Election Profile: Edward Thomson For NJ 30 General Assembly

HOWELL, NJ — Come Nov. 2 Howell residents will get to cast their votes for two candidates to fill the legislative district 30 General Assembly seats.

Incumbent Republicans Sean Kean and Edward Thomson will be challenged by Democrats Stephen Dobbins and Matthew Filosa.

Thompson, 68, is a pension actuary who has previously served as mayor, committeeman, planning board member and zoning board member of Wall Township, as well as a member of the Board of Trustees of the New Jersey Public Employees Retirement System.

He is also a father of three and has attended the New Jersey Institute of Technology and the College of Insurance.

Are you running for local office in 2021? Contact Catarina Moura at catarina.moura@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate profile and submitting campaign announcements to Patch.

READ MORE: Howell 2021 Election: Who's Running, All The Ways To Vote

Why are you seeking reelection?

My background as an actuary, combined with my experience in local government and as a small business owner, has given me the unique expertise to tackle our state’s financial woes.

What is the most important issue facing the district and what are you planning to do about it?

The most important issue facing our district is the urgent need to make living and working in New Jersey more affordable for taxpayers and job-creating businesses.

I am also seeking to safeguard our pension system, bolster our economy and preserve our quality life, including tackling crime and supporting our police.

What are other important issues you are running on?

In the most recent term, I am particularly proud of our efforts to overturn the dangerous law that prevented police from notifying parents if their child was found to be in possession of marijuana or alcohol.

As a father of three children, I am committed to preserving the superior quality of life we enjoy in our area by supporting law enforcement and imposing harsh penalties on lawbreakers who undermine public safety.

Is there anything else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I will continue to oppose Trenton’s affordable housing mandates that are forcing towns to construct, in some cases, hundreds of affordable housing units.

Finally, I will continue to take on New Jersey’s “affordability crisis”, which is fueled in large part by increasing property taxes, that is forcing too many New Jerseyans to flee our state for more affordable locations like Florida and the Carolinas.