Voter Guide: New Jersey Legislative District 15

Editor’s Note: The following is a Voter’s Guide to New Jersey Legislative District 15 (of which Lawrence Township is a part) that was prepared by the League of Women Voters of New Jersey.

Introduction:

Unemployment, property taxes, education, eminent domain and the state’s energy needs; all hot button issues in the upcoming General Election. As part of an effort to encourage informed participation, the League of Women Voters of New Jersey has published the responses to 10 hard-hitting questions asked of all the candidates running for New Jersey Senate and Assembly in its 2011 Voters Guide unveiled on the League’s website www.lwvnj.org.

The questions reflect what matters most to New Jersey’s voters. Listed by district, the online 2011 Voters Guide provides an easy way of accessing the candidates’ responses. There is also a link to help voters find their district, which may have changed as a result of the 2010 census and redistricting and an analysis of the statewide public question that will appear on the November 8th ballot.

The League’s analysis of the ballot question includes the question and interpretive statement that will be found on the ballot, as well as a background of the question and reasons for voting yes and reasons for voting no.  The statewide public question asks if voters will allow the Legislature, when permitted by federal law, to legalize the placing of bets on certain sports events at casinos, racetracks, and former racetrack sites. 

“This nonpartisan information gives voters a fighting chance once they’re in the voting booth. It can be difficult to compare where candidates stand on policy issues or find information about ballot questions,” said Kerry Butch, executive director of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey.  “The League of Women Voters of New Jersey is happy to provide the tools to encourage voters to become more knowledgeable and cast a vote which best represents their own views and positions on November 8th.”

 The 2011 Voters Guide, the ballot question analysis, redistricting information, and a wealth of additional voter service information can be found at www.lwvnj.org. In addition, the League of Women Voters of New Jersey also offers a toll-free hotline, 1-800-792-VOTE (8683) for members of the public to call in with their voting questions. That hotline is staffed during business hours and will also be available on Election Day while the polls are open (6 a.m. – 8 p.m.) for voters in need of assistance.

Voters Guide - District 15

The League of Women Voters of New Jersey Education Fund encourages informed participation in the electoral process. As part of this mission, we formulated the following set of questions to ask all the New Jersey candidates running for New Jersey State Senate and Assembly. Answers have been truncated at 125 words and [truncated] indicates this in the body of the candidates’ answers. Answers have not been edited for spelling or grammar, but text using foul language, or attacking another candidate has been replaced with [content removed]. If a candidate did not return the questionnaire or did not provide a response to a particular question, “No Response Received” appears next to his or her name.  

Candidates for State Senate (in alphabetical order)

• Donald J. Cox (Republican)
• Shirley K. Turner (Democratic)

Candidates for State Assembly (in alphabetical order)

• Reed Gusciora (Democratic)
• Kathy Kilcommons (Republican)
• Bonnie Watson Coleman (Democratic)
• Peter M. Yull (Republican)

1. Property taxes concern many New Jersey residents. Do you think current programs, such as a cap on property tax hikes and rebates, are effective ways of dealing with them? What, if anything, do you think should be done about property taxes?

Senate Candidate Responses

Donald J. Cox: Property taxes are off the wall. I believe that there are many solutions to the high taxes in NJ. Starting with unreasonable regulations and edicts from the State without funding have created many of the problems on the local level. Duplication of services, DEP regulations and the method of paying for our schools. We need an entire look at how the municipalities of NJ were created, many from dividing up towns into smaller units, each with their own services. Funding of Education is a State issue by the Constitution of the U.S. and ultimately the State needs to look at a new method of funding.

Shirley K. Turner: No Response Received

Assembly Candidate Responses

Reed Gusciora: Throughout my legislative career, I have always championed for shared services and consolidation to reduce the burden on New Jersey taxpayers. By sharing services or merging towns, the size of local government will decrease, thus reducing local spending and property taxes. I am also the author of creating a constitutional amendment to cap the property tax assessment at 2.2% of a home’s value, but still allow values to float. In turn, this would reduce the average tax bill by 25%. It allows two years for the Legislature to make up the difference through alternative avenues, relieving our dependence on property taxes. I plan on continuing the work so that New Jersey is no longer one of the states with the highest property taxes.

Kathy Kilcommons: No Response Received

Bonnie Watson Coleman: The current cap, along with our State’s limited rebates, provide minimal relief for a very few. Unfortunately, the entire system needs to be restructured if taxpayers are to see any permanent relief. We are a state that relies too heavily on property taxes as our main source of revenue. Alternative methods need to be considered. In the meantime, funding must be allocated in its fullest form to programs like Senior Freeze and Homestead Rebates and other relief/assistance programs. Additionally, the level of State aid must appropriately match the need of the municipality and school district.

Peter M. Yull: Property taxes must be reduced, as must our overall tax burden here in NJ. There are myriad ways to do that but any proposal will require a broad base of support. Amongst the ideas in the formative stage appearing to have merit include State funding of our education system that eliminates the dependence on property tax. Controlling the cost of salaries and benefits of public officials. Consolidating municipal services where cost savings are real.

2. In July, the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics released preliminary unemployment figures that showed New Jersey with a 9.5% seasonally adjusted unemployment rate. While this is comparable to the national average of 9.2%, it is higher than our neighboring states. What is your plan to lower New Jersey’s unemployment rate?

Senate Candidate Responses

Donald J. Cox: Developing business to create jobs can be obtained through legislation that would eliminate tax structures, oppressive regulations that have chased and failed to lure business to New Jersey. We have lost many companies because of these factors. Oppressive taxation has caused $70,000,000,000 of wealth to leave for greener pastures in states with No income tax and free of oppressive regulations. My first order of business in the Senate would be to look at all of these to help develop industry and business in NJ.

Shirley K. Turner: No Response Received

Assembly Candidate Responses

Reed Gusciora: We should be encouraging more businesses to open shop here in New Jersey and making it a priority to keep them afloat. We need to keep state incentives and tax credit programs in order to stay competitive with our neighboring states. New Jersey is home to 15 of the world’s 20 largest biotech/pharmaceutical industries as well as hundreds of cottage companies that need state support and tax certificate programs. Expanding and sustaining our job market is critical for the stability of the entire state.

Kathy Kilcommons: No Response Received

Bonnie Watson Coleman: Jobs creation is a number one priority of mine. We need to incentivize small businesses to open up within our state and provide them with the tools and resources to keep their doors open and allow them to be successful. As a prime sponsor of the “Back to Work NJ Program” and the author of A.3589, which allows small women and minority owned businesses to qualify for EDA loads in designated regional centers, we must continue to create more opportunities for the working class to stay employed within our State. Both of these initiatives were vetoed by the current administration, yet I will continue to advocate for what these pieces of legislation intended to accomplish.

Peter M. Yull: Convince the Governor to release any and all State or Federal funding, not currently being used, for projects to provide for ongoing or new employment. I would work with the Governor on a jobs bill to provide incentives to NJ based companies to maintain jobs or provide for new hires here in NJ. I would work with the Governor in reviewing the onerous regulatory restrictions and eliminate the unnecessary, the redundant, and duplicated that put businesses in the position where they cannot hire productive workers.

3. Currently, N.J legislators are working on the “Opportunity Scholarship Act” a pilot program providing tax credits to entities contributing to scholarships for low-income children. Do you support this pilot program and/or expansion of this program?

Senate Candidate Responses

Donald J. Cox: I would support the “Opportunity Scholarship Act” to help low income children as an uplift to middle class. I have helped many children who grew up in the projects in Trenton to achieve success both in Trenton H.S., in College and in their careers. I can point to many successful former students at Trenton H.S.

Shirley K. Turner: No Response Received

Assembly Candidate Responses

Reed Gusciora: I believe that we, as legislators, must bring everyone to the table to discuss the root problems that are causing our public schools to fail. Relocating students through a voucher lottery does not address the fundamental problems in our underperforming school districts. It is merely a band-aid rather than a solution. To take students, resources, and money out of an underperforming school district and still expect the school to provide a thorough and efficient education seems to be a difficult approach.

Kathy Kilcommons: No Response Received

Bonnie Watson Coleman: I firmly believe that we must address the issues that are causing our public schools to fail rather than diverting critical resources away from these failing schools. Shifting students and resources will not create a sustainable solution for those schools that are underperforming nor will it allow them to better the quality of the school and the education they are providing without the resources they so desperately need. Another main concern is the lack of transparency and accountability that may ensue when school vouchers divert dollars from the public school to privately run and parochial schools.

Peter M. Yull: I like the concept of the “Opportunity Scholarship Act.”

4. As a result of the current economic crisis and associated budget cuts, municipalities are receiving less state aid. What, if anything, do you propose on the issue of state aid to municipalities?

Senate Candidate Responses

Donald J. Cox: Cut out much of the over regulations that are costing towns so much unnecessary expenditure. Payment in lieu of taxes by the State is essential in municipalities that have much State facilities.

Shirley K. Turner: No Response Received

Assembly Candidate Responses

Reed Gusciora: Our municipalities should be receiving the full funding of their municipal and school aid as well as any transitional aid or PILOT money awarded to municipalities for governmental buildings which do not pay property taxes.

Kathy Kilcommons: No Response Received

Bonnie Watson Coleman: I propose the restoration of full funding to help municipalities battle the current economic climate we are facing. Not only should they receive school and municipal aid in full, but also a restoration of transitional aid for our distressed cities like Trenton. Our towns, schools, and residents rely on this aid.

Peter M. Yull: State aid to municipalities is a most sensitive issue to me. The Township of Ewing has the highest number of State properties and suffers a loss of property tax revenue which drives up their property taxes. Trenton, the State Capital, has a large portion of its real estate occupied by State offices and suffers a loss of property tax revenue. The high concentration of State offices requires special municipal support services that get underfunded because of the State. A change needs to be made so the State of New Jersey is required to support the municipality where it occupies real property based on a specific formula.

5. Do you think the state should fund family planning services? Why or why not?

Senate Candidate Responses

Donald J. Cox: No, I don’t think that family planning is a place for the State to be involved. Family planning belongs in the home, church.

Shirley K. Turner: No Response Received

Assembly Candidate Responses

Reed Gusciora: I wholeheartedly believe in the necessity of family planning. I will continue to vote in favor of legislation which restored the funding, and also plan to

override any vetoes by our Governor, as I have done in the past. This funding is necessary in sustaining family planning services and providing the much needed resources for women and family. It is absolutely critical we get this funding back into these services for our low-income families throughout our state who have been disproportionally impacted.

Kathy Kilcommons: No Response Received

Bonnie Watson Coleman: It is disgrace that the Governor, again, vetoed the $7 million dollars allocated towards women’s healthcare and family planning. Studies have shown how these services and resources have been successful in reducing the number of unintended pregnancies and diseases while reducing our healthcare and social service costs. These cuts disproportionately hurt our State’s low income women and families who rely on these services as their main source of healthcare. I will continue to advocate for the restoration of these funds.

Peter M. Yull: Family planning services, strictly as such, should be funded for educational purposes only. Some people see “family planning services” as a euphemism for birth control services and abortions: if that’s your question ask it as such.

6. New Jersey’s energy needs are expanding. What is your plan to meet the increasing energy requirements in our state?

Senate Candidate Responses

Donald J. Cox: We need to ASAP convert as much as we can to Solar energy. I personally built and placed three solar panels on my own roof in 1979 and have encourage solar everywhere I can. I have participated in the Ewing Green Team since its inception and continue to this day. I believe the State has a role in encouraging solar utilization throughout our state.

Shirley K. Turner: No Response Received

Assembly Candidate Responses

Reed Gusciora: New Jersey is a leader in environmentally sound ideas and values, and we are a leader in implementing green, progressive laws that better our state and country all while creating a larger and more expansive green industry. As our energy needs expand, we need to promote renewable, clean energy and invest in wind, water and solar.

Kathy Kilcommons: No Response Received

Bonnie Watson Coleman: New Jersey’s energy needs are expanding and we need to explore our options with renewable, clean energy like solar and wind. Solar and wind create no hazardous emissions and both can be domestically produced. Our State must continue to invest in the cleanest and safest forms of energy that will help New Jersey stay green and sustainable.

Peter M. Yull: Our energy needs are assaulted by restrictions and fears. We want our energy but not the “mess” that goes with it. There are no completely safe sources and every source has its own set of negative environmental impacts. New Jersey does not have any indigenous geological energy sources so we must look elsewhere. I would support additional nuclear facilities that are smaller and easier to contain. A nuclear powered ship has a power capability to serve a large community and be self contained in a way that would withstand most external calamities. We can do the same with land based facilities.

7. Charter schools were originally written into legislation to innovate and share those innovations with school districts. Is that the mission you see for charter schools still or do you believe their main purpose should be to provide parental choice?

Senate Candidate Responses

Donald J. Cox: Charter schools can play an important role for families not happy with their public schools operation and/or focus. I believe that parental choice is also important and living in a community with good schools is a main focus for where to purchase a home.

Shirley K. Turner: No Response Received

Assembly Candidate Responses

Reed Gusciora: The original intent behind charter schools was to experiment with educational curricula not offered, or poorly executed, at the traditional public school level, and to do so at a substantial savings to taxpayers. While charter schools are valuable alternatives in locations where the public school is unable to meet the needs of its students, diverting resources from successful public schools to establish esoteric charter schools should not be the purpose of state-funded grants.

Kathy Kilcommons: No Response Received

Bonnie Watson Coleman: Charter schools are established to provide innovative curriculum where the public schools are failing the children and their education. They are also supposed to be at the taxpayers benefit by providing an educational opportunity without an overly burdensome cost to the taxpayer. Notwithstanding, our New Jersey charter school system needs to have more accountability and oversight through the Department of Education. With the recent closing of two charters in Trenton due to financial mismanagement, our public schools had to pick up the pieces at their own cost.

Peter M. Yull: The mission of our charter schools should be both to innovate and share those innovations with schools districts and provide parents the choice to have their children participate in those schools and be involved in the innovative education. Charter schools, in my mind, are not the same as “school choice.”

8. In a 2010 budget report, the United State House of Representatives identified the need for a focused study of hydraulic fracturing. The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to complete the study by late 2014 with initial study results available by late 2012. As a New Jersey legislator, how would you approach the issue of hydraulic fracturing?

Senate Candidate Responses

Donald J. Cox: I believe that no action should be taken until the results of the study have been completed and announced. Much of the news regarding fracturing has been in favor of using it as a measure of attaining greater gas, particularly for heating and cooking. Reports have indicated both positive and negative results in States like Pennsylvania.

Shirley K. Turner: No Response Received

Assembly Candidate Responses

Reed Gusciora: I have been rigorously working with the Delaware River Basin Commission to raise awareness and support legislation against the method of “fracking.” I have been working to develop legislation that encompasses the necessary restrictions and prohibitions on hydraulic fracturing, a method practiced in our neighboring state of Pennsylvania. I currently am the second prime on all anti-fracking legislation and proudly sponsored Assembly Resolution that was filed this past March which urged Congress to enact the ‘Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals (FRAC) Act”

Kathy Kilcommons: No Response Received

Bonnie Watson Coleman: When it comes to hydraulic fracturing, I believe that the study completed by the Environmental Protection Agency will have valuable knowledge and advice to determine the extent of potential dangers. I believe that the practice of fracturing needs to be evaluated extensively so we can better understand and weigh all the risks and benefits at hand. I support the moratorium until further analysis is released and applied to our State.

Peter M. Yull: With the level of our energy needs and the cost for energy, fracturing has become economically attractive. Environmentally it poses some serious questions that involve specifically the Delaware River water basin (and the Susquehanna in neighboring Pennsylvania). I would first strive to get away from the emotional posturing. I want facts. I would discuss with our Congressional delegation the possibility of accelerating the study dates so those in the industry aren’t destroying the environment (and our water supply) and the people that are emotionally invested aren’t misled into destroying a possibly safe, needed industry.

9. The NJ Transportation Trust Fund, which funds construction and repairs of New Jersey's bridges, highways, and mass transit system, has been under-funded and in danger of going bankrupt. There has been much debate over how to fund needed infrastructure development and repairs. How would you suggest funding New Jersey’s transportation infrastructure needs?

Senate Candidate Responses

Donald J. Cox: Funding of the NJ Transportation Trust Fund has been through gasoline taxes and some funding taken from the general funds of the State. It has been publicized

that gasoline tax money has been used in the General Fund for other purposes. Since NJ has the greatest amount of public transit system in the country and since much of the system is Interstate I believe that the Federal Govt. has a major role and not the tax payers of NJ for much of the Interstate transportation system. The tolls on our two major highways, the Parkway and the Turnpike should be sufficient to maintain and improve those highways. The users should pay for them.

Shirley K. Turner: No Response Received

Assembly Candidate Responses

Reed Gusciora: Opening up the dialogue regarding the New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund would help us lay out all the options we have at our hands to find funding for our State’s infrastructure plans. We need partnerships that will invest long-term in our State and help build the Trust Fund’s base.

Kathy Kilcommons: No Response Received

Bonnie Watson Coleman: The New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund needs to have the necessary appropriations for projects and repairs to our bridges, highways, and mass transit systems. We need public-private partnerships to help funding with a long-term investment incentive.

Peter M. Yull: The Transportation Trust Fund monies were, to an extent, frittered away by politics and now we have to face reality. Everyone wants the roads and bridges fixed but, I’m told, nobody wants to pay. “No new taxes” is the cry across the land. I propose a two part solution: 1. a five cent per gallon tax increase at the pump for two years, and it goes away after two years; and 2. all motor vehicle monies – that’s taxes, fees, et al, -go into a "lock box” for transportation purpose s only, to include paying off the Trust Fund, and cannot be moved to any other purpose by the Legislature, the Governor, or the Judiciary. This legislation would stipulate the Transportation Trust Fund would be [truncated]

10. The legislature has not enacted reforms to the state’s Local Redevelopment and Housing Law, despite recent Supreme Court (Gallenthin v. Paulsboro) and Appellate Court (Harrison Redevelopment Agency v. De Rose) decisions which call the existing statutes into question. If elected, how would you propose to update the state’s land use laws to conform to the above cited court decisions?

Senate Candidate Responses

Donald J. Cox: Having served on my local Council I understand the ramifications of the COAH regulations and some of the ridiculous establishment of requirements based on criteria that many municipalities could hardly accommodate. Ridiculous Redevelopment Plans intended to meet the requirements of the Court decisions have caused a waste of money, time and many families have chosen to move to avoid stupid plans that encroach on family values. I believe that local zoning is the best way to conform to the recent decisions.

Shirley K. Turner: No Response Received

Assembly Candidate Responses

Reed Gusciora: Our Local Redevelopment and Housing Law should abide by Supreme Court decisions as well as our constitution. That being said, I am not opposed to open testimony in ways to bridge the courts’ cases and the current law to ensure everyone is being treated appropriately and fairly in this land use manner.

Kathy Kilcommons: No Response Received

Bonnie Watson Coleman: First and foremost, the state’s land use laws must be fair. Notwithstanding, it should never be easy for the government to take away someone’s home and property, especially in this economic climate that we are facing. We need a bicameral compromise and commitment of cooperation in order to revisit the Local Redevelopment and Housing Laws to make sure both homeowners and municipalities have fair representation in the laws.

Peter M. Yull: The stated cases, and the related Iron Mountain v. City of Newark. appear to need a cure involving consistency in service of notice in cases of eminent domain. I would suggest a requirement of personal service with due diligence to all parties with real property interests in any matter subject to blight designations or eminent domain proceedings.