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 2022-2023 SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE EDITION WRONGLY CONFLATING EV WITH DIRECT SALES An Effort to Misguide Legislators Across the Country Page 28 USING DIVERSITY & INCLUSION AS A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE Page 10
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WEMEAN BUSINESS New York • Newark • Jersey City • Basking Ridge • Philadelphia Genova Burns LLC • www.genovaburns.com ATTORNEYS AT LAW
EDITOR: BRIAN HUGHES PUBLISHED BY THE NEWSLINK GROUP, LLC 855.747.4003 ©2023 New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers | The newsLINK Group, LLC. All rights reserved. The New Jersey Auto Retailer is published four times each year by The newsLINK Group, LLC for the New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers (NJCAR) and is the official publication for this association. The information contained in this publication is intended to provide general information for review, consideration and dealer education. The contents do not constitute legal advice and should not be relied on as such. If you need legal advice or assistance, it is strongly recommended that you contact an attorney as to your circumstances. The statements and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of NJ CAR, its board of directors, or the publisher. Likewise, the appearance of advertisements within this publication does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation of any product or service advertised. The New Jersey Auto Retailer is a collective work, and as such, some articles are submitted by authors who are independent of NJ CAR. While NJ CAR encourages a first-print policy, in cases where this is not possible, every effort has been made to comply with any known reprint guidelines or restrictions. Content may not be reproduced or reprinted without prior written permission. For further information, please contact the publisher at 855.747.4003. NJ CAR Executive Committee and Board of Trustees 2022-2023 NORTHERN REGION I (Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic, Sussex) Joseph Agresta, Jr. Timothy Allocca Jeffrey Brown John Fette Tim Hlavenka (Alt.) William Kundert, Jr Brian Lam Renee P. McGuire James Russomano (Alt.) Richard Selman (Alt.) Todd Van Duren NORTHERN REGION II (Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Union, Warren) Scott Barna (Alt.) David Ferraez John Johnson, Jr. Sean Lyons Chris Preziosi, Jr. (Alt.) Edward J. Rossi (Alt.) William L. Strauss, III Stephen Tilton CONTENTS NJ CAR BOARD OF TRUSTEES BY REGION 6 President's Message: The Franchise System Benefits Consumers — The Direct Sales Model Does Not BY JAMES B. APPLETON 10 Using Diversity & Inclusion as a Competitive Advantage BY KERRI WISE 13 5 Questions With... 20 Every Dealership Should Be a Member Of NJ CARPOOL 22 Navigating New Jersey’s Electric Vehicle Charging Landscape BY CHRIS DONNELLY 28 Wrongly Conflating EV Sales with Direct Sales: An Effort to Misguide Legislators Across the Country BY MAGDALENA PADILLA 32 NJ CAR Recognizes Dealership Heroes on Social Media 36 NJ CAR New Car Dealer Economic Impact 40 New Jersey Franchised New Car and Truck Dealerships by Legislative District James Curley, III..............................................................................................................Chairman Eric Nielsen..............................................................................................................Vice Chairman Ronald E. Baus, Jr...........................................................................................................Secretary Andy Shapiro....................................................................................................................Treasurer Michael P. DeSilva............................................. Regional Vice President (Northern Region I) Mark Montenero................................................Regional Vice President (Northern Region II) Richard Malouf, Jr....................................................Regional Vice President (Central Region) Ed Barlow, III..........................................................Regional Vice President (Southern Region) Michael P. DiFeo...............................................................................................Budget Chairman Michael McGuire.............................................................NJ CAR Insurance Co. Ltd. Chairman Richard A. DeSilva, Sr..............................................................NJ CAR Services, Inc. President Richard DeSilva, Jr.......................................................................NADA Director for New Jersey Frank M. Pezzolla............................................................................Truck Committee Chairman Charles S. Miller.............................................................................................CAR-PAC President Thomas DeFelice, lll.......................................................................................NextGen Chairman James B. Appleton.........................................................................................................President CENTRAL REGION (Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean) Robert Ciasulli Thomas Faragall Garry Foltz Elizabeth Giglio (Alt.) Adam Kraushaar Melissa Longo Shari Sandidge (Alt.) Paul Sansone, Jr. Anton Semprivivo David Wintrode, Sr. (Alt.) Jordan Wright SOUTHERN REGION (Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Mercer, Salem) Russell Abate Jason Elkins Jeremy Fisher William Kassner (Alt.) Steven Kindle (Alt.) Judith Krupnick David Kull Peter Lanzavecchia (Alt.) Stacey Lilliston Jim McCormick Robert D. McCormick Tina Wright 2 0 2 2 - 2 0 2 3 S P E C I A L L E G I S L A T I V E E D I T I O N 4 new jersey auto retailer
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE | BY JAMES B. APPLETON The Franchise System Benefits Consumers — THE DIRECT SALES MODEL DOES NOT The Direct Sales model is WRONG FOR CONSUMERS. New Jersey has been at the forefront of this fight for several years, but direct sales fights continue to rage all over the country, as you will see in our featured story from this issue of New Jersey Auto Retailer. Initially, it was just Tesla, but now Rivian, Lucid and other startups are taking up the mantle and trying to gain special consideration from Legislatures coast to coast. Even some legacy automakers are toying with the idea of breaking off their EV product into standalone companies. Direct sale advocates have long said franchised dealers are unwilling or unable to sell EVs and that EV startups with direct sales are the only ones giving consumers the convenience of online vehicle purchasing. Neither of these assertions are true. Franchised dealers currently offer more than 40 vehicles with a plug, and dozens more are coming in the next few years. They also offer the consumer flexibility to complete their retail purchase online if the consumer prefers a remote or digital experience. The network of 500+ franchised new car and truck dealerships in New Jersey represents a $34.6 billion industry and directly employs nearly 36,000 men and women, supporting an additional 34,000 jobs in the Garden State. Franchise dealerships provide consumers with fierce inter- and intra-brand price competition and prevent manufacturer monopolies. They offer ready access to warranty, recall and general repair service and generate good-paying, local jobs (many of which don’t require a college degree) that can’t be outsourced. They contribute billions of dollars in tax revenue and other benefits to the State and local economies. Factorydirect sales are simply an attempt to monopolize the electric vehicle (EV) market, eliminate competition and limit access to independent warranty and safety recall services. NJ CAR has been communicating this message through a variety of paid and earned media campaigns targeting New Jersey’s elected officials and the public at large for more than a year. NJ CAR staff and dozens of dealers have participated in more than 100 Zoom calls and inperson meetings over the past 14 months, meeting with virtually every legislator to ensure the industry’s message stays in front of the State’s decision-makers. We have been proactive in our efforts, rather than reactive, and we are committed to staying one step ahead of Tesla, Rivian, Lucid and the other advocates for direct sales, including some legacy automakers that have begun to explore the possibility of factory-direct sales of EVs and autonomous vehicles. For instance, Ford Motor Company recently announced it was spinning off its electric vehicle operation into a company separate from its legacy business. After receiving massive pushback, the company dialed back the spinoff talk and announced an internal separation of the EV business as its own unit under the Ford umbrella, but you can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube. And, as of this writing, it is unclear how this decision will impact Ford’s franchisees. Direct sales advocates have said the unique nature of this evolving technology requires a factory-to-consumer direct sale. The fact is vehicles have been evolving for more than a century, and there is absolutely no reason to abandon the franchise system that has served consumers AND auto manufacturers well for all that time. Consumers want convenient access to service. They want a strong local business that employs their neighbors and is active in the community. They want hearty competition on pricing for sales and service. The franchise system meets those needs. The direct sales model does not. 2 0 2 2 - 2 0 2 3 S P E C I A L L E G I S L A T I V E E D I T I O N 6 new jersey auto retailer
Tommy Struchen and his team service about 450 vehicles a month. To move all these cars through the dealership efficiently, he needed to streamline communications between dealership employees as well as with customers. With VUE by Dominion DMS, the Service team can communicate immediately with other employees within the DMS. Technicians can take notes and send them to their advisors, so there is no miscommunication about the repair orders. When advisors inspect vehicles, technicians can see what tickets are assigned to them and appropriately plan for it in real time. EASE OF USE. CONSIDER VUE. RECONSIDER Since the install, processes have been a lot more seamless. From technicians to service advisors to including even the parts department. It made everyone’s job so much easier. Tommy Struchen Service Manager, Mack Grubbs Hyundai CONSIDER VUE 866.928.3210 | DOMINIONDMS .COM/NEW- JERSEY
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Imagine fishing from your favorite pond and catching the same fish over and over again. And even when you catch a new type of fish, you aren’t able to keep it on the line because you don’t have the right pole. You hope things improve, but you continue to fish out of the same pond with the same pole. This simple metaphor reflects the state of diversity and inclusion in automotive retail. The harsh reality is that the industry lacks representation in key segments, like women and minorities, and/or lacks the culture to support these groups when they are hired. Many dealership teams do not reflect the communities they serve, and there are negative implications to this that hurt the organization’s ability to innovate and grow. The disparities are obvious when you look at the data. Women consumers are responsible for 65% of new vehicle purchases and service work done at dealerships but only represent 21% of dealership employees. Likewise, minorities represent 30% of new vehicle car buyers but only represent 6% of dealership owners. Companies with diverse teams are not only more attractive to prospective employees, but also have better ROI. According to a McKinsey study, companies with more racial diversity are 36% more likely to have greater financial returns than average and companies with more gender diversity are 25% more likely to perform better financially. A focus on diversity and inclusion is a business decision. The reality is that customers often feel more comfortable when a dealership’s staff has representation that looks like them. For example, a dealership with an all-male staff is at a disadvantage when half the population is female. A dealership with all white employees is at a disadvantage in a community with a significant Latino population. But there are other implications in our current environment to consider. The “great resignation” occurring in America has resulted in 4.5 million people voluntarily leaving their positions as of November 2021, exacerbating employers’ ability to retain their teams. Now, this doesn’t mean you should seek to hire every kind of person. But it does mean that you should strive to build a staff that is representative of the demographics of the community that you serve. There is an opportunity to “fish in new ponds and with new poles,” attracting talent that may look different than the typical automotive profile but have transferable skill sets. USING DIVERSITY & INCLUSION as a Competitive Advantage By Kerri Wise 2 0 2 2 - 2 0 2 3 S P E C I A L L E G I S L A T I V E E D I T I O N 10 new jersey auto retailer
While diversity is important, it’s imperative to also focus on the inclusion part as well. Even if you succeed in attracting more diverse talent, those employees are not likely to stay until dealerships create more inclusive environments for them to thrive. This means dissecting the current culture and the environment it creates before focusing on attracting diverse talent. So, where should a dealership start? In order to breakthrough, it’s going to require significant intention and effort. It’s not a matter of “hoping” that you’ll “catch more fish in that pond.” It’s actively finding some “new ponds and new equipment and strategies for fishing.” Below are a few ideas to consider when looking to increase diversity and inclusion at your store: • Get leadership buy-in: Leadership must understand the WHY and have bought in. Otherwise, employees are less likely to follow, and the initiative will fail — kick off your diversity initiative with a management meeting to help leadership understand how this initiative will benefit the dealership and them personally. • Hire a DEI consultant: Often, an “outsider” can help us navigate and build momentum faster. A DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) expert can provide an independent assessment of what’s going on and a game plan for improvement. • Measure and identify your dealership’s gaps in diversity and inclusion: Send out an anonymous employee survey or host listening sessions to understand which demographics are underrepresented (relative to your community), and identify differences in employee satisfaction, perceptions, pay, etc. • Create a diversity committee: Offer employees an opportunity to contribute through a committee that will brainstorm new ideas and help execute on key projects. • Offer Employee Training: Bring in a DEI trainer to help your team cover key topics like allyship, sexual harassment, unconscious bias, and microaggressions. • Spotlight the diverse talent you already have: Prospective employees, in many cases, will develop perceptions of your culture and environment based on what they see on your website and social media. Consider spotlighting the diverse employees you already have through social posts, pictures, and videos that share their unique stories and experiences. • Get creative on where you recruit: Tap into and get involved with community and affinity groups that cater to the demographics you want to recruit. This includes women’s groups, historically black colleges, ethnic professional associations, youth groups, etc. • Adjust your screening process: Employers often set requirements for jobs that have nothing to do with success, and these standards eliminate diverse talent. Identify the true requirements of the position, not based on historical trends but based on the current landscape. For example, in the past, selling cars took a more transactional salesperson that could aggressively close. However, in a world where most consumers are digitally armed with more information, the profile of a successful salesperson has changed to someone who is more relational and can offer value beyond a transaction. • Offer key benefits and flexibility that attract diverse talents: One of the key reasons women avoid working in automotive retail is the lack of work-life balance and flexibility in schedules. However, this isn’t just an issue that impacts women. Younger generations, fathers, and single people (just to name a few) are looking for flexibility as well. It’s beneficial to get creative by offering alternative schedules like part-time roles, shifts, and regular days off on weekends. • Establish policies on how to deal with diversity complaints before they are needed: It’s easy to ignore and allow bad behavior from your superstar salesperson. However, this is to the detriment of creating a diverse and inclusive culture. Instead, create policies upfront that identify bad behavior as it relates to diversity and inclusion and establish the actions you will take to address these behaviors (e.g., training, termination, etc.). More importantly, make sure to enforce these policies, regardless of who the offenders are, in order to set a good example for your entire team. • Employee resource group: Start affinity or employee groups (e.g., women, Latino, etc.) that enable diverse employees to have a safe place to discuss their unique challenges, network and gain inspiration. You can also consider supporting outside organizations and encourage your diverse employees to participate. • Celebrate key holidays that matter to diverse employees: Acknowledge and celebrate key holidays and months that are significant to diverse employees such as Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Chinese New Year, Hispanic Heritage Month, etc. This could include a mention in a sales meeting, newsletter, or an employee event. Kerri Wise is President of Women of Color Automotive Network (WOCAN) and Chief Marketing Officer at AutoFi, a leading commerce platform for digital sale and financing. She can be reached at kwise@autofi.io. A FOCUS ON DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IS A BUSINESS DECISION. 11 N J C A R . O R G new jersey auto retailer
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 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 Assemblywoman KIM EULNER 11th Legislative District What inspired you to run for office and become a legislator? Having served as a Shrewsbury Borough Councilwoman for four years, I felt I had a good foundation of public service to 5questions with... 13 N J C A R . O R G new jersey auto retailer
run for Assembly. Through the years, I would complain about the direction the state was headed, and finally decided I needed to put my “money where my mouth is” and run. I’m thrilled to have won and to represent the people of Legislative District 11 and Monmouth County. Also, there’s a decided lack of “regular” people in the legislature, and too often people’s everyday concerns are brushed aside for more out-of-touch policy options. What is your greatest achievement and greatest disappointment as a legislator? If you could change one thing in Trenton, what would it be? Since I have been in office a few months, I consider winning the tough election to be my greatest achievement. I will expand my list of achievements as I participate in more committee meetings, voting sessions, and meeting more of my Legislative District 11 constituents. My current goal is to help those facing challenges relating to unemployment, New Jersey’s exorbitant cost of living, and improve our educational system. My greatest disappointment so far is that Democrats and Republicans have a long way to go to learn how to work across the aisle. We need to regain focus on what is good for the citizens of New Jersey and remember there is more that unites us than divides us. What are the legislative priorities, issues or areas of concern on which you would like to focus your attention? School funding, protecting our police, the overall high tax rate, and extensive overspending, to name a few. Many schools in my district have lost funding over the last several years, which puts additional burdens on parents and our communities via school referendums for facility upgrades, paying more for after-school activities, and dealing with a lack of available resources to address the mental health crisis our children are facing. We have also experienced a higher rate of teacher retirements and less college graduates entering the field. We need to make it easier for those interested in teaching to get into the classroom. Ensuring our police are respected, kept safe, and properly funded is another priority. Prisoners should no longer be released from prison due to COVID rates. Making sure our communities are safe and secure is a huge concern to our residents, and they spoke loudly and clearly in the last election. Finally, the governor has increased the state’s budget by over $12 billion in the past five years. It’s time to give the taxpayers and business owners in our state a break. 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? Unfortunately, the pandemic has shown how divided our communities and state can be, but also that we have it within ourselves to come together for the common good. More specifically, I am hopeful everyone realizes that children need to be in school, parents need to be able to decide what is best for their children and that our front-line workers deserve our respect and support. 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 learned how to drive in my grandmother’s Red VW Beetle (not sure of the year, but it was from the 1970s) with a stick shift. The first car I owned was a Red 1989 VW Fox, also a stick shift. Assemblywoman Eulner’s Bio Republican Representing Legislative District 11 Counties: Monmouth Municipalities: Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Colts Neck, Deal, Eatontown, Freehold Borough, Freehold Township, Interlaken, Loch Arbour, Long Branch, Neptune, Neptune Township, Ocean Township (Monmouth), Red Bank, Shrewsbury Borough, Shrewsbury Township, Tinton Falls, West Long Branch Legislative Service General Assembly, 2022–present Committees Financial Institutions and Insurance Human Services Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Assemblywoman DIANNE GOVE 9th Legislative District What inspired you to run for office and become a legislator? I had the privilege of teaching high school history and civics for more than 30 years. This only increased my level of respect for our form of government. When teaching, I instilled the compelling 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 2 0 2 2 - 2 0 2 3 S P E C I A L L E G I S L A T I V E E D I T I O N 14 new jersey auto retailer
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) 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 my reaction to a disappointment, reflect on the things I can change for a better outcome the next time, and refocus my efforts on the next challenge or initiative I am working on. What are the legislative priorities, issues or areas of concern on which you would like to focus your attention? I have the privilege of viewing some of the state’s most pressing issues with a fresh set of eyes and producing common sense and pragmatic solutions to address these concerns. As a representative, I consider myself to be pro-business and protaxpayer. From a pro-business perspective, my goal is to help make New Jersey a state where businesses of all sizes can succeed. The state should be doing more to incentivize and attract new business into the state and helping to provide business 15 N J C A R . O R G new jersey auto retailer
relief by cutting burdensome regulations so companies can afford to stay. Additionally, I am concerned about the growing staffing crisis that seems to be impacting almost every industry. There are different ways to address staffing shortages, but I do not believe in just throwing money at the issues, and there is no one-size-fitsall solution. We must be willing to focus on the root causes of staffing shortages and consider each approach on a case-by-case and industry-by-industry basis. From a pro-taxpayer mindset, we must also address the affordability crisis of the state. In the current climate, we see too often that older residents can no longer afford to stay in the state; that our young people cannot afford to start their lives here and are eager to move while taking their industry talents with them; and that property taxes are becoming increasingly burdensome. I am looking forward to taking on these issues, among many others, while in Trenton. 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? When I think of post-pandemic life, two things come to mind: the impacts on New Jersey business, and the impacts to our school-aged children. I believe in both regards, we are just beginning to see how broad shutdowns and missed classroom time have impacted residents of our state. I have seen colleagues learn firsthand that there is a fine balance between saving lives and saving livelihoods, and the two do not have to be mutually exclusive. We must make decisions that are good for the publics’ health, but that also do not impact residents’ sources of income, businesses, or mental and emotional stability. Policymakers must always consider the unintended consequences of their decisions. The silver lining of the past two years has been that our state has seen what worked and what did not work in response to the situation we faced – and we are better prepared for our future challenges better than before. 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 loved American cars — so much so that there was a time that our family was only allowed to have a car if it was a Buick. He believed the American automotive appeal and performance were unlike any other. When I reached driving age, the family car was a maroon Buick Skylark. I vividly remember driving around the streets of Bayonne thinking I would be the talk of the town. When I was old enough for a car of my own, I stayed in the Buick family and drove the one that my grandfather did. Assemblywoman Matsikoudis’ Bio Republican Representing Legislative District 21 Counties: Union Municipalities: Berkeley Heights, Bernards, Chatham Borough, Cranford, Far Hills, Garwood, Kenilworth, Long Hill, Mountainside, New Providence, Roselle Park, Springfield (Union), Summit, Warren, Watchung, Westfield Legislative Service General Assembly, 2022–present Committees Community Development and Affairs Education Aging and Senior Services Joint Committee on the Public Schools Assemblywoman CAROL MURPHY 7th Legislative District What inspired you to run for office and become a legislator? My father was a U.S. Army Bronze Star Master Sergeant who dedicated his life to public service. He instilled in me that same dedication to public service in various ways. I set many small goals that led me to accomplish bigger goals. Unfortunately, I did not know what that ultimate goal was until I served as a staffer for a legislator many years later. After working in law for 18 years and government for 17 years, going back to school, along with a few part-time jobs, all of that led me to run for office. I am now serving in a career I did not know I wanted until I won in 2017 and it felt right. The words of George Burns apply to me “If you are in love with your job, you never work a day in your life.” 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 as a legislator is when a constituent or colleague or friend says thank you for helping me. I thrived on knowing that people depend on me, knowing they can call me on the phone and say, “I need your help” and know I will do my best to make a difference. A simple THANK YOU is the biggest accomplishment. My biggest disappointment has not happened yet. But if I had to name one thing it would be the lack of trust under the golden dome. We need to come together to get the work of the people done. We need to work together, talk together and need to make decisions together in the best interests of New Jerseyans as we did through COVID. We should debate with passion, not in anger or just to be adversarial. Working together with a common goal should come with civility. Change I would like to see not only in Trenton but also in general is a greater respect for humanity, respect for our peers and less anger. 2 0 2 2 - 2 0 2 3 S P E C I A L L E G I S L A T I V E E D I T I O N 16 new jersey auto retailer
What are the legislative priorities, issues or areas of concern on which you would like to focus your attention? Legislative priorities for this session area: • Affordability for residents to live, work and play in New Jersey • Affordability for our businesses to prosper and grow • Retention of jobs/workforce • Infrastructure - Technology, Transportation, and Roads • Veterans, animal protections and children. • Mental and physical healthcare and childcare • Human Trafficking issues • Cybersecurity issues and safety for families, businesses, schools etc. 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? Lessons learned from the pandemic are voluminous. We learned to move forward despite the pandemic. We learned just how our life can be altered when businesses and schools are impacted, in addition to a lack of healthcare and the suspension of everyday luxuries. Learning to adapt to a new normal that may feel the same, but is not the same. As a policy maker the instability of our State and family budgets, a workforce crisis, business losses and lack of in-school studies had on our residents. Our priorities shifted towards affordability, the importance of healthcare, work loss and the need for quality education. Highlighting improvements needed for our infrastructure, our technology, which needs over hauling, and our businesses need help and resources to get up and running. Our economy needs strengthening to keep our communities moving forward. As a legislator I learned just how strong New Jerseyans are in times of crisis and can come together to help each other. 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? The car I learned to drive in was my dad’s Cadillac Town Car — a huge car. My very first car I owned was a 1968 red Mustang with a black stripe when I was a senior in high school. Assemblywoman Murphy’s Bio Democrat Representing Legislative District 7 Counties: Burlington Municipalities: Beverly, Bordentown, Bordentown Township, Burlington, Burlington Township, Cinnaminson, Delanco, Delran, Edgewater Park, Fieldsboro, Florence, Moorestown, Mount Laurel, Palmyra, Riverside, Riverton, Willingboro Legislative Service General Assembly, 2018–present Majority Whip, 2022–present Deputy Majority Leader, 2020-2021 Committees Judiciary, Vice-Chair Budget Financial Institutions and Insurance Assemblywoman MARILYN PIPERNO 11th Legislative District What inspired you to run for office and become a legislator? For me, it was quite organic. As my children entered school it was a natural transition, as a parent, to get more involved in civic organizations. I wouldn’t classify this advocacy and action as political because the motivation was purely for the safety of my children and family, but it certainly started me down that path. As the effects of the state’s school funding cuts impacted my children and our friends, family, and neighbors, it motivated me to learn more, ask common-sense questions, and begin holding people accountable. The 2021 election year offered an opportunity to join a grassroots effort to unseat stale incumbents with voting records that were in direct opposition to our children’s needs. I was happy to throw my hat in the ring and try to make a difference. What is your greatest achievement and greatest disappointment as a legislator? If you could change one thing in Trenton, what would it be? As a freshman legislator with two real months of work; I’m not quite able to express a beaming accomplishment or belabor the frustration of disappointment just yet. What I can say in my limited time, is the genuine need to revisit just about all areas of over-regulation and bureaucracy that are strangling businesses and restricting real growth. If our representatives could agree to work together to reduce costs for businesses and families and make NJ affordable, that would be a great start. What are the legislative priorities, issues or areas of concern on which you would like to focus your attention? I hope to see a real effort and commitment from both parties to put our constituents and New Jersey first as opposed to following strict party-line agendas. Writing legislation that recognizes fiscal responsibility and supports businesses and taxpayers will be a primary focus. And an improved school funding formula should be a priority for all in the State House. The effects of the growing renewable energy sector and Governor Murphy’s Energy Master Plan need to be examined for their impact on businesses and families. 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? We need to amend the Governor’s Executive Order privileges and return the legislature to an equal branch of government. 17 N J C A R . O R G new jersey auto retailer
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 was entering my senior year of college and needed a car. I worked all summer and saved about $1,300. Hyundai was brand new, and my college boyfriend drove one so … it made it an affordable comfortable first car purchase. Mind you — a stick shift with NO air conditioning! I literally bought and drove it out the showroom, with a lot of help from my dad. Assemblywoman Piperno’s Bio Republican Representing Legislative District 11 Counties: Monmouth Municipalities: Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Colts Neck, Deal, Eatontown, Freehold Borough, Freehold Township, Interlaken, Loch Arbour, Long Branch, Neptune, Neptune Township, Ocean Township (Monmouth), Red Bank, Shrewsbury Borough, Shrewsbury Township, Tinton Falls, West Long Branch Legislative Service General Assembly, 2022–present Committees Commerce and Economic Development Human Services Special Committee on Infrastructure and Natural Resources Assemblywoman AURA DUNN 25th Legislative District What inspired you to run for office and become a legislator? Having served in many different roles in the public policy arena, I learned along the way that I have a lot to offer. Not just my knowledge of the job, culture, and environment, but my temperament and what it means to be a leader. It's someone who brings people together in a positive, goaloriented way. And, I have been doing that my entire life. What is your greatest achievement and greatest disappointment as a legislator? If you could change one thing in Trenton, what would it be? There's so much I want to accomplish while serving in the Legislature, but I'm already proud of how effective I've been as a member of the Minority party. And, when my bills are stolen by the other side, then I really know I'm making a difference. The one thing I'd like to see change in Trenton is the partisan politics — both from within our respective caucuses and throughout our institutions. That's the one thing I'd change with a myriad of ways to attack the problem. For a conversation starter, how about longer terms with limits and more opportunities for the members to convene. Maybe it’s refusing to let anyone leave the room until a compromise can be reached! What are the legislative priorities, issues or areas of concern on which you would like to focus your attention? Fairness. Fairness in our education system, in our infrastructure, our tax code! We the people are responsible for liberty and justice for all and that can mean that there's a safety net in times of adversity, a head-start when needed, or even a second chance. It is up to the individual to determine the rest. 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? Policymaking needs to be intentional, deliberative, and collaborative, never losing focus on the greater good — even in the midst of a crisis. It goes back to what it means to be a leader. Do you have core principles that you will stick by no matter how rough the seas become? What we saw during the pandemic was fly-by-night decisions being made. And no pun intended; but, really, COVID only spreads after 10 pm? When the decisions start to make no sense — like, big box stores remain open, but you cannot go to your local hardware store to get what you need — people lose confidence in their leaders. And as time went on, you saw winners and losers at every turn. The unfairness engendered anger, and rightfully so. It was awful to see neighbors against neighbors, school districts against school districts, business owners against business owners, at a time when we needed to be pulling together. No hearings were held — just press conferences announcing ever-changing and inconsistent, unscientifically-based directives. We were held captive by an imbalance of power. Two years later, no investigative committee has been called to review lessons learned. What troubles me the most is how much our children have suffered. Those critical developmental years, they cannot get them back. 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? Growing up in Brooklyn, I didn't even think to ask my parents for a car. When I went away to college in Buffalo, New York, I took a driver's ed course that quickly got interrupted by the notorious winter weather. I failed the parallel parking portion of the test and didn't go back. I was 21 and attending graduate school in Washington, D.C., when I finally got my license, which I needed since I finally needed a car, which was a black Honda Civic. 2 0 2 2 - 2 0 2 3 S P E C I A L L E G I S L A T I V E E D I T I O N 18 new jersey auto retailer
Assemblywoman Dunn's Bio Republican Representing Legislative District 25 Municipalities: Bernardsville, Boonton, Boonton Township, Chester Borough, Chester Township, Denville, Dover, Mendham Borough, Mendham Township, Mine Hill, Morris, Morristown, Mount Arlington, Mountain Lakes, Netcong, Randolph, Rockaway Borough, Roxbury, Victory Gardens, Washington (Morris), Wharton. Legislative Service: General Assembly, 2019–present Committees: Assembly Budget Committee Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee Assembly Women and Children Committee Senator EDWARD DURR 3rd Legislative District What inspired you to run for office and become a legislator? Short answer — I was told I could not have a concealed carry permit. I did not feel we were getting true representation from my elected officials, so I decided to run in hopes to make the needed changes to protect my 2nd Amendment. What is your greatest achievement and greatest disappointment as a legislator? If you could change one thing in Trenton, what would it be? Having only been in office 11 months, I feel my greatest achievement is yet to come. The greatest disappointment for me has been seeing firsthand how divided lawmakers are. More bipartisan efforts need to be made in Trenton and beyond. What are the legislative priorities, issues or areas of concern on which you would like to focus your attention? While I care about all of my constituents, I am truly focused on working towards helping the developmentally-disabled community. One bill I am most passionate about is S-1897 (Billy Cray Law), which would allow cameras in common areas in group homes. Billy Cray was a young man who passed away while in one of the state’s group homes due to abuse. 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? I've learned that people are willing to let others make unconstitutional decisions without resistance. Government on every level has taken advantage of this, which means there needs to be more of a check and balance of those in charge. 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 learned to drive on a Ford Galaxy 500 3 speed. The first car I owned was a 1969 Chevy Impala and my first new (and only new) car was a 1984 Ford LTD Brougham. Senator Durr's Bio Republican Representing Legislative District 3 Counties: Monmouth Municipalities: Alloway, Bridgeton, Carneys Point, Clayton, Deerfield, East Greenwich, Elk, Elmer, Elsinboro, Franklin (Gloucester), Glassboro, Greenwich (Gloucester), Logan, Lower Alloways Creek, Mannington, National Park, Newfield, Oldmans, Paulsboro, Penns Grove, Pennsville, Pilesgrove, Pittsgrove, Quinton, Salem, South Harrison, Swedesboro, Upper Deerfield, Upper Pittsgrove, West Deptford, Woodbury Heights, Woodstown, Woolwich Legislative Service State Senate, 2022–present Committees Environment and Energy Committee Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee We Will Find For Your Dealership! NJ CAR SERVICES, INC. works for you! NJ CAR Services has provided fair, competitive and consistent pricing on business forms and advertising items to members of the New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailer since 1975. NJ CAR Services has saved members tens of thousands through increased competition and less expensive products. One call does it all. 609.883.5056 ext. 402 njcarservices.com 19 N J C A R . O R G new jersey auto retailer
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