N E W J E R S E Y C O A L I T I O N O F A U T O M O T I V E R E T A I L E R S I S S U E 4 | 2 0 2 1 14 new jersey auto retailer Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson What inspired you to run for office and become a legislator? I was inspired to run for office because I felt there was not enough being done in the areas of advocating for youth with special needs or advocating for services for seniors. What is your greatest achievement and your greatest disappointment as a legislator? If you could change one thing in Trenton, what would it be? My greatest achievement as a legislator would be the passing of A3394, which requires civics education to be taught in our middle schools. Also, the passage of A3641, which requires the Department of Law and Public Safety to incorporate implicit bias in cultural diversity training materials for law enforcement officers. Both of these bills have been signed into law by Governor Murphy. My greatest disappointment to date has been my inability to rally support for legislation that limits law enforcement at polling locations (Assembly bill #4655). What are the legislative priorities, issues or areas of concern on which you would like to focus your attention? Two of my legislative priorities, as I move forward, are assisting our communities in the fight against COVID-19 so that the world can fully open up because, unfortunately, we are not where we need to be in this fight. My second priority is really focused on economic development and supporting the mission of our small businesses. Coming out of the pandemic, what are the lessons you’ve learned, and how do you think those lessons should guide public policymakers going forward? The pandemic showed us that food insecurities affect all people of different financial backgrounds, and moving forward, a concentrated focus is needed on public health, technology (broadband), and increased emergency preparedness. What was the make and model of the vehicle in which you learned to drive? Also, what was the first (new or used) vehicle you owned? The first car in high school was a 1981 Chevy Caprice. The first new vehicle I owned was a Ford Taurus, after having a used Camaro. Assemblywoman Reynold Jackson’s Bio: Previously a member of the Trenton City Council, Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson was first sworn into office February 15, 2018, to represent New Jersey’s 15th Legislative District (East Amwell, Ewing, Hopewell Borough (Mercer), Hopewell Township (Mercer), Lambertville, Lawrence (Mercer), Pennington, Trenton, West Amwell, West Windsor). She was reelected in 2021. Assemblywoman Reynolds-Jackson is the Vice-Chair of the Consumer Affairs Legislative Committee and a member of the Commerce and Economic Development Legislative Committee, the Joint Committee on Economic Justice and Equal Employment Opportunity, and the Joint Committee on the Public Schools. She is a Grants Administrator for Mercer County and a graduate of The College of New Jersey (B.A.), Central Michigan University (M.S.), and Rutgers University (C.M.F.O.). Senator Joseph Cryan What inspired you to run for office and become a legislator? I wanted to run for office because I believed I could make a difference in my community and the state of New Jersey. My father was also involved in government and politics, and while it kept him extremely busy, I saw that it brought him joy, that it was a true “labor of love.” I felt that my calling was in public service, and I’m honored to work with wonderful people to create positive change for the people I proudly represent. What is your greatest achievement and your greatest disappointment as a legislator? If you could change one thing in Trenton, what would it be? My greatest achievement would be writing a law that created the Division of Children and Families. My greatest disappointment is the knowledge that there is always more to do and not being able to assist everyone. If I can change one thing in Trenton, it would be the process to give people more time to review materials. What are the legislative priorities, issues or areas of concern on which you would like to focus your attention? New Jersey has been a national model in both labor laws and immigration standards, especially since Governor Murphy took office. While we should be proud of this, there is always more work to be done, especially after COVID-19 revealed so many inequities in our system. I am hopeful to sit down with stakeholders from both industries to see what we can do. Coming out of the pandemic, what are the lessons you’ve learned, and how do you think those lessons should guide public policymakers going forward? As we begin our slow recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, I am continuously taken aback at the rampant misinformation that skews decision-making. I believe everyone should have
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