Pub. 13 2014-2015 Issue 2

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 5 new jersey auto retailer W W W . N J C A R . O R G NJ CAR has been working to advance the interests of New Jersey’s franchised new car and truck retailers for 96 years. The Coalition accomplishes this goal in many ways, but its political action, grassroots and charitable efforts on behalf of New Jersey’s 515 franchised dealerships are second to none. CAR-PAC, NJ CAR’s political action committee, is one of the most powerful and effective tools we have to communicate how engaged our industry is in the political process. Dealers financially support this effort by ensuring that CAR-PAC has the resources to support candidates in the New Jersey Legislature who support the industry. Approximately 40% of NJ CAR’s dealer members regularly honor their quarterly, $150 solicitation from CAR-PAC. But that means 60% don’t consistently support CAR-PAC and those dealers ride on the coattails of the dealers who do. Without the full support of ALL dealers, the ability of CAR-PAC to ensure the industry’s voice is heard on many political and regulatory issues is limited.Whether dealers are responding to a proposed lawor approaching legislators in an effort to strengthen protections for the industry, it is critical that CAR-PAC has the funding to be successful in its lobbying efforts on behalf of dealers. The majority of contributions received by CAR-PAC are used to sup- port legislative candidates in Trenton who support issues important to the industry, although the Coalition also invests in educating the NJ CAR membership through targeted grassroots efforts and other political organizing activities. CAR-PAC’s total contributions each President’s MESSAGE | BY JAMES B. APPLETON Please Support CAR-PAC and the NJ CAR Charitable Foundation PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE  continued on page 10 Thank you to those dealers who honor their quarterly CAR-PAC solicitation and often go above and beyond in their financial support. To those dealers who have not supported CAR-PAC I ask that you learn more about what the pol i t ical act ion committee does and then reconsider.