Monmouth County Dem Chair Vin Gopal Named A Deputy Vice Chair of NJDSC

Congratulations are in order for Monmouth County Democratic Chairman Vin Gopal for being named as a Deputy Vice-Chair of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee by it's Chairman John Currie. The promotion came this past Friday at the State Democrats annual conference in Atlantic City.

Here's the press release:

CHAIRMAN CURRIE APPOINTS NEW DEPUTY VICE CHAIRS

Oliver, Bell, Goldstein and Gopal Promoted to NJDSC Leadership to Advise Chair and Vice-Chair on Party Matters

(Atlantic City, New Jersey) – Members of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee met in a voting session on Friday at the party’s 18th annual conference in Atlantic City, where Chairman Currie announced the promotion of four party activists to the position of Deputy Vice Chair.

“I am thrilled to name these four outstanding New Jersey Democrats as Deputy Vice Chairs. I will look to them for guidance and support as the campaign season progresses. These individuals represent diverse interests and regions and they have all been leaders in their respective communities,” said Chairman Currie. “They strengthen the NJDSC leadership team and increase our ability to conduct outreach and other party business across the state.”

The new Deputy Vice Chairs are: State Assembly Speaker Emeritus Sheila Oliver; Atlantic County Freeholder at-Large Colin Bell, the Founder and Chair Emeritus of Garden State Equality, Steven Goldstein, and Monmouth County Democratic Committee Chairman Vin Gopal. In their new roles, these party officers will advise Chairman Currie and Vice Chair Lizette Delgado-Polanco on a range of party affairs and serve as emissaries at regional events.

In addition, a quorum of NJDSC voting members authorized the organization to establish additional caucuses that will help build grassroots

NEW JERSEY DEMOCRATS DARE TO DREAM

For Immediate Release:
Nov.14th, 2013

State Vice Chair Urges Passage of Equal Educational Opportunity Bill Despite Governor Christie's Inconsistency

(Trenton) – Today, the New Jersey Democratic State Committee Vice Chair, Lizette Delgado-Polanco called for equal educational opportunity in the state. Addressing the Senate Budget Committee, she urged swift passage of S. 2479, legislation similar to the one known nationally as the DREAM Act, which allows young New Jerseyans in the state school system to access the same college education opportunities as their classmates regardless of pending citizenship status.

For thousands of New Jersey students aspiring to the American dream, a dream of a higher education delayed is a dream denied. Undocumented immigrant students, despite remaining academically competitive and contributing to the tax base, are precluded from receiving in-state college tuition or from applying for state financial aid. For the students subject to this inequity, a college degree becomes cost-prohibitive.

The highest ranking female in the state Democratic Party organization, Delgado-Polanco also serves as Executive Director of the SEIU New Jersey State Council. "Now is the time to remove roadblocks that stand in the path of young men and women who want to better themselves, their families, their state and their country. Capable students should not be stopped from achieving their dreams," said Delgado-Polanco, who is of Dominican heritage, and the first in her family to be born in the United States. "The state has already invested in these student's primary schooling. If the state can find $24 million for an unnecessary, low-turnout special election then surely it can allow promising students to receive in-state tuition rates and to apply for financial aid."

Governor Christie's position on tuition equality for undocumented New Jerseyans has been inconsistent. Or, arguably, he has been consistent in taking both sides of this issue, among others. Christie opposed the federal DREAM Act and initially pledged to veto its state equivalent saying that he doesn’t believe in subsidizing the education of DREAMers with taxpayer money. Last month, however, as the election approached, he switched his position, promising, “We will get it done in the lame duck.” Calling it a moral requirement to provide every child the opportunity to reach their God-given potential, he also said politicians, like himself, should be "held to account for our deeds, not just our words."

The legislation, S. 2479, provides tuition equality at public colleges and universities and access to state aid for qualified undocumented students whose parents brought them to the United States illegally as children. Undocumented students must have attended at least three years of high school and received a diploma in New Jersey, and they must vow to seek legalization once they have that opportunity.

Mayors representing more than one million New Jersey residents also endorsed the legislation, because it will help create the diverse, highly skilled workforce needed to win the future.

CHRISTIE'S INFLUENCE ONLY SKIN DEEP

From NJ State Democratic Committee:

Democrats Boast Local, Legislative Victories

(Trenton) – Tonight, New Jersey Democrats will maintain majorities in both the State Senate and State Assembly, and may actually strengthen our legislative hand, demonstrating that voter's fondness for Chris Christie's brash persona only runs skin deep, the party's top official declared.

"Democrats are proud of the trust that New Jersey voters put in our party, and we remain dedicated to tackling the challenges facing middle-class families. The fondness that New Jerseyans have for Mr. Christie's bluster, while it defies logic, only runs skin deep. Christie could not break the bond voters have with their Democratic leaders, from legislative districts to freeholder boards. We knew Chris Christie would go to any extreme to avoid accountability and to promote his brand, but it is surprising how incapable he is of helping anyone else -- not just middle-class New Jerseyans, but even members of his own party," said John Currie, Chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee.

Christie has compiled an economic record that would make Herbert Hoover blush, with 400,000 of the state's residents unemployed, lackluster job creation, and property tax burdens that have risen by nearly 20 percent. And, just today on national cable television, Christie embraced his true conservatism, validating the argument made by Senator Barbara Buono and others that we can expect even more of his damaging policies in another term.

In addition, after Christie wasted $12 million in taxpayer funds on suppressing turnout, unnecessarily scheduling a separate election to fill the U.S. Senate seat now held by Cory Booker, Democrats were compelled to mobilize voters twice within a month's time.

Despite Christie's inflated poll numbers, Democratic candidates overcame these challenges at the county and local levels, highlighting their commitment to real property tax relief, to restoring access to women's health care services, and to protecting our neighborhoods from the threats posed by dangerous firearms. Meanwhile, county party organizations and local campaigns ran strong door-to-door outreach efforts that successfully targeted extremist elements in the Republican ranks for defeat, and captured majorities on legislative bodies, flipping control from Republican to Democratic hands.