406 Campaign 1979; Public Affairs; 406; At Issue

You don't know what. I'm like. You just never. Know I can't so. I don't know you need to know that you. Know. No way. What elections are coming this November. No I don't know this November. Oh yeah not really. I don't really. Know. What the lections are great I guess. You know like you I know right here. Yeah I can take it. To the average voter. They don't know the name of theirs States and there are some women they aren't really too aware of the issues that are before the legislature. It's going to take them a lot of time and effort to find out. And even if they do find out they don't feel like they can influence those results so it doesn't make sense for them not to be interested in politics. It's not about her being turned off in politics but being more interested in other pursuits. It's time consuming to be interested in politics. Many people don't have that time. If

political issues were more exciting if they were the more dominant issue which they felt they could affect that might be different. But in these times I think the public is really spending its efforts in other areas and in politics and the result is low information out of turn. Trenton New Jersey the men and women who work here more than 100 people a year plus another 20000 support time legislators 40 days a year and a lot of time in an election. That only 25 percent of those even interested in this election and public television election. However that campaign.

Those are the Palisades along the Hudson River up on top and in back of them is one of the most densely populated and safest Democratic legislative districts in the state. It's also the home of one of the most powerful politicians in the New Jersey assembly speaker Christopher Jackman. Jackman has served this district for 12 years and can probably continue winning reelection as long as he wants to run. Jackman as a vice president of the United paper Workers International Union 40 years ago he organized a union and a paper plant in North Bergen and began his rise through union ranks. Today there are 35000 union members under his jurisdiction and locals all over New York State and northern New Jersey. These men are Jackman's lieutenants the middlemen between him and the local unions down the hall from Jackman's Union office is his district office where he meets with constituents to hear their problems. Jackman helped this family solve the problem with a landlord. He says it's important to him to

feel that he's helping people. If you want to criticize you've got to contribute. And I'm trying to make a contribution and spending some of my life dedicated to the principles of what I think is important for my state. And I represent will directly and indirectly I find the time of course the additional hours I don't have enough for life so to speak. I spend at least 40 50 hours a week in my union activities and I guess almost an equal amount in my governmental activities so I enjoy maybe about five or six hours of sleep in the rest of my waking hours on dedicated to the principles that I just spoke about as the top officer of the assembly. Jacqueline spends a lot of time on those governmental activities when the governor signs a bill Jackman is usually there at rare times the bill signings are close by. This one in Englewood was only 20 minutes from Jackman's office. This bill gave money to

help control flooding and had little effect on his district. But Jacqueline was there as speaker. Most of the bills are signed in the governor's office in Trenton and the speaker is usually on hand. Jackman is second in line to become the acting governor of the state. If the Senate president and the governor out of state Jackson becomes acting governor Jackman is Labour's voice in state government. He sees himself as a sort of watchdog protecting his and other unions from bills that could hurt them. He confers often with the head of the state AFL CIO Charles my shanty on in this case about the workman's compensation bill Jackman says the bill will go nowhere without AFLCIO approval. He says he has asked for both labor and industry input on the bill so that the final version won't hurt labor. Jackman is a popular figure at fundraisers as the speaker of the assembly. Other candidates like to have them around. It doesn't hurt to be seen with the speakers. It is a function such as this one core candidate Herbert Sorkin and West Patterson where

the all time politician and Jackman emerges I believe when you when you give your word. To a group or an individual. Basically that to me is like an unwritten law. You give your word. You got to live up to it. Sometimes you regret when you live up to it. But most of the times what you do is right. I like to believe that based upon my educational background. And based upon my home life. I believe that once you. Make a decision to do something you do it you do with with no malice. I think that's very important. I joy out of beating anybody whether it be in a contest when I was younger or as I grew older in the race for political office. There's no joy in beating your opponent but you like to believe that what you're doing the people believes in what you said. And that basically I think is is the code I'm trying to live

with. Jackman save Sundays for his family especially his grandchildren. Yes sponsor the Little League team in West New York for nearly 30 years. He was at one time a fight promoter for former welterweight boxing champion and he has used his influence and connections to further the boxing career of a Rahway Prison Inmate James Scott. Yes I would have liked to buy was started. Had I started early I started relatively late in the process I am 63 years old so I have no other way to continue in the legislature and complete the job that I think is still got to be done. Jackman overshadows his running mate in the thirty third district Thomas Gallo of Hoboken Galloway has been in political office for nearly 30 years. He has been in the Assembly for the past six years. He and Jack Quinn usually get about three out of every four votes

cast in this district. This year Gallup has been ill and his campaign appearances have been limited. There are Republicans living in Hudson County the party has a slate of candidates and this is one of them. Roger Dorian is a vice president of the Bank of New York. He lives in WI Hawking where most Republicans in the district live. This is a rarity. A safe Democratic district has been and. You know we live in Hudson County which has been dominated by Democratic machine went back to time. The Republican Party has to start somewhere. Maybe on the base starting point. But it's necessary to have a viable two party system in this country and I think Republicans should make an effort to establish themselves and that's uncanny. And if I play any small part contributing to that movement. I'm willing to. Devote my time and energy.

Of course it's frustrating when. You look at the relative budget study. You're. Almost ashamed to tell your side all of them. That. They may Smith has already accumulated over several hundred thousand dollars for his next gubernatorial campaign much less what. They ponies have in a way but it is frustrating with the other Republicans Erick housepainter who came to this country from Austria in 1961. The fact that the Democrats usually get three times as many votes as the Republicans in the northern district doesn't look. Like a little much to own. And is a big country we're lookin for. He drew them a couple of hers.

And be working very hard to get at the plot to sell since she was a seedy area and that you develop poor reputation and then there was going to make it somehow just because they have to pay that legally right now you say she is so bad right now nobody would believe that hope but that is by far the most important factor in winning an election is the nature of the district itself. Over half the legislative districts in New Jersey are basically new Democratic or Republican and there's very little that either party can do to change that. The second most important thing is incumbency incumbents candidates who are running who are already in office are better known and have much better chance of getting elected. The amount of variation in the vote that the not explained by party incumbency is only 10 or 15 percent. And that might be able to be affected by the campaign. But since you can't change the partisan makeup of a district in one election and you can't change one you're

fighting to try to change the incumbency status but that's a given for that election. Or candidates can do is concentrate on that remainder at 10 to 15 percent which is still undecided. This is Summerville the center of Somerset County at the safest Republican district in the state. The 16th legislative district has been represented by Republicans for a very long time and there is little chance that will change. There is very little doubt that this man Walter Cavanagh will win his third term in November. Cavanagh runs a mechanical contracting business a plumbing supply store and his apartment a fuel oil distributor ship is well known here and has lived in Somerville all of his life except for four years of Notre-Dame and four years flying helicopters in the air for seven hours moving up and Republican right. He's the party's whip now and according to custom should move up to become the assistant minority leader when the assembly reorganizes in January. Like many politicians Kavanagh has a knack for remembering names and faces and he fits in well with the suburban

district. I think what we should do in South Carolina. Meet with a curry has been changed and. You have and like most candidates at this time of year is always on the run running for re-election and serene constituents attending meetings and parades dinners at home for most candidates and their families are rare. Wives like Mrs. Cavanagh are the glue holding political families together. Former nurse Mrs. Cavanagh seems well suited to handle unexpected guests at dinner attend the school functions when her husband must attend some political meetings and act the part of a politician's perfect wife. Cavanaugh is said to want a higher office. He'd like to run for Congress when Millicent Fenwick quit. The other Republican in this district is Elliott Smith of Hillsborough quiet low key man who lives within a half mile of where he was born.

Like Cavanagh Smith is in the contracting business. However Smith is an electrical contractor also like Cavanagh Smith spends a lot of time just being seen seen as an incumbent Assemblyman an advantage he has this year over a little known Democratic challengers one of those challengers as a young attorney named Harry Dreier single and for the past few weeks his life has been consumed by the campaign and his law practice. There are many frustrations and running you know I think just one of the first things that I found most frustrating apathy on the part of so many people now is that we are trying to deal with their concerns and with issues that are important to many of them although they don't necessarily communicate that. Not even for Buster if you want to talk to people you want to hear what they have to think and you want them to hear what you have to think. And too often you don't get that chance. It's a very quick meeting with someone you may get a chance to say hello

you may get a chance to say a little bit more. But it is rare that you would have a chance to sit down with somebody and talk about the problems and the issues that we face here in the district. One of the things that I find most difficult about campaigns and think a lot of Ohio office at the same time that one can't. It's a very difficult balancing act and. I guess the way I have done it is to really. See. Cut back as much as I can in the time I spend in the office I unfortunately I'm not in a financial position and I can just not be in this office for a month and a half two months three months. I've got to be able to put food on my table. The other Democrat in this district is Bob also a lawyer and also frustrated as a Democrat running in those heavy Republican district. You get a lot of people that just had one of the bad for the bakery list he said

he should want to save you time to stay home with your family. You're not going to win anyway. You know and it's when some of your own people are down at you because they haven't produced a winner in 35 years and they have these feelings of inferiority that they think nobody can win and that's not so. You know it's it's it's frustrating is going out and meeting the voters is the least frustrating part of the of the campaign. I enjoy going out there I enjoy meeting the voters. I don't enjoy traveling for money and I don't enjoy when you run out with people who say they're going to help you or who make a commitment to the campaign and then you know I don't want it. It's where you separate your friends from the people who claim to be your friends because there are so many times when you feel let down by your own people that you just want to sit down and cry because there you feel like there's nobody in your corner you're out there all on the point by yourself and you look around all these people that claim to back you know

we're not there. And how does a candle the people on the street who don't respond to him. I try to turn off as quickly as possible because for every person it turns that there is turned off turned off the system that is not a registered voter and doesn't care if if if a convicted felon runs the Treasury Department. You have to just think about the three that you know that you made a favorable impression on. Because if you're if you have a soft skin this is not the business you have to take those rejection and smile out of it I just smile right back. That's what you do. Just try and keep a clear head. I always considered this way better has been than a never was. If I never I never even tried before I'd never find out whether I can. I could be an assembly and far as I'm concerned it's a big world out there there are too many world beaters and anything you can do to improve your lot in life is something that

you know you have to consider doing. I had one reporter say you know what I want to be you know something before I step all over themselves. Management and I said well you know better stepping all over yourself than interpreting that in Somerville you know. Even if I only go to the assembly for one term that is something that nobody can take away from you the rest of your life and that's it. One of the most interesting campaigns this year is in the 14th legislative district a huge area of 200 square miles spread over four counties in central New Jersey. It's one of the fastest developing parts of the state and most of its new voters are independents. The district chose Bradley for Senator Burns for governor and voted Republican for Ford three years ago. It has split representation in the Assembly a Republican and a Democrat. If being an assemblyman isn't enough recognition Carlye Dell's name is all over the lower half of this district on his business real estate and insurance signs. Republican why Dell has been in the Assembly for 10 years unlike most representatives must divide his

time between business and politics. His personal life gets what's left. There are days when the schedule rules out breaks. Less than 30 minutes after arriving at the office why Dell is on his way to the state house that's a request from constituents from Washington Township. Why Dell appeared with them at a meeting of the Emergency Services Committee of the governor's advisory council. The township wanted some emergency money to fix flood damaged roads. They didn't get the money. Then during the lunch hour why Dale squeezed in an appearance at a shopping center. The widow the young person the older person the millionaire or the person on welfare sooner or later has to go to the supermarket to buy his or her groceries and I find it very rewarding to go their way. I do not like to or doing anything. I find that I get entangled with the head of the household or someone in the city and they're asking questions that do not fit. Thanks for changing my legislative duties.

Like all the other candidates in this district. Why don't we spend a lot of time on the road. The district begins in Mercer County near Trenton and runs north into Morris County into Lake Patpong above interstate route 80. And there are only two main roads running north and south. Why Del is pretty well-known in the southern part of his district. He is not known in the northern part. Just coffee and cake party was held in Flanders township of Morris County so people there could meet him and his running mate Richard Zimmer. By the time why Del got home it was midnight nearly 16 hours after he had left his house that morning. All right everybody else where you get my ups and downs and frustrations of that is that. I realize that I I just feel that I'm doing. Something for the better of everybody and I'm willing to do it. I don't know any people that would want to do it. You know a lot of people told me that they wouldn't do it personally that I enjoy it obviously you know I keep running for to be re-elected.

Like why Del Zimmer too puts in long days. Richard Zimmer is a lawyer on an unpaid leave of absence from Johnson and Johnson in New Brunswick. He is in constant motion to appear at every possible function and to knock on every possible door. ZIMMER campaigned in the morning then joined other candidates for lunch with businessmen from the Mercer County area. Then following a brief strategy session with campaign aides to outline the afternoon activities. ZIMMER testified at a hearing in the assembly chamber of the statehouse as a former chairman of New Jersey common cause Zimmer has advocated that the state should allow initiative and referendum. He urged Democrats to join Republicans on what he considers a bipartisan issue. Then it was to Princeton for an afternoon of knocking on door on that. I got it. Yes you know that's right. Oh. They're going to do that when they want to get their you know they don't want to end it here.

You know what I tell him the thing is I've got a good job. And I'm not in this. For my economic benefit and not it for life. Home. In the Brandeis then I really think I can make the cut. I've been much ahead of there yesterday. Yes and did you know I'm not kidding. I just wanted to say hello and to be on the ballot November 6th. I'd certainly appreciate your support. Like leave this information with you to make a life. Nice video. Good afternoon. My exam are good for the state assembly. This is my name's Dick Zimmer on account of the state assembly as well as myself. Nice to meet you. Most frustrating thing about this campaign is that I can't hope to meet all of the voters. We've tried to identify the voters that are most important to the campaign. Those are independents. People voted lot a lot in the past. But even though I'm

my wife and I are both working. Very hard and I've taken a leave of absence since early August to knock on doors. We probably won't hit more than 10000 doors and of those doors of the house half of the people of more than half a mile behind the heart are saying about working in this district which is getting from one end to the other. It runs all the way from. Cranberry in little Sykes County all the way up to let the past con in the Mars canon and the driving is takes up an enormous amount of time. While I was a candidate and a full time employee at Johnson and Johnson I was burning the candle at both ends and it was really getting to me physically and mentally. That's why I felt it necessary to take a leave of absence. But still there's not much time built into a

candidate schedule for his family and my wife and I realize that we've got to schedule time together. The way would schedule any other event in the campaign. And so at least once a week our schedules or a strict instructions at least once a week we've got to spend an evening together so we remember who we are. Candidates who show up at a lot of functions often cross paths with their opponents. One Sunday Zimmer rode in a bike a thought with Assemblywoman Barbara McConnell the incumbent he must defeat. McConnell's money made in the primary quit and until the party picks Stanley Oh Leonards of Glen Gardner she was the only Democrat on the ballot. It becomes so difficult to balance my time between. My home my family and politics. I think you have to be very disciplined. I think you have to be well organized which I try to be. And I think to this district present some difficulties it's very large enough for a

diverse and it makes it difficult to travel from one to the other. And so that presents some problems and not just the time structure itself but I think organization is the key word. One of the things that bothers me the most is that I don't think the average voter really understands what a politician's life is all about. You know I think. Until they come to realize that we're human beings that we pay taxes just like everybody else. We need sometimes the same kinds of lives that we're not experts on the subjects. That we're human beings who have committed ourselves to representing over a hundred and seventy five thousand people the tremendous demands made on our time. In terms of traveling in terms of studying in terms of handling constituent requests to studying legislation voting on over sixteen hundred bills in one session alone. I don't think the average person realizes that and has enough of an understanding for what a politician's life is like and what politics is all about.

And that becomes very frustrating because we get a lot of criticisms after a short trip to Flemington to confirm her schedule for the day. McConnell drove to Trenton to be in the governor's office while he signed a bill she had sponsored setting up a library for the blind. Then an hour later after a 40 mile drive north of Clinton McConnell put in an appearance at a senior citizens lunch it was a mix of business telling them about her work and politics. Like McConnell like Zimmer knocks on doors too. They are both loaded with computerized targeting information from their state parties. Both list tell them which voters they must reach to win the election. The rhetoric.

Coming from some areas here that's rather look so good but from where I'm from it looks very gratifying to hear someone say nice things about New Jersey because I think it's a wonderful state we have a lot to be proud of and a lot of things that need to be done that we can work on those and make it better. Thank you it's nice to meet you. OK. The final appearance was up in the mountains above Clinton to speak to a sportsman's club. She told them her views on hunting fishing and trapping laws. And the sportsman liked it so much they said that supporter politics is not considered an honorable profession and it becomes discouraging sometimes. People say What's a nice person like you doing in politics is that it's the worst profession in the world. That bothers me because I've I've always felt that it's an honorable profession I've always tried to present myself in such a way that I can reflect well upon the profession and to perhaps give it a better name. And now I strive to do that and it's very discouraging for me.

When people make those kind of anti remarks about politicians in politics specially after we work so hard. And I think most of us try to do a good job. And try to serve the people well. And late in the night McConnell drove home another 16 hours on the road in the run for re-election. Ask yourself this question if you wanted to find out what the issues were in this election in your assembly district where would you go. What source could you go to. Could you pick up your paper and be guaranteed or even confident they'd be an article that day about what's going on. Probably not. Turn on your television set. They'll never say anything about it the day before the election and then they'll tell you to go out and vote. And why should you wrote you don't know what's going on. You haven't found that by listening to the tell television stations. You've only found out a smattering by reading these newspapers. It really depends. The party of musicians have to do what the candidates have to do it. But it's expensive. They need money where they're going to get this money from. Well they have to go to interest groups which raise that money and then we say don't go to interest

groups they have too much an effect on the elections or what's the candidate going to do. How is the candidate going to get their message across. They need the money they have to get it across somehow the media that's free that's public that's telling the public what they need to know isn't telling about state elections. Is it fair to try as a citizen would be apathetic when a citizen turns on a television set picks up the newspaper reads it and still doesn't find out about state politics. And it's not his fault that the newspapers are primarily interested in expanding their circulation in local areas or that the New York stations want to cover their audience which is only partly in New Jersey or Philadelphia stations are doing what's in their economic best interest. Next week a look at the role played by special interest groups and political action committees.