Essex County Democratic Chairman Leroy Jones & Union County Democratic 

Chairman Jerry Green

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
AUGUST 17, 2016

Diverse Group of Democratic Leaders Band Together Focused on Electing a Democratic Governor andProtecting State Legislative Majorities   

Essex County Democratic Chairman Leroy Jones and Union County Democratic Chairman Jerry Green organized a unity meeting to forge together a coalition of diverse Democratic party and elected officials to focus on the immensely high stakes 2017 general election.  They called this gathering to underscore that Democrats must not take anything for granted by organizing early to win back the governorship and protect the state legislative majorities.

In the past two decades, historically strong neighboring Democratic states have seen Republican inroads halt progressive ideals and stymie sound public policy. Republican upset victories similar to 2009 in New Jersey were followed with predictions that this was nothing more than a one- time anomaly. Despite that, Republicans went on to win multiple governors’ races in neighboring states including Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania.   In more than two decades, no Republican has carried any of those states for President, but at the same time, Republicans have won 19 of 30 gubernatorial races in these Democratic strongholds.  This is exactly why Democrats in New Jersey must not be complacent and start preparing for the critical fight to replace Republican Governor Chris Christie with a Democrat next year.

“Republicans sense their opportunity to divide and conquer their way to a third term as governor, and by coming together as a party, we are prepared to do the hard work required to restore our values to the state’s highest office, said Essex County Democratic Chairman Leroy Jones.  “We have seen our neighboring reliable Democratic states lose gubernatorial elections when victory was seemingly inevitable.  That will not happen in New Jersey because we will be unified in the collective  effort to  elect  a  Democratic  governor  and  protect  the  largest  Democratic  state legislative majorities in nearly four decades.”

 “The failed economic policies and destructive agenda of Governor Christie should be a wake-up call to every Democrat in the state that the stakes could not be higher next year,” said State Assemblyman Jerry Green, the Chairman of the Union County Democratic Committee.  “I felt compelled to jointly organize this meeting to make clear that Democrats must unite together in order to deliver victories next fall, and together this diverse group of party and elected leaders are ready to lead the way.”      

The Democratic leaders gathered to reflect the diversity that serves as both, the backbone of the party and the path to a winning2017 statewide coalition. The following individuals attended the meeting held in Union County:

Congress – Rep. Donald Payne, Jr. (New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District)

State Senate – Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg (District 37), Deputy Majority Leader & Budget Chairman Paul Sarlo (District36), Democratic Conference Chair Robert Gordon (District 38), Assistant Majority Leader Theresa Ruiz (District 29), MajorityWhip Sandra Cunningham (District 31), Judiciary Chairman Nicholas Scutari (District 22), Vice-Chair of Higher Education NelliePou (District 35) and Vice-Chair of Economic Growth Nilsa Cruz-Perez (District 5)

State  Assembly  –  Speaker  Pro  Tempore  Jerry  Green  (District  22),  Deputy  Speaker  Wayne DeAngelo (District 14), Vice-Chair of Agricultural and Natural Resources Adam Taliaferro (District 3), Jamel Holley (District 20) and Eric Houghtaling (District 11)

County Officials – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. and Essex County Executive Chief of Staff Phil Alagia

Municipal Officials – Lambertville Mayor David Delvecchio, Rahway Mayor Samson Steinman, and Trenton Mayor Eric Jackson

Party Officials – Atlantic County Democratic Chairman Michael Suleiman, Burlington County Democratic Chairman Joseph Andl, Essex County Democratic Chairman Leroy Jones, Monmouth County Democratic Vice-Chairman Eric Brophy, OceanCounty Democratic Chairman Wyatt Earp, and Union County Democratic Chairman Jerry Green

Also Attending  – George E. Norcross, III (Executive Chairman, Conner Strong & Buckelew), Paul M. Weiner (Partner, WeinerLesniak LLP) and Arthur J. Cifelli (Managing Partner, The Venn Group LLC) 

“The successful pickup of two state assembly seats and numerous mayoral and council wins in Monmouth County have happened because of a unified and well-organized effort by Democrats committed to winning tough elections,” said Monmouth County Democratic Party Chairman Vin Gopal. “It is important for Monmouth Democrats to work with leaders statewide and that is why I look forward to a united Democratic effort to ensure that we elect a Democratic governor and grow our state legislative majorities.”

"It is imperative to elect a Democratic governor to reverse course from the failed policies of Chris Christie that New Jersey families have had to endure, stated State Senator Patrick Diegnan.  I applaud Chairmen Jones and Green for taking this important step to begin the conversation to unify our party to win back the governor's office and protect our state legislative majorities."

“We need a governor on our side, willing to stand up and fight for working families to reverse the failed policies of Governor Christie”, said State Senator Linda Greenstein. “Together, as Democrats, we must unify and work tirelessly to elect a governor who shares our values and maintain our state legislative majorities to put New Jersey on the right track forward.” 

"Electing a Democratic governor that understands the important challenges facing the hard-working men and women of our state motivates me daily,” said State Assemblyman Joseph Egan.  “Many key priorities that will get New Jersey working again have languished under Governor Christie, the stakes for working families have never been higher, and I'm proud to join Chairmen Jones and Green in the important effort to unify our party towards victory."

"The important work of electing a Democratic governor and maintaining our legislative majorities requires working together as a party, and I truly applaud the efforts to start the process early as working families need a new direction in New Jersey," said Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes.

This meeting represents the beginning of Democrats coming together to unify around the principles and values that helped propel Democrats to key victories during the past decade and underscores that leaders in the party are serious about the challenges they face in 2017. 

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