New Jersey Stonewall Democrats

Newark Councilman Ron Rice, Jr. and NJSD VP for Legislative Affairs, Ann Baker at a fundraiser for Rice in Spring Lake on April 1st, 2010

Democracy for America, the grassroots organization created by Howard Dean after his 2004 presidential campaign, lives up to its mission of developing a strong grassroots organization in all 50 states. They have online trainings, and conduct weekend Campaign Trainings all over the country. New Jersey was the beneficiary of this skill-building opportunity over the weekend of June 26 - 27, and three active members of New Jersey Stonewall Democrats participated. Ed Zipprich, who is the Executive VP of NJSD and a sitting member of the Red Bank Borough Council was instrumental in persuading DFA to hold this event in New Jersey. Jeff Gardner who is on the executive board of the state chapter of DFA also attended. Jeff's recent election victory in Hawthorne, Passaic County, indicated how effective the campaign training is. He had participated in a similar weekend two years ago, and this year defeated a sitting State Senator to become the Democratic municipal chair of Hawthorne. NJSD takes particular satisfaction in Jeff's election win because Senator Girgenti, whom he defeated, was one of the six senate votes against marriage equality. The third member of NJSD who attended the campaign training was Ann Baker, the Vice President for Legislative and Political Affairs, and the Democratic municipal chair in the Borough of Roosevelt, Monmouth County.

Two NJSD endorsees win Municipal Elections for their City Council

The NJSD Continuing Political Committee endorsed the elections of two winning candidates for council seats in their respective ciities: Ron Rice Jr., an incumbent councilman in Newark, and a strong supporter of LGBT rights, and Marge Caldwell-Wilson running for an open seat on the Trenton City Council, and another strong supporter of LGBT rights. Councilman Rice was the sponsor of a city ordinance that greatly extended the civil rights of Newark citizens who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. Ms. Caldwell-Wilson intends to introduce a similar ordinance in the Trenton City Council. Councilman Rice won 78% of the vote in his race, and first timer, Marge Caldwell-Wilson had the highest winning percentage, 63%, of any candidate running in Trenton, including the new mayor, Tony Mack.

NJSD Pushing the Mission of National Stonewall Democrats

National Stonewall Democrats is very clear about the organization's mission: to Elect Pro-Equality Democrats and to Hold Democrats Accountable. NJSD is pleased to have worked hard to secure the national Pac's endorsements of Congressman Rush Holt and Ed Potosnak. We are also gratified that our two candidates whom we endorsed for municipal elections were victorious. The NJSD Continuing Political Committee is in the process of evaluating candidates for local and couny elections in November, and have already endorsed Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein who is running in a special election in November for the state senate seat vacated by Bill Baroni when he was appointed to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. That seat has been held on an interim basis until the special election. Assemblywoman Greenstein has represented the 14th Legislative District for seveal terms, and is well-known and respected throughout her district.

NJSD has begun working with other progressive organizations in the state to consider supporting Democratic members of the State Senate who voted for marriage equality. We also anticipate identifying at least one Democratic senator who opposed marriage equality, and are working with the ad hoc groups that emerged to effectively challenge Republican Senator Sean Kean who called attention to himself with his floor speech on the day of the marriage equality vote.

NJ Stonewall Dems officers Ed Zipprich and Babs Casbar at the marriage equality rally in Trenton