NJ Cops October 2016 | Page 38

PBA Political Action

PAC-ing up for victory

Bergen County Conference PAC rallies again in support of Josh Gottheimer

■ BY STEPHANIE JONES

Becoming a recognized New Jersey non-profit organization in 2014 – three short years after Governor Christie enacted Chapter 78 – the Bergen County Conference’ s Political Action Committee( PAC) has dedicated itself to strategic campaign support, and has steadily been transforming the way Locals show support for the candidates they and the State PBA have endorsed. However, endorsements alone, though welcomed in writing, mean little when unaccompanied by a strong push for action and statewide support from thousands of PBA members. This is why Saddle River Local 348 State Delegate Charles Schwartz has committed to rallying his comrades.

“ After Chapter 78 was enacted, our members realized the only way we were going to be able to effect any change was to get out there and get involved,” prompts Schwartz.“ Sitting on the sidelines was no longer an option. So that’ s exactly what we did.”

Involvement from a union as strong and as organized as the PBA comprises a number of tactics, each working to bolster another’ s effectiveness. When the State PBA PAC, led by PBA President Pat Colligan and Executive Vice-President Marc Kovar, officially endorsed District 5 congressional candidate Josh Gottheimer, the goal of Bergen County’ s PAC became an effort to complement its statewide equivalent’ s strategy.

According to Schwartz, the PBA’ s endorsement for Gottheimer is a result of his platform’ s comprehensive advocacy that includes backing of the Zadroga Act to help 9 / 11 first responders receive healthcare,

Members of the State PBA and Bergen County PAC pose during the official endorsement of Josh Gottheimer for Congress.

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NEW JERSEY COPS ■ OCTOBER 2016 understanding of the importance of funding for proper equipment law enforcement officers need to fend off“ lone wolf” attacks and support for the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services( C. O. P. S.) grants.

For these reasons, Schwartz and his troops have been present at every subsequent event and press conference, each of which has boasted between five and 25 member representatives. The PAC’ s strategy has also included distributing its own press releases on the campaign trails in an effort to raise awareness of important dates, victories and the tenets of Gottheimer’ s platform, which include a strong allegiance to addressing the needs and concerns of New Jersey law enforcement. The Sunday before the votes pour in, as well as on the morning of Election Day, the Bergen County PAC will be leading labor walks and organizing phone banks.

And Schwartz won’ t need to convince any members of the PAC’ s impact; the numbers speak for themselves.

“ Prior to our involvement, the D-38 Assembly race was decided by fewer than 100 votes. After our involvement, the race was decided by well over 1,000,” notes Schwartz, who anticipates a 100-percent rate of representation during the phone-and-foot rallies from the 53 Locals that comprise the Conference’ s membership.

“( The State PBA PAC is) the financial backing; we’ re the boots on the ground movement,” elaborates Schwartz.“ We’ re on the phones and in the streets getting out the vote.”

Gottheimer and his team are well aware of the impact the PAC’ s endorsement likely will have on the election, and are appreciative of the Conference’ s unique and pervasive support.

“ I am honored to have the support of our law enforcement community. I firmly believe that we must stand by those who protect us every single day, often without the praise they deserve,” affirms Gottheimer, who pledges to fight for the training, tools and resources all first responders need to keep families safe and protect local communities.

Asked whether he believes Bergen County’ s PAC will be the deciding voice of the election, Schwartz responded with( strategic) enthusiasm:“ We’ re doing everything we can,” he reflects.“ We’ re confident that the actions of the Bergen County PBA Conference will get Josh Gottheimer elected, and we plan on being out there with him on Election Day offering our full support.” d