The Courier-Post

I have been an educator and a volunteer firefighter for over 20 years, proudly educating and protecting citizens of Gloucester and Salem counties in the 3rd Legislative District, home to Sen. Steve Sweeney. Additionally, I have run for office in both counties and have actively participated in the Democrats' club in both counties, helping to support Sweeney in his bids for office. Promising to be the candidate for the working class, for the union worker, for the public employee, I bought into Sweeney's promises and supported him in his campaign and political aspirations.

However, over the past seven years, Sweeney has been anything but the man of the people, the so-called candidate of the working class. During this period of disregard for the 3rd Legislative District, Sweeney has not only bowed down to his political don, George Norcross, but has also seen to the introduction and passing of bills to benefit his donors. This kind of political pawn persona does not benefit the voters of the 3rd District; it chases the promises of prosperity from them and threatens their livelihoods.

Furthermore, Sweeney has made a mockery of his promises to uphold the laws and policies of the state of New Jersey through lack of action and broken promises. When dispatchers that protect the very lives of his voters in Salem County were threatened to be privatized, Sweeney was nowhere to be found. When it came time to uphold the law, to protect and fund the pensions of public employees, Sweeney was again nowhere to be found. When Sweeney had the opportunity to provide affordable healthcare, he turned his back and ran, introducing what is known as Chapter 78, an economic nightmare for the livelihoods of those it effects. When Sweeney had the chance to protect and provide thorough, effective education for students in New Jersey, he ran and hid behind Common Core like a puppet of Gov. Chris Christie, nowhere to be found when called upon the carpet.

Finally, during the tenure of the dynamic duo of Chris Christie and Steve Sweeney, New Jersey has experienced 10 credit downgrades and a 23-cent rise in the gas tax, draining the purses of New Jersey voters everywhere. So I ask, "Where is Sen. Steve Sweeney, man of the working people?" I tell you now, he is nowhere to be found. It is time for change.

Robert Scardino

Woodstown