The Philadelphia Inquirer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Page 65

State Senate and Assembly Races kju ves First District In this primary election, they all win running unopposed. in November, though. i I k. I tAj VA; ham J. Hughe beat him by more than X2.0VO Volet Udllufldo, kpotiaarfc-d ftm- liialmiig ol child pornography and providing a permanent aouice ol Shore pruietiion money Caw-lla.

4S. was soundly deleaied by altera in a iw Senate bid. but ta)1 the race rttabllvhed hit name in the duirici, Voter anger mer Cv Horio'i tax increase which Ca-iella va) mulled in a tuavy protest vole twxi years ago is "not nearly at strong" now, he kay He alto lint obs at the lop lue Corman. A. the Ugulature has abdicated us rrponMbility, resulting in "a bureaucracy which running amok." He supports Horio, saying the governor told the truth, while "the Republican pandered lo CavctU i Iii an incumbriil, Jamm S.

Cafu-ru, will fate Ummrai Juhn Shn in Nun-IB her. but neither lace primary competition Cibttn in hi lirit term in the Av mhly Jobs are the big Iwue. tat a number ol the Appropriations Committee He sponsored a bill In promote export ol Sew Jery products, the bill pard the Awm-bty and awaits Senate action In iwi. iiu unit nl j.lt.niJi got the tn1 volet in a lour way Am iably race in which took Umo-crat Kaymond A Itatun i n-at. l-ail year.

Inliioiidu ran lr the US. House, but incumbent IVmocral Wil- Nicktes Each caadtdalt for Ctnaral AssoaiMy wa asktA It elected, which three issues or prolians would you give the highest priority7 And explain specific stops you would lake to address those issues or problems District 2 That because everyone That will not be the case ivji latavttff it I'aint drying Grass growing Soma-one drinking a glat of ur All nf IIk-w aro mure ci mug than this year primary in the irnl Ut1 lativ ikirkt. frimanly. that1 rvvauw none ol the candidate has an opponent. Incumbent Republicans Juhn C.

Gibvun and Frank A (jotliondu irek tvkxtiun lo the Axs-mbly, Thry ill he in November by IV mm rats Ronald t'awlla and lirure (iorman. In Ihe Mate race. tht-Ktuh Second District 1 Cl ill Cormley Caffney State Senate TenK 4 years Salary: $15,000 (Vol tor one) Each caadklata lor ttatt Staata was ataad: eiocted. which three issues or ptoWwns would you give Ihe highest priority? And eplain speolic straps you would Like to address those issues or pioblems District 2 No race this time, but Nov. will be a different story Three Democrats and three Republicans are running unopposed for Senate and Assembly.

It's what happens after the primary that bears watching. 1 Denis Floge DkI aot reply. Tom Foley Did not reply. Ill MM ll I 1 1 1 Jim Swift Old not ropty. the public, and I think the public ie lo a now to the Mate Senate in defeating Ummral Caa-lla by almtwt I20uo volet Calu-ru, ho bat been in Ihe state St-naie since wo, lays bis cur-' rent tern has been bit nvi productive.

He spohMtrcd law cnminalu-ing (talking and raising marriage-license leet lo fund program! lor haltered women Spahn. AJ. is operation! manager at ViKK Md. an aiUporu radio ia lion in Cape May County, He ran umuicc-vslully lor a nai on Ihe Mill-villc City Commission in ivtrv Spahn is critical of hat he considers a lark of independence on the pan of the district three legislator. Frederick P.

Nickles. Floge. JJ. of Drigantinc. is a casino floor supervisor at llally's Park Place and ts running on what he called a "pro-casino" platform.

A New Jersey law prohibits casino employees from holding state office, so Floge intends to quit llally's if he la elected. Floge said he would try to change the impression of many non-Atlantic County legislators that casinos arc a "cash cow." He would work for laws that would help casinos, such as sports belting In the gaming halls, day care for casino workers' chil-' dren and the lifting of "prohibitions levied against casino employees that make them feel like lepers." Foley, 4.1, of Pleasantville, has been a freeholder since 1989 and Is an Atlantic County Fire Department battalion chief. He attributes his defeat in his 1991 bid for the Assembly to anti-Klorio feeling. Foley said he was a fiscal conservative and would wont to slop the state from using pension funds to balance the budget. He would also want to focus on health-cure reform, creating a medical-fee schedule that would set limits on the cost of health care.

Republican Gaffney, 59, of Linwood, was, until January, the chairman of the Atlantic County Board of Freeholders. In his two years in office, Gaffney said his accomplishments included co-sponsoring legislation on 24-hour gambling, the airport expansion and the convention center. Gaffney is on the Assembly's Insurance, Housing and Financial Institutions Committees and said he was working on measures dealing with health and auto insurance fraud and low and moderate income housing. Nickles, 45, of Mays Landing, is the superintendent of schools for Egg Harbor Township and was a freeholder from 1984 to 1991. He also cited the airport expansion, convention center and 24-hour gambling as his most significant accomplishments.

Nickles is on the Education and Transportation and Communication Committees and said he was sponsoring a bill for school construction. State Senate Term: 4 years Salary: $35,000 (Vote tor one) Each candidate for state Senate was asked: It elected, which three issues or problems would you give the highest priority? And explain specific steps you would take to address those issues or problems. District 3 Raymond J. Zane (Incumbent) Mickleton Age: 53 Occupation: Lawyer Education: J.D., Rutgers, 1974; B.S., St. Joseph's, 1965.

Qualifications: Six terms in Senate, a iiioiouyii woiMny kiiuwieuyti ol bldlo government. Issues statement: To provide jobs, we must provide a better climate for business by less regulation and government restrictions. We must assure for future generations that our environment is protected by better education and respect. We need more law enforcement and stricter sentencing by judges. We also need to educate our young to respect life and property of others and continue the effort to educate the horrible realities of drug use.

Continued on next page Spaha Cjfleft Gorman LoBiondo State Senate Tarac years Salary (Vota lor one) lack candidate tar ttatt Saaata ai tlit It ckx id. wtcri lino tutum or problems would you a1 i' rwjtwnl priority? And eipktm (ecil you would Ink to aikKr-it those KAurt or problems District 1 John Spahn AC32 Ocean' Otwaiioos manager. WSKR iiK). Petersburg EdacatJec 1079. Tfilon Regional Hiuh School, Runnemede QualifkattMs: Two years" eperice as operations manager.

Itiuet statement The three main areas thai affeel our district are the economy, tourism and the environment They are all related. We must strive to bring tn clean induslry that will provide good-paying, year-round jobs For too many years, ours has been a district where people have been employed on a seasonal basis and then have to tight to survive economically during the winter. When bringing in Industry, we must protect the environment. People come to Cape May County in the summer months to enjoy our beaches and the ocean. We can not allord both environmentally and economically to jeopardise that.

James S. Cafiero (Incumbent) North Wildwood Age: 64 Occupation: Lawyer. Education: Lawrenceville School, 1946: A.B., Princeton. 1950; L.L.B.. University o( Pennsylvania Law School.

1953. Qualifications: Member, state Assembly. 1968-1971; state Senate, 1972-1981; 1990 to present. Issues statement I will continue to focus on Issues facing the women, children and families ot this state as the sponsor of legislation addressing those concerns and in my capacity as chairman of the Committee on Women's Issues, Children and Family Services. During my current term, I have sponsored legislation that is now law making stalking a crime; extending the statute of limitations for civil actions for sexual abuse; providing $1.2 million annually for funding for battered women by way of a modest increase in marriage license fees; enabling minors to seek treatment for alcoholism without parental consent, and establishing the first program for emergency medical services for children in the country.

I have legislation pending extending the statute of limitations for criminal actions for sexual abuse; making it a crime to lure a child into a motor vehicle, and increasing penalties for operating a boat while intoxicated. General Assembly Term: 2 years Salary: $35,000 (Vote for two) Each candidate for General Assembly was asked: If elected, which three issues or problems would you give the highest priority? And explain specific steps you would take to address those issues or problems. District 1 Ronald J. Casella Vineland Age: 45 Occupation: Lawyer. Education: B.S., University of Scranton; J.D., Hutgers Law School.

Qualifications: Former member of General Assembly; have represented county and municipal governments, boards and authorities, and have been on boards and charities and business organizations, and am trustee of Cumberland County College. Issues statement: The economy is the most important issue. State government must work with private industry and our educational institutions to create a well-trained workforce and jobs. Special emphasis is needed to assist our struggling industries, help our farmers iii. William Gormley (Incumbent) Margate Occupation: Lawyer Education: A Notre Dame; law degree.

Villanova Qualifications: Captain, Marine Corps: elected Atlantic County freeholder, 1975; elected to General Assembly. 1977; assistant minority leader In Assembly, 1982. Issues statement I am committed to stimulating the economy and creating jobs. Some ol my initiatives Include the Atlantic City Convention Center proiect; the New Jersey Economic Recovery Fund Act, and the South Jersey Transportation Authority. These measure will help jump-start our sluggish economy and bring thousands of jobs to South Jersey.

I am also committed to ensuring that the legislation I sponsored, known as the "Children and Families Initiative," becomes law. This legislation is designed to restructure the delivery ol social services lo the children and families of New Jersey by offering various services at community-based family centers at or near schools. This "one-stop shopping" will help bolster current social-support systems and Identify areas that need to be further developed. General Assembly Term: 2 years Salary: $35,000 (Vote for two) Third District Cibion lo bo comprtitiv arvj to pomot tomrwn In dijtldiun, lo wng giat mm.iik hw Icumwn, nneil common-approach brtwiwn polrcii'J our entnrflnmetital and 0vt 4'vit Strong. rvV-wvVrfil toil.

Vm 4np it rwoikK) Id mute that Mull) funding help ttw lapaye. ooviwnmeriis and tchfKiK ot rr hl district ami not tfe pohloil pan and special -miwest groups Bruce M. Gorman Frma Ar. 46 OctupatloK I awyer. Education: A Colette University.

1908 Cornell University. 1971 Qualifications: Solicitor lor various governmental entities lor nearly years Litigated with the state, county and local municipalities on numerous occasions. Am solicitor tor Lower Township. Middlo Township. Wildwood Board ol education, and munictal solicitor and prosecutor in West Wildwood.

Am a former Wildwood prosecutor. A state Democratic committeeman. Issues statement 1. Reduce taxes caused by a bloated bureaucracy by voting against related expenditures. 2.

The Legislature has abandoned the principle ol separation ol powers by allowing bureaucrats to draft administrative agency regulations, adjudicate appeals, then rule on the results. I would compel the Legislature to promulgate those regulations instead, and to limit bureaucratic enforcement and review. 3. The legislature now enacts laws that mandate expensive programs, yet It does not provide the funding The burden falls on local governments, which offset the costs with higher real estate taxes. I want legislation to reverse that regressive tax system.

Frank A. LoBiondo (Incumbent) Vineland Age: 47. Occupation: Operations manager, LoBiondo Bros. Motor Express. Education: B.A., St.

Joseph's University, 1968. Qualifications: Chairman, Assembly Economics and Community Development, Agriculture and Tourism Committee. Third-term assemblyman. Issues statement: Getting people back to work is my first priority. Tourism is our number-one employer, and I have sponsored laws to fund beach restorations and increase tourism advertising by $1.3 million.

I sponsored legislation to create jobs through business incentives and to protect our agriculture industry. We need to give business the tools It needs to get out of this recession. We need to cut unnecessary regulations and wasteful spending so that businesses can grow creating jobs and retaining existing ones. John C. Gibson (Incumbent) Sea Isle City Age: 59 Occupation: Former owner of civil engineering and land-surveying business.

Education: Graduate of Villanova University, B.S., civil engineering. Qualifications: My first term in the Legislature proved the value of my professional engineering experience with legislative solutions in the fields of transportation, economic development, Shore protection, solid waste and the environment. Issues statement: My highest priority is the economy and getting our people back to work; emphasizing agriculture and tourism, which are so Important to South Jersey. I voted for the largest tax cut in New Jersey history, cutting the sales tax by $600 million. This has eased our taxpayers' burden and made us more competitive.

I have proposed middle-class tax relief by providing a deduction for local property taxes paid on a primary residence. In 1992, I worked to cut the proposed budget by $1.1 billion. I will continue to root out wasteful spending, make government more efficient and reduce over-regulation. Ily I'am lUlitrk INUI IKKHMAfr KITKH An Atlantic County freeholder and two political novices. Including a casino supervisor, arc the Democratic candidates who will attempt to unseal three Republican Incumbents In the Senate and Assembly this year.

The Second District primary promises lo be uneventful, since Ihe three Republicans and three Democrats arc running unopposed. The November election will be the proving ground. Can a lawyer who has never held political olficc defeat Stale Sen. William L. Gormley.

who has been in Ihe legislature since 1977? Can a freeholder who was defeated in his lust bid for assemblyman and a casino employee with no political experience unseat two one-term Republican assemblymen who were elected as part of the anti-Klorio sweep two years ago? Will the Democratic strategy of running "citizen-politicians" be successful. Gormlcy's opponent will be Jim Swift, 30, a Murgute trial lawyer whose father owns a large real estate agency in Atlantic County. Swift's only previous try for political office was an unsuccessful bid for freeholder in 1991. He said he decided to run for Assembly because "I was contacted by a large number of people who encouraged me to run." Swift said he was still putting together the specifics of his platform. Gormley, 47, will be stressing sev-eral recent pieces of legislation he worked for in the last few years: the Kconomic Recovery Fund Act.

which provided $.14 million for the Atlantic City International Airport in Pomona; the go-ahead and funding for the new Atlantic City Convention Center, and the formation of the South Jersey Transportation Authority. "These measures will help to jump-start our sluggish economy and bring thousands of jobs to South Jersey," he said in answer to a questionnaire. On the Assembly side, Democratic challengers Denis Kloge and Tom Foley will try to unseat Republican incumbents John F. Gaffney and holder, also has been the Cumberland County Democratic chairman for five years. "I think it depends on how good Florio does," Riley said.

"But I do think we have a reasonable shot." The Democrats are challenging Collins, 49, a former basketball coach from Glassboro State College who raises pigs on his farm in Elmer, and Stuhltrager, a former Gloucester County freeholder who practices law in Deptford. In the senatorial race, Zane, 53, is bpingcHallpnirfd by FrJward Reynolds, of Sewell, a retired safety inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration. Reynolds ran unsucessfully for a seat on the Gloucester County freeholders in 1992. Zane, of Mickleton, who practices law in Woodbury, is a former Gloucester County freeholder, seeking a seventh term in the Senate. "I'm not running against anyone," Zane said, when asked if he expected a tough race.

"I'm running for the office." John F. Gaffney (Incumbent) inwood Age: 59 Occupation: Full time legislator. Education: Rutgers-Camden, no degree. Qualifications: Since 1974, 1 have been a councilman, mayor, freeholder and assemblyman. Twenty years ol government experience.

Issues statement 1. Reducing size of state government by continuing lo reduce the state budget as submitted by the governor. 2. Creating private-sector jobs by continuing to pass legislation supporting the development of new business opportunities. 3.

Developing a long-term solution for affordable health care through legislation that is fair to both the public and employers. Frederick P. Nickles (Incumbent) Mays Landing Age: 45 Occupation: Superintendent of schools, Fgg Harbor Township. Education: Glassboro State College; B.S., University of Maryland. Qualifications: Egg Harbor Township committee and mayor, five years; Atlantic County freeholder, eight years; Assembly, 2 years.

Issues statement Continual expansion of the Atlantic City International Airport. Infrastructure and beautification improvements of Atlantic City. Increased construction projects to increase jobs and improve the economy. Assistance to communities that are negatively affected by the casino industry. Assistance to Pinelands communities that are financially affected due to Pinelands Commission restrictions.

ready for a change. "They are going to be two tough races for us," said John Maier, Gloucester County Democratic chairman, referring to the Assembly seats. "Both incumbents are in leadership positions in a Republican-controlled Legislature, and they use their positions very effectively." "But this year," he added, "we are bringing out our secret weapon." He is referring to Amelia B. Kressler, who is running for an Assembly spat, along with Joseph .1. Riley of Bridgeton.

Kressler, 49, of Wenonah, a past president of the League of Women Voters of Gloucester County, is on several Gloucester County freeholder committees and is an outspoken advocate for women and children. "Amelia is very much a part of the women's agenda," Maier said. "I think she's going to give the good old boys a run for their money." Riley, 59, a family physician and former Cumberland County free For both parties, victory will be a task that is worthy of Hercules By Maureen Fitzgerald INQUIRER CORRESPONDENT The challenge for Democrats in the Third Legislative District this fall is colossal unseating Jack Collins, the Assembly majority leader, and his colleague Gary Stuhltragcr, chairman of the Judiciary Committee. Both men are entrenched and popular in a Republican district. But Republicans have an equally tough job defeating the popular 20-year incumbent, Sen.

Raymond J. Zane. Neither party has any primary contests for the two Assembly seats and one Senate seat up for election in the Third District. Some would say there are no contests either in the general election, with all three incumbents well-established and connected in Trenton and popular in their home district. Nonetheless, both parties are fielding candidates to challenge the lawmakers, with the hopes that this could be the year that people are a.