Environmental Groups Praise Wagner, Gordon

Representatives from two of the state's largest environmental groups were at the Wednesday to advocate for Sen. Bob Gordon and Assemblywoman Connie Wagner.

"We're just really confident that they're going to stand up for the environment," said Megan Fitzpatrick, clean water associate for Environment New Jersey.

Fitzpatrick and Eric Benson, canvass director for the New Jersey Environmental Federation, highlighted Gordon and Wagner's support for environmental initiatives like the Highlands Act, Green Acres funding and a ban on hydraulic fracturing, better known as fracking. 

Benson praised Wagner's work locally, as well. Wagner is a primary sponsor of the "Safe Playing Fields Act," which would restrict the use of pesticides on school grounds. Pesticides were found at West Brook Middle School in 2007.

Gordon and Wagner's Republican opponents have criticized Gordon's vote on a bill promoting renewable energy projects. Gordon has a stake in the Goldfinch Group, whose primary client is a developer of renewable energy projects.

"Bob Gordon was attempting to help his private business when he should have been working for the people,” said John Driscoll, who is running against Gordon.