2009 Gubernatorial Candidates Voters' Guide
The League of Women Voters of New Jersey Education Fund encourages
informed participation in the electoral process. As part of this mission,
we formulated the following set of questions to ask all candidates running
for New Jersey Governor. Answers have been truncated at 125 words and
have not been edited for spelling or grammar. If a candidate did not return
the questionnaire or did not provide a response to a particular question,
“No Response Received” appears next to his name. The candidates were sent
questions 1-10 first, and 11-14 at a later date.
Q. How do you propose to protect the basic civil rights of all New Jersey residents,
regardless of national origin or sexual orientation?
Gary Stein (Independent, multiple
slogans) –This is a candidate who’s running a campaign one man show-
while working his other, “real” job. I forgot about these additional 4
questions until the day of the deadline, at 3PM on the 28th of September. Here’s my one hour answers. I’m the compassionate Republican in the race, promoting a general
amnesty for those here in this country illegally- with just a minor
catch to get all of “us” on board. I don’t think anyone has to worry, if
I was elected ((and that’s a big if, (ha ha)) who I’d pick as Attorney
General, and whether I’d be less than totally committed to protecting every one, and
anyone’s civil rights including homosexuals. I add comments quite
frequently on a political activist type blog ...........truncated
Q. What is your position on a woman’s right to reproductive health services?
Gary Stein (Independent, multiple slogans) – I’m pro-choice and pro religion, even though
I’m agnostic. Why mention that? I heard the barest details of Mackenzie
Phillips story about her father. Forgetting the few religious leaders
who’ve fallen from grace and been in the news too often- I’m
appreciative of religions guiding morals, and think to myself what a
Sodom and
Gomorrah we’d really have on our hands- without the often maligned religious community as a
blessed presence. I’m equally appreciative of non-religious leaders, who also teach us decent
values- and are pro choice like me.
Q. What methods do you support for reducing poverty and ensuring access to affordable
housing?
Gary Stein (Independent, multiple slogans) – We’ll reduce poverty in this state when we get out of control state spending and pensions fixed- that’s when the business community comes back and fills the coffers once again. But then we’ll repeat the vicious cycle of healthy budgets and greedy politicians, caving in to every special interests groups demand- leading to blow your mind deficits- all over again.
The poor, including us with no adequate health insurance- but a nice
house- will continue waiting forever for a healthy balance between
government, and the private sector (if I’m not at the helm).
Q. With the rise of childhood health
conditions such as obesity, autism and asthma, and the lack of awareness
about available state health coverage for all children, what will you
do to improve the health of New Jersey's children?
Gary Stein (Independent, multiple slogans) – When I’m elected Governor, and I’m feeling
quite confident now of winning, maybe because my sugar is up- and I’m not even diabetic- I’ll jog every morning and evening. That’s something I can’t do now, but later I’ll have all these aides helping manage my day. Children will have to be impressed with my
regime- and that’s because when I’m elected Governor I’m not leaving the
capital in a “speeding” government vehicle to speak at schools all over the state- ever. I’ll be working on eliminating waste from 9 AM in the morning till 5PM in the evening; at which time I’ll go out for the evening run, and then a workout in the gym- right before a nice healthy supper cooked by the..........truncated 