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Schundler: Liberty and Justice for all
By Tom Campisi
The New Jersey Education Association, threatened by his stance on school vouchers, feels the same way. And don't expect any Garden State Parkway officials, the paint still wet on their new EZ PASS signs, to be at any rallies for Schundler, an advocate for the elimination of Parkway tolls.
But Schundler is not backing down. He is confident he can win the Republican nomination in the June 5 primary. In addition to education and Parkway reform, his campaign also includes the promise of lower property and state taxes. He's pro-life and believes firmly in the sanctity of marriage-between a man and a woman. The mayor, a Christian, says these causes are all part of his "calling."
"Each and every one of us has a call to try to do justice, and we're called to do it in a different way," he said. "One person is called to pastor, another is called to business. I have a calling to make a change in the political system. The most important thing in my life is trying to be faithful to the call I feel I have-to use my talents in this enterprise to make New Jersey a more just state."
An equally important priority for the mayor: "I want to get home in time for dinner with my family."
Schundler's opponent on June 5 will be current Governor Donald DiFranceso, the Senate President who was appointed after President Bush tabbed Christine Todd Whitman to lead the EPA. Many leaders in the Republican Party have called for Schundler to concede so the Republicans can unite behind DiFranceso and focus on a November battle against likely Democratic candidate Jim McGreevy.
"The Republican party so often lacks commitment to incredibly important issues, such as making sure that even the poorest child in our inner city can get a great education and defending the institution of marriage," said Schundler.
In Jersey City, he's done well to change that image. And he was quite the underdog there too. In 1992, he became the city's first Republican Mayor since 1917. At that time, Jersey City faced soaring property taxes, a rising crime rate, government corruption, and hostility toward business.
Schundler, a Harvard graduate, helped turn the city's financial fortune around when he applied the skills he learned on Wall Street, where he worked as a bond salesman. Jersey City property taxes were lowered with a plan that turned tax liens into $40 million in cash by selling the liens in bulk to investors.
The mayor implemented some no-nonsense, cutting-edge community policing strategies that reduced crime 35 percent. The city now enjoys a booming real estate market, an increasing resident population, and ten-times more job growth than New Jersey's five other largest cities combined. Charter schools have also helped revive a failing educational system.
Schundler's fresh ideas have garnered national media attention. A Washington Times article said, "Instead of trying to address pressing issues with expanded government programs, Schundler has given citizens greater clout to combat problems on their own. He calls it the politics of empowerment"
"Some liberal critics called the creative initiatives that turned Jersey City around a mistake," said former presidential candidate Steve Forbes. "But Bret Schundler proved them wrong. He doesn't cave in to the liberals-he fights for the people."
In Jersey City he has also fought tirelessly for religious freedom. In 1999, He and the city won a four-year battle with the ACLU when the Supreme Court ruled that they did, indeed, have the right to display a Menorah and a Creche (Nativity Scene) at City Hall.
"Freedom of religion doesn't require government discriminating against religion," said Schundler. "Government should not endorse a particular religion. But government should not discriminate against a particular religion."
Last summer, Schundler endorsed Xsteam Impact '00, a five-day festival sponsored by over 20 Jersey City-area churches. Daily and nightly evangelistic events in a city park ministered to urban youth with hip-hop music from New York City's Storytellas, basketball and Vacation Bible School. Schundler said festivals like this are common in Jersey City, where many different religions are practiced. "While there is separation of church and state, there should not a separation in the belief in God and state."
Schundler also believes that the First Amendment right to Freedom of Religion also extends to school choice. That's why he's in favor of vouchers that could be used by parents for a private school education. This would have a tremendous effect on the state's private schools and force the public schools to improve.
"We spend twice the national average on education in New Jersey and for that we are getting nothing," he said. "If a parent wants a child's faith to be part of their school experience, then God bless them. Right now, that is practicable only by parents who have the financial means. Those with money shouldn't be the only ones to direct their child's education."
In a Washington Times article, Schundler said, "[that with school vouchers] we would have empowerment Nothing will change until you put the people, who are the consumers, in control."
Schundler said reform is also needed on the Parkway, noting that approximately 33 percent of the 35-cent toll goes toward collection expenses.
"There is usually a trade-off between how much money you take from people and the quality of service you provide," Schundler said. "This is the first time that getting rid of the tax would actually improve the quality of service. The tax itself is degrading the quality of service. You are taking what should be a pleasant road to drive and making it an unpleasant road to drive."
Schundler said that elimination of the toll tax would also cause a leveraged tax cut in other ways by giving people some of their time back, decreasing air pollution, reducing wear-and-tear and automobiles, and by making driving safer.
This kind of relief is what New Jersey taxpayers need most, he said. "New Jersey has surging revenues, but the state is using the money to initiate massive big-government programs rather than using it to provide property tax relief. We should be lowering the cost of local government with these revenues instead of using property tax revenues. It's becoming too expensive to live in this state and it doesn't have to be that way."
For more information on Bret Schundler, go to www.bret2005.com
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