06/03/2005
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Jim Sauro, third from left, joins fellow NFIB/New Jersey members and staff for a presentation of the newly launched New Jersey State Action Center Web page. |
Jim Sauro may be the most popular plumber in New Jersey -- and, if all goes well, that popularity will catapult him into the State Assembly.
Sauro is president of A.R. Sauro Plumbing, Heating and WaterCare; host of the weekly talk show "Straight Talk with Jim Sauro" on 92.1 FM and a former Cumberland County freeholder. He is also a newly added State Assembly write-in candidate, encouraged to join the race when Upper Township Mayor Drew McCrosson failed to submit petition signatures in time to get on the ballot.
"It's an uphill battle," Sauro concedes, but he's fought -- and won -- uphill battles before. Sustaining and growing his business for 35 years is just one piece of evidence.
A current member of NFIB/New Jersey's Leadership Council and former president of the New Jersey State League of Master Plumbers, Sauro is a longtime political activist. He has spent years monitoring local, state and federal legislation, initially out of an interest in protecting his own business, which was started by his father in 1970. His political involvement grew as he recognized the impact individuals can have on shaping government regulations -- whether acting alone, as part of an organization or as a candidate for public office.
"A lot of people think they can't make a difference. People have power and don't know they have it," he notes.
Sauro has witnessed this power first-hand, and he says organizations like NFIB are great at helping individuals make their voices heard without having to take time away from their primary pursuit: running their businesses.
"Business people today work so hard just to pay taxes and try to make a living. They don't have time to go to Trenton. That's why I say join NFIB; it's their job to represent small businesses," he says. "We've been able to mobilize people to get on the phone, send faxes and contact their legislators when we need to send a message. I've had officials tell me they know that when I talk to them I represent thousands of individuals because they've seen it."
Sauro joined his father's plumbing and heating business in 1971 as an apprentice. They purchased a water treatment company to expand the business in 1984, and Sauro bought the entire enterprise from his father in 1988. He became active with the NJSLMP and NFIB in the early 1990s and served as a freeholder in Cumberland County from 2000 to 2002. He began hosting "Straight Talk" while serving as a freeholder and has continued to grow his audience in the years since he left office.
"I've had [NFIB/New Jersey State Director] John Holub on the show several times, and we always get a lot of new and renewing members," Sauro says. He hopes the upcoming Assembly election will give him an opportunity to reach even more people with his small-business and political savvy. "Hopefully we'll have a Leadership Council member on the Assembly."
"In New Jersey, we've got so much legislation going against business -- it's harder and harder to keep your door open. A lot of people get upset but don't do anything about it. I'm one of these people who's not going to do that. I have to do something," he continues. "I take time away from my own business to do this because I think it's important."
