – both good and bad – on our economy and our communities.
We’re facing inflation driven by reckless government spending, which is hurting families and businesses alike. Our border is wide open, compromising our national security, and the global stage is increasingly unstable with wars escalating across the world. On top of that, our food system is broken. More than 50% of Americans are pre-diabetic or diabetic, and cancer rates continue to climb. Our health as a nation is in decline, and it’s largely due to what we allow in our food supply.
I’ve worked in the food industry for nearly two decades, and I’ve seen how our domestic system differs from the rest of the world. From overuse of plastics to harmful ingredients that are banned elsewhere, our government has allowed policies that make Americans less healthy. We need to turn that around – starting with common-sense reforms that put the health and well-being of Americans first.
I’m running because I’m a business leader, not a politician, and I’m committed to making America healthy again, securing our borders, and tackling inflation by focusing on real solutions – not government overreach. It’s time to bring practical, on-the-ground experience to Washington and work for the American people.
TRT: If elected, what issues and policies would you like to focus on in your term and which are most important to you?
Fegler: If elected to Congress, my top priorities will be tackling inflation and promoting fiscal responsibility. As a business leader who has managed budgets and weathered economic challenges, I understand the need for fiscal discipline, and I will push for policies that reduce reckless government spending and ease the inflationary burden on American families. Additionally, I will fight to secure our borders, stop the current immigration crisis, and reform our immigration system to promote legal immigration, ensuring we protect both our national security and economy. I am also committed to making America healthy again by reforming food regulations and addressing the health crisis caused by our broken food system. With nearly two decades in the food industry, I’ve seen how harmful ingredients and lax policies have contributed to rising diseases like diabetes and cancer, and I will push for healthier food standards and greater transparency.
Moreover, I will support a common-sense energy policy that prioritizes U.S. energy independence while stopping harmful projects like offshore wind turbines along the Jersey Shore, which threaten our environment and local economies. I’ll work to promote practical, regional energy solutions that benefit all Americans. Additionally, I will advocate for continued aid to our allies, including Israel and Ukraine, to ensure global stability and strengthen our national security. My focus will always be on bringing practical, real-world solutions to Washington, improving the health, safety, and prosperity of the American people.
Matthew Amitrano (Libertarian)
Matthew Amitrano is running for the House of Representatives under the Libertarian Party. Born on Staten Island, he received his bachelor’s degree from the City University of New York, School of Professional Studies and his associate degree from the City University of New York, Borough of Manhattan Community College. Amitrano has served as a police officer, receiving commendations across multiple departments and is an American Red Cross and Meals on Wheels volunteer.
TRT: Why are you seeking election?
Amitrano: I am running for NJCD6 this year because the people of this district deserve someone who will for once actually represent them in Washington.
Most politicians from Day One are indebted to their large donors and special interest groups. I owe no one anything. The only people I will be indebted to will be my constituents if they honor me with the chance to serve them.
TRT: If elected, what issues and policies would you like to focus on in your term and which are most important to you?
Amitrano: There are many issues that are important right now but the one that I will focus in on the most will be the issue of affordability.
Most working-class people such as myself are having a harder and harder time making ends meet each passing month. I will fix this in part by voting against any future tax increases and working to get the ridiculous amounts of current taxes eliminated.
This can easily be done simply by targeting political corruption and incompetence in D.C. and ridding us of the wasteful spending by the federal government that comes with it. This is an easy task for someone not paid for by large corporations.
Fahad Akhtar (Common Sense Independent)
Fahad Akhtar is running for Congress under the Common Sense Independent party. Akhtar was
born in New Brunswick and graduated from Rutgers University and Dartmouth College’s Tuck School of Business. After working for BlackRock in client businesses, portfolio construction and product development, he became a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, working out of the New York field office.
TRT: Why are you seeking election?
Akhtar: I’m seeking election because the sixth district is tired of corporate and foreign influence in Congress. I’m a former FBI agent with an Ivy League education – I cannot be bought; I cannot be bamboozled.
TRT: If elected, what issues and policies would you like to focus on in your term and which are most im- portant to you?
Akhtar: If elected, my focus will be on rectifying economic harms caused by our plutocratic government. I will en- sure that there are policies in place to give every American a dignified means by which to support their families. And I will end wasteful spending on foreign wars.
Herb Tarbous (Green Party)
Running under the Green Party, Herb Tarbous is the fourth challenger vying for Pallone’s seat. Born in Summit, Tarbous received his bachelor’s degree from Columbia University and is a retired systems engineer. A political activist, Tarbous cofounded the Voter Choice NJ group, advocating for ranked-choice voting in the Garden State.
TRT: Why are you seeking election?
Tarbous: I am seeking election to provide an alternative to the two primary parties and to bring greater awareness to the Green Party and its platform.
TRT: If elected, what issues and policies would you like to focus on in your term and which are most important to you?
Tarbous:
• Election reform, enact Ranked Choice Voting
• Pass the Green New Deal which will develop sustainable energy sources while creating high-paying union jobs.
• Pass Universal Healthcare/Medicare for All.
• Rein in the Military-Industrial complex and repurpose some of the funding towards domestic programs such as transportation and housing.
The article originally appeared in the October 17 – October 23, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
