5 QUESTIONS WITH... continues on page 22 need for my students and all Americans to engage in the public policy-making process. Therefore, it was a natural fit for me to serve in public office so as to be in a more effective position to help my community. What is your greatest achievement and greatest disappointment as a legislator? If you could change one thing in Trenton, what would it be? My greatest achievement in public office is continuing to provide the highest level of constituency services to those I have the honor of representing. The pandemic only amplified the public’s need for help navigating the state bureaucracy to gain access to the services they need. My greatest disappointment as a legislator is seeing the continuation of misguided policies emanating from Trenton that are hostile to business, create harmful discrepancies in school funding, and provide woefully insufficient property tax relief, all of which have exacerbated the state’s unaffordability crisis. What are the legislative priorities, issues or areas of concern on which you would like to focus your attention? Constituent services remain my highest priority, as these efforts can directly improve the lives of my constituents. Reducing taxes remains an issue of the highest level for my constituents, many of whom are reaching their financial breaking point. To that end, I have supported tax reductions while, correspondingly, rejected increased government spending and borrowing. Coming out of the pandemic, what are the lessons you’ve learned and how do you think those lessons should guide public policy makers going forward? The most important lesson that I learned coming out of the pandemic is that people justifiably want a greater say in state policies, especially those implemented through the Governor’s emergency powers. To the detriment of the people, the State Legislature was not afforded the opportunity to provide sufficient input, on behalf of their constituents, regarding sweeping emergency directives issued unilaterally by the Governor. This process must change, and I have proudly co-sponsored legislation to modify state law to give the people, through their legislative representatives, a greater voice. 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? I drove an Oldsmobile to learn how to drive. My first car was a used 1962 Black Valiant. Assemblywoman Gove’s Bio: Republican representing Legislative District 9 Counties: Atlantic, Burlington and Ocean Municipalities: Barnegat, Barnegat Light, Bass River, Beach Haven, Beachwood, Berkeley, Eagleswood, Galloway, Harvey Cedars, Lacey, Little Egg Harbor, Long Beach, Ocean Gate, Ocean Township (Ocean), Pine Beach, Port Republic, Seaside Park, Ship Bottom, South Toms River, Stafford, Surf City, Tabernacle, Tuckerton, Washington (Burlington) Education: • B.A. Cabrini College (Social Science) • M.A. Monmouth University (Social Science) Public or Party Service: • Long Beach Township Commissioner 2008-09; 2003-04; 1984-88; • Mayor 2004-08 • Ocean County Advisory Commission on the Status of Women 1986-98 Legislative Service: • General Assembly 2009-present • Policy Co-Chair 2014-present Committees: • Higher Education • Military and Veterans’ Affairs • Aging and Senior Services Assemblywoman Michele Matsikoudis 21st Legislative District What inspired you to run for office and become a legislator? I have always been drawn to helping others and to public service. Offering a helping hand is not limited to being an elected official, and much of my life before politics came in the form of community involvement. I had the wonderful opportunity to volunteer with many community organizations involving our senior population, veterans, and the special needs communities. I serve currently as a Board Member for Robbie’s World Foundation for the Autistic and the New Jersey Veterans Network and was the PTA President at both the Middle and High Schools in my hometown. I knew that running and holding an elected office would offer me a new and exciting challenge to be a servant-leader in our community. When I was a Councilwoman in New Providence, we had a motto: “Do it because it is good for New Providence,” and I have taken that same mindset and applied it to our District in my current capacity as an Assemblywoman. What is your greatest achievement and greatest disappointment as a legislator? If you could change one thing in Trenton, what would it be? I am excited for future opportunities in my capacity as a Legislator. I am proud to be the primary sponsor of a piece of legislation called “Emma’s Law.” Emma’s Law requires school buses that transport students with special needs to be equipped with certain safety features such as closed-circuit cameras, and GPS that provides information about the location and speed of the special transport buses in real time in hopes of providing transparency. This bill was introduced last session by then-Assemblyman Jon Bramnick and is based on the real-life experiences of a special needs child from Cranford. It would be a great accomplishment to have this bill pass the Legislature in a bipartisan fashion. As a new Legislator, I do not believe I have faced any significant disappointments yet, fully recognizing that disappointments are a part of life. How I respond and react to a disappointment is more of the question. As a glass-half-full individual, I can only control 21 N J C A R . O R G new jersey auto retailer
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