Casagrande a ‘Rising Star’
Monmouth County Legislator Has A Message That Republicans Badly Need To Win
Gannett’s New Jersey newspapers and websites published a list of New Jersey’s political “Rising Stars” yesterday. The editorial says those on the list are young (most are under 40, all are under 50) politicos that are likely to emerge as the “next generation” of leaders on the regional or state levels of New Jersey government and politics.
Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande is the only Monmouth County leader who made the top twelve of the list. As a three term Assemblywoman seeking her fourth term and the Assembly Minority’s Policy Co-Chair, one could argue that Casagrande is in the current generation of leadership. But at 36, her star is still very much “rising.”
If you are fortunate enough to talk to Casagrande about policy and politics, you will quickly realize that the real power of her ‘light’ is largely ‘hidden under a bushel.’
In an interview with MMM last year during the presidential campaign, Casagrande expressed her frustration with anti-Republican/anti-Conservative “war of women” narrative that dominated the national conversation. “It’s just not true,” Casagrande said of the left-wing narrative that conservatives are anti-women, “as Republicans we’re doing a terrible job impacting that perception. We need to create conservative policies and programs based upon what people are really dealing with, not on the red herring issues that the media and Democrats tells us were concerned about.”
Casagrande is doing just that. Unfortunately, not enough of the ‘current generation’ of Republican and conservative leaders are listening.
Casagrande’s June 2012 letter to the Wall Street Journal is an example of her leadership in exposing the fallacy of Democratic policy initiatives as ‘pro-women’ and her on-going fight to impact conservative thought on women and families.
Your June 5 editorial “The Trial Lawyer Paycheck Act” correctly points out how Democrats in Congress use women’s pay issues to generate business for trial lawyers and give themselves a talking point in election years without working on substantive reform.
The Paycheck Fairness Act is an election-year staple for Democrats in Congress. It merely duplicates existing law and encourages discrimination lawsuits. Women do not want to sue their way to the top; we want the ability to fairly compete in the workforce.
I agree that this legislation is not the solution. I disagree with your assertion that the male-female wage gap is mostly a function of occupational and lifestyle choices. It is disappointing to see the Journal advocate that opinion because you have made such a compelling business case to balance the workforce in your special report “Women in the Economy” (Journal Report, May 7).
Last month’s report focused on the fact that women land 53% of entry-level jobs, yet hold just 19% of C-suite positions. It found that barriers are deeply intertwined, including the fact that many executives just assume women don’t want more challenging assignments. That kind of managerial prejudice is not the result of an occupational or lifestyle choice made by the employee.
I have been leading a New Jersey Assembly Republican initiative to improve the workplace for women who want a career. The work by the Journal’s task force convinced me this is a serious problem that hinders our economy as well as the work and family lives of men and women.
This is a real issue facing American families that must not be denigrated by politicians searching for a political point or editorials that reinforce the sexist theme that women choose lower pay and positions at work.
Caroline Casagrande
Freehold, N.J.
The ‘current generation’ of NJ GOP leadership faces an uphill battle to gain control of the State Assembly this fall. Democrats currently hold 48 of the chamber’s 80 seats. The legislative map is gerrymandered to favor continued Democratic control. Governor Christie’s popularity gives the GOP an opportunity to pick up seats. “It’s now or never,” a GOP legislator said.
In order to win 8-10 Democratic seats in the legislature, the GOP will have to do better than running against “Corzine Democrats.” That message is not likely to convince a traditionally Democratic voters to switch sides. Convincing Democrats and Independents from Democratic districts to vote for Republican Assembly candidates is what it will take to reduce property taxes and to create the ‘pro-women, pro-family’ economic policies that Casagrande is advocating to spur our anemic state economy. In order for that to happen, the NJ GOP needs to give those voters something to vote for.
If the Assembly Republican leadership and the NJ GOP are serious about winning Democratic seats in November, they should scrap the Corzine Democrat theme in winnable districts and talk to Casagrande about crafting a message that will give voters they usually can’t attract reasons to vote for their Republican candidates.
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I have to agree, the work she does for the state and for her district’s residents is just amazing! We need more leaders like Casagrande.
she had 1/10th the charm and capability that Casagrande has.
Ya think old Jenny is happy for her??? It’s usually Jenny who gets all the publicity–much generated by herself.
Monmouth County is Chuck Full of Young (under 50) Republican Rising Stars along with Caroline.
Just to name a few:
Sheriff Shuan Golden
Freeholder Director Tom Arnone
Senator Jen Beck
Assemblyman Decal O’Scanlon
Assemblyman Dave Rible
Assemblyman Sean Kean
Assemblyman Rob Clifton
Matawan Councilwoman Toni Angelini
Highland’s Mayor Frank Nolan
Howell Mayor Bill Gotto
Howell Committeeman Rob Nicastro
Middletown Committeewoman Stephanie Murray
Middletown Committeeman Steve Massell
Middeltowm Committeeman Kevin Sttembrino
Middletown Mayor Tony Fiore
State Committeewoman Christine Hanlon
We all know there are many “Up and coming” republicans in Monmouth County, but the fact is Assemblywoman Cassagrande made the list. Where are the congratulations from other party members and supporters.
Congratulations Caroline!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
most people are happy to have “new blood”working for the cause: many of us are getting pretty tired! It was only in the paper yesterday, no?
She has smarts, personality, guts, and is one who does extra, and doesn’t crave the constant spotlight, unlike some of the others! Hope to see her around and in leadership for a long time to come.
I have a strange feeling many people don’t share your sentiment.
Congrats to Caroline! Having said that, it appears if people were so happy, there wouldn’t be a primary against Shaun Golden, and the results for O’Hanlon would have been greater for party chairman.
There is alot of disgruntlement and disagreement among Republicans. The primary in my opinion is going to be alot closer than some have posted here.
Really? Rising star?
grumbling and disagreement among Republicans! That is probably because at least we think, for the most part, and aren’t clueless blind sheep,as are most Dems. It makes for a not -boring involvement, for sure. The problem comes when the individuality becomes arrogance and self- aggrandizement, to the detriment of everyone else in the team, and thus,the cause. Whatever happens in the primary means one side reached out more and better, then we go forward to beat Dems..
Politcs aside, it was nice to see several D’s and R’s from Monmouth County mentioned in the article.
What about Joe Rullo! Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
“I have a strange feeling many people don’t share your sentiment.”
The folks running in the primary are running because they have a deep need to be know and nothing more.
Dan Peters couldn’t even follow simple instructions about running the first time he tried. Bellew cannot even answer a simple question about if, when and where she went to college.
Are these really the folks we want running the State and County?
We need way more Carolines and way fewer Barbaras!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don’t want people like Shaun Golden who dupes the taxpaying and voting public, by placing someone in a fictitious position–so that person can circumvent pension laws.
Sheriff Shaun Golden violated his oath of office and violated his fiduciary responsibilities to the residents of this county. Nice guy; but he has to go!
All of these ***STARS*** in Monmouth County and what was the name of that dopey broad who pretended to run against Pallone so that she could live large on her donor’s backs and then got creamed, again, without filing the right paperwork????
Just another list of frauds, no different from the Dem frauds or the BSTP frauds.
The real stars will be the ones who have the balls to take on Pallone, Holt, Menendez, etc the rest are just frauds.
[…] addition to the list of twelve ‘rising stars’ that Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande made on Sunday, Gannett published a list of 15 ‘up and comers’ to keep an eye on that […]
Ever give an explanation why he did what he did (regarding the pension scam)?
When will some jealous people get over a legal system that still permits some people to work after a retirement? You don’t like it, tell your fine legislators to change the system, period. And,ps: he didn’t hire the person you still apparently are worried about, the prior sheriff did, so again, why not just save your stomach juices and heart palpitations, and get over it.
I hate to burst your bubble about your “rising star” Shaun Golden, but shortly after his election as sheriff, he issued an order re-organizing the sheriff’s department detailing every position along with its duties. Guess what? The position of “Chief Warrant Officer” was not among the positions in the General Order. However, Mickey Donovan was still your “Chief Warrant Officer” —a FICTITIOUS, Non-existent position, which enabled the man to collect a pension AND a salary. Keep in mind, Guadagno eliminated the position one week prior to bringing Donovan on board. The position was never re-established.
The above actions permitted the “scam” to continue, until Golden, realizing the scam was exposed, moved Donovan into an undersheriff position. So you see, the Golden Boy is complicit as well.
All will be coming out!!! Is this what our chief county law enforcement officer is all about? This is not good government policy; this is disgusting!
on one guy’s job who you are jealous of’, despite fact that most sheriffs in NJ have several under sheriffs in charge of different divisions, this is so not a big deal.. I suppose that our county’s sheriff office is the most accredited one in this state, especially having such a large -capacity jail, means nothing? Probably not, just focus on minutiae,and beat it to death, if that makes you happy. Totally short-sighted and unproductive of you.
I have been receiving automated pre-recorded messages from her & her campaign every day that it has become harassing to say the least. I am on the national “do not call” registry. Advise how I may contact her campaign about this because for this reason alone my vote will not be cast her way. 3 to 5 times a day with “unknown name & number” on the caller I.D.