WINNER: Anthony M. Bucco - Incumbent:
As a sponsor or several economic growth bills, I will continue to work with the Governor and his Administration to continue to enact new policies that will foster private sector job growth. As a member of the Budget committee, I will continue to advocate for fiscally responsible budgets that cut spending and don't raise taxes. Ease the burden of property taxes by passing the rest of the Toolkit.
WINNER: Anthony M. Bucco - Incumbent:
Parents should have a choice where they want to educate their child, especially in the over 200 chronically failing schools, which is why I am a co-sponsor of the Opportunity Scholarship Act, A-2810 and I have sponsored the Parental Rights Program Act, A-4033. Also I support the expansion of charter schools statewide because it is another option for parents to have when choosing the best avenue to educate their child. Charter schools have proven that they can educate students at a higher level and at a lower cost than many public schools.
WINNER: Anthony M. Bucco - Incumbent:
The current school funding formula is unfair because for years the courts have dictated school funding policy instead of the Legislature. A new funding formula needs to be developed that is fair for all taxpayers statewide and does not send disproportionate aid to the former Abbott districts. Also wasteful spending needs to be eliminated so that every dollar spent by school districts is being efficiently spent on educating the students.
WINNER: Anthony M. Bucco - Incumbent:
The state already has two very successful land preservation programs, the Open Space Green Acres and Farmland Preservation Fund’s, which have prevented sprawl and protected our state’s valuable natural resources. Future funding should involve all stakeholders including voter approval by taxpayers.
WINNER: Anthony M. Bucco - Incumbent:
I am supportive of the Energy Master Plan that has been proposed by Governor Christie because I believe it balances the state’s long term energy needs with the promotion of renewable energy sources. The development and utilization of alternative energy sources, such as solar and wind, are important but the State needs to strike a delicate balance and not offer excessive subsidies to artificially lower the cost of these energy sources. We need to work to reduce energy costs for all users, especially the heaviest consumers, businesses.
WINNER: Anthony M. Bucco - Incumbent:
In order to fund the future needs of our transportation system, I support the plan that Governor Christie put forth this year as part of the FY2012 budget that was passed on a bi-partisan basis. The five year plan will ensure that key infrastructure projects will be funded including several improvements to our port region. The projects will create thousands of jobs and also ensure that major businesses stay in New Jersey.
WINNER: Anthony M. Bucco - Incumbent:
Last year the Legislature took significant steps to begin to ease the burden of property taxes by passing several reforms including a property tax cap and arbitration reform. As a strong and vocal supporter of both reforms, those two reforms alone will not solve the property tax problem. The complete Toolkit package of reforms must also be passed and signed into law so that real change can be made to stem rising property taxes. Two important civil service bills, which I have sponsored, A-2954 and A-2955, will help local governments reduce the cost of doing business.
WINNER: Anthony M. Bucco - Incumbent:
Part of the contentious public discourse, I believe, is rooted in the lack of transparency by government which results in a lack of trust by the public. Increased transparency will help the public become more knowledgeable on what is taking place in government and hopefully will lead to improved dialogue. Also I believe the public's lack of access to elected officials is frustrating, so elected officials need to become more available to the public, through town hall meetings and community outreach initiatives, in order to hear direct from the public their issues and concerns.
Full Name:
Anthony M. Bucco
Party:
Republican
Incumbent:
2010
Phone:
201-924-9315
Birthday:
04/12/1962
Education:
BA, Lycoming College, Managerial Economics/Business Administration; JD, Seton Hall University School of Law
Public Service:
Governors Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, 1998-2009; Boonton Board of Education, 1988-1993
WINNER: Michael Patrick Carroll - Incumbent:
Only one is necessary: advancing freedom. NJ should be striving to make itself the freest state in the country, with the smallest, least intrusive, least expensive government anywhere.
WINNER: Michael Patrick Carroll - Incumbent:
Yes
WINNER: Michael Patrick Carroll - Incumbent:
All children should be treated the same, with each receiving an equal voucher, redeemable by his parents at that school which best suits his needs, or by the parents if they home school.
WINNER: Michael Patrick Carroll - Incumbent:
No. Excessive governmental involvement in land use causes sprawl.
WINNER: Michael Patrick Carroll - Incumbent:
While it's better than that which went before, we'd be better served encouraging more nuclear power and less expensive, politically-correct mandates such as wind and solar.
WINNER: Michael Patrick Carroll - Incumbent:
Pay as we go through the existing gas tax, coupled with efforts to ensure that the taxpayers get the most bang for their tax dollar, through cost cutting efforts, like repealing prevailing wage laws.
WINNER: Michael Patrick Carroll - Incumbent:
Universal, equal educational vouchers would cut property taxes by half or more in the overwhelming majority of municipalities.
WINNER: Michael Patrick Carroll - Incumbent:
Honesty.
Full Name:
Michael Patrick Carroll
Party:
GOP
Incumbent:
1996
Phone:
973-451-0030
Birthday:
04/08/1958
Education:
BA, Johns Hopkins University, History/Political Science; JD, Rutgers School of Law-Newark
Public Service:
Assembly, 1996-
Gale Heiss Colucci:
The candidate has not responded to repeated requests to answer questions.
Gale Heiss Colucci:
The candidate has not responded to repeated requests to answer questions.
Gale Heiss Colucci:
The candidate has not responded to repeated requests to answer questions.
Gale Heiss Colucci:
The candidate has not responded to repeated requests to answer questions.
Gale Heiss Colucci:
The candidate has not responded to repeated requests to answer questions.
Gale Heiss Colucci:
The candidate has not responded to repeated requests to answer questions.
Gale Heiss Colucci:
The candidate has not responded to repeated requests to answer questions.
Gale Heiss Colucci:
The candidate has not responded to repeated requests to answer questions.
Full Name:
Gale Heiss Colucci
Party:
Democrat
Incumbent:
No
Phone:
973-366-2194
Birthday:
06/01/1952
George Stafford:
Stop expensive no-bid professional contracts. Redo state pension solution so the Legislature admits responsibility and remits funds. Consolidate towns to increase efficiency on a large scale.
George Stafford:
The state should stop experimenting with school types and work on making public schools work. The problem is that there are too many pet solutions to small problems and not enough concentrated effort to make public schools work. We need more teachers and fewer new programs, experiments, consultants, testing and expenses. Let teachers teach and let children learn.
George Stafford:
The urban districts issue is still in the hands of the court. The court became involved because the localities and the state failed the children of our largest cities. The issue of money spent per child may be a question of fairness but safe, efficient schools with well paid dedicated teachers will go a long way toward better opportunity for urban kids. But the best schools cannot over come economic misfortune that is a larger issue. Education cannot be held solely responsible for the inequities of our society.
George Stafford:
The accomplishments of the Meadowlands Commission and the Pinelands Commission are among the greatest achievements in regional planning in American history. Anyone who went to New York City in the 50's, 60's or 70's through the burning, smoking, rotten Meadows of Bergen and Hudson County can testify to the miracle that the Meadows are today. We have the right and the obligation to preserve our state for the future. We must preserve individual rights. But those rights do not include becoming a millionaire simply because your great grandpa once bought a farm.
George Stafford:
No. The Governor's lofty goals are surrounded with dollar signs. A few years ago we were national leaders in solar energy. Now the Republican plan is a return to smoke and choke to preserve the investments of the utilities.
George Stafford:
It is far cheaper and easier to fix a bridge than it is to replace a collapsed one. The first thing we should do is stop throwing money back into the face of the Federal Government for right wing ideology's sake. Let us follow the examples of Delaware and New Hampshire and harvest some money from those who pass through our state. But borrow if necessary to maintain the infrastructure because upkeep is far cheaper than replacement.
George Stafford:
New Jersey has more police chiefs than Alaska has state troopers. We have around 500 chiefs for localities. Alaska has 250 uniformed troopers. Alaska is somewhat bigger than N.J.. If you're driving 65 mph on the Parkway thru Bergen County you'll go thru about 2 jurisdictions per minute. This screwball picture is true of every local and county service in the state. Sharing service was a good idea 20 years ago. The only solution to low property taxes is fewer, far fewer administrative bodies in this crowded state. Serious consolidation would save billions not nickels and dimes.
George Stafford:
Get the no bid contract-"you scratch my back" money out of politics. End pay to play for real. Eliminate state and county officials doing business with localities. Have fewer towns with greater non-paid local representation; towns of 100,000 per minimum and elected councils of 50 or more representing neighborhoods.
Full Name:
George Joseph Padraic Stafford
Party:
Democratic
Incumbent:
No
Phone:
973-615-6321
Education:
Morris Hills High School
Transylvania University (1971)
Public Service:
CYO, Rec. and Public School coaching. Charity work for YMCAs, E.I.E.S. of NJ.
e.thePeople
