Meet Congressman Frank Pallone, Running For Re-Election

MATAWAN, NJ — Every two years, there is an election for who will represent New Jersey's Sixth Congressional District in U.S. Congress.

"NJ Six," as it's called, has been represented by Congressman Frank Pallone, a Democrat, for the past 36 years, since Pallone was first elected to Congress in 1988.

This year, Pallone is challenged by Scott Fegler, a Republican who grew up in Matawan and currently lives in Highlands. Matthew Amitrano of Piscataway (Libertarian), Herb Tarbous of Piscataway (Green Party) and Fahad Akhtar of Princeton (Common Sense Independent) are also running.

Patch asked Congressman Pallone and Fegler a similar — but not identical — set of questions, so they could introduce themselves to voters in New Jersey's Sixth District. Here are Fegler's answers, and Pallone's is as follows:

But wait, first: Do I live in New Jersey's Sixth District? Is Rep. Pallone my congressman?

According to its Wikipedia page, "NJ 6" represents the towns of Carteret, Woodbridge, Edison, Highland Park, Metuchen, New Brunswick, part of Old Bridge, Perth Amboy, Piscataway, Sayreville, South Amboy, South Plainfield, Matawan, Aberdeen, Asbury Park, Atlantic Highlands, Bradley Beach, Deal, Fair Haven, Hazlet, Highlands and Atlantic Highlands, Keansburg, Keyport, Little Silver, Long Branch and West Long Branch, the northern part of Middletown (south Middletown is NJ 4/Rep. Chris Smith), Monmouth Beach, Neptune City and Neptune Township, Oceanport, Red Bank, Rumson, Sea Bright and Union Beach.

1. Can Frank introduce himself to voters in NJ 6: How long has he served in Congress, what did he do for a career prior to being in Congress, does he have a wife and kids?

My name is Frank Pallone. I was born and raised in Long Branch where I graduated from Long Branch High School. I attended Middlebury College in Vermont for undergrad, received a master’s degree from the Tufts University Fletcher School and a law degree from Rutgers University. Before being elected to Congress I served on the Long Branch City Council and served in the New Jersey State Senate from the 11th legislative district. My wife Sarah and I still live in Long Branch where we raised our three children Rose, Frank and Celeste.

2. Why does Rep. Pallone continually run for re-election to represent Central Jersey in Congress, and why should voters re-elect him in 2024?

I'm running to make a difference in the lives of the constituents in the 6th Congressional District who want a fair playing field that allows them to work hard, provide for their families and get ahead. People are sick of taxpayer handouts to big corporations and billionaires who always find a way to make sure the rules and tax laws don't apply to them. I have been successful in passing legislation like Medicare prescription drug negotiations, a historic climate change action bill (the Green New Deal) and bringing home millions of dollars to meet the needs of our communities. But there is so much more to do to make life easier for working families and restore fundamental rights like a woman's right to choose.

3. In his Q&A with Patch, Fegler said Pallone has failed voters because he has consistently supported increased government spending, "which has contributed to rising inflation and economic instability." Pallone did vote for the American Rescue Plan in 2021, which some say led to the inflation we witnessed in the past several years. Would Pallone like to respond?

When Republicans say they want to cut government spending, what they really mean is they want to cut Social Security benefits. They want to make Medicare more expensive for the average senior. They want to cut education funding and programs that help people put food on the table. What you won’t hear Republicans say they want to reverse is the trillion-dollar tax cut they and Donald Trump gave to the richest 1% of Americans and billion-dollar corporations, which added trillions of dollars of debt to the federal deficit. That’s not what I am about, and I think Congress has a duty to support and lift up all Americans.

I am proud of my vote for the American Rescue Plan, which gave Americans and businesses a lifeline during the global Covid-19 pandemic. Many economists agree that without this economic stimulus, our country would have faced severe economic decline and a possible depression. Consequently, America has avoided a recession and instead has grown over the last four years under the Biden-Harris Administration while many economies around the world continue to struggle. It is true that global inflation has hurt many households. We have been able to reduce the rate of inflation here in America significantly through our economic plans, but there is more work that must be done — like fighting corporate greed that is driving up the price of essential goods and services.

4. Can Pallone say why he supports wind turbines off the Jersey Shore? Is he concerned sonar used to build the turbines could harm marine life?

Climate change is real. The science is also clear that the continued burning of fossil fuels at the rate we are today is accelerating global warming that is causing our oceans to warm and rise. That’s creating stronger and more devastating storms that are destroying our communities. Here in New Jersey, we have the unique opportunity to harness the wind off our shore to supplement the energy needs of our state. The Biden-Harris Administration has taken great lengths to implement offshore wind in a way that minimizes any environmental harm, protects fishing grounds and preserves the beauty of our beaches.

There has been a lot of misinformation circulating that wind turbines and its preliminary construction are harming marine mammals, but the science says otherwise. What the science does say is that warming oceans, increases in traffic within massive shipping lanes, and pollution entanglements are the main causes of whale deaths. Anyone who truly cares about marine life will focus on the problems that we know are injuring and killing them rather than scapegoating renewable energy.

5. Does Pallone think the Biden/Harris administration have done a good job on immigration in the past four years?

Unless Congress acts to fix our broken immigration system, we will continue to have major issues at the border. This year, we had a once-in-a-generation bipartisan immigration reform deal that would have increased border patrol at the southern border and fixed the backlogs of legal immigration cases. However, Republicans heeded the call from Donald Trump to kill the bill so he could use it as a campaign issue. It’s time Republicans stop playing games and work with Democrats to help solve the problem.

6. Can Pallone talk about Roe v. Wade being overturned?

The United States Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade was a travesty and Donald Trump bears the blame. It’s extremely sad and frustrating that my daughters and all women have fewer rights today than the previous generation. Women and their doctors must have the ability to make their own healthcare decisions without interference by politicians, no matter what state they live in. Now with the overturning of Roe v. Wade, some states are trying to ban IVF treatment and limit the use of birth control. It’s unfortunate that my opponent celebrates the overturning of Roe v. Wade and does not respect women to make their own healthcare choices.

7. Fegler is a big fan of Trump. Can Pallone briefly talk about why he disagrees with Trump.

Former President Donald Trump is a convicted felon with multiple charges still pending. He has been found civilly liable for sexually assaulting a woman. He lies to the American people with impunity, demeans the military and pits Americans against each other, rather than unite us. Let us not also forget that he led an insurrection against the United States Capitol to try and overturn a legal election that he clearly lost.

Donald Trump is not a person I would want elected to anything, let alone the Presidency again. I think it is unfortunate that my opponent is such a big fan.

8. Fegler and many others in America think there should be term limits for Congress; Fegler said 12 years. Frank, you have been in office for 36 years. Do you think there should be term limits?

Every two years, as enshrined in the Constitution, voters judge my job performance as their representative in Congress. I run on my record and my vision for the future. Unlike Donald Trump and his allies, I respect the will of the voters.

9. What are the biggest challenges facing this part of New Jersey and America right now, and in the next 2-5 years? How does Rep. Pallone propose fixing them?

As the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, I have a unique opportunity to tackle some of the most pressing issues facing working families in New Jersey and our entire country. I want to expand Medicare prescription drug negotiations to everyone with health insurance bringing expenses down for essential medication. I want to strengthen subsidies in the Affordable Care Act so every person has the ability to afford the health care they need. I will continue to hold big oil companies accountable for price gouging, which drives up prices at the pump. I support clean energy technology that will not only help us combat climate change, but create good-paying jobs right here in New Jersey. I will also never stop working to codify a woman's right to choose into federal law.

10. Every two years, a Republican tries to unseat you and fails. Why do you think this is?

I am always humbled by the support I receive from voters across the district. I work tirelessly to improve the lives of working-class families in Monmouth and Middlesex counties. In my district offices, we have helped tens of thousands of constituents receive benefits they are owed with a constant eye on making sure their government is working for them. The truth is I care about the people of this community because I am one of them. I have lived here my entire life. I see my fellow residents at the supermarket and at community events. I listen to their concerns, and I take action. I humbly ask voters to put their confidence in me so I can continue to work hard for you.

Related: Meet Scott Fegler, Republican Challenging Rep. Frank Pallone This Year (Oct. 7)

The election will be Nov. 5. Voters can also vote early in person Oct. 26 - Nov. 3. Find your early voting place here: https://nj.gov/state/elections...

There is also mail-in voting.

Any questions or topics you think I missed? Email this reporter: carly.baldwin@patch.com