By Stephen Appezzato
There was an exciting atmosphere in Trenton this month as new faces joined the New Jersey State Legislature and look forward to tackling the issues constituents raised along the campaign trail last year.
Margie Donlon and Luanne Peterpaul are newcomers to the state Assembly. After a long year campaigning across District 11 alongside Democrat Sen. Vin Gopal, the two were sworn in to state government alongside their families Jan. 9.
“The first thought I had was a huge feeling of awesome responsibility, taking the oath of office to uphold both the U.S. Constitution and the state constitution,” Peterpaul said, reflecting on the ceremony.
Before her new chapter in politics, Peterpaul was an attorney, an assistant county prosecutor in Essex County, and a municipal court judge in Asbury Park and Long Branch.
“It’s a lifetime and unique experience to be sworn in to office and just be responsive to your constituents, the ones who came out to support you and also the ones who didn’t. Our task is to listen to everyone and understand what the issues are and trying to work through the issues and get some resolutions,” she said.
For Donlon, reciting the oath of office was “quite a profound moment.”
“Getting to the stage and taking that oath – it felt like we’re finally at the precipice to make the changes and to delve into the work that we want to do for our constituents,” Donlon said.
Exactly one year ago, the pair decided to run for office against then-District 11 Assembly members Marilyn Piperno and Kim Eulner, who sought reelection. A battleground, the race for District 11 was one of the most hotly contested in the entire state.
“That (campaign) felt like a long time,” Donlon said, “but along the campaign trail when we were running, it flew by in a sense because we enjoyed it so much. We really enjoyed talking to residents, listening to what they had to say, listening to what people’s top concerns were,” she said.
After the two were sworn in, they headed to the Statehouse where they received their committee assignments. Donlon, a practicing physician, was elated to receive an appointment to the Assembly Health Committee.
“That was really exciting,” she said, “it almost felt like Match Day as a physician. When you’re in medical school, you get an envelope on Match Day to see which residency program you matched in,” she said.
As a member of this committee, Donlon said she hopes to improve health care freedom; not just protecting a woman’s right to choose, which is codified in the state constitution, but also “protecting the doctor-patient relationship,” streamlining the process of prior authorizations and reducing nursing staffing shortages.
Donlon was also placed on the Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts committee, which she said she’s looking forward to.
Peterpaul was placed on the Aging and Human Services and Commerce, Development and Agriculture committees.
“Having aging parents and seeing what issues are confronted by the elderly, it really hit me strong,” she said.
“There are many issues that need to be dealt with,” she added.
Peterpaul cares for her elderly mother and looked after her father until he passed away in August. “The realities of being both a child and caregiver to aging parents, especially in the post-pandemic era, really struck home,” she said.
She looks forward to also tackling health issues in the state and using her experience as a labor and employment law attorney to bring a new perspective to the Commerce, Development and Agriculture Committee.
Of the issues raised by constituents along the campaign trail, “affordability is No. 1,” Donlon said, which might include “looking at whatever ways we can to make taxes airer and look(ing) at how we can reduce costs.”
In particular, lowering prescription drug prices is a priority for their first term in Trenton.
“We have a lot of residents who have to choose between paying for prescription drugs and groceries,” Donlon said.
The article originally appeared in the January 18 – January 24, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
