Reactions from the Membership
PBA members representing all corners of the state and every
specialty of the job were excited to meet Gubernatorial Candidate Phil Murphy and reflect on the excitement for the
potential of a friend in the State House.
“Now that the Christie chapter is coming to an end,
hopefully we’ll get somebody like Murphy in there
with new blood and it feels exciting.”
~Point Pleasant Beach Local 106 member
Gary Siculietano
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“It’s a fresh new voice from typical New Jersey
politicians, especially with regard to the Chapter 78
issues we’re facing as Corrections Officers.”
~Burlington County Correction Officers Local 249
State Delegate Terrence Benson
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“He’s new and doesn’t owe anything to the groups
and organizations. And he’s a businessman. Hopefully,
he’ll realize what we need and what’s not needed.”
~Local 600 President Tom Lombardi
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“We need a change. We need someone doing something positive and I think Phil Murphy is ready to do it.
He’s been all over the world, met veterans and brings
a different take and understands how things work
more than your average politician.”
~Union Local 69 former State Delegate Mike Boll
ment was music to his ears.
“One of the good things about Phil Murphy is he intimately knows
the pension systems that are administered by the state of New Jersey,”
Andreyev expressed. “He understands what the problem is, what the
remedy would be to resolve the issues, and I believe because he’s pro
law enforcement, by getting this endorsement, I think he’ll do right
by us.”
The endorsement itself is a huge milestone for the State PBA – It’s
the first time the union has vocally supported a candidate for governor.
“We’ve never come out this early,” Colligan explained. “There was
a time we didn’t have to – a time when law enforcement always got
what it wanted in Trenton and never had to work at it. But times have
changed and we’re changing with the times and decided to come out
for the candidate early and put it out there. And Murphy is the real
deal. We have been talking to him for more than two years developing
a relationship, and he came here and publically stated everything we
were talking about.” d
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“It’s very uplifting to understand that there’s somebody out there that identifies with public safety in
general. It translates beyond police and fire to public
works and everything. To have someone who understands what we go through… we’re looking for someone who can relate to our positions.”
~State Corrections Local 105 State Delegate Ray Heck
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“(The Bergen County Conference Political Action Committee) is going to be out there working as hard as
ever (to get Murphy elected). Our members bought
into it and we hope that it goes statewide.”
~Saddle River Local 348 State Delegate Charles Schwartz
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