NJ 3rd District House Race: Andy Kim

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Voting in the Nov. 3 general election is underway in New Jersey, with mail-in ballots being distributed to voters to make their selections for offices from the president down to local races.

That includes voting for the House of Representatives for New Jersey's Third Congressional District, which includes portions of Ocean and Burlington counties.

Andy Kim, a Democrat who defeated Tom MacArthur in 2018, is being challenged by Republican David Richter, and two independent candidates, Martin Weber and Robert Shapiro. He and his wife, Kammy Lai, live in Moorestown with their two sons, ages 2 and 4. Kim will be 38 at the time of the November general election.

Patch asked candidates a series of questions; here are Kim's responses.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

University of Oxford, Doctorate in International Relations (Phd.), 2007-2010.

University of Oxford, Rhodes Scholar, Masters in Philosophy, International Relations (2005-2007).

University of Chicago, B.A. in Political Science, Truman Scholar, 2002-2004.

Deep Springs College, 2000 - 2002.

Occupation

Congressman in the United States House of Representatives, NJ Third District, (2018 - present).

Staff, National Security Council, (2013-2015).

Iraq Country Director, Office of the U.S. Secretary of Defense (2013, less than a year).

Foreign Affairs Officer, U.S. Department of State (2009-2013).

Strategic Advisor to the Commander (General Petraeus and General Allen), NATO-led International Security Assistance Force Headquarters, Kabul, Afghanistan (2011, less than a year).

Doctoral Candidate in International Relations, University of Oxford (2005-2010).

Conflict Management Specialist, USAID (2005, less than a year).

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Congressman in the United States House of Representatives, NJ Third District

Campaign website

www.andykim.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I'm running for re-election to continue serving my hometown community. My parents taught me that service isn't just a job, it's a way of life and I've dedicated my entire career to serving the American people. I worked at the White House on countering terrorism and protecting our country, advised the Secretary of Defense and the Pentagon on national security, and served in Afghanistan as a civilian strategic adviser to Generals David Petraeus and John Allen. When I served in Afghanistan, no one asked me if I was a Democrat or a Republican. We all worked together focused on the mission of keeping our nation safe. I worked under both Democratic and Republican administrations and I have and always will put the nation and the American people above partisan politics. Now, I'm using my experience serving in times of crisis to fight for the people of New Jersey as we face the coronavirus epidemic and the massive rebuild ahead of us. I'm committed to continuing to fight for the people of New Jersey in Congress.

The single most pressing issue facing our community is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing our community is addressing the coronavirus and its economic impacts. As the only member from New Jersey on the bipartisan Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis, I am working every day to ensure the nation's response to the coronavirus and its economic consequences is as effective as humanly possible by pushing for increases in testing and support for our small businesses, seniors, and veterans. I am pushing for a massive increase in testing in order to tell you if you are healthy and as a foundation for reopening the economy. As we steer our economy out of this crisis, I am fighting for workers to have better-paying jobs, to secure support for small businesses, and to ensure our seniors have the ability to retire with peace of mind. I'm also leading the effort to continue our unwavering support for the military and our veterans.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I am a hardworking public servant that worked under both Republicans and Democrats. I am not a knife-fighting partisan politician, instead I was ranked as one of the most bipartisan members of Congress. I am focused on fighting for the people of Ocean and Burlington counties, not big corporations and special interests. I am the only candidate in this race that refuses to take contributions from corporations and corporate PACs. I chose to serve on the Small Business Committee to help our local businesses and I have done over 20 town halls throughout the district with thousands of constituents. At every town hall, whether you voted for me or not, you are my boss. That is the kind of service-minded leadership we need in Washington at this time of unproductive partisanship and division. I have one mission, and that is to fight for the people of my district. I am fighting for the place that raised me and the place where I’m raising my baby boys.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

In my promise to do everything I can to help us get through the coronavirus crisis and build the foundation for a better future, I think about three essential fights. For each and every one of the people in my district, I’m fighting for an effective response to the pandemic to get us healthy, safe, and back to work. I’m fighting to support those that are most vulnerable like our veterans and seniors. For the families of my constituents, I'm fighting for lower health care and prescription drug costs as well as increased access to care so our system can keep us healthy without breaking the bank. And for our country, I'm fighting to fix the corrupt political system in Washington in order to ensure your voice speaks louder than the special interests, and to restore America's place in the world as a global leader for good.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I've served our country as a national security official who volunteered to go to Afghanistan, who worked in the White House Situation Room to stop terrorist attacks, and who served in the halls of the Pentagon to support our armed service members. I was a career public servant that worked under both Republicans and Democrats. I've been tested through some of the toughest challenges like the fight against ISIS, and this experience helps me approach my work in Congress with a clear mind, calm under pressure, and with full dedication to serving the American people. I can't stand the hyperpartisanship of politics, and I want to instead continue to serve as I have before with honor, integrity and civility.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

You only have good government when you have good people working in government.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I'm a father to two baby boys, a 2-year-old and a 4-year-old. I'm a public servant representing my home district where I went to kindergarten. I'm a work horse not a show horse. I show up every day to work for my district. I work this job with a genuine and sincere love of service, and an understanding that the only way to represent my district is with honor and integrity. That's how I serve, and that's how I intend on getting re-elected— not by being handed anything, but by earning the support of the people of Burlington and Ocean County.