District 24 Senate Candidates: Oroho & Selby

In the race for Senate in District 24, Republican incumbent Steven Oroho (Frankin) faces Democratic challenger Edwin Selby (Hampton) in the Nov. 8 election.

Patch asked each candidate to fill out the questionnaire below. Here are their responses.

Steven V. Oroho (R-Franklin)

Age: 53

Occupation: Certified financial planner

Previous elected or appointed positions: Member, Franklin Borough Council, 2001-06; Member, Sussex County Board of Freeholders, 2005-07; Member, State Senate, 2008-present

Current elected or appointed positions: Member, Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee, 2008-present; Member, Senate Economic Growth Committee, 2008-present; Member, Red Tape Review Commission, 2010-present; Member, New Jersey Commission on Capital Budgeting and Planning, 2009-present; Member, New Jersey Unemployment Insurance Task Force, 2011-present

Other community associations: Member, Knights of Columbus; Former coach, Pope John High School athletics; Member, Center for Prevention and Counseling Advisory Board

What town do you live in, and how long have you lived there? I have lived in Franklin Borough for 17 years now and have lived in Sussex County for the past 28 years. Previous to that, I lived for a short time in Budd Lake. I spent most of my childhood growing up in West Milford.

What do you see as the most pressing issues in the coming term, and what would you do about them? My top priorities are the issues that concern most residents—property tax relief and job creation. We must continue to build on the efforts we made under Governor Christie to help lower the cost of government which included enacting a 2 percent property tax cap and a public employee pension and health benefits reform bill, as well as passing balanced budgets that streamlined government operations and reduced wasteful spending.

The most significant way we can accomplish meaningful property tax reform is to change the current school funding formula. As many taxpayers know, the largest component of one’s property tax bill goes to pay for public schools. The unfortunate reality is the present school funding formula mandated by an activist State Supreme Court is constructed so that nearly 60 percent of state education aid goes to a select few school districts that are located predominantly in the cities. Along with Assemblywoman McHose and Assemblyman Chiusano, we are pushing legislation that would allocate state aid more equally per student resulting in a sizable boost in state aid to local suburban and rural school districts.

I will also work to continue to advance an agenda that reestablishes New Jersey as a competitive economic marketplace that creates jobs and sustains business.  To do this, we must continue to reform our tax structure, reduce excessive regulations like we have in the Highlands and aggressively market our resources to induce capital investment in our state. We need to grow our way to renewed prosperity, not tax and spend more.

What's one fact about you that most voters probably wouldn't know? In high school, I worked as a ranch hand.

Edwin Selby (D-Hampton)

Age: 67

Occupation: Educational consultant

Previous elected or appointed positions: Member of the Sussex County Technical High School Board of Education, served as president and vice president

Current elected or appointed positions: Member of the Board Trustees of the Sussex County Charter School for Technology, currently vice president

Other community associations: Member of the Sussex County Teen Arts Festival Board of Directors, served 15 years as President; Sussex County Retired Educators Association; Sussex-Wantage Education Association, served as vice president and president; Sussex County Democratic Committee, served as chairman, executive director, and outreach chair

How long have you lived in town? I have lived in Hampton Township for five years and Sussex County for 32 years.

What do you see as the most pressing issues in a coming term, and what would you do about them? We must first reinstate an increased tax rate on those making over $400,000 per year. This increased revenue should be used to fully fund the education formula and to rebuild the state's pension system. This will reduce local property taxes and put more disposable cash in the pockets of seniors and lower-income homeowners. Expanding health care to all will also save money for the state, businesses and individual citizens.

In education, calling something "reform" does not make it a good idea. Some of those who claim to be "reforming" education are destroying it. The state should not give public money to private institutions through a voucher program supported by tax credits. The overemphasis on testing is taking away teachers’ ability to teach meaningful content, and must be reversed. While the process of removing teachers who are not performing at a professional level must be streamlined, tenure must be protected. The first step in true education reform is to treat public educators like the professional that they truly are.

Employment in New Jersey can be increased, but not if we continue to cancel major constructions projects designed to improve our infrastructure, and close successful facilities and programs. By restoring funding to education to the level required by law, we will be able to hire back teachers who have been laid off in the last few years. The next step in improving employment in New Jersey is to begin investing in needed projects to improve roads and bridges, to bring back police and fire fighters who are vital to the survival of some of our communities, and to improve, instead of closing, schools and health facilities. We should also invest in locally produced alternative energy, including wind, solar and tidal. We need to encourage the growth of small, sustainable efforts that provide locally grown food to local neighborhoods, and to produce affordable consumable products that will keep profits within the state.     

What's one fact about you that most voters probably don't know? Our dog, Bobby, is Greek.