“Are You Registered To Vote?
These People Said Yes and Why
In response to our September 13 “Are You Registered To Vote?” survey we received the following open-ended answers from our membership. Thanks to all that participated:
“A prudent opportunity to build our future”
URA Member Curtis Dunn on New Jersey’s Ballot Question 1:
Included on the ballot for the upcoming general election will be a question regarding a $750M higher education bond issue, entitled the “Building Our Future Bond Act”.
Discussion, predictably, has centered on a valid concern about the accumulation of debt. I don’t discount this argument. I would offer a counter-argument, however, that an instinctive reaction to vote “No” to any question of debt is a losing strategy. It’s a wiser course to identify prudent opportunities to build infrastructure, and to place our efforts accordingly. I would also point out that the state and the recipient institutions are free to target developers as primary investors – using revenue streams from new construction (e.g. dormitory fees on dorms constructed using these funds) to pay back the bonds. Those revenue streams would, presumably, become available once the bonds have been repaid.
Those of us who work at Rutgers can easily perceive how new classrooms, lecture halls, and research facilities will positively impact our ability to serve our students. I would encourage you to think more about the potential benefits for Rutgers and the state, and if you agree that this is a prudent opportunity to build for the future, vote “Yes” on this referendum.
The full text of the bill may be found here.
Read more here >>
Born to Run?
URA Elections November 12, 2012
For only the 3rd time, our union will vote for the following offices:
President – Executive Vice President — Treasurer — Secretary
Campus Vice Presidents: Camden, Newark, New Brunswick
Executive Board members: Camden, Newark, Off Campus/Extension (1 each), New Brunswick (5)
On Monday October 8, 2012 Nominees for the 2013-2015 Term of Office were accepted and verified by the URA-AFT Election Committee.
Candidates for the November 12, 2012 URA-AFT Local 1766 election are as follows: (Names may appear differently on ballot)
Candidate for President:
Lucye Millerand
Candidates for Executive Vice President:
Joyce Sagi
Darlene Smith
Candidate for Vice President – Camden:
Tracy Swan
Candidate for Vice President New BrunswickPiscataway:
Ginny Caputo
Candidate for Vice President – Newark:
Dorothy Grauer
Candidate for Treasurer:
Lisa S. Scott
Candidate for Secretary:
Theresa O’Neill
Candidates for Executive Board Member New Brunswick:
Joan Bankhole-Jones
Heather De Meo
Lauren Dudzak
Eric Himsel
Kathy Licinski
Helen Pirrello
Kay Schechter
Candidate for Executive Board Member – Camden:
Mike Ballard
Candidate for Executive Board Member – Newark:
Carolyn Foote
Candidate for Executive Board Member – Extension Off Campus:
Christine O’Connell
Upcoming news and information about the Candidates in future newsletters.
Aren’t running for office but would like to help out the day of the election at the polling locations – please contact the election committee at elections@ura-aft.org
For more information, see the URA Constitution at www.ura-aft.org or contact elections@ura-aft.org.
Read more here >>
Elections Matter – 2012 Upcoming COPE Action Alerts
The Committee on Political Education (COPE) invites you to attend these upcoming Fall events. We look forward to your participation and support.
Presidential Debate #2 Viewing Party:
Tuesday, 10/16/12 at 8pm at the Italian Bistro, 441 Raritan Avenue, Highland Park, NJ
Phone Banking:
Wednesday, 10/17/12 at 5:30pm att the AAUP/AFT Office, 11 Mine Street, New Brunswick, NJ. For more information contact Kay Schechter at
kays@ura-aft.org.
Labor-to-Labor Walk volunteers needed:
Saturday, 10/20/2012 from 9:00 am to noon. IBEW 456 Union Hall, 1295 Livingston Avenue, North Brunswick, NJ 08902. URA signed members receive $50 stipend for participating. Email kays@ura-aft.org to sign up.
See complete COPE schedule here >>
Voter Registration Deadline is October 16, 2012
From the New Jersey State AFL-CIO:
Sometimes it takes a four-letter word to make your voice heard: VOTE. To make sure you are registered to vote this Election Day, please make sure to follow the steps below:
1) Confirm You Are Registered – Everyone should confirm whether they are registered to vote on the New Jersey Division of Elections website http://nj.gov/state/elections.
2) Register to Vote – Voter registration forms are available on the www.njaflcio.org homepage. Simply click the “Register to Vote” button on the left-side of the page. After filling out this form make sure to mail it to the New Jersey Division of Elections before the deadline of October 16, 2012.
IMPORTANT: All voter registration forms must be postmarked no later than October 16, 2012 for you to be able to vote in this year’s election.
Read more here >>
