7
District 7
US House of Representatives Candidate


Linda Stender (Democrat)
Contact Information
 
Stender for Congress
PO Box 730
Scotch Plains, NJ 07076
Phone: 908- 322-4547
e-mail: info@lindastenderforcongress.com.

WEB: www.lindastenderforcongress.com
 
Opposing Candidates
  • Thomas Abrams (Prosperity Not War)
 
Biography (Provided from Candidate Web Site)

Linda Stender is running for Congress because she believes the Bush Administration has led our country in the wrong direction. We need real change to get our country back on the right track. In Washington, Linda will fight for the people of New Jersey's 7th District and make sure our voices are heard.

Her whole life, Linda Stender has fought for change. She believes the role of government is to serve people, support families and strengthen our communities. Linda first got involved in public service when the Fanwood Borough Council was putting special interests before the needs of the people. So, Linda ran for office herself to reform local government and help her neighbors. And she won. Linda went on to become Mayor of her hometown and Freeholder of her county.

Today, Linda is proudly serving her fourth term in the New Jersey General Assembly representing her neighbors in the 22nd Legislative District. In just six short years in the Assembly, Linda has translated her commitment to making a difference in the lives of New Jersey’s working families into serious legislative accomplishments. She is Vice Chairwoman of the Transportation and Pubic Works Committee and is also a member of both the Health and Senior Services Committee and the Tourism and Gaming Committee. Linda continues to distinguish herself as a strong, compassionate leader earning the respect of her colleagues and the continued support of her constituents.

In the state legislature, Linda spearheaded the effort to combat Global Warming. Her legislation, “the Global Warming Response Act” made New Jersey the first state in the nation to establish mandatory reductions of green house gas emissions by 2050. Linda Stender is also one of New Jersey’s strongest advocates for making our state a national leader for stem cell research. She is working hard to support scientists in their bid to unlock cures for diseases that harm our loves ones – such as Alzheimer’s, Multiple Sclerosis, diabetes and cancer.

Linda has been at the forefront of helping to keep New Jersey affordable. She supports a citizen’s tax convention that will lead to real property tax reform. Linda also worked tirelessly for fair school funding so our children have the best opportunity to go as far as their dreams and hard work will take them. Continuing her commitment to serve those who serve the public, Linda sponsored legislation to create a low-interest mortgage loan program in the NJ Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency for volunteer firefighters, as well as emergency medical and rescue squads.

As a Freeholder, Linda led the movement to create Union County's Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund. She also initiated the county’s largest-ever tree replacement project, and started the Clean and Green Program to improve the appearance of county property.

As a young girl, Linda learned the value of hard work from her parents. Her first job – at the age of seven – was selling strawberries at a road-side stand. Her father, Ken, was a manufacturer’s representative, and her mother, Shirley, started a flower shop which is still operating today. Throughout high school and college, Linda worked as a waitress, retail clerk and in her mom’s flower shop. Linda earned a bachelor's degree at The American University in Washington, D.C.

In 2006, Linda was the Democratic candidate for Congress in New Jersey's 7th Congressional district. In one of the closest races in the nation, Linda came within 1% of defeating incumbent Republican Congressman Mike Ferguson.

Linda Stender is a life-long resident of Fanwood, New Jersey. Today, she and her husband, Richard, live just one block away from the house where she grew up as a child. They’ve been married for 32 years and have three children and one grandchild.

 
   
Views on Issues (Provided from Candidate Web Site)

After seven years of George Bush taking our country down the wrong path, Linda Stender wants to bring about real, lasting change... for our district, our state and our nation. Linda will fight for our future and the future of all our families.

While we'll all breathe a sigh of relief when Bush leaves office, it is maddening to think about how our nation has changed during his administration. Our economy is in tatters; we are in a war in Iraq that should never have been waged; a lack of fiscal discipline by our government has increased the debt for the next generation; we are dangerously dependent on foreign oil and lack a clear national energy policy; we have made no progress on health care and gone backwards on the hope of stem cell research.

Linda is running for Congress to bring about real change and get our country back on track. Below are some of the issues you’ll hear Linda speaking about on the campaign trail and fighting for when she’s elected to Congress.

Standing up for America's Economy and Our Future

Just as the American people have to budget their money, Linda believes our government should, as well. As a former Mayor, Linda knows about making the tough choices to balance budgets. And in Congress, she will bring fiscal discipline back into focus.

The Bush Administration has squandered a projected 10-year $10-trillion surplus inherited from the Democrats and turned it into a $9 trillion deficit.

In Congress, Linda will restore fiscal discipline and end Washington's reckless spending. She'll fight to stop wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars like building bridges to nowhere and handing out billions in no-bid contracts in Iraq which is driving us deeper into debt.

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Bringing Our Troops Home from Iraq

The war in Iraq has already cost us far too many lives lost, money wasted and harm to America's reputation around the world. Linda believes our men and women in uniform have done all that has been asked of them and performed above and beyond in the line of duty. But it is time to begin bringing them home.

Over five years ago, President Bush led our nation into a war that should never have been waged and with no plan to end it. Since then over 4,000 soldiers have lost their lives and thousands more have come home wounded. Yet, we continue to spend over $10 billion each and every month funding the war. New Jersey taxpayers alone have footed nearly $24 billion of this tab. With the total cost of the war now topping $3 trillion, America's schools, hospitals, bridges, and military readiness have all suffered in the process.

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Fighting For Our Families' Health

All across America, the cost of health care is skyrocketing. In Congress, Linda will fight for comprehensive reform to make sure every American has the access to affordable, quality health care they deserve.

It is disturbing how many children in this country are lacking even the most basic health care. Linda was outraged when President Bush vetoed expanding SCHIP - a federal program providing health care to underprivileged children. She was even more incensed when the Republicans in Congress stopped the override of his veto. Linda will fight to make sure all our children have health care coverage.

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Ensuring Real, Lasting Energy Independence

Linda believes we need a real, sustainable national energy policy that keeps American families safe, and creates a cleaner, greener world for our children and grandchildren. We must decrease gas prices and halt global warming, through investments in renewable energy and ending our dangerous dependence on foreign oil.

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