LEGISLATIVE REPORT
2017 Election Analysis
A guide to voting the‘ PBA Party’ line in this election
We have entered the final weeks of the 2017 campaign. While it is true that all elections are important, the reality that some elections are more important than others can’ t be ignored. This election for governor and the state legislature fall into the“ more important” category, as far as the NJ State PBA and its members are concerned. While it is also true that there is no
ROB NIXON candidate on earth that we will agree with 100 percent of the time, PBA members should enter
the voting booth in November less concerned about political philosophy and more focused on which candidates will improve your life as a law enforcement officer, impact your ability to negotiate a fair contract and ensure that the PFRS is healthy for all time.
The campaign for governor is certainly the main event this November. Democrat Phil Murphy has maintained a consistent lead over Republican Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno since they became candidates. But as the race moves closer to November, the margin between the candidates will certainly tighten. Both candidates have proposed an administration that will take New Jersey past the Christie era. It will be hard for voters to cast ballots without considering the past eight years. In fact, historically, whenever there has been a governor elected for two terms, New Jersey voters have changed the party in the governor’ s office at the next election five times since the state constitution was revised in 1947.
Poll after poll has shown that Governor Christie is historically unpopular. That, and the state’ s electoral history, are not good news for Kim Guadagno. Though she attempted to separate herself from the governor on a number of significant issues, as Christie’ s second in command she will be judged in part by performance of his administration. This reality appears to be hurting her with unaffiliated voters and conservative Democrats, who previously supported Christie in his two previous elections. To date, her campaign has focused on traditional GOP themes of holding the line on property taxes and enhancing the state’ s economic opportunities.
Phil Murphy has offered to take New Jersey away from the Christie administration in a number of ways. While also focusing his campaign on economic growth, Murphy has pledged to support a number of Democratic causes that the state legislature sent to the governor but were vetoed. Murphy has also pledged to restore fairness to the collective bargaining process that Christie decimated through PERC, as well as fulfilling the
state’ s obligation to fully fund the pension system. As the chair of the“ Murphy Commission” in 2004 that analyzed the state’ s pension woes, and as a financial expert during his years at Goldman Sachs, Murphy has argued that restoring the health of the pension system is possible without further cuts.
The NJ State PBA has endorsed Murphy because of his commitment to collective bargaining and strengthening PFRS, in addition to welcoming our leadership to consult on law enforcement issues, which was cut off by Christie. Guadagno appears sincere in her respect for the work of the average officer on the job, but her positions on major issues of importance to every PBA member continue along the same lines as the governor to restrict collective bargaining and cut benefits. Respect for law enforcement officers, and ensuring that they are compensated and cared for in times of need, go hand in hand. Candidates must be reminded at the polls that taking away your pension and paychecks does not equal respect for your work.
But the governor’ s race is not the only game in town. All 120 seats in the State Senate and General Assembly are up for grabs. Even before the election is over, we know there will be several new faces in Trenton in 2018. Retirements, death and candidates running for other offices will result in no less than 16 new senators and assembly members next session. When all is said and done, the state legislature could have 20 percent new faces or people in new roles. That is a fairly high turnover, and it makes it even more important that State PBA members are active and engaged leading up to the election.
It is also a bit frustrating to some PBA members that there doesn’ t seem to be real competition in many legislative districts. This is a result of redistricting, and it is working exactly as designed. The goal of every elected official is to get reelected. In order to make that easier, redistricting has designed districts that heavily favor one party over another. But that doesn’ t mean there aren’ t some major races for senate and assembly happening across New Jersey, nor does it mean that State PBA members can’ t turn the tide in“ safe” districts by fully supporting PBA-endorsed candidates when they vote.
The hottest races can be found in South, Central and Northern New Jersey, including:
District 2 This Atlantic County-based district is among the most important races that the State PBA is tracking. Democratic Sen-
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