NJ Cops Oct18 | Page 10

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