Pappas Says Zwicker Overreaches on 

State Control of Local Libraries

Urges Age-appropriate Books 

Decided Locally with Parental Involvement

May 22, 2023

Branchburg – Mike Pappas, candidate for New Jersey State Senate, today offered comments regarding Sen. Andrew Zwicker’s sponsorship of legislation that would directly connect State funding for public libraries and School District libraries to traditionally local decision making.

“Andrew Zwicker wants to sensationalize this into a conversation about book banning. I am not advocating banning books.  However, there should be age-appropriate standards that are decided locally with the vital input from parents. The legitimate concerns of many parents, local educators and librarians could be summarily dismissed if Andrew Zwicker has his way. He seems to have determined that parents and local communities are incapable of making decisions that are in the best interests of their children and students,” said Pappas.

“The public policy advocated by a national library organization has been offered as the leading authority to be followed. I am sure this group has important professional perspectives but parental responsibility and parental rights should be supported and not negated,” stated Pappas. 

“Parents should be given every opportunity to be involved in the education of their children and the State government should not take the heavy-handed approach that Mr. Zwicker wants. He is trying to confuse the issue and divert attention away from his extreme position that places greater control in the hands of State government that is insulated from parents and communities,” said Pappas.

“I urge Andrew Zwicker to step forward and join me in respecting and supporting parental responsibility. I urge him to support age-appropriate books and educational materials for school-age children. Grammar school-age children, such as first and second graders, are not taught algebra or geometry, they are taught basic arithmetic such as addition and subtraction. This should hold true for all educational materials,” concluded Pappas. 

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Michael Pappas

Candidate for New Jersey State Senate

P.O. Box 5016, North Branch, NJ 08876 

District 16

Pappas Highlights $13 Million Impact to South Brunswick School District Due to Andrew Zwicker’s Inaction 

May 15, 2023

Branchburg – Mike Pappas, candidate for New Jersey State Senate, today issued the following statement concerning impact to the South Brunswick School District:

“When Andrew Zwicker was given the chance to vote to restore full funding for school districts due to the S2 school funding formulas, he abstained from voting – twice! When given the chance to vote to use some of the State’s $10 billion budget surplus, his decisions to abstain on March 10 and 30, 2023, are prompting these scenarios in school districts throughout New Jersey. 

The South Brunswick School District, his hometown, is reported to expect a $13 million shortfall,” said Pappas.

See attached article from South Brunswick Patch

south brunswick schools could be in financial jeopardy in 2024-25, saynofficials - Search (bing.com)

“When it mattered to his constituents, Andrew Zwicker was absent. He chose to ignore the needs of the people he actually represents in Trenton,” concluded Pappas.

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Michael Pappas

Candidate for New Jersey State Senate

P.O. Box 5016, North Branch, NJ 08876 

District 16

Governor Murphy: Do Your Damn Job and End the Rutgers Strike

 April 13, 2023, 9:24 pm 

New Jersey’s 14th legislative district is situated in close proximity to Rutgers University’s New Brunswick campus. Consequently, the current strike by Rutgers University employees is having a disproportionate impact on many families in the district with students just a few weeks away from concluding the spring semester or graduating college.

Today, Adam J. Elias, candidate for the General Assembly in the 14th legislative district, called on Governor Murphy to take more deliberate steps to end the strike and get faculty back to work with their students.

https://www.insidernj.com/press-release/governor-murphy-do-your-damn-job-and-end-the-rutgers-strike/

March was an incredibly successful month for our campaign team. I received the nomination to be Hamilton's Republican Mayoral candidate from the Hamilton Township Republican Committee, along with my running mates Michael Chianese & Gino Melone for Council.

Our team knocked on doors along the St. Patrick's Day Parade route, secured an overwhelming amount of signatures to get on the ballot, and built out our team. 

We had a wildly positive reception at the St. Patrick's Day Parade, meeting new faces and neighbors from around the town, giving out almost 3,000 stickers, and putting out dozens of lawn signs.

Our campaign had our first KICKOFF event at the Hibernians. Over 125+ supporters and friends attended our first event, kicking off our fundraising efforts in a big way.

And we are regularly attending community events in town, supporting our fellow Hamiltonians and our community.

We are just getting started - there is plenty of work to be done. Thank you to everyone for lending a hand or donating to make our efforts a success. We are very excited for all April will bring & we look forward to seeing you all on the campaign trail. 

Every dollar will make the difference in this race. We need your help. Please consider making a donation HERE -  Support - Friends of Marty Flynn (anedot.com)

 

Mike Pappas for State Senate

March 30, 2023

Branchburg – Mike Pappas, candidate for New Jersey State Senate, urges legislators to restore full funding for school districts while the State Senate is in session today.

“Ten days ago, the Senate met and considered several measures concerning State aid to school districts. Senator Declan O’Scanlon offered an amendment that would restore full funding but it failed to gain a majority vote. Andrew Zwicker could have supported it but he did not. He says he wants to help this District but when given the chance to do so he just does not,” said Pappas.

“The decisions legislators make reflect their priorities. The State has a $10 billion surplus, yet Sen. Zwicker cannot seize the opportunity to put our school districts ahead of his commitment to his party’s leadership and their expectations of him to vote the party line. If I was a member of the State Senate, I would work overtime to ensure that full funding to our school districts is restored,” said Pappas

“Today is another opportunity for Andrew Zwicker to do the right thing. Let’s see what he does,” concluded Pappas.

Zwicker has been a member of the legislature for many years. Under his watch, Zwicker has allowed a record level of cuts in state education aid.  South Brunswick cut $7.9 million; Hillsborough slashed by over $4.4 million, Hunterdon Central lost over $1.1 million. Another 16th District community impacted is Flemington-Raritan Regional. 

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Paid for by Mike Pappas for State Senate – James Weideli, Treasurer, 23 Forest Ave., Bridgewater, NJ 08807Michael Pappas

Candidate for New Jersey State Senate

P.O. Box 5016, North Branch, NJ 08876

 

An epic evening was held in Hamilton, Mercer County, New Jersey last evening where the Mercer County Republican Delegates selected their 2023 Candidates.  It is my pleasure and privilege to announce the following outstanding Mercer GOP 2023 endorsed candidates for our June 2023 Primary:      

Candidates for LD 16:  
Michael Pappas  -  Senate
Ross Traphagen  - Assembly     
Grace Zhang -  Assembly

Candidates for LD 15:
Roger Locandro    -  Senate
Michael Hurtado  -  Assembly

Candidates for LD 14:
Pat Johnson  - Senate
Adam Elias  - Assembly
Skye Gilmartin - Assembly

Mercer County:
Bryan "Bucky" Boccanfuso  For Sheriff
Joseph Stillwell  -   Commissioner
Denise Turner    -   Commissioner 

Respectfully yours,
Lisa Richford, Chair
MCRC
P.O. Box 10535
Hamilton, NJ 08650
609-954-6273
lisa@lisarichford.com

 

 Hamilton Republicans came together on February 28 at their municipal convention to select candidates for the 2023 election.  The group of over 100 Republicans were excited to select candidates that can win in November and help Hamilton.
 

Marty Flynn was selected as candidate for Mayor.  Marty brings great experience and qualifications for the position.   Marty spent seven years on the leadership team in Hamilton as Director of Economic Development and Director of Health, Recreation, Senior and Veterans Service.  Marty was responsible for record economic development projects which brought Hamilton nine major projects resulting in over 4,000 jobs for Hamilton.  Marty also had several leadership positions in local schools including Director of Athletics for West Windsor-Plainsboro School District as well as Nottingham High School.
 

Gino Melone and Mike Chianese were selected as candidates for the Hamilton Township Council.
 

Gino was a councilman in Trenton for 16 with a strong reputation for constituent service.  Gino is retired with 35 years of service with Mercer County Government.  Last Department within the County Government was with The Mercer County Division of Consumer Affairs. Gino has a strong background in public service.
 

Mike has been involved with local government for many years including being a fire commissioner in Hamilton and chair of the Hamilton Republican party.  Mike has recently retired from a successful career at the State of New Jersey with management positions in facility operations and new construction in the Department of Information Technology, Department of Public Safety and Department of Treasury.
 

Come support the candidates in the upcoming elections to restore Hamilton’s community.

 

Completed ballots strewn across the floor at a polling facility in Mercer County on November 8, 2022. (Photo: Obtained by the New Jersey Globe).

By David Wildstein, November 10 2022 8:54 pm

The missing ballots from three voting districts in Princeton and one in Robbinsville were found today at the Mercer County Board of Elections, where they had been since Election Day, the New Jersey Globe has confirmed.

This is just one problem in a disastrous Election Day operation that started with every polling location in Mercer County.  County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello has asked the Mercer County Prosecutor to launch an investigation.

The Robbinsville ballots were counted today and the Princeton ballots are set to be counted on Friday.

A small number of additional ballots were found inside voting machines when they were opened today.  Superior Court Judge William Anklowitz signed an order this morning authorizing the machines to be opened.

Voters across the Mercer County were told to vote using paper ballots on Election Day after a programming glitch rendered the Dominion optical scanner as unusable. The ballots were dropped into the machine’s storage bin and collected by a team of one Democrat and one Republican.

Mercer County Superintendent of Elections Nathaniel Walker will keep his office open on Friday,  a state holiday, and this weekend, to continue counting ballots.

MERCER COUNTY REPUBLICAN CAPITAL CLUB
REPUBLICAN HEADQUARTERS
P.O. Box 10535
HAMILTON,  JERSEY  08650
mercernjgop.com
 

December 21, 2020

Subject:  2021 Mercer County Republican Capital Club Membership
 

Dear Fellow Republicans:
 

These are challenging and difficult times for our Republic.  I am writing to ask that you to join the Mercer County Republican team that is energized and committed to supporting and electing Republicans to office.  We are working on recruiting quality and qualified candidates for years to come. The best way for you to do that is by joining the Capital Club and also by supporting our next event.  
 

I have been excited to see the outpouring of support from all corners of the County and the State.    If you are a Mercer County Republican Committee person, I am asking that each Committee person make an additional vested minimum donation of $100.00 or whatever you are able to, to the club.  By becoming vested, you will become a valuable member of the team.  No amount is too small in these unique times where we are unable to gather to have traditional fundraisers and share time together with one another.    As a member, you will also receive invitations to Capital Club events that will allow you to interact at this time virtually with County and State political leaders.  Your membership will also help to fund County Republican operations and support campaigns throughout Mercer County.
 

In closing, I ask that you support the Mercer County Republican Party by joining and or renewing your membership to the Mercer County Republican Capital Club.   Application attached, please make your check out to “Mercer County Republican Capital Club” and return to:   Mercer County Republican Capital Club, P.O. Box 10535, Hamilton, NJ 08650.        
 

Thank you for your time, consideration and support of the MCRC and I look forward to working with you to elect Republicans to all levels of government.
 

                  Sincerely,
 

                    Lisa Richford, Esq.
                                          Chair, Mercer County Republican Committee

Paid for by MCRC, P.O. Box 10535, Hamilton, NJ 08650
 

MERCER COUNTY REPUBLICAN CAPITAL CLUB
Mailing address:  P.O. Box 10535, Hamilton, NJ 08650
 

2021 MEMBERSHIP and RENEWAL
 

Membership in the Mercer County Republican Capital Club is one of the easiest and most important ways to show your support for the Republican Party.  As a member you will have the opportunity to meet informally with both political and government leaders, all while building the Republican Party throughout Mercer County.   The Capital Club membership entitles you to attend at no charge two events during the year sponsored by the Club.
 

Name:  _______________________________________________________________________
 

Email address:  ______________________@________ . ________
 

Address:  _____________________________________________________________________
 

City:  _________________________  State:  ________  Zip:   ____________________________
 

Phone:  Work:  _________________ Cell:  ___________________  Home:  _________________
 

Occupation:  _____________________________  Employer:  ____________________________
 

Employer’s address:  _____________________________________________________________
 

Referred by: (optional)  __________________________________________________________
 

Enclosed is my check for my 2020 membership:
 

Single:  $175 ______  Joint:  $275  _______  Sponsor:  $500  ________  Director:  $1000 ______
 

I am unable to join now, but my contribution is enclosed $__________.
 

YES, I would like to volunteer:  ________
 

Paid for by MCRC, Cynthia Simon, Treasurer
P.O. Box 10535, Hamilton, NJ 08650