by Michael Schnoll
Election season is once again upon us. I could not be more thrilled to have Jack Ciattarelli leading our Republican ticket as our must needed candidate for Governor. Jack IS New Jersey, and will be a Governor for ALL of New Jersey. I have been extremely privileged to get to know Jack over the last few years, to Intern for him, and learn about his vision for a better Garden State. But, there are so many more races on the ballot below the gubernatorial level which have serious implications on our way of life. Nearly two years ago, just prior to casting my first ever ballot, I had the opportunity to write a letter urging the voters of the 39th Legislative District to re-elect our Assembly members. It would be more than an understatement to say that “so much has changed since then.” The world appeared to be at a standstill just a few months following that November 2019 election. Our way of life was changed in ways we would never imagine. I, and so many others were robbed of the remainder of our senior year of high school, the first quarter of college, and, it still doesn’t seem to be “normal” just yet. “Healthcare” policy discussions went from talking about single payer/”Medicare for all” to whether or not we should force Americans to take an injection. “Education” policy discussions went from talking about student loans and standardized testing to whether or not face masks ought to be strapped onto the faces of two year olds. This is actually what we have come to. In just several months, thanks to the many uncertainties regarding the 2020 presidential election, the United States went from being that shining city on a hill under President Trump’s leadership, to a country that is being held together by its last thread.
Despite all of this disappointment and uncertainty for our state and nation, State Assemblyman Bob Auth has never left the people of the 23 towns he represents in northern Bergen and Passaic counties. In the four years I have been involved in politics, I have never met a politician at the state legislative level who is so accessible, supportive of local needs, and willing to talk with literally anyone to get the job done. If I call him, he answers. If I leave him a voicemail, he calls me back. If I text him, he responds. Frankly, this is why so many of our Mayors and Council members from across the district know they have a friend AND a partner in Assemblyman Bob Auth. He is a customer service and a constituent service kind of guy who is smart; knowing that being a “man of the people” will help him in his political endeavors. He and his office have handled thousands of constituent service problems over the years; including helping people with COVID-19 vaccination, unemployment, and DMV related needs. Bob worked with local officials in Oakland to obtain state funding for a bridge in need of repair. He worked with my Mayor, Jim Wysocki, to help get Mahwah the road salt we needed during a snow storm.
When Bob goes to Trenton, he votes his conscious on every single piece of legislation. He always puts the taxpayer first. Having first hand business experience is a key reason for his fiscal conservatism and respect for those that put him in the position to make such choices for all of us. He opposes unnecessary spending as well as tax increases in any way, shape, or form. Bob is a strong proponent of the vaccine but also wants individuals to make that decision for themselves, and stands in firm opposition to this radical Governor’s agenda to prioritize undocumented immigrants by offering them free healthcare, drivers licenses, and education- all of which hard working Jersey families do not have as a guarantee. From a political standpoint, Bob is a very supportive Republican who is always out there for our local candidates. When I was a Campaign Manager for one of my town council races last year, he could not have been more excited to get involved. I believe that he is the kind of person we need to remain in office for the good of the party.
Assemblywoman Deanne DeFuccio is a former Councilwoman from Upper Saddle River who was selected to fill the remainder of Holly Schepisi’s term which she vacated to become our State Senator, following the death of Gerry Cardinale. In the few months I have gotten to know Deanne, I realized that we have someone on our ticket and representing us in Trenton who is smart, reasonable, and charismatic in that she wants to follow the footsteps of Bob Auth. I believe that my family and friends in District 39 would greatly benefit for allowing Deanne the opportunity to continue her public service.
It is not that often we meet people in politics who are actually there for US, who want to help those in need, and who won’t just smile at you for waving at them a check for their campaign war chest. Bob Auth and Deanne DeFuccio are the strongest allies we can possibly have representing District 39 in the State Assembly. I could not be more thrilled to fill in the bubble next to their names, and, next to Jack Ciattarelli’s so we can make Phil Murphy one and done in ’21.
Michael Schnoll is a Republican County Committeeman from Mahwah, NJ. A 2020 graduate of Mahwah High School, he is currently a sophomore majoring in Political Science at Indiana University Bloomington, where he is the Director of Campaign Coordination for the IU College Republicans.
