Election profile: 17th Legislative District
New Jersey’s 17th Legislative District’s boundaries remained largely unchanged after redistricting. It encompasses New Brunswick, North Brunswick and Piscataway in Middlesex County and South Bound Brook and Franklin in Somerset.
The district has been a Democratic stronghold for decades. Democrats make up close to half of all registered voters, while 12% are Republicans and 39% are unaffiliated.
Sen. Bob Smith, a Democrat, is running for reelection. He has held the seat for two decades, chairs the environment and energy Committee, and is a former mayor of Piscataway. He faces Republican William Mikita Jr., an attorney from Somerset.
Democratic Assemblyman Joseph Danielsen, the deputy whip of the Assembly and a veteran of the United States Army Reserve is running for reelection to the Assembly. Fellow Assemblyman Joseph Egan, the deputy majority leader, announced in July that he will be retiring and his son, Kevin Egan of New Brunswick, was chosen by Middlesex County Democratic committee members to replace him on the ballot. The Republican candidates are Susan Hucko, who previously ran for the North Brunswick Township Council, and Dhimant Patel, a Piscataway man with a job in information technology.
Editor’s note: All candidates for state legislative seats were contacted multiple times for the NJ Decides 2023 voting guide Q&As. Click on a candidate to see who responded and any answers provided. More information about the project, including the full text of the questions, is available here.
The candidates
SENATE
Age: 76 Hometown: Piscataway Occupation: Attorney Personal background: Piscataway, New Jersey; B.A. history/chemistry, University of Scranton; M.S. chemistry, M.S. environmental science, Rutgers University; L.L.D. law degree, Seton Hall University; teacher, Middlesex County College 1970-1981; lawyer 1981-present. Political background: Member Piscataway Environment Committee, member Piscataway Planning Board, member Piscataway Township Council, mayor of Piscataway, assemblyman 17th District, senator 17th District. Why are you running for office? To protect New Jersey’s environment and mitigate the impacts of global climate change. Key election issue: Global climate change and what New Jersey needs to do to mitigate it. For next term – s2978 Accelerate NJ’s Renewable Portfolio Standard, s3992 NJ Grid Modernization, scr17 Amending NJ constitution to phase out fossil fuel plants. See s2978, s3992 and scr17 Example of a successful project: Elimination of single-use plastic bags from New Jersey supermarkets. Example of a challenge faced: Stable source of funding for the acquisition of preserved farmland, open space and historic preservation. After eight years of potential legislation, finally passed a constitutional amendment to dedicate 6% of the corporate business tax to the effort – about $150 million per year. On NJ’s gun laws: Vote for even stricter gun control legislation. On the Murphy administration’s climate change proposals: Yes. Take advantage of the federal IRA leveraging $300 million of societal benefit charges to make $500 million in New Jersey grid improvements. (Our grid is inadequate.) On housing affordability and property taxes: Incentivize affordable housing. The new Stay NJ property tax relief program.
The candidate did not respond to the questionnaire.
ASSEMBLY
Age: 58 Hometown: Somerset Occupation: IT Owner Personal background: I am a Rutgers graduate, an Army reservist, who has lived across the street from the house I was born in. I have deep roots in my community of Somerset. Political background: I served on our local Planning Board, then served as Democratic chairman prior to my appointment to the General Assembly in October 2014 to replace an outgoing assemblyman. Why are you running for office? To continue working toward making our state more affordable for all citizens, including in housing, job placement, education, health care and overall quality of life. Key election issue: Cost of living and affordability are for me the top issues in this election. Continued funding for the ANCHOR program, rolling out the new Stay NJ program, seeking solutions to forthcoming staffing shortages in health care and education. Example of a successful project: Securing medical cannabis legislation that I helped co-author, which is now a national standard. In addition to laying the groundwork for medical cannabis, I was also instrumental in drafting the legislation that legalized adult-use cannabis. Example of a challenge faced: Seeking to revise and rewrite the 76-ye r-old antiquated liquor license laws in our state by building coalitions with stakeholders. I have crafted my bill A-5461, which I feel brings our residents closer to seeing common-sense changes in liquor licensing. On NJ’s gun laws: I was the author of that bill, and we will wait for the courts to make a determination before moving forward. On the Murphy administration’s climate change proposals: I strongly support maintaining the environmental integrity of our planet, however I take issue with certain aspects of the governor’s proposal. However, I look forward to continuing my discussions with the administration in those areas. On housing affordability and property taxes: I believe we have already begun addressing these issues with ANCHOR and Stay NJ, and will continue to work with my colleagues to seek additional remedies.
The candidate did not respond to the questionnaire.
The candidate did not respond to the questionnaire.
The candidate did not respond to the questionnaire.