Fredon Mayor Joins Queue Of Gottheimer Challengers In NJ-5

FREDON, NJ — Another Republican challenger is seeking to unseat Congressman Josh Gottheimer in New Jersey's Fifth District.

John P. Flora, the mayor of Fredon Township, in Sussex County, announced his campaign recently.

Flora has spent three years on the Fredon Township Committee, and was re-elected to another term in November. He has been a member of the Fredon School Board for 10 years, serving nine years as president.

“I am running because middle class people like me and my neighbors are not being represented in Congress. Our values are not respected and slowly, but surely, the great nation that is America is slipping away from us,” said Flora, the owner of beverage company.

Chief among his concerns, Flora said, through a news release, is the "progressive left’s attempts to shape school curriculums to fit their anti-American narrative."

“Our public-school students are not getting an education; they are getting an indoctrination. They are being taught to be ashamed of their country,” said Flora. “Students are not learning the skills they need to compete in the workplace and that will only weaken America.”

In the announcement, Flora centered his concerns largely around a law and order narrative, stating that he "fears for his children’s future if the left-wing Democrats keep pushing the country toward socialism and lawlessness."

“Local governments are now condoning rioting and looting. The government is showing more concern for criminals than law abiding people. I want to go to Congress and fight for respect for law-and-order and stop the virus of lawlessness that is spreading throughout the country,” said Flora.

Flora is the fourth Republican to announce their candidacy for the seat, joining former challenger Frank Pallotta, military veteran Nick De Gregorio and Sussex-Wantage Regional Board of Education President Nick D’Agostino.