District 16 Election: A Voters Guide from the League of Women Voters

The League of Women Voters of New Jersey Education Fund encourages informed participation in the electoral process. As part of this mission, we formulated the following set of questions to ask all the New Jersey candidates running for New Jersey State Senate and Assembly. Answers have been truncated at 125 words and [truncated] indicates this in the body of the candidates’ answers. Answers have not been edited for spelling or grammar, but text using foul language, or attacking another candidate has been replaced with [content removed]. If a candidate did not return the questionnaire or did not provide a response to a particular question, “No Response Received” appears next to his or her name. 

Candidates for State Senate (in alphabetical order)
Christopher “Kip” Bateman (R)
Maureen Vella (D)

Candidates for State Assembly (in alphabetical order) 
Peter J. Biondi (R)
Joe Camarota (D)
Jack M. Ciattarelli (R) 
Marie Corfield (D)

1. Property taxes concern many New Jersey residents. Do you think current programs, such as a cap on property tax hikes and rebates, are effective ways of dealing with them? What, if anything, do you think should be done about property taxes?

Senate Candidate Responses

Christopher “Kip” Bateman: No Response Received

Maureen Vella: A one-size fits all property tax cap places a difficult and uneven burden on municipalities which contend with a variety of complex, wide ranging and ever changing demands for providing services to their residents. A more responsible way of reducing the burden on taxpayers would require the state to provide more consistent funding for education that makes up the greatest component of our property tax bills. Rebates only return taxpayer money to the taxpayer through an inefficient means. Tax credits for qualifying individuals are more efficient and equitable. A studied approach to shared services and public/private partnerships could also provide opportunities by reducing the tax burden on the citizens of New Jersey.

Assembly Candidate Responses

Peter J. Biondi: No Response Received

Joe Camarota: I agree that property taxes are of paramount concern to New Jersey residents. Current programs are limited in their effectiveness as caps do not include pension and health care costs and rebates can be canceled by executive fiat.  First, I think municipal and school district consolidation should be incentivized to control costs. Second, property taxes are calculated solely on the value of a home and without any consideration to income, it a regressive tax that is increasingly burdensome on retiree’s and those on fixed incomes. Third, since school taxes account for about two thirds of property taxes, the school funding formula needs to be fully funded.

Jack M. Ciattarelli: No Response Received

Marie Corfield: When properly implemented and funded, the cap and rebates can bring property tax relief. However, since January 2010 New Jersey’s middle class, seniors and poor have ‘shared the sacrifice’ in the form of rising property taxes, reduced salaries, pensions and benefits, and layoffs. Seniors were hit hard by the cuts to Homestead Rebates, and the freeze on new participants in the Senior Freeze program for FY 2011 and 2012. Cuts to municipal and school aid meant more out of pocket expenses for everyone. ‘Shared sacrifice’ must include all citizens. Reinstating the income tax for those earning over $1 million per year (1.75 cents for every dollar earned over $1 million) will help bring property tax relief to many in this state.

2. In July, the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics released preliminary unemployment figures that showed New Jersey with a 9.5% seasonally adjusted unemployment rate. While this is comparable to the national average of 9.2%, it is higher than our neighboring states. What is your plan to lower New Jersey’s unemployment rate?

Senate Candidate Responses

Christopher “Kip” Bateman: No Response Received

Maureen Vella: Unemployment can be reduced by providing incentives to employers to retrain workers for jobs that may require new skills in their own companies, rather than lay off workers. We can bolster the economy by training and educating workers while on unemployment to increase their overall employability while adding long-term value to the worker’s earning abilities. Small business growth is essential. Mentoring programs should be reinforced to aid entrepreneurs and small business owners in their development and growth.

Assembly Candidate Responses

Peter J. Biondi: No Response Received

Joe Camarota: New Jersey is over regulated making it unfriendly to business. There is too much red tape; too many permit and fee requirements at the local and state level causing businesses to leave the state and taking their jobs with them. This scenario also discourages new business from starting and locating here. I have over 38 years of business experience. As the owner of a small business and as a town councilman who successfully encouraged businesses to locate in South Brunswick, I would use this experience to make New Jersey more business friendly. Eliminating bureaucratic red tape and giving businesses incentives to locate and stay here would provide jobs and reduce unemployment.

Jack M. Ciattarelli: No Response Received

Marie Corfield:

• Controlling the cost of health insurance so that state workers can be re-hired, and private sector employers can put more profits into growing their businesses.
• Attacking public employees must end if the state wants to attract and retain high quality teachers, police, firefighters and healthcare professionals.
• Continuing Urban Enterprise Zones.
• Investment in green technology.
• Fully funding FEMA at the federal level will help NJ rebuild after Irene.
• Invest in improving and upgrading transportation infrastructure.
• Include more vocational training in our public schools.
• Continue the construction and repair of our public schools under a system that has more accountability and oversight.
• Reducing and/or removing excessive legislation that prevents small businesses from start-up or expansion.

3. Currently, N.J legislators are working on the “Opportunity Scholarship Act” a pilot program providing tax credits to entities contributing to scholarships for low-income children. Do you support this pilot program and/or expansion of this program?

Senate Candidate Responses

Christopher “Kip” Bateman: No Response Received

Maureen Vella: The Opportunity Scholarship Act has the potential to reduce funds that would otherwise go into the general revenues of the state, thereby negatively impacting the full funding of public schools. In essence, taxpayers would be funding this program, as revenues not realized would need to be replaced or more school expenditures would need to be cut. Government should instead improve the educational environment for all students, for all public schools.

Assembly Candidate Responses

Peter J. Biondi: No Response Received

Joe Camarota: I cannot support the “Opportunity Scholarship Act” in its present form.  The real solutions for providing opportunities for low income students is in fully funding the school funding formula, improving the public schools, educating young parents with proper parenting skills, providing better jobs and child care for single parents, better prenatal and overall healthcare for poor mothers, and mitigating the drug and gang problems. Parents and students also need to value the importance of education and take some personal responsibility for their own improvement.

Jack M. Ciattarelli: No Response Received

Marie Corfield: I do not support the OSA. New Jersey has one of the best public education systems in the country, but 200 out of over 2400 schools are not doing a good enough job. That cannot continue. If the state can afford to give corporations $1 billion in tax breaks to send students to private or religious schools that don’t have a proven record of success, then we should invest that money in those struggling schools and surrounding communities to make them successful. There is a direct correlation between poverty and a child’s success in school. OSA does nothing to address this. Also, many services that public schools offer, including transportation, and ESL and special education are not included in this bill.

4.  As a result of the current economic crisis and associated budget cuts, municipalities are receiving less state aid.  What, if anything, do you propose on the issue of state aid to municipalities?

Senate Candidate Responses

Christopher “Kip” Bateman: No Response Received

Maureen Vella: State aid to schools and municipalities is the cornerstone to reducing the current local taxpayer burden. Schools and municipalities need a steady, predictable amount of aid to effectively budget their expenses.  All too often schools and municipalities are left to guess what they will be receiving in any given year.

The state should work to increase revenues by encouraging new business growth and industry to broaden its tax base. A fixed percent of all increased revenues should be dedicated to schools and municipal aid.  We need full funding of school and municipal aid with everyone, even the most affluent sharing this burden.

Assembly Candidate Responses

Peter J. Biondi: No Response Received

Joe Camarota: First of all the state needs to get its fiscal house in order, work towards a balanced budget and stop balancing it on the back of the local municipalities. Secondly the state has to properly fund mandated programs and end unfunded state mandates that cost the municipalities money. Thirdly, the state needs to formulate incentives for municipal consolidation and regionalization that can save money.  And lastly, as stated in my response to Question #2, the state needs to maintain and increase the private business sector by diminishing the current excessive “red tape”.

Jack M. Ciattarelli: No Response Received

Marie Corfield:

• The state has a highly sophisticated business/science/technology infrastructure already in place in the form of some of the best private and public universities in the country, and our pharmaceutical and telecommunications industries. Encouraging partnerships between these entities to create new business opportunities will increase revenues.
• We must encourage new business growth by reducing red tape without sacrificing our natural resources.
• Smart growth needs to be encouraged at the municipal level.
• School funding must be from a bottom-up rather than a top-down approach. Funds must be spent in the classrooms first. An over abundance of administrators drains much-needed resources away from the front lines of education.

5. Do you think the state should fund family planning services? Why or why not?

Senate Candidate Responses

Christopher “Kip” Bateman: No Response Received

Maureen Vella: The function of government is to provide needed services to its citizens. State programs provide needed services to individuals who otherwise would not have access to that care. Denying funding to necessary services does not eliminate the need and will potentially lead to increased costs down the road, when those needs are not met.  

Assembly Candidate Responses

Peter J. Biondi: No Response Received

Joe Camarota: Family planning and parenting skills for low income individuals as an educational function should be funded by a combination of state and federal agencies. This is even more essential when one considers that these type of services also include general physicals and examinations, diabetes and blood pressure screenings, and STD  treatment and prevention.  These facilities have also been able to provide counseling for substance abuse and domestic violence.  Critical enough to support from a quality of life issue, this also makes economic sense!

Jack M. Ciattarelli: No Response Received

Marie Corfield: Yes. A healthy society is less of a strain on state funds, is more productive, and has a better overall quality of life. A healthy society starts with healthy mothers and healthy babies. Of the 15.8% of the population who cannot afford health insurance, the majority are between the prime childbearing years of 19–34. By law, newborns must be screened for 54 disorders that can lead to serious health problems or death. Therefore it is vital that pregnant women receive proper prenatal care. Many poor women don’t have access to transportation, so closing even one clinic limits their access to these vital services.

6. New Jersey’s energy needs are expanding. What is your plan to meet the increasing energy requirements in our state? 

Senate Candidate Responses

Christopher “Kip” Bateman: No Response Received

Maureen Vella: New Jersey must commit to a long-term plan to grow alternative energy sources.  The plan must include a roadmap which makes it functionally and economically viable for private enterprises to investment in New Jersey. Uncertainty leads to inaction. Sensible regulations protecting the environment while allowing for energy growth must be promulgated. We need a firm commitment not to change the regulations for a set period of time.

Assembly Candidate Responses

Peter J. Biondi: No Response Received

Joe Camarota: I believe that non-fossil fuel energy is necessary for meeting our energy needs of the future. Wind, solar, geothermal, biofuels and other alternative  Governor Christie was wrong to scale back the state’s renewable energy targets from 30% to 22.5% by 2021 and he was wrong to withdraw from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative which is supported by our neighboring states.

Jack M. Ciattarelli: No Response Received

Marie Corfield: All new construction should be fitted for solar power and green technology. Incentives for the expansion of green energy systems should be continued and include solar, wind and geothermal systems. They should be affordable for and accessible to all New Jersey citizens and businesses. Standards for energy efficiency should be implemented for both the public and private sectors. New Jersey should continue to require schools and other public buildings to be designed according to LEEDS certified standards and expand those requirements to private sector construction. Utilities should be encouraged to collaborate with our state colleges and universities to develop sustainable and affordable energy, and our programs in these institutions should be expanded.

We need to put a permanent ban on hydraulic fracturing for natural gas.

7. Charter schools were originally written into legislation to innovate and share those innovations with school districts.  Is that the mission you see for charter schools still or do you believe their main purpose should be to provide parental choice?

Senate Candidate Responses

Christopher “Kip” Bateman: No Response Received

Maureen Vella: Charter Schools should serve as an adjunct to public schools as was originally envisioned. A strong public school system is the core of any municipality. It is why most parents who have a choice, choose to live where they live.  The desire to not attend a public school because it does not meet acceptable standards reflects the failure of that particular school or district and not an overall reason to potentially change public education in every district in the state of New Jersey. This failure should be addressed.

Assembly Candidate Responses

Peter J. Biondi: No Response Received

Joe Camarota: I believe we should stick with the original mission of using a small number of charter schools to innovate and share ideas with public schools. A strong public education system is essential to the future of our country and we should strengthen it with good people and good ideas, not siphon off large chunks of money to develop competing experimental schools. Charter schools do not have to adhere to many of the rules and regulations that govern public schools and they can be selective in choosing students so they do not have the same level of accountability, as they should. While they can be great as education laboratories, too large an expansion would be self defeating.

Jack M. Ciattarelli: No Response Received

Marie Corfield: If charters are to be part of the 21st century education landscape, and be partially funded by taxpayers, they must prove that their students are performing as well as—or better than—public school students. Studies show that the majority are not.

Charters must:

• be free and open to every student regardless of disabilities or language
• not draw funding away from public schools
• have completely transparent recordkeeping
• abide by the same rules, regulations and standards as public schools
• be approved by the communities in which they wish to operate
• not force public schools to give up space to accommodate them
• operate under the auspices of the local school board
• allow employees to join the local education association

8. In a 2010 budget report, the United State House of Representatives identified the need for a focused study of hydraulic fracturing. The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to complete the study by late 2014 with initial study results available by late 2012.  As a New Jersey legislator, how would you approach the issue of hydraulic fracturing?

Senate Candidate Responses

Christopher “Kip” Bateman: No Response Received

Maureen Vella: The need for a comprehensive study has been identified and is in progress. Any further action should be forestalled until the results are finalized in 2014.

Assembly Candidate Responses

Peter J. Biondi: No Response Received

Joe Camarota: While natural gas is extremely important to the current energy 1940s, there are serious concerns about the process.  The most egregious being the releasing of contaminants in drinking water from the chemicals injected into the rock to free up the gas.  As a legislator, I would support a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing until reviewing the study results from the EPA.

Jack M. Ciattarelli: No Response Received

Marie Corfield: I am opposed to both fracturing in New Jersey, and the treatment of wastewater from out of state fracturing operations in any of our wastewater treatment plants. The discharge of effluent from these plants has the potential to adversely impact our drinking water and aquatic resources. As the most densely populated state in the country, New Jersey has an obligation to ensure our citizens have safe drinking water.

The EPA cannot conduct a thorough investigation in part due to the many sealed settlements between the fracturing industry and landowners. The agency estimates there are about 228 of these cases, the contents of which will never be known. Without this information, it is impossible not only for the EPA, but the public to adequately assess risks.

9. The NJ Transportation Trust Fund, which funds construction and repairs of New Jersey's bridges, highways, and mass transit system, has been under-funded and in danger of going bankrupt. There has been much debate over how to fund needed infrastructure development and repairs. How would you suggest funding New Jersey’s transportation infrastructure needs? 

Senate Candidate Responses

Christopher “Kip” Bateman: No Response Received

Maureen Vella: Taxes on gasoline are regressive and place a disproportionate burden on the middle class and low income families and would be particularly difficult to increase during these economic times.  However, they should be reviewed when the economy improves. Diesel fuel and highway use taxes should be reviewed to determine if New Jersey rates are comparable to surrounding states and brought into line, if necessary, to maximize potential revenues.  New Jersey's motor fuel tax rate has consistently ranked in the range of 45th-48th lowest in the country. The tax was last raised in 1988 by 2.5 cents when it was only 8 cents per gallon for gasoline and 11 cents for diesel.

Assembly Candidate Responses

Peter J. Biondi: No Response Received

Joe Camarota: It is important to maintain the NJ Transportation Trust Fund for funding capital improvement and maintaining the state’s transportation infrastructure. Unfortunately the fund spends much more money than it raises and makes up the difference by borrowing. This has got to stop. We need to use pay as you go financing as originally intended when the Fund was set up. We also need to stop using the Fund for routine maintenance and operating expenses at transportation agencies. Because of the dire immediate situation we also need to look at ways to increase revenue such as indexing various taxes and fees to inflation.

Jack M. Ciattarelli: No Response Received

Marie Corfield: Increasing the gas tax so toll road drivers aren’t shouldering an unfair burden of supporting our transportation infrastructure is necessary. It must be done with voter approval. This money should be used for this purpose only.

10. The legislature has not enacted reforms to the state’s Local Redevelopment and Housing Law, despite recent Supreme Court (Gallenthin v. Paulsboro) and Appellate Court (Harrison Redevelopment Agency v. De Rose) decisions which call the existing statutes into question. If elected, how would you propose to update the state’s land use laws to conform to the above cited court decisions?

Senate Candidate Responses

Christopher “Kip” Bateman: No Response Received

Maureen Vella: The taking of private property for the public good should always entail a detailed analysis of the project and weigh the benefits of the community against the high bar of respecting private property owner’s rights. The standard for using Eminent Domain when the ultimate use would be for private development must be even higher. Every property owner is entitled to Due Process of Law. The Eminent Domain process must always be fair and keep individuals clearly informed of the process.

Assembly Candidate Responses

Peter J. Biondi: No Response Received

Joe Camarota: I support legislation limiting eminent domain to where an area is found to be blighted, the classic definition being a condition of deterioration that negatively affects surrounding properties. The Local Redevelopment and Housing Law was enacted in1992 and is too broad in the area of eminent domain.  Although limited by court cases, including those cited above, the legislature needs to act so that all citizens are treated fairly.

Jack M. Ciattarelli: No Response Received

Marie Corfield: We need to make sure blighted property is defined as per the Supreme Court’s guidelines, and that no property be taken via eminent domain or any other process if the owner did not receive written notice. Owners should also be given adequate time to respond to such notices.