Reform Party of New Jersey
Encyclopedia
The Reform Party of New Jersey is the state party organization for New Jersey
of the Reform Party of the United States of America
. It is the successor to the defunct New Jersey Reform Party
. While it is the recognized state affiliate of the national party, the current New Jersey organization was founded and operates completely independently of its predecessor.
It was founded by aviation expert Jake Zychick
, political columnist Dennis "DJ" Mikolay, and LaMont Rouse.
again began pushing for the formation of a New Jersey state party.
By early 2010, several student activists within New Jersey expressed interest in reviving the Reform Party as a viable alternative to the fiscally liberal Democratic Party
and the socially conservative Republican Party
. These students began attending local fairs, parades, and events, to drum up support for the proposed third party. By August 2009, the group had acquired the voter registration lists of the original New Jersey Reform Party, and all former members were called to attend the formative convention of the new party.
The Reform Party of New Jersey was officially founded on August 14, 2010 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Farliegh Dickinson student Jacob Zychick, who had been a volunteer for Democrat Mike Gravel
during the 2008 presidential election, was elected chairman.
The RPNJ has also involved itself in fighting eminent domain in the central New Jersey area. The group has been featured in several New Jersey publications, and the party promises to run a full slate of congressional candidates during the 2012 election. They are also vocal proponents of school choice
, charter schools and immigration reform
.
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
of the Reform Party of the United States of America
Reform Party of the United States of America
The Reform Party of the United States of America is a political party in the United States, founded in 1995 by Ross Perot...
. It is the successor to the defunct New Jersey Reform Party
New Jersey Reform Party
The New Jersey Reform Party was the state party organization for New Jersey of the Reform Party of the United States of America.-History:In 1998 the party ran Frank C. Falzone, Beverly Kidder, and Richard Rivera for Congress....
. While it is the recognized state affiliate of the national party, the current New Jersey organization was founded and operates completely independently of its predecessor.
It was founded by aviation expert Jake Zychick
Jake Zychick
Jacob "Jake" Zychick is a Russian-American political activist. He is a co-founder of the Reform Party of New Jersey....
, political columnist Dennis "DJ" Mikolay, and LaMont Rouse.
History
Since the dissolution of the original New Jersey Reform Party in 2000, there had long been talk amongst members of the Reform Party of the United States of re-organizing a state party within New Jersey. A lawsuit at the national level, however, had prevented the party from further organizing any state chapters beyond those that already existed. The lawsuit was resolved in the fall of 2009, and National Chairman David CollisonDavid Collison
David Collison is the national chairman of the Reform Party of the United States of America. He was elected national chairman at the party's 2008 national convention in Dallas, Texas.-Political background:...
again began pushing for the formation of a New Jersey state party.
By early 2010, several student activists within New Jersey expressed interest in reviving the Reform Party as a viable alternative to the fiscally liberal Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
and the socially conservative Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. These students began attending local fairs, parades, and events, to drum up support for the proposed third party. By August 2009, the group had acquired the voter registration lists of the original New Jersey Reform Party, and all former members were called to attend the formative convention of the new party.
The Reform Party of New Jersey was officially founded on August 14, 2010 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Farliegh Dickinson student Jacob Zychick, who had been a volunteer for Democrat Mike Gravel
Mike Gravel
Maurice Robert "Mike" Gravel is a former Democratic United States Senator from Alaska, who served two terms from 1969 to 1981, and a former candidate in the 2008 presidential election....
during the 2008 presidential election, was elected chairman.
The RPNJ has also involved itself in fighting eminent domain in the central New Jersey area. The group has been featured in several New Jersey publications, and the party promises to run a full slate of congressional candidates during the 2012 election. They are also vocal proponents of school choice
School choice
School choice is a term used to describe a wide array of programs aimed at giving families the opportunity to choose the school their children will attend. As a matter of form, school choice does not give preference to one form of schooling or another, rather manifests itself whenever a student...
, charter schools and immigration reform
Immigration reform
Immigration reform is a term used in political discussion regarding changes to current immigration policy of a country. In its strict definition, "reform " means to change into an improved form or condition, by amending or removing faults or abuses....
.
Early success
The Reform Party of New Jersey has experienced a greater deal of initial success than most third parties operating within New Jersey.- Mark D. Quick resigned his position as a Republican Committeeman to join the Reform Party.
- Miriam Martinez, the first Latina member of the New Jersey State PoliceNew Jersey State PoliceThe New Jersey State Police is the state police force for the state of New Jersey. It is a general-powers police agency with state wide jurisdiction when requested by the Governor, designated by Troop Sectors.-History:...
, sought and earned the Reform Party's endorsement in her bid to become Mercer County Sherriff.
Issues
- Opposition to the North American Free Trade AgreementNorth American Free Trade AgreementThe North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA is an agreement signed by the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America. The agreement came into force on January 1, 1994. It superseded the Canada – United States Free Trade Agreement...
- End Eminent DomainEminent domainEminent domain , compulsory purchase , resumption/compulsory acquisition , or expropriation is an action of the state to seize a citizen's private property, expropriate property, or seize a citizen's rights in property with due monetary compensation, but without the owner's consent...
abuse - Historic preservation
- Support for Charter Schools and "School Vouchers"
- Implementation of Term Limits
- Lowering of tax rates
- Reformation of social programs