Here’s why we are excited to endorse Garnet R. Hall for LD28 Assembly:

Candidate order: The bill to reform New Jersey’s primary ballots (A5116) moves New Jersey closer to fair primaries by eliminating the county line ballot and instituting an office block ballot design. However, candidate order for the primary ballot will still be determined by the County Clerk or Municipal Clerk drawing names out of a bin. This provides an advantage for the candidate drawn in first position and has resulted in some clerks drawing the party endorsed candidates for first position a statistically improbable number of times. I support the following reform that would ensure a more fair candidate order on the ballot:
Rotating the order of candidates for each office by voting precinct, so each candidate appears on the ballot first, second, and so forth, approximately the same number of times (see the recently introduced bill A5181).

Comment: Candidates are given tremendous opportunity through campaign literature, websites etc. to “get their name out.” Rotating the order ensures an informed electorate and results in selection of the most qualified candidate.

Slogans: I support prohibiting the use of slogans to express party endorsements on primary election ballots. New Jersey is the only state that allows primary candidates to use slogans to indicate endorsements.

Comment: Slogans are disingenuous and facilitate another form of the line.

Voter access: I support adopting parts of H.R.1 in New Jersey in order to increase voter participation, ensure access to the ballot box, and strengthen elections, including specifically same day registration, early voting and a paper trail for machine voting that enables verification.

Ethics reform: I support ethics reforms that would require broader disclosure of financial information and the release of income taxes by candidates for county-level and state-level public office, as a means of transparency.

Comment: We have broad ethics and personal financial disclosure statements which benefit the electorate.

Campaign funding: I support the public funding of campaigns for all state-level elected offices (i.e., the state legislature and gubernatorial elections).

Comment: Matching funds are beneficial and level the playing field.

Redistricting: I support placing a nonpartisan commission in charge of the legislative redistricting process.

Public Advocate: I support passing legislation to reinstate the statewide Office of the Public Advocate that was eliminated in 2010.

Comment: The Public Advocate played an invaluable role and the position should be reinstated.

Posting of state bills: I support requiring that bills be posted in written form at least 72 hours prior to committee discussion or vote, and that budget bills be posted at least 5 business days in advance of discussion or vote, to improve transparency in the legislative process.

State legislative meetings: I support making all committee meetings accessible to the public for attendance and testimony by online means (e.g., via zoom) and streaming of voting sessions to increase availability and transparency of government.

Comment: Voter participation is easier now and hearing from the public can make a bill stronger,

Full time legislature: I support making the state legislature full-time and prohibiting the simultaneous holding of other paid positions, so as to eliminate conflicts of interest and sources of influence and pressure on state legislators.

Comment: Salary review is necessary.

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More information about Garnet R. Hall:

Email: AswHall@njleg.org
Phone number: 973 762 1886
Campaign website: garnetforassembly.com
Social media: Facebook: Garnet Hall for Assembly
Party affiliation: Democratic party

Date of Birth: 8/23/1959
Current Occupation: NJ Assemblywoman and Essex Deputy Clerk
Education: Fairleigh Dickinson University
Public/party service: Vice Chair Maplewood Democrat Committee (MDC) for 15 yrs. MDC District Leader.