Branchburg – Today, Mike Pappas announced his candidacy for the New Jersey State Senate in District 16. He will share his plans with a group of friends and supporters at Stony Brook Grille in the North Branch section of Branchburg Township on Friday of this week.
Pappas, a former Member of Congress, who resides in Branchburg Township, is seeking a seat in the State legislature to join a team that understands the struggles the people of New Jersey face each day.
“I see how difficult it is for friends, family members and neighbors to make ends meet. It never ceases to amaze me how the State government seems oblivious to the plight of the people of New Jersey, whether they are working families, small business owners, professionals or students,” said Pappas.
The issues that Pappas will be focused upon include:
> High cost of gasoline, home heating costs and the State’s approach to the future energy
needs of New Jersey’s families and businesses
> The challenges for manufacturing of consumer goods
>Unfunded State mandates on local government that raise property taxes
>State taxes on pensions and other retirement income that are driving people out of the
State
> State taxation and regulation on small businesses that are causing many businesses to
leave for States that are more friendly for businesses – and the jobs they create
> State directives on local school districts that shift educational instruction in favor of
philosophical indoctrination of value systems that parents may not support
> School safety programs that rely upon highly trained, sworn police officers in each school that would desire it
> State fund its portion of the County college system that would be achievable assistance
for students and property tax payers
> Protect the environment and natural resources with effective and efficient policies
> Affordable housing policies that do not raise property taxes while assisting those in need
of housing
> Health standards that support patient’s rights and the role of physicians in the care of
their patients and use data for the State’s response to any health emergency
“In the days ahead, I intend to highlight not only my criticisms of existing policies but solutions. And critically important to creating common sense solutions will be to engage in a conversation with the great people of the 16th District,” concluded Pappas.
The 16th District is comprised of fifteen communities in Hunterdon, Middlesex, and Mercer and Somerset counties.
