OGDENSBURG -- An annual Sussex County political tradition offering residents a chance to meet and question their potential state, county and local representatives lived up to its reputation on Tuesday night.

OGDENSBURG -- An annual Sussex County political tradition offering residents a chance to meet and question their potential state, county and local representatives lived up to its reputation on Tuesday night as a defining event for anyone seeking to hold public office in this area.

Candidates vying for state Senate, Assembly, county freeholder and local borough positions made their pre-Election Day pitch to a nearly packed room at the Ogdensburg Firehouse during the annual Ogdensburg Historical Society's Candidates Night.

Incumbent state Sen. Steven Oroho, R-24th Dist., led off the evening by touting his legislative record during his almost 10 years in the Upper Chamber. Oroho said that his record includes the most tax cuts and regulatory reforms of any sitting legislator in Trenton.

"I always look to work across the aisle to solve problems," Oroho said, noting his ability to work with the majority party to pass legislation.

Jennifer Hamilton, the Democratic candidate challenging Oroho for a four-year term in Trenton, countered by saying the 24th District voted "overwhelmingly" for change in the 2016 presidential election when it supported President Donald Trump.

"But that change doesn't happen at the national level," Hamilton said, "it happens at the local level."

The theme of voters choosing between establishment and change seemed to be the underlying message all night.

Incumbent Assemblyman Parker Space, R-24th Dist., said his experience as a local businessman and giving back to his community as a volunteer emergency responder was what guides his decision making in Trenton. Space's Republican running mate, former state labor commissioner Hal Wirths, said his time serving in Gov. Chris Christie's cabinet was highlighted by saving New Jersey taxpayers nearly $700 million from fraud and abuse.

The Democratic state Assembly candidates, Kate Matteson and Gina Trish, talked about their plans to "rebrand" the 24th District, which they both believe is being poorly represented in Trenton. Matteson said the 24th District's Assembly representation is not respected in Trenton, which leads to a loss of state dollars coming back to the area. Trish said that the representatives the district sends to Trenton don't "represent my values or the values of many others."

Green Party co-chair Aaron Hyndman, a candidate for state Assembly, said matter-of-factly that the district needs "fresh blood and new ideas."

There are two, two-year terms in the state Assembly which the five candidates are fighting for.

All 120 seats in the state Legislature are up for election in November.

The two candidates for county freeholder, Republican Herb Yardley and Democrat Dan Perez, followed up on their public debate performances from last week by talking about their individual proposals.

Yardley has proposed instituting a resolution that mirrors Warren County where county bonding over a certain percentage of the county budget is put to referendum. Perez said the proposal was a "political gimmick" that lacked support from the all-Republican freeholder board. Freeholder Deputy Director Jonathan Rose has said he supports Yardley's proposal but Freeholder Director Carl Lazzaro and Freeholder George Graham both went on record as saying they were not in favor of the idea.

Perez said he wants Sussex County to join 19 other New Jersey counties in having a dedicated veterans services coordinator position that would be "one-stop shopping" for members of the armed services. Perez said he plans to pay for the position by cutting the salary of county counsel.

Yardley and Perez are seeking a three-year term on the county freeholder board. The seat is being vacated by Republican Freeholder Phil Crabb who chose not to seek reelection.

New Jersey's general election is Nov. 7.

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David Danzis can also be contacted on Facebook: ddanzisNJH, on Twitter: @ddanzisNJH, or by phone: 973-383-1274.

Editor's Note: This article has been updated to correct the length of the term Perez and Yardley are seeking on the freeholder board, which is a three-year term.

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