VOTE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF SMALL BUSINESS
TRENTON (November 2, 2015): The National Federation of
Independent Business (NFIB) is appealing to the people of the great Garden
State to get out and vote Tuesday in what is anticipated to be an election with
historically low turnout. NFIB has previously endorsed 33 candidates for
Assembly through the New Jersey SAFE (Save America’s Free Enterprise) Trust,
which is comprised exclusively of NFIB members.
“The stakes for the small business community in New Jersey
are high. With so many anti-business proposals floating around the legislature,
it is more important than ever that we have lawmakers in Trenton focused on
rolling back regulations and reducing the tax burden on small businesses,” According
to Laurie Ehlbeck, NFIB New Jersey state director. “The candidates that we have
chosen to endorse are either proven advocates for our members or small business
owners themselves. We have every confidence that they will fight for small
business and the people of the state of New Jersey.”
NFIB’s political support is based on the candidates’
positions and records on small-business issues. The endorsed candidates, illustrated
below by district, have consistently voted to reduce burdens on small businesses
or have pledged to support them on key issues impacting their operations. Small-business
owners and their employees notoriously vote in high numbers and are known for
actively recruiting friends, family members and acquaintances to go to the
polls. That could be crucial in year that has the potential to see a record low
voter turnout.
“In addition to our endorsements, we’ve had to privilege of
presenting 22 Assembly members with our coveted Guardian of Small Business
award. During what was a very difficult session for small business, we were
lucky to have their support demonstrated through their perfect voting record,”
Continued Ehlbeck. “They never wavered in their solidarity with New Jersey’s
small-business owners and proved that the survival and success of our small
businesses is one of their top priorities.”
“It is imperative that people get out to vote tomorrow and
we strongly encourage everyone to take our endorsements and Guardians of Small
Business recipients into consideration. Ensuring that lawmakers in Trenton are
prioritizing the needs of the small business community is a sure fire way to
guarantee that New Jersey’s stalled economy will finally begin to improve.
Given that we are currently ranked among the worst of states to do business in,
empowering our community is imperative to everyone’s economic well being,”
Concluded Ehlbeck.
The 2015 Guardian of Small Business award winners are:
Mary Pat Angelini
Robert Auth
Jon Bramnick
Anthony M. Bucco
Michael Patrick Carroll
Jack M. Ciattarelli
Robert D. Clifton
John DiMaio
Dianne C. Gove
Sean T. Kean
Gregory P. McGuckin
Nancy Munoz
Erik Peterson
David P. Rible
Maria Rodrigues-Gregg
Scott Rumas
Brian E. Rumpf
David C. Russo
Donna M. Simon
F. Parker Space
Jay Webber
Dave Wolfe
NFIB New Jersey’s 2015 Assembly Endorsements:
District 1: Sam Fiocchi
and Jim Sauro
District 2: Chris A.
Brown and Will Pauls
District 8: Maria
Rodrigues-Gregg
District 9: Brian E.
Rumpf and Dianne C. Gove
District 10: Dave Wolfe
and Gregory P. McGuckin
District 11: Mary Pat
Angelini and Caroline Casagrande
District 12: Ronald S.
Dancer and Robert D. Clifton
District 13: Any
Handlin and Declan O’Scanlon
District 16: Jack M.
Ciattarelli and Donna M. Simon
District 21: Jon
Bramnick and Nancy Munoz
District 23: John
DiMaio and Erik Peterson
District 24: F. Parker
Space and Gail Phoebus
District 25: Michael
Patrick Carroll and Anthony M. Bucco
District 26: Jay Webber
and Bettylou Decroce
District 30: Sean T.
Kean and David P. Rible
District 38: Joseph
Lagana
District 39: Holly
Schepisi and Robert Auth
District 40: David C.
Russo and Scott Rumana