By Stephen Appezzato
SHREWSBURY – All good things must come to an end – that was the theme in the New Jersey Assembly this month as legislators bode farewell to their colleagues, most after losing reelection in November.
Many gave lighthearted closing speeches, thanking the electorate for the unique chance to represent them. However, Assemblywoman Kim Eulner’s (R-11) final address was a closing jab at the political mechanisms that abruptly ended her first term in Trenton.
“I yearn for the state to be as great as it can be, and I do hope in the minority that we do continue to dig our heels in and fight back. I don’t know whether to be flattered or appalled that over $8 million was spent to unseat two freshman legislators,” she said, referring to the Democratic campaign in Legislative District 11 that won seats for Margie Donlon and Luanne Peterpaul in November.
In her speech, Eulner expressed the importance of people turning up on Election Day to vote for candidates who represent them and criticized New Jersey citizens for “not showing up” in the recent election.
“Lobby money was even hidden, taken away from us,” Eulner said. “They were told not to donate to us because we were in the crosshairs from Minute One, January 2022,” she said.
She concluded her address with a promise: “You haven’t seen the last of me.”
Her statement raised questions about the inner workings of Trenton politics but in an interview with The Two River Times, Eulner declined to elaborate on her statement about lobby money and donations.
Instead, she shifted the focus to her future and her desire to return to local politics to address issues close to home.
“I’m just wanting to concentrate on local – I hate to say the word politics – but sort of staying involved with the county GOP and my borough GOP,” she said. “And looking to see how I can help here in my town of Shrewsbury Borough.”
Before she was elected to the Assembly, Eulner served on the Shrewsbury Borough Council.
“I found when I was on the council, it was so nice to be able to see things that I voted on and supported in town and then you could sort of see it come to fruition,” she said.
Eulner has already begun to attend Shrewsbury council meetings again and looks to reengage with the homesteader’s group – an active group of residents over 50 who meet regularly – and “see how I can help support our great little borough and make it as good as it can be,” she said.
While she left most state-level matters in Trenton with her departure, in particular, Eulner said she wishes to continue her work with veterans.
“I’m very concerned we have so many homeless veterans in our state,” as well as hungry veterans, she said. “Maybe they do have a home, but they don’t have enough money to really put food on the table.” While early in the process, Eulner mentioned she would like to engage with military officials to improve food affordability for veterans and active duty servicemembers.
The article was updated January 3, 2024.
The article originally appeared in the December 21 – December 27, 2023 print edition of The Two River Times.
