NJ Cops October17 | Page 40

District Candidate 1 Jeff Van Drew * 2 Chris Brown 3 Steve Sweeney * 4 Fred Madden * 5 Nilsa Cruz Perez * 6 Jim Beach * 7 Troy Singleton 8 NONE 9 Chris Conners * 10 Jim Holzapfel * 11 Vin Gopal 12 David Lande 13 NONE 14 Linda Greenstein *

take political action in support of a PBA-endorsed candidate.

Once the endorsement was announced, Tardio assured Gopal’ s campaign staff that the PBA was going to be one of its greatest assets. The County Conference sprang into action, dedicating its time and effort to meet the needs of the campaign. Members have volunteered three hours every Wednesday evening to make thousands of phone calls, and they have sent PBA members door to door with Gopal to display the support of a well-respected organization and take any action possible to bump Senator Jennifer Beck out of office for sponsoring Chapter 78.

“ We’ re showing that we’ re not going to sit down and take it,” Tardio voices.“ We’ re going to get involved and show these politicians that they’ re going to need us. They’ re not going to be able to get into office without the support of the union.”

Schwartz has played a pivotal role in showing District 38 just how valuable the support of the PBA really is. The 53 Locals within the Bergen County Conference made such a political splash since 2015 that the calls for endorsement now come directly to them.

Schwartz credits this tell-tale sign of impact to the PBA staying relevant within the political climate. In other words, taking a seat at the table rather than being on the menu or being food for afterthought.

“ All we’ re asking for basically is to have an open line of communication and be involved in their process,” Schwartz reinforces.“ We’ re never going to get a candidate that’ s 100 percent for all of our issues and concerns. But when an issue comes up involving us, now we’ re getting the courtesy call from legislators.”

In southern New Jersey, the need for open communication between legislators and the PBA has become a crucial benefit. When Assemblyman Chris Brown first considered running for state senate in April, the former Egg Harbor Township prosecutor approached his allies in the PBA to ensure that he had the power of the PBA on his side.

“ He did a written petition to see how many guys would support him,” explains Palmentieri, an officer with the Egg Harbor Township Police Department that is part of Local 77.“ Before he put his hat in the ring, he wanted to make sure he had our support.”

Palmentieri and the Atlantic / Cape May County Executive Board hopes that its constant chain of emails to members encouraging the State PBA-endorsed vote will show in the polls. On Nov. 7, retired and active Local 77 officers will meet in a final effort to get the word out by setting up a phone bank in the Local 77 PBA Hall in support of PBA-favored candidates, including Brown.

The need to inspire members to exercise their right to vote is crucial in districts across the state. Tardio does everything he can to fuel the action among newer PBA members, sending out articles and explaining the detriment that candidates like Beck would be to the union.

“ A lot of our members sign up to be law enforcement offi-

40 NEW JERSEY COPS ■ OCTOBER 2017