Pub. 15 2016-2017 Issue 3

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 I S S U E N O . 4 , 2 0 1 6 6 new jersey auto retailer After the amplified rhetoric of the 2016 presiden- tial campaign, politics may be a four-letter word to some people. Regardless of your political leanings, dealers MUST be involved at the local, State and federal political level and with both sides of the aisle. One of the areas I want to focus on during my tenure as Chairman is to expose as many dealers as possible to visits with New Jersey’s elected officials in Washington, Trenton and towns throughout the State. It doesn’t matter whether you are a NextGen dealer with just a few years’ experience running a dealership or a 25-year veteran of the industry, if you’ve never sat across from an elected official that can cast votes that have a tremendous impact on your business, it can be intimidating. I amhoping to erase the “intimidation” factor from as many dealers as possible over the next year. Just look at what NJ CAR’s NextGen Committee was able to accomplish. In 2015, three of us traveled toWashington, D.C. and it was an eye-opening experience. Early this year, a larger group of us visited the nation’s capital. Sitting with our elected officials, face-to-face, lets you learn so much more about them. You may be surprised ( both good and bad ) by what you find out about individuals you only read about in the news or see on television. And this isn’t just a “Washington” issue. I want to work with Jim Appleton to bring dealers to Trenton to meet with our State Senators and Assembly people in 2017. And dealers should meet with their local mayors, planning boards and other elected of- ficials. Networking with decision-makers at all levels can pay huge dividends in the long-run. You never knowwhat local mayor will become a State Senator, an Assemblyperson, or a Governor down the road. Chairman’s MESSAGE | BY RICHARD A. DESILVA, JR. Building Political Relationships NOW Pays Dividends In The Long-Term CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE  continued on page 10