To The Editor:
I’m writing to tell Verona residents about Laura Fortgang, Democratic candidate for our NJ State Assembly seat in our 26th District.
Laura, a 22-year Verona resident, along with her husband Mark, raised their three children here. She’s been very active throughout their education in the Verona Schools and currently serves as the president of the Verona Music Parents Association. She’s a professional career coach, an articulate, energetic public speaker and a best-selling author. I met Laura at local meetings that were formed to discuss our current representation in our District and was immediately inspired by her command of New Jersey’s issues as well as her resolute and constructive approach to those issues: Common Sense.
What doesn’t make sense? Our current representatives voted against practical laws protecting victims of domestic violence, against equal pay for equal work, against laws accommodating people with physical disabilities, against transparent and direct application of funds for our environment, and even against a bill that would heighten transparency of the student loan process!? None of this makes sense.
Common sense is precisely what NJ has been lacking in a sea of partisan posturing and party-line voting. Rather than portraying our issues in that usual divisive manner, Laura is seeking our common ground: “What do we all want and need as NJ residents?” Her answers are truly universal.
Laura wants to cut the corruption, therefore the wasteful spending and mismanagement of our tax dollars so she can push for more efficient applications. As one of the most developed and densely populated states in the Country, she knows that our infrastructure has been largely ignored and that our most pressing environmental concerns are being eclipsed by allowances made to developers.
Laura knows that families are concerned with their children’s public education. She is therefore committed to doing away with PARCC and to introducing legislation that would bring vocational and business training back to our school systems. Healthcare is important to us all in NJ and she is also committed to safeguarding health care and Medicare at the State level. Lastly, transparency and true representation of her constituents is of utmost importance to Laura. She has no other cause to run but to bring your voice to Trenton.
Over the past six months it’s become clear to me that no matter a person’s party affiliation, we really do all want the same things. We all want fiscal transparency, less corruption, more efficient use of our tax dollars, smart development, investment towards our sustainability and simply, we all want quality of life.
Laura will provide our District with a potent and fearless voice to fight for all of these common sense necessities.
On Tuesday, June 6th, I will proudly be casting my vote for Laura Fortgang in the Democratic Primary election (column 3G). I hope you will join me in doing the same.
Sincerely,
Jack McEvoy
Candidate-Elect for Verona Town Council
