Issues

Education

If we can all agree on one thing, it's that our children's education is one of the most important reasons we choose to live in a certain community at all. Yet many of our schools are struggling, either by failing to meet No Child Left Behind's requirements for improvement, cutting parts of the curriculum, and in many cases eviscerating extra-curricular programs that turn schools into the center of our communities.
At the same time, the property taxes that fund our schools are unaffordable and unsustainable.
As your representative, I will work to support our school systems while at the same time keeping our taxes manageable. To this end I will start with:
- Work with Trenton to get more of your state taxes returned to our community.
- Implementing the Department of Community Affairs Agenda on shared services, thereby maximizing resources and allowing us to focus community dollars in our schools.
- Develop state programs that can be placed in schools with dollar saving “tool-kits.”
Sustainability & Environmental Issues
One of the 25th Legislative District's greatest attributes is its wealth of natural resources. From clean drinking water, to air quality, to outdoor recreational facilities, we have a lot to be thankful for and a lot of work to do to maintain these resources.
- I will work with the well-established constellation of environmental organizations to ensure that our environment is protected, while at the same time ensuring fairness in the application of regulations.
- Public/private partnerships create opportunities to bring revenues to community projects. My strong leadership will be able to bring together funders and community stakeholders.
- Development of community transport options that get people out of their cars and onto feet and bicycles will cut down on pollutants and bring all the advantages of both environmentalism and fitness!
Creative Policy Development
With an M.A. in Public Policy and International Affairs and my current doctoral work, I have extensive experience in policy analysis, evaluation, and development.
- I will identify programs across policy arenas that don't work and cut them.
- I will use my expertise in criminal justice reform to cut wasteful spending on failing programs.
- I will work to identify successful programs (especially focusing on education) and work to replicate them across the state--thus ensuring that our children aren't subjected to untested and irrational programs.
Efficacy
A lot of politics is big talk, but I'm about getting things done. The 25th District doesn't need demagoguery, it needs leaders who are committed to keeping Morris County a great place to live and are not afraid to work with Trenton instead of against it!
- Currently the 25th Distict sends more tax money to Trenton than it gets back. I will negotiate with the Trenton establishment to bring more back, thereby reducing the tax burden on municipalities.
- Through public-private partnerships, there are creative ways to solve problems that don't break our budgets. Following models like Sustainable Jersey we will look to develop mutually beneficial relationships to solve land use, school budget, and public services problems.
- Small businesses make up the backbone of any prosperous community, I will both create and deliver incentives, especially for women and other under-represented groups--. I will work with businesses and start-ups to ensure that they are matched with all possible means of support.
- The Democratic Majority is more likely to listen to someone whose vote can help them in tight spots than a Republican who stands on obstinance.