LIVINGSTON, NJ – The League of Women Voters held a debate for candidates for the State Assembly in the 27th district last Wednesday, September 30th. Libertarian candidates offered refreshing fact-based solutions to economic concerns such as job creation, state budgeting and state pensions.
The Republican candidate promised to reach across the aisle, work hard and renegotiate pensions without mentioning any specifics. The Democratic incumbents, Assemblyman John McKeon of West Orange and Assemblywoman Mila Jasey of South Orange, were absent.
“If you re-elect these people you know what to expect,” said Damien Caillault, one of the Libertarian candidates. “They will spend more, tax more, fund new projects, and in a few years, they’ll come back for more.”
Jeff Hetrick, the other Libertarian candidate, offered a pragmatic approach to problem-solving: comprehensive, root cause analysis. Mr. Hetrick wants to use this analysis to determine why the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission is running out of money. He expects to find overlapping expenses, outdated material and inefficient work practices. He proposed using the same methodology to evaluate school districts and the NJ Department of Transportation.
Discussing hunger in New Jersey, Mr. Caillault cited high property taxes. He explained that these prohibitively high tax rates render agricultural use of land financially inviable for many. This contributes to low in-state food production. He also mentioned that vertical growth was sometimes outlawed by zoning regulations in urban areas, which stand to benefit from it the most.
Caillault also suggested that everyone joined the Livingston Sunrise Rotary and the LHS Interact Club next time they go to Hillside NJ to help the Community FoodBank of NJ.
The entire debate will be repeated on Livingston TV, channel 34 on Comcast and channel 26 on Verizon up until the election.
The 27th District includes Chatham Township, East Hanover, Florham Park, Hanover, Harding, and Madison in Morris County and Caldwell, Essex Fells, Livingston, Millburn, Roseland, South Orange and West Orange in Essex County.
The Libertarian Party is the largest third party in the United States. Socially liberal and fiscally conservative, libertarians value small government and personal liberty. Candidates for the Libertarian Party seek to add new voices to policy debates at the local, state and federal levels.