Sean Byrnes, NJ State Senate Candidate (LD13) Answers 10 Questions

Today, it's Sean Byrnes's turn to have his answers to my 10 questions posted. Sean is the candidate for the NJ State Senate for the 13th legislative district. Sean is a Middletown resident and former member of the Middletown Township Committee. He is a veteran, business owner, lawyer and dedicated volunteer in his community.


What is your motivation for seeking a seat in the NJ State Senate and can you tell us a little about yourself?

I did not plan on running, but I am concerned with the direction of our State, and the treatment of working families. Our State has experienced 11 bond downgrades during the Christie Administration, which makes borrowing money very expensive for our State. We have the 2nd worst bond rating in the country. We are the highest taxed State. We have the most debt per taxpayer. By any measure, we are overtaxed, and the considerable, tangible assets of our State (e.g. shoreline, highway system, universities, proximity to NYC, port, educational system) have been squandered by an Administration focused on the White House rather than NJ residents. My opponent, one of the Governor’s staunchest supporters, cannot hide form this dismal record.

While things look bleak right now, we have a unique opportunity to shape our own destiny at a time when technology is evolving, sustainable energy sources are taking hold and cyber security emerges as an industry that promises to employ many qualified individuals. New Jersey has an opportunity to cultivate a business environment that brings together a mix of higher education institutions, entrepreneurs, new businesses and thoughtful state incentives dedicated to rebuilding our economy.

As you meet residents throughout your district what seems to be the greatest concerns they are expressing and how do you plan to address them?

Sean Byrnes

Taxes, the opioid crisis and a lack of good jobs seem to be the top three. The taxes we pay are the product of a misuse of the taxes collected by our State. The State has dramatically increased tax breaks for large corporations during the Christie Administration. In the decade before he came to office, the State gave a total of $1.2 Billion in taxes. Since he came to office, the State as granted approximately $8B in tax breaks. The State does a lousy job measuring the effectiveness of these large corporate giveaways. I would prefer to see these tax breaks to corporations scaled back and given to individual taxpayers, who will re-invest those funds in our local economy. If corporate tax breaks are going to be given, they should go to the small up and coming businesses, who produced new jobs are a far faster rate the large corporations. In addition, we must create incentives for municipalities and schools to share services, and when appropriate, consolidate. We have 565 municipalities and 590 school systems. By comparison, Maryland has 20 school districts. With that said, we can’t skimp when it comes to education. We have the second best educational system in the country, and this makes us a very attractive State for business. However, there are plenty of examples where some consolidation would be appropriate.

On the Opioid crisis, we need to fund and support longer periods of rehab for those suffering from addiction. We also need to understand that to a significant degree our current crisis stems from the flood of opioids sold by pharmaceutical companies. There is no legitimate justification for the incredible surge of opioids into the market place, and the makers and distributors of these substances must share some of the blame for this crisis. To the extent specific companies have ignored requirements or regulations that would have stemmed the flow of these substances into our communities, they must be held accountable and must share in the financial burden of helping those who suffer the consequences.

Lastly, to move forward and lift our economy, we need a vision and a plan. We need to cultivate those industries and segments of the market place that will be growth areas for years to come (e.g. cyber security, sustainable energy, nanomaterials, advanced robotics). We need financial incentives for students to pursue degrees suited for these growth areas. We need to make capital more available to small businesses. We need our institutions of higher learning to lead the way in education new workers, and retraining existing workers, so that New Jersey residents are ready and trained pursue employment in these areas.

What do you hope to accomplish once you are elected to the State Senate?

We must address the underfunding of pensions and benefits. Our failure to fund these has degraded our bonding rating and increased our cost of doing business. We must fund our community colleges, because the training and re-training of our workers will occur at these colleges. Four-year colleges are extremely expensive, and workers can be educated and land good jobs without taking on the debt associated with a four-year university. In general, I want to improve our State’s financial position and help grow our economy.


What is it that makes your district unique and how does that uniqueness impact your campaign?

Our District is unique, because of its socioeconomic diversity and its desirability. Lots of people want to live in Monmouth County. Our challenge is to make sure Monmouth County is affordable for everyone up and down the socioeconomic ladder. Ever-increasing real estate taxes, a lack of jobs that pay well, and ever-increasing costs of health care, make it very difficult for working families to survive and live in Monmouth County.


If elected, how would your professional background enhance your ability to be an effective State Senator?

As an attorney, I have an advantage when it comes to understanding our State’s laws and regulations and how they impact our citizens. Moreover, I have spent much of my time practicing law representing individuals and small businesses. From real estate transactions, to lawsuits, to defending people in foreclosure, to minor criminal offenses, I have had a front row seat on how our citizens are impacted by our State’s law. I have also seen how the individual in our society has lost many of the protections once available. If you are mistreated or overcharged by a large corporation, bank, cable company, cell phone carrier or any other multi-national corporation, your ability to seek a remedy or stop abusive behavior is almost non-existent. A surge of money into politics has titled the scales against the working family. I hope to have an opportunity to work on laws that protect working families.


 Do you have any thoughts on how to contain the growth of state government?

You simply must cap it. No more adding jobs. We live in a time when technology continues to advance at a rapid rate, making certain tasks easier and less time-consuming. In the private sector, this has caused a reduction in hours to produce certain products. As a State, we too should be able to deliver more with less. There is no reason for any further growth, and we should look for opportunities to curtail growth.


Is there any aspect of state government that you believe there is a need to be expanded upon?

No.


Why should residents of your district trust you to represent them in the legislature?

I have been representing individuals and small businesses in this area for almost 30 years. I have served on multiple not for profit Boards that serve our community. I have served in the Coast Guard for 21 years. I am loyal; I mean what I say, and I will work hard for the citizens of this District.


What does it mean to be a Democrat today?

My Democratic Party needs to return to its roots. We need to advocate and work every day for the working family. Fairness in jobs. Fairness in our legal system. Fairness in benefits. Fairness in our economy. The surge of money into politics allowed by Citizens United has altered the playing field. Wealth inequality is real. Income inequality is real. People don’t want or need a handout, but they need a fair share. I believe the current economy, including our tax code, favors the larger, corporate interests, and we must work hard to ensure that people have access to good jobs and fair wages. When we do that, everyone benefits.

We must also ensure that all are protected. Regardless of gender, age, color, race, orientation, we must all have the same opportunities and same protections under our laws.

We also need not be fearful. There are those in the media and public domain who hope to divide us by sowing fear and exaggerating dangers, to divide us. We must not give in to these fears. They are not rational, and they run contrary to our history, the bravery of those men and women who created this Republic, and the very ideals that underpin our democracy.


Is there anything that is important to you that has not been asked, that you would like to address?

In our District, we have a large powerline project proposed. I have studied it, reviewed the justifications, and determined it is unnecessary. I don’t believe the redundancy cited to as justifying the Project is real, or even if it were real, will ever justify the vast damage that will be done to our community. I have fought this Project, and I will continue to fight it. I will use my law degree, and if elected, my Office, to beat back this ill-conceived Project.



You can learn more about Sean Byrnes on his website Byrnes4senate.com

Tom Giaimo, NJ State Assembly Candidate (LD13) Answers 10 Questions

Today I publish the response to my 10 questions from Tom Giaimo. Tom is a lawyer and a lifelong Middletown resident. Due to his concern for the direction of his country and state, he decided he could not idly stand by and do nothing.


What is your motivation for seeking a seat in the NJ State Assembly and can you tell us a little about yourself?

I was personally impacted by the events leading up to the November 2016 election and am deeply concerned about the direction of our nation and of our state. I was more than disappointed in the way the primary campaigns were conducted by both parties. I want to restore integrity, honesty, accountability and transparency back into state government. I want to represent regular citizens, not special interest and hidden agendas. I want to help the middle class, because that is where the needs are.

Tom Giaimo

I come from a modest background but as a kid it was my impression that we had everything a family needed. This is no longer possible for today’s middle class families. Both of my parents were school teachers in the Middletown Public School system for decades. My mother, Betty Sue, who comes from McDowell County, West Virginia (the poorest county in the poorest state of the nation) is the daughter of a coal miner who died from black lung. She continually stressed to me the importance of education and having a strong work ethic. I was able to attend great public schools and by the time I was in high school, I realized I wanted to be an attorney. Since 1986 I have successfully built and managed my own law practice, which is located in Rumson. I believe in the power and importance of community volunteering. It is important to give back and empower. I have volunteered legal help for homeowners in Navesink and Locust when a proposed change in the use of Clay Pit Creek Park would have dramatically altered the character of the neighborhood, hurt local property values, and harmed quality of life for residents. I volunteered my expertise and my firm’s resources for the victims of Superstorm Sandy during the rebuilding process. I served as President for two years of the Holy Cross Booster Club and I coached the Holy Cross 4th and 5th grade basketball team. For many years I was a little league baseball coach having coached all three of my children. For the past six years I have been the “DJ” at the Rumson Fair Haven High School Boys Varsity basketball games and during the summers I play on Thursday and Friday nights at Victory Park in Rumson for both adult and youth basketball games.

As you meet residents throughout your district what seems to be the greatest concerns they are expressing and how do you plan to address them?

The cost of living in New Jersey is one of the main concerns that I hear about. Many residents have been turned off by politics and politicians and quite frankly, have been made to feel that their vote really does not matter. This disinterest should however, not be categorized as apathy, voters generally speaking feel disillusioned and now they lump all candidates and elected officials into one category, which they distrust.

What do you hope to accomplish once you are elected to the State Assembly?

To bring back common sense, fairness and a commitment that every single policy decision is made in the overall best interest of everyone and not just a select few, or a particular lobby or industry. I hope to restore faith and trust in the political system which is sorely lacking at this point and I hope to create a mechanism by which all citizens can have a greater participation and input in state governmental affairs.

What is it that makes your district unique and how does that uniqueness impact your campaign?

District 13 is stunningly beautiful and profoundly diverse. It has some of the most expensive real estate in New Jersey along with municipalities that continue to struggle economically. The issues we are facing are hyper-local and the concerns are particular to each town. I have spent an inordinate amount of time in each of these municipalities in order to understand and appreciate the scope and impact of these issues and ponder possible solutions. Our campaign has developed town-specific agendas and we are talking to voters in specific terms about their needs, rather than broadcasting generalities.

If elected, how would your professional background enhance your ability to be an effective State Assembly representative?

For 34 years I have been a licensed practicing New Jersey attorney. I hold myself to the highest professional standards and I am well known in the legal community for my ability to reach across the aisle and develop long lasting successful relationships. For thirty four years I have advocated for New Jersey homeowners at every level of government, including the federal, state, county and local governments and their various agencies and departments.

Do you have any thoughts on how to contain the growth of state government?

I support reducing unnecessary and expensive government services through shared service agreements between municipalities. This measure, which has seen successes and proven results where it has been already implemented, would aid in providing much needed property tax relief for homeowners

Is there any aspect of state government that you believe there is a need to be expanded upon?

No, and in fact, based upon my decades of experience in working with state government, I firmly believe that there are areas which are redundant. We need to eliminate those agencies and departments which have overlapping authority in order to save taxpayer dollars.

Why should residents of your district trust you to represent them in the legislature?

Despite my lifelong interest in politics (both national and global), I never entertained the thought of running for elected office, until the elections in 2016. My preference was always to work behind the scenes and to simply engage in constructive dialogue when the opportunity presented itself. But now, there is just simply too much at stake for our communities. I am glad to see that many individuals with no background in politics have courageously stepped up and entered local races to give a voice and representation to our residents. I am in great company. I believe that being a public servant is more important now than ever. Change will start from the bottom up and I am here to do my share to affect that change. I have advocated for New Jersey homeowners for thirty four years - in Trenton I will advocate for every constituent of our district with the same degree of dignity, integrity and compassion as I have demonstrated in my career as an attorney. I am proud to have been endorsed by the teachers’ union, firefighters union, healthcare professionals union, state college unions, Planned Parenthood Action Fund and the Sierra Club.

What does it mean to be a Democrat today?

This is a great question. Given the current climate, this election is way beyond either a standard Democratic or Republican ideology. This election for me, as a candidate, is about signing up to do what is right. Being a Democrat means actively participating in our democracy to fight for those who do not have a voice.

Is there anything that is important to you that has not been asked that you would like to address?

Campaign finance reform is an issue that has not been discussed enough locally.
There have been reports of qualified, inspiring candidates dropping out of local races because of the heavy financial burden and constant fundraising needs that make running an effective and people-oriented, and successful campaign very hard. Our political system is badly in need of repair, so we can spend time talking to voters and resolving issues rather than fundraising. Far reaching campaign finance reform, along with term limits, are necessary to create a fair and leveled playing field that puts constituents back in focus.


You can learn more about Tom Giaimo on his website Giaimo4njassembly.com

Mariel DiDato, State Assembly Candidate (LD13) Answers 10 Questions

I came up with these candidate questions several years ago and have been asking those running for the State Assembly, State Senate and County Freeholder ever since, if they would be kind enough to answer them. Today, I'm posting the response from Hazlet's Mariel DiDato, candidate for NJ State Assembly in 13th Legislative District. In the coming days I'll post the responses from her running mates Tom Giaimo and Sean Byrnes. I'm also hoping to have responses from Freeholder candidates Margie Donlon and Brian Wilton. - MM


What is your motivation for seeking a seat in the NJ State Assembly and can you tell us a little about yourself?

I am a crisis response advocate for victims of domestic and sexual violence, and also a grassroots organizer who has fought to get state funding restored to family planning healthcare. Since the cuts to family planning healthcare, bacterial STI infection rates in Monmouth County have risen by 50%. My motivation for running is because our current representatives in the 13th District are making legislative decisions based on party politics, and not based on science, best practices, and what is beneficial for their constituents. This is not how government should operate, and it is not how we move our state forward.

As you meet residents throughout your district what seems to be the greatest concerns they are expressing and how do you plan to address them?

Mariel DiDato

The greatest concerns I have seen are economic issues (property taxes & college affordability), the opioid epidemic, and issues concerning our environment. Municipal consolidation and shared services is one of the most viable options for providing property tax relief. We must provide more financial incentives and flexibility for towns looking to consolidate. Additionally, we need to get a hold on the rising cost of tuition, and possibly impose a cap on interest rates for student loans. 7%, 8%, 11% loans are astronomically high for a group of people who are expected to work for free or in low-wage internships after college, especially with tuition becoming increasingly expensive.

In regard to the opioid epidemic, we need better quality rehabilitation centers and recovery programs that middle and working class people can access. Currently, those suffering from addiction have two options – fly down to Florida (if you have health insurance and a bit of cash) or try your luck at a sub-par rehabilitation center in New Jersey. There is no reason why we cannot have quality, highly regulated rehabilitation centers in our state. To pay for it, we can start by holding pharmaceutical companies accountable, and taxing them on the revenue that they receive from their opioid sales. We can then use that revenue to improve the quality of our rehab centers by expanding the available recovery programs, the length of an inpatient stay, and the number of beds that we have.

Lastly, we need to do all we can at the state and local levels to compensate for the cuts to the EPA by the federal administration. We need to make sure our Shore Protection Master Plan is up to date, and that our Shore Protection Fund is fully funded. We need to prohibit oil and gas companies from drilling off of the Jersey Shore, and we need to work to ensure that we lead the way in environmental sustainability.

What do you hope to accomplish once you are elected to the State Assembly?

I have a number of goals I would like to accomplish in the Assembly. First, I want to restore state funding to family planning healthcare. Additionally, we need to do more to address interpersonal violence in our state. I will to introduce legislation to start having conversations in our public schools about consent, interpersonal violence, and the local resources available to survivors. Right now, there is a big push to have these conversations on college campuses, and that is a great start. But we know that if we wait till college to have these conversations, we are waiting until it’s too late.

I would also like to introduce the legislation I referred to above; imposing a tax on pharmaceutical companies for their opioid sales and using that revenue to improve our rehab centers in New Jersey. We can also be doing more to regulate those centers, by requiring recovery programs offer additional resources other than an AA and NA-derived program. Recovery is not a one-size-fits-all solution, and our centers should reflect that while put the latest science (which considers addiction a disease) at the forefront of those recovery programs.

Lastly, I hope to make this state more affordable for all generations by encouraging municipal consolidation and creating regulations to prevent banks from taking advantage of students seeking higher education.

What is it that makes your district unique and how does that uniqueness impact your campaign?

The 13th legislative district is composed of towns that range from extremely wealthy like Rumson to those undergoing serious economic stress like Keansburg. The policy preferences and concerns of all of these towns are not always in alignment in some areas, and one of the unique challenges for this district is ensuring that all constituents have their voices heard. Our current representation has failed to balance the needs of every constituent in our district.

If elected, how would your professional background enhance your ability to be an effective State Assembly representative?

Effective legislators are people who listen to constituents in times of personal crisis while helping them navigate the, at times, difficult bureaucracy of our state. My experience as a Crisis Response Advocate has prepared me for this role.

Do you have any thoughts on how to contain the growth of state government?

We can start by consolidating municipal services and incentivizing shared service agreements between towns. I would support regular audits on the state level to see which services provided at the state, county, and municipal level are duplicative and unnecessary.

Is there any aspect of state government that you believe there is a need to be expanded upon?

I believe that our state government is big enough, and that the issue facing us in this regard is ensuring that our state government is nimble enough to respond to the issues facing New Jersey’s residents. I believe that as we cut down on wasteful duplicative spending, we can re-allocate those resources to combatting the opioid epidemic plaguing our state. We need to ensure that those who have become addicted to opioids receive treatment, but we must also ensure that state and local law enforcement have the tools they need to address this concern on the ground level.

Why should residents of your district trust you to represent them in the legislature?

I am not the typical politician. Unlike my opponents, politics has never been my career. I am running because our representatives have failed to listen or represent us. My experience as a crisis response advocate has been to listen to people in their time of need and ensure their voices are heard by those who need to listen. In Trenton, I will do the same for every voice in our district.

What does it mean to be a Democrat today?

Being a Democrat today means to support policies which provide for equal opportunity for every person in New Jersey

Is there anything that is important to you that has not been asked that you would like to address?

Yes. I believe that the Monmouth County Reliability Project is a bad idea for our towns, and a bad idea for NJ Transit. Placing steel towers as high as 210 feet tall under 100 feet from residential properties will hurt the property values of homeowners. I also do not see how the project can be completed without serious impacting the ability of NJ Transit to continue commuter rail services along the line which so many of us rely on. I understand that First Energy and JCP&L find the guaranteed rate of return promised them by our Federal Government to be attractive, but that does not give them the right to harm the quality of life of residents throughout our district.

In Trenton I will fight with every fiber of my being to ensure that this project is not completed, and that residents from our towns are protected from future attempts by companies like First Energy and JCP&L.


You can find out more about Mariel DiDato on her website didato4njassembly.com 

Michelle Roth, Candidate For NJ State Assembly District 12: Answers 10 Questions

Michelle Roth has sat on the Manalapan Township committee for the past 5 years, last year she served the town as Mayor. She is currently seeking 1 of 2 seats that are up for grabs in the State's 12th Assembly District.

She was kind enough to return my 10 question questionnaire that I sent to candidates seeking assembly seats for Monmouth County. In doing so, Michelle Roth has become the 5th candidate to respond to my questionnaire.

While going over her responses I was struck by her business background and the fact that she earned an MBA in Finance from Fordham University. I also impressed by her ideas on how to control property taxes. She believes that if the emphasis for school funding was switch from property taxes to income taxes and school administration was centralized through the counties then savings could be realized through eliminating school districts and the consolidation of purchasing.

Read her reponses and decide for yourselves:

1. What is your motivation for seeking a seat in the NJ State Assembly and can you tell us a little about yourself?

I would like to change the way business is done in Trenton so we can get our spending under control and shift the funding of education away from property taxes and over to the State income tax system, where it belongs.

I earned an MBA in Finance from Fordham University and own a small consulting firm that does no business within the State of New Jersey. I have served on the Manalapan Township Committee for 5 years and was Mayor in 2008. I am married with three daughters.


2. As you meet residents throughout your district what seems to be the greatest concerns they are expressing and how do you plan to address them?

The only thing on everyone’s mind is the high cost of property taxes in New Jersey. There are several ways we can address this:

• - Shift the funding source for education from property taxes to the State Income Tax.
• - Shift school administration to the County level. This ensures greater economies of scale on purchasing, eliminates redundancies and centralizes management and hiring. This is done successfully elsewhere in our country without sacrificing quality in the classrooms. It will also be easier for budgeting oversight if there are only 21 school budgets to review Statewide instead of over 600.
• - Keep all police patrol functions local, but centralize administration at the County level. This works effectively in other states.

3. What do you hope to accomplish once you are elected to the State Assembly?

Make government more efficient.

4. What is it that makes your district unique and how does that uniqueness impact your campaign?

Our district is similar to other suburban districts. We have several small municipalities surrounded by larger ones.

5. If elected, how would your professional background enhance your ability to be an effective State Assembly representative?

My business background will be extremely valuable when dissecting the State’s budget. I have also had the opportunity to travel extensively within the US and internationally, which has allowed me to see how different ideas utilized by other governmental entities succeed elsewhere and then scrutinize what can be transplanted here.

6. Do you have any thoughts on how to contain the growth of state government?

Invest in infrastructure and technology to make government leaner and more efficient and less reliant on manpower.

7. Is there any aspect of state government that you believe there is a need to be expanded upon?

No

8. Why should residents of your district trust you to represent them in the legislature ?

The challenges that face us are both great and grave. We need to make sure that we have the right people in office making the tough decisions. As the Mayor of Manalapan, I made local government more transparent by televising all meetings and improving access to public records online. I prevented urban sprawl by purchasing open space and supporting farmland preservation programs. I also reduced the size of government while making it more efficient. I will work to do the same in Trenton.

Since I do not do business within the State of New Jersey, there is nothing I want from the Trenton machine. That means I will always do what is in the best interest of all the residents of the 12th district.

9. Why do you identify yourself as a Democrat as opposed to a Republican or Independent?

Although I am very fiscally conservative, I align socially with Democrats on issues such as women’s rights and civil rights.

10. Is there anything that is important to you that I hasn’t been asked, that you would like to address?

I believe we should institute campaign finance reform.