5 Takeaways From NJ 4th District Candidates' Forum

NEW JERSEY — Dealing with climate change impacts. The cost of health care and prescription drugs. Gun safety. Abortion. The costs of college education and student loan debt.

Those topics have been on the minds of voters in the weeks leading up to the 2022 election, and they were among those facing the six candidates in the race to represent New Jersey's 4th congressional district.

Five of the six candidates addressed those issues during a 4th District voter forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Monmouth County.

Republican Chris Smith declined to take part in the forum, the League of Women Voters said. Smith, who represents the 4th District under its old configuration (redistricting has changed which towns will be in the district beginning in January 2023), is seeking his 21st term in the House.

Matt Jenkins, the Democratic candidate; Jason Cullen of the Libertarian Party, and independents Pamela Daniels, David Schmidt, and Hank Schroeder all participated in the forum that was held Sept. 15.

Jenkins and Daniels both have provided biographical information and responded to questions from Patch about their candidacy. Smith sent his reply Oct. 21. Schmidt, Cullen and Schroeder have not replied as of Nov. 4.

Read more:

• NJ-4 Congressional District Election 2022: Matthew Jenkins
• NJ-4 Congressional District Election 2022: Pamela R. Daniels
• NJ-4 Congressional District Election 2022: Chris Smith

During the forum, each candidate was given a minute to respond to a questions posed on various topics. Here are five takeaways from the forum. You can watch the replay here.

MITIGATING RISING SEA LEVELS/CLEAN ENERGY

Daniels wants to set up something like the Federal Insurance Deposit Company that protects banks to protect insurance companies and ensure people who have claims get paid quickly. She has a National Disaster Preparedness Act she would seek to pass if she is elected, that would address a number of issues, because "it's not if it (a storm like Superstorm Sandy) happens again, but when."

Jenkins said it's important that FEMA not be allowed to close the door on helping people who suffered losses from Superstorm Sandy, and that lingering issues including the potential for aid clawbacks and loans be addressed. Green energy can bring jobs to New Jersey and help with the climate impacts.

Schmidt said the rivers need to be dredged of sand, to give water from rising sea levels a place to go. The use of oil and fossil fuels are not going away; they are used in too many ways. He said he would pursue alternative energy sources.

Schroeder said there is not an easy answer to how to address rising sea levels. "We are in great peril, the earth is in great peril. ... The ocean is going to continue to come up. It’s coming up quicker than we believe. The GOP is crazy to think nothing is happening ... I need people smarter than me and I’m going to surround myself with them" to come up with solutions.

Cullen said he agreed with Daniels and Jenkins about making sure FEMA takes care of those whose homes and property are damaged or destroyed, but he believes the issue of climate change is not man-made and not something we have control over. "Extreme weather has been going on forever." New green energy sources won't be there today; it needs to be planned out. "We’re not ready to just flip a switch off and go to green energy … we need an all-of-the-above approach."

ABORTION

Jenkins said Smith, who is well-known for his opposition to abortion, is not only against abortion but is trying to criminalize contraception and accused him of trying to add language to bills to change the definition of rape.

Schroeder said criminalizing abortion makes women second-class citizens. "Why do we make second-class citizens of women? Why do we make second-class citizens of people who are Black? We have been an apartheid nation from the start. ... We are not going to become a Christian caliphate if I can help it."

Schmidt said women should be able to make the decision themselves in consultation with their health care professionals.

Cullen said the real issue is that abortion is just being used for political reasons, primarily to raise money for the GOP, and that it should be a state issue.

Daniels said she is and always has been pro-choice, and would support expanding the Supreme Court to 11 justices to rebalance the court.

ADDRESSING HEALTH CARE/PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS

Schmidt said the insurance companies must be forced address it. "Insurance is way too expensive. I plan on fighting insurance companies because I think they can do better."

Schroeder – Affordable Care Act is the way to go. The states that haven't taken the federal funding to implement it have simply declared war on the poor, he said. The Affordable Care Act is the way to go.

Cullen said the federal government needs to be separated from the insurance companies, and that insurance needs to be portable from job to job. Drugs are so expensive because of lawsuits.

Jenkins said he would like to see a single-payer system because everyone deserves health care. "Just because someone is going through a tough time, lost their job, doesn't mean they deserve to die sooner or live in pain or sickness."

Daniels said the Affordable Care Act got its start as a Republican program in Massachusetts, and it's still working there. "It works. We need full funding. We don’t need cradle-to-grave socialized medicine."

GUN SAFETY

Daniels focused on semiautomatic rifles and said they should not be in the public's hands because they are "designed to mow down as many people as possible" and have no other purpose.

Jenkins said that when he spoke with gun groups, he was surprised at how much common ground exists. "They don't want to see people waving guns around in public, they don't want to see guns in hands of the wrong people." He would like to see red-flag laws at the state level and with less red tape. "The idea that a high school dropout at 18 and walk into a gun shop and buy an arsenal of that caliber is obscene," he said.

Schmidt said he does not believe in banning any weapons and supports following the Second Amendment.

Schroeder said the Second Amendment arose as a way to ensure those in the South could control slaves. He said the gun safety issues "won’t change until the money comes out of the politics."

Cullen said the focus needs to be on fortifying schools, not going after semiautomatic weapons. He "Assault weapon ... that’s a word Congress made up," he said. He opposes red-flag laws as he believes they "will become the new swatting. ... We need to focus on mental health," and on protecting schools with single entrances equipped with metal detectors and armed guards to protect students and staff.