The past year has been a challenge like no other for us all. From the very beginning, the North Jersey community has been at the epicenter of the pandemic. In fact, the first case of COVID-19 diagnosed in New Jersey was here, in our district. Since that very moment, I have worked tirelessly day and night to make sure we meet this unprecedented challenge head on – fighting to get personal protective equipment to our frontline heroes; to protect the health and safety of our families, seniors, and veterans; and to support workers and our local businesses. And today, my highest priority continues to be making sure we emerge from these difficult times, safe, healthy, and even stronger than before.
I have been honored to be fighting for you since first being elected to represent the 37 th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly in 2001. As your Assemblyman, I am proud to have helped lead the fight to expand access to affordable healthcare for millions of New Jerseyans, to enact stronger gun safety legislation, to increase the minimum wage, and to strengthen protections for the LGBTQ community. The past year has also seen longstanding concerns about systemic injustice in our communities come to the forefront. As a member of the state’s Legislative Black Caucus, I am proud of the significant progress we have made to improve social justice, as New Jersey has become a national leader in delivering much-needed reforms.
As far as we have come, I know there is still plenty of work to be done, on this and many other fronts – including to improve our transportation infrastructure, combat climate change, and build a strong green energy future, continuing to make sure every child has access to the high-quality education they deserve, and so much more.
I am running for State Senate because these challenging times call for experienced leadership that knows how to get the job done and will never stop fighting for you. I am honored to be running alongside two brilliant, principled women, Shama Haider and Ellen Park, who have accomplished so much for their communities and who will be the strong voices our families need to fight for them in the New Jersey General Assembly.
I fully believe in my heart that together we can overcome any challenge, no matter how difficult or steep the odds. I hope that our Democratic team can count on your support so that we can work together to build a brighter future for everyone in our District 37 community and our state.