By Stephen Appezzato
In our continuing coverage of the general election Nov. 7, The Two River Times reached out to candidates in our coverage area to get their perspective on effective governance and the impact voting can have on a community.
This week we will highlight state candidates in the races for Legislative District 13 and their responses to the following question:
How do government decisions on the state level affect the day-to-day lives of voters?
The New Jersey State Senate and General Assembly make up the state’s legislative branch of government. Each chamber consists of 40 and 80 representatives, respectively, from 40 different districts across the state. Senators serve four-year terms, except for the first term of a new decade (when they only serve two years), while Assembly members serve two-year terms.
Legislative District 13 consists of the Two River area towns of Atlantic Highlands, Highlands, Holmdel, Little Silver, Middletown, Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Rumson and Sea Bright.
This year incumbent Sen. Declan O’Scanlon and Assembly members Gerry Scharfenberger and Vicky Flynn, all Republicans, are running for reelection. Democratic challengers Lucille Lo Sapio, Danielle Mastropiero and Paul Eschelbach are running to unseat them.
To learn more about your local candidates and their views on issues facing your community and to check your voter registration status or register to vote, visit vote411.org. Candidates are listed alphabetically with their party affiliation noted. Responses have been lightly edited for style and to fit the allotted space.
For State Assembly
Paul Eschelbach (D): “Every New Jerseyan’s life and prosperity are affected either positively or negatively by decisions made in Trenton.
• The Assessment Demonstration Program is one law that affects only Monmouth County. This ill-conceived experiment has caused many taxpayers to have their property taxes dramatically raised. Property owners in Monmouth County could have their property re-assessed yearly, not every five years, as in the rest of the state. Additionally, only two assessors can legally do business in Monmouth County.
• Individual rights may be taken away by an over-reaching Federal Supreme Court, and laws passed in “Red” states. In New Jersey we must maintain basic human rights in the areas of LGBTQ+ rights, women’s health, reproductive freedom and gun safety. We must maintain these rights for New Jersey residents.
• School funding is a subject that affects all localities and taxpayers. A new fair and equitable school funding formula must be devised that takes into account all of New Jersey’s school districts.
• The quality of the teaching profession and the viability of our schools has been adversely affected by a law passed in 2011. Because of laws such as this, the average professional life for new teachers is only one to five years. Educators are abandoning their profession in droves. Every school district is now enduring a severe shortage of employees as the youngest members of the profession leave due to Draconian cuts in retirement health care and pension rights among other actions that diminish the profession.”
Vicky Flynn (R): “The decisions made in Trenton impact our daily lives, and not always in a positive way. I often remark during committee meetings that we need to be more mindful of the unintended consequences of the laws being passed.
For instance, a law was recently passed to increase car insurance rates for our state, over the objection of the Republican caucus and various groups who represent underprivileged communities. Many constituents have received notices from their insurance companies of these increases, and I remind them that it is directly related to a law recently passed. With the cost of living in our state increasing due to property taxes and inflation, legislative actions like this demonstrate how much elections matter in our state. If you would like to make New Jersey more affordable, we need to elect leaders who will be focused on doing so.
We also constantly hear from our constituents about the sudden uptick in car thefts and home invasions. Again, this is an unintended consequence associated with bail reform legislation. My first bill package was to reverse some of those soft-on-crime policies, and while some of those bills have been passed, it was not without a fight.
As your voice in the State House, I will continue to shine a light on the unintended consequences of laws being contemplated and will work with my colleagues to examine the impact upon our residents prior to passing legislation that will make New Jersey less safe and less affordable.”
Danielle Mastropiero (D): “Government decisions, as advanced by state legislators, have the ability to make working conditions fair, including for nurses like me, and for my hospice patients. If there’s one thing we have learned this year with the strikes at Robert Wood and St. Michael’s, it’s that hospital administrators will not enforce safe staffing without someone to hold their feet to the fire.
They have the ability to use our combined funding to put police on the streets and keep our schools stocked with the technology and resources kids need. Government decisions directly protect the rights of vulnerable groups like women, the LGBT+ community and the dis- enfranchised voter by prescribing what our commitment is to ensuring their needs are met and their voices heard.
State legislators even have the ability to save lives by expanding access to health care and safe and affordable housing. While our Democratic legislators have done great work, still more work remains. I am running for office with the average citizen in mind – the “little guy” who feels like the government has no bearing on his life. I want these residents to experience additional, badly-needed property tax relief, have an advocate on their side to fight the 30% rate increases by greedy auto insurers and send their kids to school free of worry because common sense gun laws are in place.
In executing the decisions before our government, a good state legislator is an advocate for the little guy but also a servant to advancing the interests of the people, first and foremost.”
Gerry Scharfenberger (R): “State-level decisions, impact virtually every aspect of New Jerseyans’ everyday lives. From taxes to energy to crime and safety to education to job creation and business environment, the laws and policies formulated by state legislators are a major part of how New Jersey operates and how its residents live, work and recreate. Some of the most pressing issues on people’s minds as of late are directly related to legislation and regulations instituted at the state level. Issues that many consider a tremendous government overreach such as the infringement on parental rights, electrification mandates, the specter of renewed vaccine/mask mandates, and so on have many residents fearful of living in New Jersey in the future. Additionally, the spike in auto thefts, home break-ins, smash-and-grab burglaries can be directly correlated with low/no bail, early release and defund the police policies. The good news is, there are initiatives championed by the Legislative District 13 team that have paid dividends to help turn New Jersey’s fortunes around for the better. We successfully lobbied to reverse the disastrous “no chase” policy that tied the hands of police in combatting the rash of auto thefts. Also, legislation that we introduced has resulted in the sunsetting of the Corporate Business Tax surcharge, which is a small step in the right direction to improve New Jersey’s worst in the nation business climate. With the right ideas and political will, I believe we can make New Jersey a safe, affordable and productive state once again.”
For State Senate
Lucille Lo Sapio (D): “NJ legislated common sense reproductive freedom. My opponent, Declan O’Scanlon, voted against virtually every piece of legislation that protects women’s rights. The GOP is now working to remove abortion rights and other reproductive freedoms on a state-by-state basis. With a Republican legislature, we can expect a plan to outlaw abortions and limit contraception in NJ. With reproductive rights gone, we can expect an increase in unwanted pregnancies, poverty and emotion- al, physical and psychological issues.
Property taxes are a perennial issue. O’Scanlon pushed through the bill that mandates annual reassessments in Monmouth County, the Assessment Demonstration Program, while in the rest of NJ reassessments are every five years. When we are reassessed annually, facing higher tax bills because of rising property values, and homeowners in other counties aren’t, we face increased costs.
Additionally, towns face the possibility of reduced school funding.
Gun violence is a recurring problem. NJ is now one of the safest states in terms of gun violence. But legislators like my opponent vote against virtually every gun safety legislation, including requiring new residents to register guns bought outside of NJ. A police officer recently told me he was shocked to learn a new gun owner has no requirement to receive any training. But O’Scanlon voted against this requirement, too. When children have to be trained how to avoid mass shooters in their classrooms, I don’t think there’s any question that this affects people in New Jersey on a day-by-day basis.”
Declan O’Scanlon (R): “From your property taxes to the tolls you pay on highways to how often you have to register your car to the funding of our schools, the state has a massive impact on our daily lives.
During the pandemic we all witnessed how decisions by Governor Murphy could lead to masking and vaccine requirements years after the science showed it was necessary and how a slow drip of reopenings could close countless small businesses.
Seemingly small decisions can determine a resident’s ability to afford to retire in New Jersey with the rest of their family.
New Jersey provides programs and services for our seniors, veterans, and disabled residents that must be funded properly and operate efficiently. Changes to eligibility for certain tax relief for veterans and seniors can mean a massive difference in a household budget. For some, it could mean paying their utility bill or affording groceries.
Ensuring the economic health of our state can make or break local communities. We have a responsibility to enact policies that promote business growth, attract investment, and encourage job creation. There are choices we can make on the state level in the legislature to enhance the safety of our residents with criminal justice reform. Or making sure that corrupt public officials don’t get a public pension pulled from the pockets of hardworking taxpayers.
It’s up to those of us in Trenton to fight for policies that better the lives of our constituents and create a solid foundation for a prosperous future.”
The article originally appeared in the October 19 – 25, 2023 print edition of The Two River Times.
