Candidate information:
Email: RenaForCountyClerk@outlook.com
Phone number: 856-354-0547
Party affiliation: Democratic Party
Campaign website: https://www.southjerseyprogressivedemocrats.org/
Social media: https://www.facebook.com/Rena-Margulis-for-Camden-County-Clerk-2192998297442448/
Date of Birth: 1957
Education: Alumna of Smith College (1979) and Stanford University (1983).
Occupation: Myofascial Therapist (LMBT)
Public/Party service: Vice Chair of the South Jersey Progressive Democrats. Co-founder and Administrator of the nearly 6000-member Cherry Hill United Facebook group, which focuses on public issues.​ Former member and officer of the Board of Amnesty International USA.
Position on good government initiatives:
- Would you support reforming New Jersey’s Primary electoral ballots to give all candidates an equal chance of being elected?
It depends. If by “an equal chance of being elected,” what is meant is “an equal chance of obtaining the first position on the ballot,” then my position is a resounding yes. As County Clerk in Camden County, I would institute this change in the Camden County ballot. No longer would the machine candidate be in Column 2 and his opponents in Column 9, as in 2018. That is my top priority. - Would you support measures to increase voter participation (eg. same-day registration, early voting)?
Yes. Early voting needs to be more than just the option for Camden County voters to complete a paper vote-by-mail form in Blackwood, NJ, located at the far southern edge of the County, because vote-by-mail ballots can have disqualifying errors not possible when votes are cast on voting machines. Voting machines, for example, will not allow a voter to vote for two candidates when only one candidate can be elected. Early voting by voting machine should be available in population centers. - Would you support placing a nonpartisan commission in charge of the legislative redistricting process?
Yes. - Would you support ethics reforms that would require broader disclosure on financial information and the release of income taxes by candidates for public office, as a means for regulating campaigns and limiting corruption?
It depends. Candidates for President of the USA should release their income taxes. - Would you support reinstituting the statewide public advocate and making it a directly elected position?
Yes. This should be a non-partisan position. - Would you support changing the nominating process for members of Commissions and Boards to have panels of nonpartisan experts nominate candidates, with full public disclosure of the candidates’ credentials, and to have the legislature vote on the nominations?
It depends. Some members of Boards and Commissions should be so nominated, however in practice those members would likely represent those under the authority of such Boards. In addition some Board members should represent the public and be nominated by politicians. - Do you support public funding of campaigns for all statewide offices, including the legislature?
It depends. This matter needs careful consideration, as most districts are not competitive in the general election, and the real election is in the primary. - Do you support making the state legislature full-time and prohibiting simultaneous holding of other paid positions?
Yes.
