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 a right to make their own decisions, but moving forward, we need to take a more aggressive approach to combat misinformation. It has proven to be more than just a nuisance, but a public health initiative.
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?
I learned to drive on a Ford Granada, and the first car I owned was a 1967 Chevy Nova (with an FM radio!)
Senator Cryan’s Bio:
Senator Cryan has represented New Jersey’s 20th Legislative District (Elizabeth, Hillside, Roselle, Union) since 2017. A former member of the New Jersey General Assembly, he first represented Legislative District 20 from 2002 to 2014. He served as the Majority Leader and chaired or served on over a dozen different committees in the legislature. He resigned from the Assembly after being elected sheriff of Union County, where he oversaw a gun buy-back program and worked with state and local law enforcement to support safety and security programs.
In the Senate, he serves as Vice-Chair of the Law and Public Safety Committee, Vice-Chair of the Joint Committee on the Public Schools and is a member of the Select Committee on New Jersey Transit. He is a graduate of Belmont Abbey College, from which he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration. He has been honored and recognized by many organizations throughout his career and was the first general chairman of the Union County Saint Patrick’s Day Parade committee and is the standard-bearer of the Cryan Association, an Irish American charitable, civic organization.
Senator James Beach
What inspired you to run for office and become a legislator?
I wanted my wife to call me “Honorable.”
What is your greatest achievement and your greatest disappointment as a legislator? If you could change one thing in Trenton, what would it be?
If I could change one thing, it would be to reconfigure how property taxes are assessed.
I’m proudest of two bills that were ultimately signed into law: one to reform New Jersey’s car seat laws and another that provides the parents of medically-fragile children a voice in selecting their children’s nursing care at school.
What are the legislative priorities, issues or areas of concern on which you would like to focus your attention?
Veterans, senior citizens and children.
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?
Collaboration, collaboration, collaboration: We can accomplish more working together than alone!
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?
I learned to drive on a 1949 Ford. The first car I owned was a used 1964 Goliath.
Senator Beach’s Bio:
Senator James Beach has represented New Jersey’s 6th Legislative District (Burlington and Camden Counties) Berlin Township, Cherry Hill, Collingswood, Gibbsboro, Haddon, Haddonfield, Hi-Nella, Maple Shade, Merchantville, Oaklyn, Pennsauken, Somerdale, Stratford, Tavistock, Voorhees) since January 13, 2009. He is currently one of two Assistant Majority Leaders in the Senate, a role he has held since 2014. He also serves as the Chair of the State Government, Watering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Senate legislative committee and is a member of the Joint Committee on the Public Schools Education legislative committee.
Senator Beach is a former educator and football coach for several southern New Jersey high schools. At the time of his retirement, he was director of vocational education for the Black Horse Pike Regional School District. Senator Beach earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Physical Education from Midwestern College, a master’s degree in Personnel Services from Rowan University, and a doctorate in Education Administration from Nova University.
Assemblyman Daniel Benson
What inspired you to run for office and become a legislator?
I became actively involved in my community and community service around the age of 25 when I started growing dissatisfied with the direction of my local government. I noticed that many of my local representatives were not from my neighborhood or professional background, and I felt that I could offer a unique perspective on the issues facing our township.
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 the passage of the 911 Good Samaritan opioid antidote legislation. For better or for worse, the bill, which we anticipated would save a couple of hundred lives per year, has ended up saving tens of thousands of people from overdosing throughout its lifetime.
My biggest disappointment would be the length of time it can take to draft a bill, build support for it, get it posted for a vote, and then run out of time to get it passed and/or signed into law or vetoed by the Governor. It can be very frustrating for good legislation to take more than one legislative session (two years) to actually become law. But you have to be persistent and keep your coalitions of support together.
Regarding what I would change in Trenton, I would definitely encourage greater social interaction among legislators from different political parties. I believe this would foster more organic relationships and create a stronger sense of empathy for the common needs of all constituents.
What are the legislative priorities, issues or areas of concern on which you would like to focus your attention?
Right now, I am primarily focused on reforming the Motor Vehicle Commission, continuing improvements to NJ Transit, fighting for equity and environmental stewardship in public transportation, increasing access to healthcare, and transitioning New Jersey to cleaner sources of energy, especially in the transportation sector.
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?
I think the four most important lessons we have learned throughout this pandemic are: 1) that our communities are far more interconnected than perhaps we realized, so we have to place a greater emphasis on ensuring that no one is isolated; 2) we need to improve the flexibility with which we deliver government services, especially in terms of expanding the online delivery of services without isolating those who are experiencing technical challenges; 3) we must ensure that everyone has reliable access to the internet, training for computer competency; and 4) that telehealth and telemedicine, proven invaluable through this pandemic, have proven their value outside the context of the pandemic, and should be codified as permanent aspects of healthcare delivery.
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 car in which I learned how to drive was a 1977 Chevy Station Wagon, which would stall if you had to stop too quickly. The first car I bought was a sky blue 1977 Chevy Malibu classic, with a white soft top, two doors, and a V8 engine. The first car I newly owned was a 1998 Dodge Neon.
Assemblyman Benson’s Bio:
Assemblyman Daniel Benson has represented New Jersey’s 14th Legislative District (Cranbury, East Windsor, Hamilton (Mercer), Hightstown, Jamesburg, Monroe (Middlesex), Plainsboro, Robbinsville and Spotswood) since 2011. He has been the Assembly Deputy Conference Leader since 2020 and is currently the Chair of the Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee and a member of the Assembly Health Committee and the Assembly Budget Committee. Before serving in the Assembly, he served in the Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders from 2008-2011 and the Hamilton Township Council from 2002 to 2005. A business consultant, Assemblyman Benson is a graduate of Georgetown University and Rutgers University, Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy.
