Senator Shirley Turner 15th Legislative District What inspired you to run for office and become a legislator? I felt that we needed more diverse representation in the New Jersey Legislature in terms of giving a voice to women and minorities and working to level the playing field for the underserved. What is your greatest achievement and greatest disappointment as a legislator? If you could change one thing in Trenton, what would it be? I was the first state Senator in the country to pass a law requiring that the work performed by State contractors and subcontractors be performed in the United States. I did this after learning that a call center that the State of New Jersey contracted with for answering questions about food stamps had moved its call center to India. After I introduced my bill, legislation was introduced by other legislators in 21 states. The call center reopened in Camden, New Jersey, which resulted in individuals from our state’s most impoverished city receiving jobs. My greatest disappointment is that the legislative process is so challenging. Very valid legislation can be difficult to pass, such as my bill, which I have sponsored for 22 years to fix New Jersey’s broken property tax system by making New Jersey less reliant on property taxes to pay for education and government services and provide a fairer method and more progressive revenue source to pay those expenses. Changing New Jersey’s status as the highest property tax state in the nation would improve affordability in our state, attract more businesses, and improve our economy and education for all children. I would change the way campaigns are financed to help reduce the influence of money in politics. What are the legislative priorities, issues, or areas of concern on which you would like to focus your attention? There are many priorities, but the most pressing issue at the moment is the COVID learning loss, job loss, and earnings loss for businesses and families. I am afraid these will have long-term repercussions on our students and workforce and the learning loss will impact the earnings potential of students who may be struggling to catch up and place them at greater risk of dropping out of school. 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? Our country needs to become independent in terms of providing our basic needs. The number of companies that have moved their manufacturing overseas has placed us at the mercy of foreign countries when we need supplies and other items. We need to prioritize manufacturing in the United States and that goal should guide our policies at both the federal and state levels. What was the make and model of the vehicle in which you learned how to drive? Also, what was the first (new or used) vehicle you owned? My father taught me to drive in a Lincoln, and the first vehicle I owned was a Dodge. Senator Turner’s Bio: Democrat representing Legislative District 15 Counties: Hunterdon and Mercer Municipalities: East Amwell, Ewing, Hopewell Borough (Mercer), Hopewell Township (Mercer), Lambertville, Lawrence (Mercer), Pennington, Trenton, West Amwell, West Windsor Education: • B.S. Trenton State College (Education) • M.A. Rider College (Guidance and Counseling) • Rutgers University (Postgraduate Studies/Education) Public or Party Service: • Mercer County Board of Freeholders (1983-86), Vice President (1986) • Township of Lawrence Zoning Board (1979-83) • Mercer County Improvement Authority (1979-81) • N.J. State Council on the Arts (1977-81) Legislative Service: • Senate (1998-present) • President Pro Tempore (2004-09) • Democratic President Pro Tempore (2002-03) • General Assembly (1994-98) • Associate Minority Leader (1996-98) Committees: • Education, Vice-Chair • Joint Committee on Economic Justice and Equal Employment Opportunity • Economic Growth State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation 5 QUESTIONS WITH... continues on page 20 19 N J C A R . O R G new jersey auto retailer
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