LEGISLATIVE REPORT
The consequences
of your vote
Every fall, we have an opportunity to select
individuals who will represent us in govern-
ment. The right to vote is fundamental to the
management of a civil society.
But voting is so much more than simply
picking between political candidates. Voting is
a part of who we are as Americans. It is a right
that should be respected, promoted and cel-
ROB NIXON ebrated. This isn’t some clichéd talking point
from an old civics class. Voting has very real,
and long-lasting, consequences. Only you can decide whether
those consequences help or hurt your life.
As members of the NJ State PBA, voting takes on even great-
er significance. Every part of your job as a law enforcement
officer, and each benefit you receive on the job and into retire-
ment, is impacted by an elected official or government regu-
lator. Your right to enforce the law and your ability to protect
yourself and the public come from the government that you
swear an allegiance to serve. When you vote as one, that shows
your individual interest in a race for an office. When PBA
members vote as “ONE,” election results can change, and can-
didates who respect and support law enforcement will beat
those who do not.
You may read this and not be a huge supporter of “unions.”
Or you may be so passionately devoted to a political philoso-
phy that, one, you won’t let anyone tell you what to do or, two,
you can’t bring yourself to vote for a candidate of the opposite
party. Not voting, some say, sends as much of a message as
casting a vote.
Sadly, history tells us that voting against yourself is a recipe
for disaster. If you want an example of this, look at what has
happened to your paycheck since 2010. Or, if you’re new to law
enforcement, ask a senior officer what his benefits look like
compared to yours. Those decreases in your pay and differ-
ences in officer benefits are the direct result of PBA members
voting against the recommendation of their union.
The State PBA studies each candidate we endorse. We look
for several key indicators. Do candidates have voting records
that match our priorities? Have they said one thing in a cam-
paign to gain our support, only to do the opposite once elect-
ed? Are they accessible to us when they aren’t running for of-
fice and ready to address the concerns we raise? Can we count
on them to stand up for law enforcement, personally and in
office, or are they simply known for meaningless press releas-
es? Are they proactive proponents of law enforcement without
our urging? When they get something wrong, can they admit it
and work with us to make it right?
Each election season, the PBA leadership presents candi-
dates who pass these tests. The membership is then called on
to back candidates who are willing to stand by us. It is only
when the organization votes as one voice that the PBA has real
power. That power doesn’t come from the union itself; it comes
from members acting as a unit to let politicians know we will
support you when you support us and oppose you when you
oppose us.
Don’t diminish your power. Get out and vote. d
10
NEW JERSEY COPS
■ OCTOBER 2018
New Jersey State PBA Endorsements
For the November 2018 General Election
Incumbent noted (I)
U.S House of Representatives
District 1
Donald Norcross (I), Democrat
District 2
Jeff Van Drew, Democrat
District 3
Tom MacArthur (I), Republican
District 4
Chris Smith (I), Republican
District 5
Josh Gottheimer (I), Democrat
District 6
Frank Pallone (I), Democrat
District 7
Leonard Lance (I), Republican
District 8
Albio Sires (I), Democrat
District 9
Bill Pascrell (I), Democrat
District 10
Donald Payne (I), Democrat
District 11
Mikie Sherrill, Democrat
District 12
None
New Jersey Legislature Special Elections
District 15
General Assembly
Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (I), Democrat
Anthony Verrelli (I), Democrat
District 32
General Assembly
Pedro Mejia (I), Democrat
District 34
General Assembly
Britnee Timberlake (I), Democrat
District 36
General Assembly
Clinton Calabrese (I), Democrat
District 38
State Senate
Joe Lagana (I), Democrat
District 38
General Assembly
Lisa Swain (I), Democrat
Chris Tully (I), Democrat