Doug Forrester: Why He Deserves Your Vote In The Republican Primary

Enlighten-NewJersey asked each of the seven hopefuls for the Republican nomination for Governor of New Jersey, why we should vote for them in the primary. The following is the response we received from Doug Forrester’s campaign. Additional information may be found at Doug Forrester's website.

A successful businessman, loving husband and caring father of three, Doug Forrester is an exemplary leader and fighter for the Republican values of lower taxes, reduced debt and increased public accountability. He is the one candidate who will finally lower our outrageous property tax burden with his 30%-in-3 property tax relief plan.

Doug served as Mayor of his hometown of West Windsor and then joined the Kean Administration. As assistant State Treasurer and Director of the Division of Pensions, Doug helped New Jersey maintain the highest bond rating and held New Jersey to the strictest level of accountability with its pension budget. As Pension Director, he created an innovative new records system that other states still visit New Jersey to use as a model for their own systems. In addition to his public service, Doug built a successful business that employs hundreds of New Jerseyans and provides benefits for thousands of working families throughout the state and the nation.

Doug’s property tax relief plan is exactly what we need to reduce the property tax burden on New Jersey’s working families and seniors. Doug’s plan – the 30%-in-3 Guarantee – will lower property taxes in New Jersey by 30% over three years, guaranteed by the state constitution. But Doug’s plan does more than just cut property taxes – he is finally bringing fiscal responsibility to this state.

The 30%-in-3 Guarantee includes an independently elected State Auditor to root out waste throughout the state, as well as a ban on pay-to-play at all levels of government. Doug’s plan caps state spending and gives tools to local governments to keep property taxes low in the future. Finally, he will require a supermajority vote in the legislature to raise taxes or increase spending – a move that will finally end the spending addiction in Trenton.

The Asbury Park Press and New York Post have both endorsed Doug. The Press said Doug’s 30%-in-3 plan “makes the most sense” and that Doug “is best qualified for the job. He's bright, he communicates well and he has a thorough understanding of how Trenton works, including where the bodies are buried and where the dollars are hidden.”

There’s no more of qualified candidate than Doug Forrester to beat Jon Corzine in November and independent polls already show Doug beating Corzine amongst unaffiliated voters. The Post stressed that Doug has “the best chance in November to rescue Trenton from the sleaze and corruption in which it is mired” and “Forrester would be the strongest Republican against Corzine.”

Doug has the character, courage and conviction to restore fiscal sanity to state finances and root out the culture of corruption that has overrun Trenton. We need a strong Republican party – and most importantly, a strong Republican candidate – this November. That candidate is Doug Forrester.