Meet the Candidates Series Continues for the Week of September 22, 2013
By Nicole Sanders | The Save Jersey Blog
As part of my ongoing effort to introduce candidates to the voting public, Save Jerseyans, I started a weekly column called Meet the Candidates. In essence, it is a past day stump speech updated for the virtual world.
For this week’s column, I am honored to introduce to you to Stephanie Ziemba who is running for State Assembly in the 19th Legislative District.
Ms. Ziemba is attended Middlesex County College and Charles E. Gregory School of Nursing where she became a registered nurse. Currently she is a pediatric nurse at a hospital in Middlesex County. Stephanie’s political experience includes being elected to the Middlesex County Committee, a position she still holds to this date.
My interview with Assembly Candidate Stephanie Ziemba:
Sanders: What makes you a more viable candidate in comparison to your challenger?
Ziemba: I’m a more viable candidate from my opponents for one main reason: relatability. I’m a middle class mom and a pediatric nurse. I haven’t been an entrenched politician for the past 15 years catering to special interests at the expense of New Jersey families. My entire platform and purpose of running for office is to fight for a more affordable New Jersey for our hardworking middle class families and small businesses. As a fresh face in Trenton, I’d be free to represent the needs of the 19th District instead of acting as a roadblock to much needed reform.
Sanders: What are your greatest legislative or personal accomplishments thus far?
Ziemba: My pride and joy will always be raising my daughter. Even at her young age she’s shown such an interest in civic duty and couldn’t be more well-mannered. I also love my work as a pediatric nurse. Every day I help young people overcome their health problems through treatment and therapy so they can develop into productive members of society one day. I want to make sure that when my patients grow up they’ll be able to live in a New Jersey that’s in a better condition than we found it and more importantly, they’ll be able to afford to live in when it’s time for them to live independently.
Sanders: On your Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ZiembaforAssembly/info), you declare your intent to stop corruption and patronage. Can you please elaborate as to how you want to accomplish these goals?
Ziemba: While I see the arguments of building seniority as valid, I’m still a strong supporter of term limits. When a politician is in office for a decade or more, we’ve seen time and time again that a public servant’s top priority is no longer to serve the public, but rather themselves. Around the state we’ve seen legislators use their position to attempt to avoid fines during traffic stops, increase the business of their private firms or to do the bidding of trivial special interests in return for donation contributions. Many of these factors can be discouraged or limited with the introduction of term limits. Patronage and self service will be less likely to become a lifestyle or a set practice if an Assemblyperson/Senator only has 4-6 years to make their mark in the Legislature, forcing them to serve the interests of their constituents.
Sanders: Do you believe in offering parents school choice by providing vouchers for alternative schools in urban areas or do you believe Abbott Districts have been successful?
Ziemba: Abbott Districts have been a failed experiment in public education. Throwing more money at a failing school district not only fails the student, but also makes educating a child more expensive for the taxpayers. We need to make alternative forms of education in urban areas more accessible, study those methods of education and implement what works into the public education system.
The amount of money that is being pumped into education has also created a large bureaucracy within school districts. A big problem with Abbott is that a lot of the money that is awarded in state aid never reaches the student thanks to the bloated middle management and excessive administrative positions that now exist in many public school districts. This year alone, the 19th District will spend over $10 million in salaries for school employees that don’t directly interact with students. Education spending needs to be critically evaluated, as we need to ensure that students are being given all of the resources they need and teachers are being fairly compensated for their work.
Sanders: You are in favor of a smaller government. If elected, what will you do to ensure the government does not overreach its boundaries?
Ziemba: I would adamantly oppose any tax increase, spending increase or any bill that infringes upon the rights, liberties or freedoms of any of our citizens. New Jersey is already one of the most over taxed and regulated states in the nation. Any other meaningful increase or expansion in government would seriously threaten the existence of many in-state businesses and would push more of our taxpayers out of state. We need to work to make New Jersey a more affordable place to live, work and raise a family or start a business. Downsizing the size and scope of government will allow the legislature to responsibly cut spending, which translates into much needed tax cuts for New Jersey families and small businesses. Once we make our state economically attractive compared to our neighbors, we’ll set the stage for an economic resurgence in New Jersey.
Sanders: If your prospective constituents wanted to reach out to you and ask you questions about your positions or how to volunteer, to whom can they reach out?
Ziemba: I encourage everyone to visit my website, www.ZiembaforAssembly.com. Anyone can also reach out to me directly by emailing me at sziembaforassembly@yahoo.com or calling me directly at 732-491-3117. I’d be more than happy to answer any questions that voters may have.
Sanders: In a short statement, please advise why your constituents should vote for you and what do you want accomplish if you are elected?
Ziemba: I’m running for State Assembly to fight for the middle class families and businesses of the 19th District. If I earn your vote on November 5th, I’ll work to make New Jersey more affordable and less intrusive while at the same time not forgetting my roots as a middle class mom from South Amboy. I invite you to visit my website and read up on where I stand on the issues. I encourage you to contact me immediately if you have any questions or concerns. My campaign has an open door policy for 19th District voters and the same policy will apply once I’m elected.
If you are a candidate or with a campaign and you’re interested in being featured in my weekly Meet the Candidates article, Save Jerseyans, then email me at nikisands3@hotmail.com.
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