Election 2022: 11th Congressional District Candidate Paul DeGroot

NEW JERSEY — In a few days, New Jersey residents will head to the polls to vote in the House of Representatives general election.

Two candidates are vying to unseat Democrat Mikie Sherrill, who won the seat for the first time in 2018. Paul DeGroot, a member of the Republican Party and Joseph Biasco, who is running as an Independent, will challenge Sherrill.

Patch sent out questionnaires to local candidates and will run profiles for those running this year.

Here are candidate Paul DeGroot's answers below:

• Name: Paul DeGroot
• Age: 56
• Town of residence: Pine Brook
• Position sought: NJ Congressional District 11
• Party affiliation: Republican

• Education: BA University of Maryland- Political Science, JD Widener University
• Occupation: Attorney
• Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?: No
• Previous or current elected appointed office: None

Why are you seeking this office?

When I retired after 25 years with the prosecutors office, I could have stayed home and spent time with my family and two young children; Alex 4 1/2 and Jordan 2; but at a time when the country was on the wrong track with out of control inflation, sky-high gas prices, rising grocery prices and even worse, empty shelves, I knew I had to run for Congress to try and get this country on the right track. I've never been one to stand on the sidelines, when I see a problem I want to fix it.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is___, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Across CD11, families are getting crushed by high inflation. Grocery carts are half full. Winter is coming and senior citizens may have to choose between food or heat. There's pain at the pump. At the end of the day, we have to reel in the reckless government spending that is fueling these issues. Calling a bill the "Inflation Reduction Act" while it's filled with funds for irrelevant pork projects is a terrible lie to the American people. We need to get back to clean, single issue bills. We need an infrastructure bill to be about infrastructure. New Jerseyan"s are struggling and they are hurt by the blank check policies of Washington politicians.

Communities across New Jersey have seen an increase in car thefts over the past year or so. Do you think the government is doing enough to combat this issue? If not, what needs to be done to better prevent these crimes?

One thing we can't do is pierce qualified immunity like my opponent wants to do. How demoralizing is it for a police officer to do his job if he has to fear being personally sued for doing his job if he tackles a criminal and that criminal breaks his arm. And we've got to end the soft on crime policies like bail reform, which in reality means letting criminals back onto the streets. I spent 25 years putting criminals in jail, and we can't keep entertaining policies that incentivize dangerous behavior.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

First and foremost, I'm a pragmatic outsider. Unlike my opponent, Mikie Sherrill, I've never been fined for violating federal law on stock trading. I actually was the chief prosecutor over government corruption during my time as a prosecutor. The choice her is clear. We can have more of the same lack of leadership from Mikie Sherrill that has given us high crime, high prices at the grocery store and the gas pump, and an open border; or we can go a different route and elect and outsider who is beholden to nobody who will put the needs of New Jersey first.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

During my time in the Passaic County prosecutor's office, I dealt with issues that many in North Jersey are facing today. I was the chief for homicide, narcotics and government corruption. I think a government corruption prosecutor is exactly what we need in Congress. I handled cases involving illegal immigrants. I got illegal guns and drugs off the street. I answered the 3:30 a.m. calls about search warrants related to homicide or other acts of violent crime. I put opioid dealers behind bars. Lastly, I put away corrupt government officials. I worked with every level of government to get things accomplished from local police and county sheriffs to ICE and FBI. I did the deep dive to investigate issues, analyze the facts and then build a consensus to convince others of the right outcome.

My personal story also contrasts with that of my opponent. I grew up here and I grew up in a middle class New Jersey household; with a union firefighter father and a mother who was a homemaker. I know this district and I know what is concerning families and workers here. As a husband to my beautiful wife who came to this country legally and became a successful businesswoman, I know the needs of the immigrant community and the small business community. As the father of a 4 1/2 year old son Alex and a 2 year old daughter Jordan, I share many of the same concerns as every parent in CD11. And as former prosecutor I have been fighting for the rights of victims and I will fight for the people of CD11. We need more relatable people in Washington, not elitists who like in mansions with private tennis courts.

Inflation has hurt residents and business owners in the area, how do you plan to help them?

As mentioned in an earlier question, it comes down to responsible spending. There are needs in CD11 and across the nation, and they take money. But we can't keep adding irrelevant pork projects to bills and driving up our debt. The Biden administration loves to slyly name bills like "Inflation Reduction Act" - when in reality it's a driver of inflation. Single or limited issue bills would be a great start. Focusing on infrastructure, defense, and the necessary safety nets for seniors and disabled people matters more than funding radical programs that the majority of Americans disagree with that they have to hide in these bills. It's all about trimming the fat.

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

I've said it before, I'm not the boogeyman that my opponent is spending millions to make me out to be. She has misrepresented my position on abortion. I grew up in a Roe vs. Wade world I am pro-choice. I think abortion should be safe, legal and rare, but this is no longer a federal issue. The supreme court made it clear that this is a states right issue and any attempt to codify it at the federal level I believe would not clear a constitutional challenge. She also says that I am against restoring the State and Local Tax deduction (SALT). This is absolutely ludicrous - I've been talking about SALT ever since I started running over a year ago and how Mikie Sherrill made campaign promises to get the SALT deduction back and failed. She broke her promise in 2018 when she first won and promised to get it back and then ran on it again in 2020 and broke that promise, even when she could have dug in her heals before signing on to the inflation reduction act. Does anyone else remember "No SALT, No Deal"? Her lies about me are all an attempt to cover up her failed record of voting with Nancy Pelosi on the Biden agenda 99% of the time and against New Jersey 100% of the time..

I'm a normal guy from the district. I will actually work across the aisle and my only goal is to be the best damn Congressman for CD11 and work in the best interest of the district. If you'd like to learn more about me, my website is pauldegrootcares.com