Camarota Hopes to Bring Voice of the Middle Class to District 16 Assembly

A series of profiles on the candidates running for the 16th District's Assembly and Senate seats in the upcoming election.

District 16 Assembly candidate Joseph Camarota said he believes job creation and an atmosphere that is small business-friendly is of paramount importance in the fight to help lower property taxes.

Camarota, a Democrat, has served on the South Brunswick Township Council for the last seven years. As co-owner of a company that designs entertainment centers, such as amusement parks and water parks, Camarota said he brings a strong business perspective, having helped run a successful one for nearly 40 years. He received a BA in Political Science and Psychology form Upsala College and a Masters in Education from Seton Hall University.

"I have a good business acumen, and having served on the township council for the last seven years I've learned how Trenton works and I know the real issues in Trenton," Camarota said. "In terms of strengthening our ratable base, the best thing we can do is attract new businesses and keep current businesses in the area by working with them to stay profitable. That's something we've done a good job with in South Brunswick."

Camarota pointed to his work with the South Brunswick Industry and Commerce Commission, which involved sitting down and talking with business owners to find out the issues they experiencing.

"There are a lot of businesses out there that want to open new facilities," he said. "The key is working with community banks to make the process easier. As state legislators, we have to work with these people in a community effort to attract them and bring them into the area, and we need to help in terms of giving banks a better feeling to lend money. That's what is stopping plenty of new businesses. There are plenty of new and creative business ideas, but the banks have to loosen up their wallets."

Camarota said he felt the  was a step in the right direction, but parts of the legislation were misguided. 

About 60 percent of the projected $122 billion total pension savings in the reform bills come from the elimination of the automatic cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for retired police, firefighters, teachers, state and local government employees in New Jersey's six pension systems for retirees. Public employees currently paying 1.5 percent of their healthcare premium cost will pay 3 percent for those earning under $25,000, and up to 35 percent of their healthcare premiums for those making up to $100,000, on a sliding scale that is based on employee compensation.  The rates will gradually increase based on an employee’s compensation, at intervals of $5,000. 

"It's obvious that something had to be done, in South Brunswick our contribution increased $300,000 and we can't keep accruing increases like that and say it's a matter of business," he said. "But what I didn’t like was the elimination of COLA. People negotiated in good faith and contributed to their pensions, they predicated their savings and retirement on that, and to take it away is wrong. I feel there should've been a stronger attempt to sit down with the unions and do more collective bargaining."

In terms of consolidation with smaller towns, Camarota said the issue should be put up for referendum to allow citizens to decide after they see all of the facts.

"You have to show concrete information that consolidation will save money," he said. "It can be done, and the shared services we have with other towns in South Brunswick is a good example of that. But when it comes to consolidation you have to have information on how much you will save in the first year and then put it up for a vote, and I think Princeton (Township and Borough) is a good example of that."

Camarota said he believes charter schools should be considered in terms of the school districts they would serve, but the public should be able to vote before a charter is approved by the Department of Education.

"I do think charters have a role, the role they were originally designed for, which is to try innovative concepts and to give parents a choice if their school system is substandard," he said. "I think that's still important, but it needs to be put up for a vote. I think in the suburbs charters have a lesser role, but that depends on the school system."

In terms of the so-called "millionaires’ tax," Camarota said if done correctly with a progressive tax rate and graduated scale, he would support it.

"I don't see individual millionaires creating jobs, because that's created by small businesses, and that's what drives the economy," he said. "Small businesses are the backbone of the state and country and we need to continue to create jobs or we will lose the middle class. The argument is the millionaires’ tax will stop job creation and I don't believe that. It gets back to sharing in the sacrifice."

If elected, Camarota said he would help to bridge the disconnect between Trenton and the rest of the state.

"A lot of politicians go to Trenton and forget they're there to represent the people," he said. "They just go there to protect their jobs. I don't need a job, I'm going down there to represent the middle class and be their voice. I have the ability to check my ego at the door and sit in a bipartisan fashion and negotiate for compromise. That's what I've done in the business world and in South Brunswick. We need that voice because we don't have it in Trenton right now."

Tomorrow: Republican Assembly Candidate Jack Ciattarelli