A grassroots New Brunswick organization put forth a slate of 50 candidates in a challenge to the incumbent Democratic party machine. Election is June 2

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Contact: Charles Kratovil
Phone: 908.295.8909
Email:  charliek@empowernb.com

New Brunswick Residents Unite For Change in Democratic Party

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ— Launching a bold grassroots electoral campaign of a magnitude not seen in decades, a diverse coalition of 50 New Brunswick residents hailing from all corners of the city filed petitions yesterday afternoon (Monday 4/6) to run for seats on the Middlesex County Democratic Committee in the upcoming June 2 election.

The candidates, running under the common slogan “Democrats for Change," represent the full range of city neighborhoods in all five New Brunswick wards and include such notable residents as Thomas Peoples, leader of the Fourth Ward Crime Watch and Angela Salazar, 2002 New Brunswick High School valedictorian.

“Democrats for Change” candidates want each neighborhood to have representatives that will put the real-life concerns of their neighbors first on the city’s agenda.

Noting that current city leaders have grown aloof to the needs of residents and are unknown to most of the city, Thomas Peoples, candidate for committeeman in Ward 4, District 5 said: "There is no communication with the Councilpeople. They never come to the neighborhoods. The only way we can have change is if real people step up to represent that actually LIVE in all neighborhoods.”

Adam Gold, a Rutgers graduate and candidate for committeeman in Ward 6, District 6 added: “I just want people to be able to answer a simple question: Who is representing you?”

“Democrats for Change” slate plan to address citywide issues that impact all residents such as the lack of representation for many constituencies in the city (by supporting ward-based elections) and the need to improve the city’s schools and to make them more accountable (with an elected school board). Additionally, candidates plan to tackle specific issues impacting their neighborhoods such as improving street cleaning, alleviating parking and transportation problems, offering greater access to affordable and safe housing, expanding and improving city parks, and providing activities and programs for local youth.

“I'm running because I am sick and tired of this city building new condominiums, apartments, and hotels when our schools are falling apart,” said Marge Kerber, member of the Second Ward Crime Watch and candidate for Ward 2, District 4. “I can't imagine how much more money New Brunswick would have if, instead of providing tax abatements to those that have no ties to this city, they used the tax' money from these projects to improve our schools.”

Added Brent Klokis, Rutgers graduate and candidate for committeeman in Ward 6, District 5: "We are about more than just downtown."

The grassroots campaign for seats on the Democratic Party County Committee was initiated by Empower Our Neighborhoods (EON), the New Brunswick community organization that spent most of the past year organizing to return the city to a ward-based election system. The campaign, still being fought in the courts in the face of stubborn opposition from City Hall, brought EON organizers in touch with thousands of residents.

William Simmons, candidate for committeeman in Ward 2, District 2 said, “This diverse group of men and women embody the spirit of the Obama Movement and the ‘Yes We Can’ attitude that brought change on the national level. Now, we want to bring that same change to the local government here.”

In November, EON organizers and volunteers helped bring thousands of voters to the polls where President Obama won New Brunswick in a landslide. The "Democrats for Change" campaign is a natural next step for the community group and marks a unique opportunity because every seat on the committee is up for re-election June 2.

"We are in touch with the residents of our neighborhoods,” added Angela Salazar, candidate for committeewoman in Ward 4, District 4, "and they are not happy with the way the city is being run. We are ready to take back our city by any means necessary. Our nation was able to institute change in our federal government, now it is time to do the same in New Brunswick."

Cedrick Goodman, a lifelong resident and candidate for committeeman in Ward 4, District 1 summed up the campaign: “The time has come for new leadership.”

There are 28 election districts in New Brunswick. Each will elect a man and a woman from the district to the Democratic Party County Committee in the June 2 primary election.

“DEMOCRATS FOR CHANGE” CANDIDATES
FOR DEMOCRATIC COUNTY COMMITTEE:
Ward 1, District 1: Nona Dempsey & Sam Romero
Ward 1, District 2: Ginile Weeks & Eddie Rodriguez
Ward 1, District 3: Danielle Stransky & Anthony Fuscaldo
Ward 1, District 4: Keisha Jordan & James Woodley
Ward 1, District 5: Olga Martinez-Sanchez & Cristhian Flores
Ward 1, District 6: Greg Davis
Ward 2, District 1: Lily Naha & James Mona
Ward 2, District 2: Kate Feeney & William Simmons
Ward 2, District 3: Caitlin Ferrer & Thomas McKeon
Ward 2, District 4: Marge Kerber & Michael Nazzaro
Ward 2, District 5: Barbara Cepeda & Jaimie Skinner
Ward 2, District 6: Carmen Azcona & Shaun Belton
Ward 2, District 7: Trudia Jones & Corpus Guante
Ward 4, District 1: Sharon Mitchell & Cedrick Goodman
Ward 4, District 2: Angela Porrespita-Jones & Charles Jones
Ward 4, District 3: Yolonda Baker & Jose Solano
Ward 4, District 4: Angela Salazar & Jim Walsh
Ward 4, District 5: Lyndel Myles & Thomas Peoples
Ward 5, District 1: Ruth Mercado & Ian Campbell
Ward 5, District 2: Amy Braunstein & Sean Monahan
Ward 6, District 1: Meredith Neely & Carmen Rao
Ward 6, District 2: Yelena Shvarts & David Harding
Ward 6, District 3: Stacy Milliman & Patrick Lee
Ward 6, District 4: Leor Tal & Michael Shanahan
Ward 6, District 5: Carolyn Selheim & Brent Klokis
Ward 6, District 6: Adam Gold

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