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Quick Facts
Personal Details

Caucuses/Former Committees

Former Member, Regulated Professions Committee, New Jersey State General Assembly

Education

  • BA, Political Science and Government, Rutgers University-New Brunswick
  • MSW, Social Work, Boston University School of Social Work, 2004-2005
  • MSW, Social Work, Rutgers University School of Social Work, 2002-2004
  • JD, New York Law School, 1988-1991
  • BA, Political Science/English, Rutgers University, 1988

Professional Experience

  • BA, Political Science and Government, Rutgers University-New Brunswick
  • MSW, Social Work, Boston University School of Social Work, 2004-2005
  • MSW, Social Work, Rutgers University School of Social Work, 2002-2004
  • JD, New York Law School, 1988-1991
  • BA, Political Science/English, Rutgers University, 1988
  • Former Deputy State Attorney General, State of New Jersey
  • Trial Attorney, Dimian & Masterpalo, 2015-current
  • Trial Attorney, Law Offices of Andrew S. Blumer, LLC, 2014-2015
  • Trial Attorney, Gregory P. Helfrich and Associates, 2013-2014
  • Trial Attorney, The Weiss Group, 2010-2013
  • Trial Attorney, Baer, Arbeiter, Ploshnick, Tanenbaum & Weiss, 2007-2010
  • Director, HEARTS Program, 2006-2007
  • Social Worker, East Providence Children and Family Services, 2005-2006
  • Deputy Attorney General, NJ Office of the Attorney General, 2001-2004
  • Trial Attorney, Law Office of Joan B. Sherman, 1995-2001
  • Attorney, Ruprecht & Hart, 1992-1995
  • Judicial Law Clerk, Middlesex County, 1991-1992

Political Experience

  • BA, Political Science and Government, Rutgers University-New Brunswick
  • MSW, Social Work, Boston University School of Social Work, 2004-2005
  • MSW, Social Work, Rutgers University School of Social Work, 2002-2004
  • JD, New York Law School, 1988-1991
  • BA, Political Science/English, Rutgers University, 1988
  • Former Deputy State Attorney General, State of New Jersey
  • Trial Attorney, Dimian & Masterpalo, 2015-current
  • Trial Attorney, Law Offices of Andrew S. Blumer, LLC, 2014-2015
  • Trial Attorney, Gregory P. Helfrich and Associates, 2013-2014
  • Trial Attorney, The Weiss Group, 2010-2013
  • Trial Attorney, Baer, Arbeiter, Ploshnick, Tanenbaum & Weiss, 2007-2010
  • Director, HEARTS Program, 2006-2007
  • Social Worker, East Providence Children and Family Services, 2005-2006
  • Deputy Attorney General, NJ Office of the Attorney General, 2001-2004
  • Trial Attorney, Law Office of Joan B. Sherman, 1995-2001
  • Attorney, Ruprecht & Hart, 1992-1995
  • Judicial Law Clerk, Middlesex County, 1991-1992
  • Parliamentarian, New Jersey State General Assembly, 2018-present
  • Assembly Member, New Jersey General Assembly, District 11, 2016-present
  • Candidate, New Jersey State General Assembly, District 11, 2019

Former Committees/Caucuses

Former Member, Regulated Professions Committee, New Jersey State General Assembly

Current Legislative Committees

Member, Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee

Chair, Human Services Committee

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • BA, Political Science and Government, Rutgers University-New Brunswick
  • MSW, Social Work, Boston University School of Social Work, 2004-2005
  • MSW, Social Work, Rutgers University School of Social Work, 2002-2004
  • JD, New York Law School, 1988-1991
  • BA, Political Science/English, Rutgers University, 1988
  • Former Deputy State Attorney General, State of New Jersey
  • Trial Attorney, Dimian & Masterpalo, 2015-current
  • Trial Attorney, Law Offices of Andrew S. Blumer, LLC, 2014-2015
  • Trial Attorney, Gregory P. Helfrich and Associates, 2013-2014
  • Trial Attorney, The Weiss Group, 2010-2013
  • Trial Attorney, Baer, Arbeiter, Ploshnick, Tanenbaum & Weiss, 2007-2010
  • Director, HEARTS Program, 2006-2007
  • Social Worker, East Providence Children and Family Services, 2005-2006
  • Deputy Attorney General, NJ Office of the Attorney General, 2001-2004
  • Trial Attorney, Law Office of Joan B. Sherman, 1995-2001
  • Attorney, Ruprecht & Hart, 1992-1995
  • Judicial Law Clerk, Middlesex County, 1991-1992
  • Parliamentarian, New Jersey State General Assembly, 2018-present
  • Assembly Member, New Jersey General Assembly, District 11, 2016-present
  • Candidate, New Jersey State General Assembly, District 11, 2019
  • Barrister, Hadyn Proctor Inn of Court
  • Member, Monmouth County Bar Association
  • Member, New Jersey Association for Justice
  • Member, New Jersey Bar Association

Other Info

  • New Jersey State Trooper

Spouse's Occupation:

Professor of History at Ocean County College

Policy Positions

New Jersey State Legislative Election 2019 Political Courage Test

Abortion & Reproductive

1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-choice

2. Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
- Yes

3. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
- No

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Budget, Spending, & Tax

Budget Stabilization:

Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing New Jersey's budget.

1. Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions?
- No

2. Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees?
- No

3. An income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- No

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Campaign Finance & Government Reform

1. Do you support a limit on campaign contributions to state candidates?
- Yes

2. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- Yes

3. Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
- No Answer

4. Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
- No

5. Do you support automatic voter registration?
- Yes

6. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Crime & Public Safety

1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- No

2. Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
- Yes

3. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
- No Answer

4. Do you support the legalization of recreational marijuana?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Economic

1. Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- No

2. Do you support lowering state income taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

3. Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector?
- Yes

4. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
- Yes

5. Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
- No

6. Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of New Jersey?
- Yes

7. Do you support requiring employers to provide paid family leave?
- Yes

8. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Education

1. Do you support adopting federal education standards in New Jersey?
- No

2. Do you support state funding for charter schools?
- No

3. Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from New Jersey high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Environment & Energy

1. Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- Yes

2. Do you support government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
- Yes

3. Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Gun

1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- Yes

2. Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
- Yes

3. Should teachers be allowed to bring guns into the classroom?
- No

4. Should a license be required for gun ownership?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Health

1. Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse?
- Yes

2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through New Jersey's health care programs?
- Yes

3. Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
- No Answer

4. Do you support legislation that grants citizens the right to choose to die through euthanasia?
- Yes

5. Do you support eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations?
- No Answer

6. Other or expanded principles
- c) By increasing access to quality, affordable health care and lowering costs, we will help New Jersey families thrive. e) We should do everything in our power to make sure that our kids are safe and healthy at school, and that means making public health a top priority in our schools. We must base our school public health policies on science while maintaining the rights enshrined in our constitution to practice freedom of religion.

Social

1. Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in New Jersey's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

2. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in New Jersey's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

3. Do you support greater efforts by New Jersey state government in closing the pay gap between men and women?
- Yes

4. Do you support legislation that would hold parents liable for damages caused by their child's bullying offenses?
- No Answer

5. Other or expanded principles
- Preventing our kids from being bullied demand that we educate both students and parents on the dangers of bullying.

Legislative Priorities

1. In the following area, please explain in a total of 100 words or less, any additional priorities of your campaign that have not been covered in these questions.
- As chair of the Assembly Human Services Committee, I am committed to advancing measures that would provide additional support to people with disabilities, individuals that are struggling with substance abuse, and members of the LGBTQ community.

2. In the following area, please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top legislative priority and how you plan to fund it.
- I am committed to abolishing the gender wage gap in the workplace by introducing measures that would strengthen the state?s anti-discrimination laws and promote equal pay.

Speeches
Events

2020

Oct. 8
Nov. 7
Mobile Office Hours at Colts Neck Library

Thur 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM EST

1 Winthrop Dr, Colts Neck, NJ

Nov. 7
Mobile Office Hours at Asbury Park Senior Center

Thur 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM EST

Asbury Park Senior Citizen Center Asbury Park, NJ