01/11/08

TITLE: Linda Stender Coming to Tewksbury
DESCRIPTION:
Time: 09:02:52

ARTICLE

There's more to politics than just the presidential race this year. Linda Stender, the five-term assemblywoman from Scotch Plains, will be coming to Tewksbury in January to promote her campaign for Congress and discuss the important issues facing the Country. Stender came within one percentage point of defeating the incumbent Mike Ferguson in the 2006 congressional election in our 7th District. Ferguson has chosen not to run for another term. There are no women currently serving in the New Jersey delegation in Congress.

The assemblywoman is coming to Tewksbury at the invitation of the Tewksbury Democratic Committee (TDC) and will appear at 7:30 PM Thursday, January 24th at the Zion Christian Education Building on Church Street in Oldwick. The event is free to the public. Dominick DePinto, Chairman of the Tewksbury Democratic Committee said, Stenders 2006 campaign was one of the motivating factors in the resurgence of the Democratic Party in Tewksbury. We are delighted that she has chosen to again make Tewksbury an early stop in her campaign. The TDC is committed to working hard this year on her behalf.

While serving in the New Jersey General Assembly, Stender has introduced over fifty bills, including a bill prohibiting pharmacists from refusing to dispense medications based on personal philosophical, moral, and/or religious beliefs. She also sponsored legislation encouraging stem cell research through the construction of new research facilities in New Jersey.
Stender also has a strong record of protecting the environment, having served as the New Jersey General Assembly's Vice-Chair on the Assembly Environment Committee. She worked diligently to reduce pesticides and toxic chemicals in schools and co-sponsored a bill to reduce diesel emissions by trucks and buses.

As a mother of three, Stender is strong advocate for children and families. She strongly believes in investing in education, but opposes President Bush's inadequately funded "No Child Left Behind" act. She supports an increase in the federal minimum wage so working parents can work fewer hours or fewer jobs and spend more time with their children. Recognizing the financial burden of private childcare, Stender also supports expanding access to affordable, quality childcare, both to ease financial burden and improve children's early development.