District 23 Assembly Candidates Give Answers

With the Nov. 8 election fast approaching, Patch takes a look at the candidates for two District 23 Assembly seats, incumbent Republicans John DiMaio (Hackettstown) and Erik Peterson (Frankin, Hunterdon) and Democratic challengers Karen Carroll (Bound Brook) and Scott McDonald (Washington Borough).

Patch asked each candidate to fill out the questionnaire below. Here are their responses. As of publication, Patch had not received responses to requests for information from McDonald.

John DiMaio (R-Hackettstown)

Age: 55

Occupation: President of A. DiMaio and Son, a general contracting business in Hackettstown

Previous elected or appointed positions: Hackettstown Common Council, councilman, 1980-90; Hackettstown mayor, 1991-99; Warren County Freeholder, 2000-09 (Freeholder Director in 2001 and 2008)

Any other current elected or appointed positions: 23rd Legislative District, assemblyman; Hackettstown Municipal Utilities Authority, member

Other community associations: Hackettstown First Aid Squad, life member; Hackettstown Youth Squad, charter member

Town (and length) of residence: Hackettstown, 55 years

Length of residence in District 23: 55 years

Most pressing issues for this candidate in a coming term, and how they would be addressed: There is no doubt this nation’s staggering economy, high unemployment rate, and the continued property tax crisis will be the leading issues in New Jersey for the coming term. Property tax payers are no longer able to afford the tax burden incurred by living in this state and permanent reforms must be implemented immediately.

I believe we should continue to pursue meaningful reforms that will reduce government spending at all levels while also providing incentives for companies to not only do business in New Jersey, but hire our residents too. The elimination of redundant government positions at all levels of government and the regionalization of government entities where feasible are examples of ways to reduce government spending. Additionally, Senator Doherty and I have legislation pending in both houses of the legislature that would establish a funding formula for the distribution of school aid. The legislation provides state aid by determining a per-pupil amount of state aid and multiplying that amount by the school district’s projected resident enrollment for the budget year. The per pupil state aid amount is determined after the state treasurer projects the total revenue amount from the state income tax for the budget year effectively removing property taxes for the use of funding education. This has been noted as the only education funding formula that is constitutional and fair to all students in this state. Should this legislation pass, 85 percent of property owners would see an immediate reduction in their property taxes of substantial proportion. I encourage you to log onto http://fairschoolfunding.com/ to learn more about the potential savings for the majority of property tax payers in this state.

New Jersey residents, and Americans as a whole, are intelligent people who understand the dire situation our economy is in, and they’re reacting as many families did after the Great Depression by eliminating debt and saving for the future. Government bailouts of private market entities initiated what I believe to be an intrusion into the free market. The perpetuation of this economic initiative will only prolong our recovery, and thus, the re-balancing of our economic stability. Consumer spending has come to a dramatic halt as a message to elected officials on all levels that they have lost faith in our ability to lead. It is up to government find its way back to our basic principles and eliminate constraints that are restricting economic growth in this country."

Erik Peterson (R-Franklin, Hunterdon)

Age: 45

Occupation: Attorney

Previous elected or appointed positions: 23rd Legislative District, assemblyman, Dec. 2009-present; Hunterdon County Freeholder, 2006-Dec. 2009

Any other current elected or appointed positions: No

Other community associations: Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce; Hunterdon County Bar Association; Milford Lions club, member; United Way of Hunterdon County, former board member; Pedals for Progress, former board member

Town (and length) of residence: Franklin Township, Hunterdon County, four years

Length of residence in District 23: 21 years

Most pressing issues for this candidate in a coming term, and how they would be addressed: The two most important issues facing the people in the 23rd Legislative District are unemployment and high property taxes. Unemployment is too high in New Jersey, especially when compared to neighboring states. We can help business create jobs by making New Jersey more business-friendly. To make New Jersey more business friendly, I have and will continue to support legislation that will reduce business taxes, reduce unnecessary regulation and will streamline the regulatory process. 

Property taxes are too high. Legislatively, we can provide municipalities, counties and school districts with the tools they need to effectively and efficiently share and/or consolidate services. My bill, A2953, will change civil service rules, making the sharing or consolidation of services cost effective.  Also, the state school funding formula does not fairly distribute state school aid. I am co-sponsor of ARC 197 which would change the formula and provide more state aid to local schools, which will reduce the reliance on property taxes to fund our schools.

Fun Fact: I am a former Division I collegiate distance swimmer. I continue to swim 2.5 miles every morning before work and occasionally compete.

Karen Carroll (D-Bound Brook)

Age:  61

Occupation: Agricultural crop insurance adjuster

Previous elected or appointed positions: Non-incumbent, not a current office holder.

Any other current elected or appointed positions: Bound Brook Historic Commission, appointed member; Bound Brook Economic Development Advisory Commission, volunteer

Other community associations:  Bound Brook Democratic Municipal Committee Chair; Hurricane Floyd Commemoration Committee, past chair; Somerset Family Planning, former board member; Women’s Health & Counseling Center, past president and associate director; Home Sharing, former board member; Somerset County Food Bank, ongoing volunteer

Town (and length) of residence: I currently live in Bound Brook and have lived here 13 years.

Length of residence in District 23: Due to redistricting, this is my first year in the 23rd District, but I have lived in Somerset County since 1973 (38 years)."

What do you see as the most pressing issues in a coming term, and what would you do about them? The issues this year are pocketbook issues. People need jobs. In the 23rd District, unemployment is between 7.5 and 9.4 percent in the three counties, not counting those people who are underemployed—those with training and advanced degrees working in minimum or near minimum wage jobs with no benefits. The numbers also don't count those who’ve gone off unemployment rolls and have given up finding work. Jobs offer the chance to reduce foreclosures, pay for rents, health care and transportation. Jobs provide opportunities for people to send their kids to college and purchase goods and services to grow the local economy. Jobs get people off of unemployment and welfare, and increase tax revenue for state and local governments. Government should be the employer of last resort, but we have reached that last resort. We need to hire people to fix roads, bridges, dams and schools. We should support our police and fire and emergency personnel so they are there when we need their protection, skill and expertise. We need to encourage education, not villainize teachers and educators who have placed New Jersey in the top five in the nation for reading, science and math. These employment gains will increase tax revenues, individual spending and provide a more valuable workforce and better environment for businesses.

My opponents want to eliminate entirely or cut things to the bone: services, education, health care options, and police protection. I want to represent people and help maintain their services, improve their educational and health care options, stabilize their police, fire and EMT protections and create good, solid job opportunities for our citizens. The national economy is in a shambles, and many of the states are not far behind. Crippling unemployment, crumbling infrastructure, minimal public transportation and cuts to police, fire, teachers and other public employees all combine to make a downward spiral in our quality of life in New Jersey. We need to reverse that spiral.

Fun Fact: Most people probably think of me as a Somerset County resident who grew up in Middlesex County, but growing up, I spent many weekends and summers in Hunterdon County at my father’s home in High Bridge.

Scott McDonald (D-Washington Borough), did not respond to our request as of publication of this article, but according to NJ Spotlight, McDonald, a bridge worker and the mayor of Washington Borough in Warren County, said he would work to reduce the state's debt, find ways to cut local property taxes, and continue the fight to keep open the Sen. Garrett W. Hagedorn Psychiatric Hospital in Lebanon Township. The state is in the process of closing that facility to save $9 million.