Breakfast Fundraiser with Special Guest Senator Cory Booker in Asbury Park

Downey and Houghtaling Push for Improvements, Updates on School Funding

June 22nd, 2017

Long Branch - After days of closed door negotiations between Democratic leadership and Governor Christie, still no updated details have emerged on the progress of the school funding proposal put forward by Senator Sweeney and Speaker Prieto. Assembly members Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey addressed their frustration and highlighted their efforts to push through needed improvements:

“We have been in constant communication with Democratic legislative leadership urging them to address the concerning funding shortfalls in the original Prieto-Sweeney proposal. Too many of our districts are facing funding losses and the massive challenge of rewriting budgets for this coming year with fewer funds than they had anticipated. The upheaval that this proposal will cause for a number of our schools cannot be allowed to just slip by.

Every student, no matter what school they attend, should know they’re getting a fair share, and we are still a long way away from that. We will continue to push Democratic legislative leadership until this proposal is improved.

As assembly members, we have consistently focused on the need to address New Jersey’s school funding crisis and we are proud to see that after years of ignoring the issue, Trenton is finally starting a conversation. We remain committed to passing true, long-term school funding legislation that fully funds all our schools and addresses the issues at the foundation of the crisis. Our children have been caught in a political battle for too long and we need to put forward legislation that address the issue once and for all.”

Houghtaling and Downey Call for Suspension of Tax Administrator

For Immediate Release:
11/24/15

Asks on Current Monmouth Legislators and County Officials to do the same

Assemblymembers Elect Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey are calling on Monmouth County officials to move toward the suspension of Monmouth County Tax Administrator Matthew S. Clark.

“Matthew Clark has cast an even larger shadow over Monmouth County’s controversial tax program and we do not believe taxpayers can trust its implementation with an administrator who is part of an ongoing investigation. We are asking all twelve state legislators and five county freeholders representing Monmouth County to join us in calling for Clark’s suspension. There is too much at risk for taxpayers.”

Clark is part of an ongoing investigation into the controversial tax program implemented by Monmouth County, the Assessment Demonstration Program. The investigation gained momentum when emails released showed Clark shared sensitive information about Ocean Township’s reassessment project with a private contractor, Realty Appraisal Co. Realty Appraisal went on to win a contract worth more than $500,000 with Ocean Township just months later. Several Monmouth County mayors have already expressed frustration with the program and some municipalities have moved to file suit with the county in response. The ADP Program was enacted by legislation sponsored by several current members of the Monmouth County Legislative Delegation.

Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey were elected in early November 2015 to the New Jersey General Assembly to represent the 11th Legislative District. The district encompasses 18 municipalities stretching from Freehold to Monmouth County’s eastern shore. Houghtaling and Downey begin their first terms in the State Legislature on January 12th.

Big Night For Dems In The 11Th Assembly District

The biggest upset of the night came in the 11th Assembly District; Democrats Eric Houghtaling and Joan Downey defeated Republican incumbents Mary Pat Angelini and Caroline Casagrande.

The 11th District has been a Republican stronghold for a very long time. However, it was only a matter of time, Democrats have been making inroads throughout the district for the past several years. A lot of hard work has been put in over the years laid the ground work and was the difference.

Monmouth County Democrats, Vin Gopal and the candidates Houghtaling and Downey, deserve a lot of credit for unseating Angelini and Casagrande. Their hard work finally paid off!

NJ Watchdog: GOP loses four Assembly seats as Christie watches

Four GOP incumbents lose NJ Assembly seats as Christie watches

Four incumbent Republicans lost their seats Tuesday as the Democrats gained their biggest majority in the New Jersey Assembly since 1979.

With almost all ballots counted, unofficial election results give Democrats a commanding 52 to 28 advantage in the Assembly – but still two short of the supermajority needed to override Gov. Chris Christie’s vetoes.

Christie's political coattails were virtually non-existent. The governor, busy running for president, did not make any public campaign appearances on behalf of GOP Assembly candidates.

Republicans lost both of their seats in the 11th District that covers northern Monmouth County. In a tight race, incumbents Mary Pat Angelini and Caroline Casagrande were edged out by Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey. Angelini lost by 165 votes, less than one-third of one percent of the votes cast.

The margin of victory was even narrower in Central Jersey’s 16th District, where Democratic challenger Andrew Zwicker squeaked by Assemb. Donna Simon with only 29 votes to spare. The result could be altered by uncounted absentee votes or a recount.

In South Jersey’s 1st District, Assemb. Sam Fiocchi lost to challenger Bruce Land by three percentage points.

All of the incumbent Democrats running for re-election won their contests.

The story is online at http://watchdog.org/245625/gop-incumbents-lose-christie/.