Linda Stender

Infobox State Representative


name = Linda Stender
state = New Jersey
office = Candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey, 7th district
state_assembly2 = New Jersey
district2 = 22nd
term_start2 = 2002
alongside2 =
preceded2 =
succeeded2 = Incumbent
birth_date = Birth date and age|1951|7|25|mf=y
birth_place =
alma_mater = American University
occupation =
spouse =
residence =
religion =
website =

Linda Stender (born July 25, 1951) is an American Democratic Party politician who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 2002, where she represents the 22nd legislative district. She is the Democratic candidate for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing New Jersey's 7th District, in the election scheduled for November 4, 2008.

Stender has been the Assembly's Deputy Speaker since 2006 and serves in the Assembly on the Transportation, Public Works and Independent Authorities Committee (as Vice-Chair), the Health and Senior Services Committee and the Tourism and Gaming Committee. [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=205 Assemblywoman Stender's legislative web page] , New Jersey Legislature. Accessed February 14, 2008.] She is a former Vice Chairwoman of the Tourism and Gaming Committee and a former Vice Chairwoman of the Environment and Solid Waste Committee.

Background

Stender previously served as a Councilwoman (from 1988-1990) and as Mayor (from 1992-1995) in Fanwood, before winning the first of three terms on the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders where she served from 1994-2002. She served as Chairwoman of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders in 1997. She was elected to the State Assembly in 2001 and reelected in 2003. Democratic Party leaders denied her a chance to run for the State Senate in 2003.

Legislation sponsored by Stender and signed into law includes: The Integrated Pest Management Act, A-2841, which requires public and private schools to establish an integrated pest management policy to protect students and staff [ [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2002/Bills/A3000/2841_I1.HTM Integrated Pest Management Act, A-2841] ] ; A-2654 and A-2655, which permitted the use of reclaimed asphalt pavement on public highways maintained by local governments and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation on the State’s three toll roads; and the Toll Road Consolidation Bill, A-3392, which abolished the New Jersey Highway Authority and transferred projects and functions to the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. [ [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2002/Bills/A3500/3392_I1.HTM ASSEMBLY, No. 3392] , New Jersey Legislature, introduced February 27, 2003. Accessed April 17, 2008.]

Legislation sponsored by Stender includes: A-2330, which creates a low interest mortgage loan program in the NJ Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency for volunteer firefighters, emergency medical squads, and emergency rescue squads; A-2753, which requires the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to use transported remains of victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks in a memorial; A-2930, which permits municipalities to place stop signs on certain intersections near schools, playgrounds, and youth recreational facilities; A-3345, which provides public safety members in federal or state military service who are injured or killed with disability or death benefits; A-3502, which provides municipalities with equal funding for new construction where the existing facilities are considered unfit for rehabilitation for health and safety reasons.

Stender received a B.A. from American University in Interdisciplinary Communications.

2006 congressional race

Stender was the Democratic Party nominee for New Jersey's 7th congressional district ( [http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/nj07_109.gifmap] ), where she faced off against Republican incumbent Mike Ferguson. Stender lost the 7th District race by slightly more than 3,000 votes, or about 1.5% of all votes cast in the election. This is the closest challenge Ferguson has faced since being elected.

Stender campaigned as a self-described "progressive" and advocated for stem cell research. [ [http://www.politicsnj.com/default_020305.htm Stender takes gloves off in race against Ferguson] PoliticsNJ.com, March 22, 2006]

In April 2006, Stender was endorsed by EMILY's List [ [http://www.emilyslist.org/newsroom/releases/20060426.html EMILY's List Announces Endorsement of Linda Stender for New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District] , EMILY's List press release, April 26, 2006] and Democracy for America (DFA) [ [http://www.democracyforamerica.com/features/2006/05/04/three_more_congressional_districts_in_play_because_of_you.php Three more congressional districts "in play" because of you] , Democracy for America, accessed May 7, 2006] . In May 2006, Stender was endorsed by The Sierra Club [ [http://www.lindastenderforcongress.com/press_display.php?ID=12 Sierra Club endores Stender for Congress] , press release dated May 31, 2006] . On October 22, 2006, "The New York Times" endorsed Linda Stender over Mike Ferguson in the 7th district. [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/22/opinion/nyregionopinions/NJstender.html?ref=nyregionopinions For Congress in New Jersey] , "The New York Times", October 22, 2006]

The Ferguson campaign ran advertisements featuring the catchphrase "Linda Stender is a Spender," describing her voting record as mayor and assemblewoman Stender as a tax-and-spend liberal. [ [http://www.c-n.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061022/NEWS/610220315 Ferguson hoping to stand on record] , "Courier-News", October 22, 2006]

In the end, the Star Ledger reported that it was in fact conservative-values women who helped to defeat Stender in her bid for Congress.

2008 congressional race

In late 2007, Stender announced another run for Congress in 2008. Ferguson stated on November 19, 2007, that he will not run for re-election in 2008. [Chebium, Raju. [http://www.thnt.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071119/NEWS/71119016 "Ferguson won't seek reelection to Congress"] , "Home News Tribune", November 19, 2007. Accessed November 19, 2007. "Rep. Mike Ferguson, R-Warren Township, said today he won’t seek reelection next year to a fifth term.... he next elections are in November 2008; Stender is again a Democratic candidate for the 7th district seat Ferguson currently occupies."]

On November 19, 2007, EMILY's List announced their 2008 endorsement of Stender [ [http://www.bluejersey.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=6229 Blue Jersey:: EMILY's List Endorses Stender ] ] . On January 18, 2008, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced that Stender would be part of its 'Red to Blue' fundraising program, indicating that the district has been targeted by national Democrats. [ [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=2&docID=news-000002657124 CQ Politics | Dems Tap First List of Takeover Candidates Getting Extra Aid ] ] As of late January, Stender has raised over $615,000 for her 2008 campaign. [ [http://www.politickernj.com/dccc-lists-stender-and-adler-top-prospects-stender-raises-615k-15535 DCCC lists Stender and Adler as top prospects; Stender raises $615k | Politicker NJ ] ]

On June 3, 2008, Republicans primary voters selected State Senator Leonard Lance to be Stender's opponent in the November general election.

Criticism of Ann Coulter's book "Godless"

On June 8, 2006, Stender and Assemblywoman Joan M. Quigley publicly criticized Ann Coulter's book "". They issued a joint press release, calling on New Jersey retailers to "express their outrage by refusing to carry or sell copies of Coulter's book." Although they did not seek any legislative prohibition, they originally characterized their proposal as a "ban". A few days later they edited the press release to refer instead to a "boycott" in two instances (in the title and in the third paragraph). [ [http://www.assemblydems.com/press/0606/PRQuigleyStenderOnCoulter.htm QUIGLEY/STENDER CALL ON NJ MERCHANTS TO BOYCOTT SALE OF 'VICIOUS' COULTER BOOK: Hate-filled Attacks on NJ 9-11 Widows Has No Place on NJ Bookshelves] N.J. Assembly Democratic Majority June 8, 2006] Dead link|date=November 2007 The original text of the press release can viewed on several websites. [ [http://telicthoughts.com/?p=761 Legislators urge bookstores to ban Ann Coulter's book] Telic Thoughts June 15, 2006] [ [http://justcitizens.blogspot.com/2006/06/let-book-burnings-commence.html Let the book burnings commence!] Just Citizens June 13, 2006] [ [http://sweetness-light.com/archive/nj-state-reps-demand-banning-of-coulter-book NJ Reps Demand Banning Of Coulter Book] Sweetness & Light June 11, 2006] [ [http://www.scienceblogs.com/insolence/2006/06/nj_legislators_call_on_booksto.php NJ legislators call on bookstores to "ban" the sale of Ann Coulter's Godless] Respectful Insolence June 14, 2006] [ [http://www.baristanetnj.com/2006/06/iraqs_most_wanted_terrorist_de.php Iraq's Most Wanted Terrorist Dead] BaristaNet NJ June 9, 2006]

Stender and Quigley issued the press release in response to Coulter's criticism of the Jersey Girls, four widows of the September 11, 2001 attacks from New Jersey who have criticized U.S. policies in the events leading up to September 11th. Due to this press release Stender and Quigley were both featured on "Larry King Live" on CNN.

Stender and Quigley's call to ban Coulter's book has been denounced as censorship by some. [ [http://www.opinionjournal.com/best/?id=110008497 Best of the Web: The Coulter Kerfuffle] OpinionJournal.com June 9, 2006] However, others have defended the two by saying that they were merely advocating a boycott, which would allow the book to continue being published uncensored.

District 22

Each of the forty districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey Senate and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly. The other representatives from the 22nd District for the 2008-2009 Legislative Session are:
*Senator Nicholas Scutari, and
*Assemblyman Jerry Green

References

External links

* [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=205 Assemblywoman Stender] "legislative page from the New Jersey Legislature"
*"New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure forms"
** [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/StenderL2007.pdf 2007] [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/StenderL2006.pdf 2006] [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/StenderL2005.pdf 2005] [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/StenderL2004.pdf 2004]
* [http://www.lindastenderforcongress.com/ Linda Stender for Congress 2008] "official campaign website"
* [http://opensecrets.org/races/summary.asp?ID=NJ07&Cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] at OpenSecrets.org
* [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Linda_Stender Profile] from SourceWatch Congresspedia
* [http://linda-stender.dailykos.com/ Linda Stender's blog entries] from Daily Kos
*dmoz|Regional/North_America/United_States/New_Jersey/Society_and_Culture/Politics/Candidates_and_Campaigns/US_House/Congressional_District_7/Linda_Stender_%5bD%5d