NJ Sierra Club 2019 State and Local Endorsements

Many call 2019 an "off-year" election, our entire state assembly is up for grabs. Phil Murphy became governor two years ago, but progress on the environment under his watch is lacking.  Fortunately, many of the incumbents we have endorsed are pushing our issues.

Candidates responded to our questionnaire asking them to take a stand on issues relevant to the Sierra Club.  On the state level, this included matters such as the impacts of the climate crisis, a plastic bag ban, water quality, lead poisoning, protecting our state parks and forests, and supporting renewable energy and clean transportation over pipelines.

On the county level, candidates were asked about pipelines, public transportation, recycling and reducing light pollution and pesticide use in county parks and roads.  In addition to the questionnaire, many candidates were interviewed to impress upon them the importance of these issues. 

We are pleased to endorse the following candidates for election or re-election.  We recognize the efforts of incumbents championing the environment during this legislative term, and are encouraged by the potential of our endorsed challengers based on their responses during our endorsement process.

While Donald Trump is not on the ballot, elections are still crucial for the environment.  Please remember to vote on Election Day, Tuesday, November 5.

Incumbents are marked by an asterisk (*).

Some of the issues we are highlighting this year include:  

• Support for a ban on single-use plastic bags and would prohibit stores and food service businesses from providing plastic carryout bags to their customers. The bill would also prohibit establishments from providing plastic straws or styrofoam contains.  

• Support for a concurrent resolution that would create ballot measure to create a constitutional amendment placing a complete 25-year moratorium on oil and natural gas pipelines and power plant projects using fossil fuel in New Jersey.

• Support for a ballot measure which, if passed, would amend the constitution to dedicate all monies collected by the state from the sale of homes to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF) to construct or rehabilitate structures for affordable housing and prevent developers from using the builder’s remedy to develop farmland and open space when other parcels can be re-developed or existing structures adapted.

We are also placing more of an emphasis in our questionnaires on environmental justice communities which have poorer air, water, and ground quality than other parts of the state, yet a disproportionate number of new facilities with questionable environmental impacts continue to be built in these communities.  We are looking for support of legislation that requires considering cumulative impacts on environmental justice communities when evaluating new facilities or major modifications to existing ones.

On the county level, we will also be looking at environmental and social justice issues such as water quality and lead poisoning, but also issues like support for a lighting ordinance, ways to improve recycling and transportation.  

Our endorsed candidates for County Freeholder:

• Burlington - Linda Hynes (D)
• Hunterdon - Cullen McAuliffe (D)
• Somerset - Melonie Marano (D)
• Warren - P. Carol Cook (D)

Our endorsed candidates for municipal office:

• Hasbrouck Heights Mayor - Christopher Hillmann (D)
• Raritan Township Committee - Sharon Winnick (D)

Our endorsements team will continue to assess candidates in state, county, and local races and provide a more detailed list in our next issues.  For more information, please contact John Kashwick at political.chair@newjersey.sierraclub.org.