PHILLIPSBURG — Newark Mayor Cory Booker and Democrats running for top seats in state government issued a call on Sunday for Warren County's Democrats to mobilize.

"We've come a mighty long way as a country. There is so much to be hopeful for, but the struggle is not over," Booker said. "The dream of America still demands, hope still needs heroes, and we are the ones that must join together and form that conspiracy."

The Warren County Democratic Committee hosted Booker and Lieutenant Governor candidate Milly Silva, running mate of gubernatorial candidate Barbara Buono, at a fundraiser in Phillipsburg on Sunday, Aug. 25.

Booker, who is running for the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg's U.S. Senate seat against Republican Steve Lonegan in a special election Oct. 16, asked for people to take action in their local government, calling Warren County's Democrats "critically important."

His goal as a politician, he said, is to be someone who will break down party lines and make compromises to achieve change, calling attention to his work with Gov. Chris Christie and referring to him as a friend.

However, he challenged his opponent Lonegan's stance on issues of Social Security, health care, Sandy aid and abortion, calling him a "flamethrower."

Silva also spoke about these Republicans, but said Christie's policies are "failing and hurting" working families and women in the state. She added that Christie chooses to align himself with "extreme" conservatives like Lonegan and New York Congressman Peter King.

"I'm running because I believe that my children deserve better, and your children and your grandchildren deserve better," Silva said.

Booker and Silva both congratulated speakers from the Northwestern New Jersey Democratic Women’s Caucus, launched by the Sussex County Democratic Women’s Caucus at the fundraiser.

The organization was represented by Sussex County residents Leslie Meyer Huhn and Jamie Lombardi, who addressed local issues facing women and the importance of women in politics.

"Politics is about the kind of world we create for ourselves and for our children," Lombardi said. "We don't have to settle for a status quo that idolizes a fetus but ignores hungry children."

The fundraiser was held as an effort to energize Democrats in a largely Republican area, committee officials said.

"In Warren County, there is an apprehension, there is almost a fear of coming out and saying 'Yes, I am a Democrat,' and we need to change that," said Warren County State Committeeman Kevin Doell.

He said the mission of the committee is to strengthen Democrats in the area in order to see change in government which he believes can be achieved by building their team and platform and by supporting candidates.

"We need to reverse that tea party stain on our community," Doell said.

Attending the fundraiser were local Democratic candidates and officials including Washington Borough Mayor Scott McDonald.

"I think Cory's bringing a lot of excitement to this election and I'm thrilled about Milly," said Pohatcong resident Elizabeth Gittins. "I think she gives a lot of punch to this governor's race, and I'm just very excited."

Gittins, who is running for County Freeholder in the November election, said Doell has been a blessing for the county and the committee.

"We've been very quiet for the last couple years, but he's giving us a lot of new energy," she said.

Tickets to the event, held at Flynn’s on the Hill, cost $50 for members and $100 for nonmembers. Twenty tickets for a VIP reception were available for $400.The proceeds are being split between the committee and the Northwestern New Jersey Democratic Women’s Caucus.

The committee won’t know how much the event raised until all the expenses are billed, said committee Chairman Tom Palmieri, but he said the fundraiser was the committee’s biggest in recent history, bringing in about 80 people.

Desiree Dunn, a Democratic committeewoman for Hardwick, said that after hearing the candidates speak, her vote was sealed.

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