>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "CHAT BOX" WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

NJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS FOR NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY INSIDER NJ, A POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE NETWORK DEDICATED TO NEW JERSEY POLITICAL NEWS.

SERIES POLITICAL PLAYERS AN INTERACTIVE FORUM.

ONLINE AT INSIDERNJ.com.

>>> HI, EVERYBODY.

WELCOME TO "CHAT BOX."

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

IT IS THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN WHEN WE BRING OUT THE PUMPKINS AND THE GOBLINS AND GHOULS PREPARE FOR THEIR MOMENT.

OUR EMPHASIS IS ON POLITICS THIS WEEK.

FOR THAT WE TURN TO OUR DYNAMIC DUO, CHRIS RUSSELL IS THE REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST AND COFOUNDER OF CHECKMATE STRATEGIES.

AND ROY JONES IS CHAIRMAN OF NEW JERSEY STATE REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO WELCOME BACK TO "CHAT BOX."

GENTS, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> IT'S BEEN A WHILE MAN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO IT'S ABOUT TO GET SUPER HOT ON THE AIRWAVES AND IN OUR MAILBOXES AS WE MOVE CLOSER TO ELECTION DAY PROPER.

LET ME GET EACH OF YOU TO HIP US TO WHAT YOU THINK THE LANDSCAPE LOOKS LIKE FOR YOUR PARTY IN NEW JERSEY LESS THAN A MONTH OUT.

WE FLIPPED THE COIN AND DECIDED TO GO BY ALPHABETICAL ORDER.

SO CHRIS RUSSELL, LET'S START WITH YOU.

WHAT'S GOING ON NOW AND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO SEE WHEN THE RETURNS START TO COME IN ON NOVEMBER 8th?

>> LAST YEAR THERE WAS A LOT OF MOMENTUM FOR REPUBLICANS ACROSS THE STATE.

RUNNING CLOSE IN THE GOVERNORS RACE.

I THINK YOU'RE SEEING A CONTINUATION ON THAT.

DEMOCRATS IN THE OFF SEASON HERE DID A GOOD JOB GERRYMANDERING THE CONGRESSIONAL MAP TO THEIR FAVOR.

BUT I THINK REPUBLICANS ARE ON THE MOVE IN A BUNCH OF THESE SEATS.

THREE, FIVE, 11.

I THINK TOM KAINE IS A FAVORITE IN 7.

>> NOW YOU KNOW I HAVE A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION.

YOU KNOW, HE IS LIKE SOMEWHERE IN PARADISE.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE DANCE.

CHRIS, YOU NEED TO TAKE A VACATION BECAUSE ALL THAT STUFF DOES NOT COMPUTE AT ALL.

DEMOCRATS HOLD THE 10-2 MAJORITY HERE IN THE STATE.

THAT WILL CONTINUE.

I DO HAVE TO SAY CD 7, THAT IS A BATTLEGROUND.

YOU KNOW, ONE THAT I BELIEVE WILL SURPRISE A LOT OF PEOPLE COME WHEN ALL THE VOTES ARE COUNTED AFTER ELECTION DAY.

>> I CAN TELL YOU, DAVID, I WORK IN 3 FOR BOB HEALY.

THAT IS GOING TO BE A CLOSE RACE.

WE FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE PROGRESS.

LIKE I SAID, THERE'S A COUPLE OTHER SLEEPERS OUT THERE.

THINGS START TO MOVE REPUBLICANS WAY NATIONALLY.

AND THAT HELPS REPUBLICANS HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

>> I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT.

THERE'S A TIGHTENING OF THE NATIONAL POLLS WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT GENERIC REPUBLICANS AND DEMS.

NEW JERSEY IS AN OUTLIER.

YOU'LL SEE THAT PLAY ITS WAY OUT COME AS WE GO THROUGH THIS ELECTION PROCESS.

WE'RE IN ELECTION CYCLE RIGHT NOW, RIGHT?

SO PEOPLE ARE VOTING RIGHT NOW.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE I.D.

TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF VOTERS IN CD 11 AND CD 7 AS WELL AS OTHER BATTLEGROUND DISTRICTS.

VOTE BY MAIL HAS BEEN COMING IN PRETTY HEAVILY.

AND THEY TREND IN.

I EXPECT AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS 10-2 WILL PREVAIL COME ELECTION DAY.

>> I WANT TO GET TO MORE OF THOSE PREDICTIONS IN A BIT.

BUT LET ME STICK WITH YOU HERE, CHAIRMAN.

POLLERS ARE WORRIED ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THEIR POCKETS LESS SO THAN SOME OTHER ISSUES LIKE ABORTION.

I KNOW YOU'RE NOT HANDLING ANY CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGNS DIRECTLY.

WHY ARE DEMOCRATS FOCUSED ON WHY MANY HERE IN NEW JERSEY SAY IS DOWN ON THEIR LIST OF CONCERNS?

>> I THINK THOSE POLLING TRENDS THAT YOU TALK ABOUT, DAVE, ARE MORE NATIONAL THAN ANYTHING.

I'VE SEEN THE NATIONAL POLLS THE OTHER DAY.

AND YES, THE ECONOMY PLAYS AND LOOMS LARGE.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT DEMOCRATS HERE DON'T UNDERSTAND AND, YOU KNOW, AND RESPECT THAT PHENOMENON.

YOU KNOW, BUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING TO WOMEN, PARTICULARLY WOMEN, YOUNG WOMEN, YOU KNOW, THEY FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THE VIOLATION OF ABORTION RIGHTS THAT THE SUPREME COURT SEEMED TO HAVE TRAMPLED ON.

SO IT BECOMES A RIGHTS CAMPAIGN.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL TRY TO BLAME THE PRESIDENT, YOU KNOW, EVEN ON THE PANDEMIC FOR THAT MATTER.

YOU KNOW, WHICH IS A CONTRIBUTOR TO WHAT WE SEE IN THE ECONOMY AND INFLATION.

YOU KNOW, THE UKRAINE PLAYS QUITE HEAVILY WITH RESPECT TO THAT.

YOU KNOW, YEAH, WE'RE FOCUSED ON THE ECONOMY AS WELL.

BUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT RIGHTS, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THEY BE CIVIL RIGHTS, YOU KNOW, REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOMS, THOSE THINGS LOOM LARGE IN THIS PARTICULAR ELECTION IN NEW JERSEY.

>> MEANWHILE, CHRIS, CANDIDATES IN YOUR PARTY HAVE KIND OF BEEN WALKING THE TIGHT ROPE ON THE ABORTION ISSUE.

THEY SAY THEY'RE PRO CHOICE BUT THEN THEY GO ON TO LIST THE RESTRICTIONS THAT TAKE CHOICE WAY FROM PREGNANT PEOPLE.

CAN YOU BE BOTH PRO CHOICE AND THEN RESTRICT THAT CHOICE?

>> I ACTUALLY THINK THAT'S THE MAINSTREAM POSITION IN THE COUNTRY AND IN THE STATE.

THEY BELIEVE IN RESTRICTIONS.

THINGS LIKE PARENTAL NOTIFICATION FOR A MINOR.

NO LATE-TERM ABORTIONS.

THEY WANT DOCTORS, NOT DOCTORS.

I THINK BACK TO WHAT LEROY SAID ABOUT THE ECONOMY, LISTEN, IN NEW JERSEY, WE HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST TAX STATES IN THE COUNTRY.

SO WHEN INFLATION HITS, IT HITS HARDER HERE.

IT HITS HARDER IN NEW JERSEY.

PEOPLE ARE PAYING OVER $700 MORE A MONTH COMPARED TO THE ANALYSIS I SAW MORE THAN THEY WERE A YEAR AGO IN TERMS OF THEIR HOUSEHOLD EXPENSES.

WHEN YOU LIVE IN BETWEEN, AS WE ALL KNOW AND FIGHT WITH AS CAMPAIGN OPERATIVES, WE KNOW HOW DOM DOMINANT NEW YORK AND PHILADELPHIA ARE, THIS STATE, WE'RE KIND OF SANDWICHED IN BETWEEN THEM.

THEY SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE CRIME.

THAT IMPACTS RACES IN BURLINGTON COUNTY.

PEOPLE SEE CRIME AS AN ISSUE AND THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT IT.

>> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT CRIME, YOU CAN'T HELP BUT TALK ABOUT GUNS.

AND DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN STRONG ON GUNS, AND MAKING SURE THAT GUNS ARE OUT OF THE HANDS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE NO NEED FOR THEM.

BECAUSE OF THE HARM THAT IT DOES.

YOU KNOW, BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOMS, LET'S LOOK AT THIS PICTURE.

THREE MEN DISCUSSING WHAT A WOMAN'S RIGHT IS.

YOU KNOW, A WOMAN'S CHOICE IS.

HOW A WOMAN IS GOING TO DEAL WITH HEALTH ISSUES THAT IMPACT HER BODY.

YOU KNOW, THAT IS THE IRONY IN THIS WHOLE THING.

THAT MANY OF THE ISSUE THAT STEMS AROUND ABORTION BEING DISCUSSED AND DECIDED BY MEN, AND THAT'S DEAD WRONG.

>> BUT LEROY, I THINK THE ONE THING YOU WOULD EVEN ADMIT.

THINGS LIKE PARENTAL NOTIFICATION FOR MINORS, NON-DOCTORS PERFORMING ABORTIONS.

THESE ARE EXTREME POSITIONS.

AND DEMOCRATS -- >> THAT'S NOT, CHRIS.

>> THAT'S WHAT YOUR PARTY HAS BEEN VOTING.

YOU'RE TRYING TO PLACATE YOUR LEFT-WING BASE.

THE RATIONAL PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE WANT BOTH SIDES DEFINED.

>> WE BELIEVE IN CHOICE AND A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE HOW SHE DEALS WITH HER HEALTH ISSUES THAT IMPACT HER BODY.

>> AND A 14 YEAR-OLD GIRL'S PARENTS PROBABLY WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH HER IF SHE GETS PREGNANT.

>> DISCUSSING A WOMAN'S PREROGATIVE ABOUT HER BODY IS NOT RIGHT.

>> THAT'S A POINT WELL TAKEN, CHAIRMAN.

HERE'S MY FOLLOW-UP TO YOU, CHRIS.

THESE RESTRICTIONS, WHO GETS TO SAY?

IS IT THE GOVERNMENT WHO GETS TO SAY WHAT THE RESTRICTIONS ARE AND SETS PENALTIES?

THE BOTTOM LINE IS YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT OF WOMEN CARRYING A CHILD OR A FETUS TO EIGHT MONTHS AND THEN DECIDE RANDOMLY THAT THEY WANT TO HAVE AN ABORTION.

THAT'S A REALLY EXTREME CASE.

BUT EVEN IN AN EXTREME CASE LIKE THAT, SHOULDN'T THE WOMAN AND THE DOCTOR HAVE THE RIGHT AND PREROGATIVE TO MAKE THAT DECISION?

WHY DOES GOVERNMENT HAVE TO GET INVOLVED IN THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> BY SUPREME COURT DOING WHAT THEY DID, THEY RETURNED THIS TO THE STATES.

BY THAT SYSTEM IS THE STATE LEGISLATORS AND GOVERNORS ARE GOING TO DECIDE THESE LAWS.

THAT'S THE SYSTEM.

>> YOU HAVE INDIVIDUALS IN YOUR OWN PARTY THAT'S TALKING ABOUT A NATIONAL BAN ON ABORTION.

>> AND YOU GUYS HAVE INDIVIDUALS IN YOUR PARTY -- AND LEROY, YOU GUYS HAVE INDIVIDUALS -- >> THAT IS DRACONIAN.

THEY JUST DON'T BODE WELL IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY.

>> YOU GUYS HAVE PEOPLE TALKING EXTREMES, TOO.

THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING I THINK THERE'S A MIDDLE GROUND POSITION THAT REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES ARE TALKING ABOUT.

>> LET ME MOVE THIS ON BECAUSE THE CHAIRMAN MAKES A GOOD POINT ABOUT THREE GUYS TALKING ABOUT A WOMAN'S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT DONALD TRUMP.

>> HIM AGAIN?

>> HE'S STILL THE NAME THAT COMES UP ALL THE TIME.

DEMOCRATS HAVE USED HIM AS THE BOOGIE MAN FOR YEARS NOW.

SHOULDN'T YOU BE TALKING ABOUT YOUR PRESIDENT AND THE THINGS THAT HE'S DONE AND/OR HASN'T DONE?

>> WELL YOU KNOW, DONALD TRUMP IS THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING FOR OUR PARTY.

YOU KNOW.

AND HE CAN'T SEEM TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF SOLID REPUBLICANS.

REPUBLICANS WHO BELIEVE IN GOOD GOVERNMENT.

WHO BELIEVE IN THE RIGHTS THAT ARE BESTOWED UPON US BY THE CONSTITUTION.

YOU KNOW, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE THAT MAGA SIDE OF THE PARTY THAT YOU KNOW JUST GETS IN THE WAY, AND DONALD TRUMP IS ALWAYS OUT AT THE FOREFRONT OF THAT WHETHER IT'S THE HEARINGS ON THE JANUARY 6th ISSUE OR OTHER THINGS THAT JUST DONALD TRUMP CANNOT MOVE HIMSELF OUT OF THE DISCUSSION.

AND THAT HURTS CHRIS'S PARTY.

I KNOW CHRIS PROBABLY WON'T SAY THAT.

BUT DEEP DOWN INSIDE, I KNOW HE BELIEVES THAT.

>> I GOTTA GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO TELL THE CHAIRMAN WHAT YOU BELIEVE DEEP DOWN.

>> OF COURSE.

AS LEROY KNOWS, I HAVE A GOOD TIME DOING THIS.

I WILL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE REPUBLICANS DON'T HAVE ANY CONTROL HERE IN NEW JERSEY, DON'T HAVE CONTROL IN WASHINGTON.

IT'S ONE-PARTY RULE.

DEMOCRATS CONTROL THE PRESIDENCY, BOTH HOUSES IN CONGRESS.

AND HERE IN NEW JERSEY, THE GOVERNORSHIP AND BOTH HOUSES OF LEGISLATURE.

YOU BROKE IT, YOU BOUGHT IT.

I THINK DEMOCRATS OWN THIS STUFF RIGHT NOW.

VOTERS KNOW WHO IS IN CHARGE.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO LOOK BACKWARDS.

THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK FORWARDS.

>> MEANWHILE, CHRIS, YOUR SIDE WANTS TO HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.

IS IT THE HATER IN THIS CASE NOT THE GAME?

I MEAN, TRUMP IS BAD BUT HIS POLITICS ARE GOOD.

IS THAT THE REPUBLICAN LINE?

>> I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT.

ECONOMICALLY RIGHT NOW WHERE WOULD YOU RATHER BE?

TWO YEARS AGO OR TODAY?

OR THREE YEARS AGO OR TODAY.

I THINK OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S PERSONALITY, NO.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE TURNED OFF BY THAT.

BUT YOU ASK A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO LOOK AT THEIR 401 K AND RETIREMENTS.

>> DONALD TRUMP WAS AT THE FOREFRONT OF ATTEMPTING TO DESTROY OUR DEMOCRACY.

HE'S STILL OUT THERE.

THE BOOGIEMAN IS STILL OUT THERE.

HE'S LURKING, LOOMING.

HE JUST WILL NOT UNPLUG HIMSELF FROM A PARTY THAT HAD ITS PLACE IN LEADERSHIP.

YOU KNOW.

BUT THIS MAN HAS BEEN THE DESTRUCTION OF A LARGE PART OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

THAT MAGA SIDE OF IT JUST DOES NOT WORK.

>> LET ME MOVE ON FROM THAT.

RUNNING OUT OF TIME HERE.

VOTING HAS ALREADY BEGUN.

HAS THE NEW VOTING SCHEDULE CHANGED THE WAY EITHER YOU APPROACH CAMPAIGNING?

DOES IT MEAN MORE SOCIAL MEDIA AND OTHER METHODS PLAYING INTO THE SCHEDULE?

LET ME START WITH YOU, CHRIS.

>> YEAH.

LISTEN, 100% IT'S CHANGED.

I'LL SAY DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN BETTER AT THE VOTE BY MAIL.

WE HAVE TO GET OUR ACT TOGETHER IN THAT REGARD.

CHAIR CHAIRMAN HUGAN IS WORKING HARD TO DO THAT.

WE HAVE TO DO BETTER BECAUSE NOW ELECTION DAY IS NOT THE FIRST TUESDAY IN NOVEMBER, IT'S SIX WEEKS.

LEROY WILL PROBABLY AGREE.

ELECTION DAY IS EVERY DAY AFTER BALLOTS GO OUT.

IT'S CHANGED THINGS DRAMATICALLY AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.

>> YOU KNOW, CHRIS, I CO-SIGN ALL THAT.

WE'VE BEEN MOVING THROUGH CYCLES OF CAMPAIGN STRATEGY WHETHER IT'S VOTE BY MAIL.

WE'LL PIVOT TO EARLY VOTING.

WE'LL HAVE BOOTS ON THE GROUND ON THE LAST DAY TO PULL OUT ALL THOSE THAT HAVEN'T CAST THAT ARE BALLOT BY MAIL OR COME IN EARLY.

IT HAS BEEN A GREAT CHANGE IN OUR ELECTION STRATEGIES TO DATE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

PREDICTION TIME.

I KNOW YOU HAVE TO SAY THAT YOUR SIDE'S GOING TO SWEEP ALL THE RACES.

HERE'S MY QUESTION, WHERE ARE WE GOING TO BE SURPRISED ON ELECTION NIGHT EITHER IN JERSEY OR NATIONALLY, AND WHY?

CHAIRMAN, REAL QUICK FROM YOU.

>> SO I THINK HERE IN JERSEY, I THINK CD 7 WILL BE THE SURPRISE OF THE EVENING.

WE'LL SEE TOM MOLINNOWSKI THE WINNER.

IT PROBABLY WON'T BE ELECTION NIGHT.

BUT IT WILL BE DECIDED WHEN ALL THE VOTES ARE COUNTED.

NATIONALLY, YOU KNOW, I THINK GEORGIA IS A HOTSPOT.

OUR NEIGHBORING STATE PENNSYLVANIA, FETTERMAN WILL TAKE THAT NIGHT AS VICTORY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> AND YOU KNOW, I THINK THOSE ARE THE TWO THAT STAND OUT IN MY MIND NATIONALLY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

CHRIS, LET'S MAKE IT INTERESTING.

COMPLETE THIS SENTENCE, CHAIRMAN, I BET YOU A RUTS HUT RIPPER THAT WHAT?

>> THAT REPUBLICANS IN NEW JERSEY HAVE MORE THAN THREE SEATS IN CONGRESS AFTER ELECTION DAY.

>> WHAT IS HE BETTING ME, DAVID?

>> A RUTS HUT RIPPER.

>> I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT IS.

>> YEAH, CHRIS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS.

BUT I'M GOING TO WIN IT, WHATEVER IT IS, I'M GOING TO WIN IT.

>> A RIPPER IS A HOT DOG THAT IS DEEP FRIED.

IT IS A CONCOCTION THAT WILL PROBABLY KILL YOU IF YOU EAT MORE THAN ONE, BUT THEY'RE QUITE TASTY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> CHRIS RUSSELL, LEROY JONES, GOOD TO SEE YOU GUYS.

THANKS FOR COMING OUT WITH US.

>> THANKS.

>> ALWAYS GREAT.

>>> MEN AS YOU CAN SEE ARE STILL AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE STATE'S POLITICAL NARRATIVE.

BUT ONE FORMER NEW JERSEY LAWMAKER IS WORKING TO MAKE THAT A LITTLE MORE BALANCED BY CREATING A PAC.

IT'S CALLED LORETTA PAC.

AND WHY NOT?

ITS FOUNDER IS FORMER SENATE MAJORITY LEADER LORETTA W WINEBERG.

AND SHE JOINS US ON "CHAT BOX."

ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> YOU WANT TO PROMOTE THE NEXT GENERATION OF TROUBLE MAKERS.

WOMEN ONLY, YES?

>> YES.

YOU KNOW, AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW I RETIRED FROM THE STATE SENATE BACK AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR.

AND AS I THOUGHT ABOUT HOW I WAS GOING TO BE SPENDING MY RETIREMENT, I DO ZOOM MEETINGS WITH VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE HOPEFULLY WITH GOOD GROUPS LIKE NEW JERSEY SPOTLIGHT AND "CHAT BOX."

I THOUGHT REALLY ONE OF THE BEST WAYS I CAN CONTRIBUTE IS ACTUALLY RAISING MONEY FOR CANDIDATES MOSTLY IN LOCAL OFFICE.

NOT STATEWIDE.

NOT FEDERAL.

BUT MANY OTHER FUNDRAISING GROUPS TO CALL ON.

BUT WOMEN WHO RUN FOR OFFICE LOCALLY FOR THEIR TOWN COUNCILS, FOR SCHOOL BOARD.

AND HELPING TO GIVE THEM THE RESOURCES TO RUN GOOD CAMPAIGNS.

SO I HAD THE FIRST FUNDRAISER OF THE LORETTA PAC FEW WEEKS AGO.

AND WE WERE PRIVILEGED TO GIVE THE FIRST ROUND OF CONTRIBUTIONS TO A GROUP OF WOMEN WHO ARE DIVERSE IN TERMS OF RACIALLY, AGE WISE, EXPERIENCE WISE, AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

AND HOPEFULLY THESE SMALL CONTRIBUTIONS WILL BE AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT THEY HAVE MANY VOICES IN THE STATE BEHIND THEM.

>> SO TWO THINGS JUMP OUT AT ME FROM THAT.

A, WHY WILL MORE WOMEN RUNNING MORE THINGS MAKE NEW JERSEY BETTER?

AND WHY THE EMPHASIS ON LOCAL ELECTIONS?

>> WELL TO ANSWER THE SECOND PART OF YOUR QUESTION FIRST, I THINK THE EMPHASIS ON LOCAL ELECTIONS BECAME IMPORTANT.

I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO RUN FOR COUNCIL ELECTION.

AND I THINK PEOPLE WHO RUN FOR COUNCIL ELECTIONS HAVE LESS RESOURCES TO CALL UPON.

STATE LEGISLATORS, CONGRESS PEOPLE, SENATORS, HAVE MUCH WIDER FUNDRAISING APPARATUS THAT THEY CAN CALL UPON.

SO THAT'S WHY WE DECIDED IN THIS PAC TO CONCENTRATE ON WOMEN RUNNING FOR LOCAL OFFICE.

AND WHY MORE WOMEN?

BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH VOICES IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

I REALLY BELIEVE THAT WOMEN HAVE UNIQUE EXPERIENCES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH BEING MOTHERS, BEING CAREGIVERS, BEING SISTERS, DAUGHTERS, AUNTS IN SO MANY FAMILY DYNAMICS, THAT WE JUST BRING DIFFERENT VOICES THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.

WE ARE MORE GENERALLY, THESE ARE ALL GENERALIZATIONS, AND YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND AN EXCEPTION TO THE RULE.

BUT WE ARE GENERALLY MORE PARTICIPATORY, OPEN, ACCOUNTABLE.

AND I THINK WOMEN HELP TO BALANCE GOVERNMENT, CERTAINLY LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

WE KNOW ABOUT OUR CHILDREN'S SCHOOLS.

WE KNOW ABOUT THE PHYSICAL PLANNING OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND HOW WE GET IN AND OUT OF SUPERMARKET PARKING LOTS AND ALL THE OTHER MUNDANE THINGS OF LIFE THAT MAKE A GOOD COUNCILPERSON.

>> YOU TOUCH ON SOMETHING THERE.

THERE ARE WOMEN I KNOW IN ELECTED POSITIONS, ONE IN PARTICULAR WHO I ALWAYS SAY HEY, YOU SHOULD RUN FOR HIGHER OFFICE.

SHE SAYS SHE WOULD BUT THE CHOICES WOMEN ARE FORCED TO MAKE -- AND YOU TOUCHED ON THIS A LITTLE BIT -- ARE MORE DIFFICULT THAN MOST MEN HAVE TO MAKE IN TERMS OF GETTING INTO POLITICS AND ELECTED OFFICE AND GOVERNMENT.

PARENTING, HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT, SOCCER, SOFTBALL, DRAMA, DANCE.

I MEAN, YOU GOTTA CHANGE THAT CULTURE, TOO, RIGHT, SO THAT DADS AND PARTNERS BECOME MORE A PART OF THAT, NO?

HOW DO YOU GET TO THAT?

>> WELL I THINK WE ARE GETTING TO THAT, DAVID.

I SEE IT IN MY DAUGHTER'S GENERATION AND BEYOND.

I THINK YOU'LL SEE MORE DADS AT SOCCER GAMES AND VOLLEYBALL GAMES CHEERING THEIR DAUGHTERS AND SONS ON, THAN YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN IN PAST GENERATIONS.

SO I THINK THE CULTURE IS CHANGING BECAUSE I THINK OUR DAUGHTERS HAVE CHANGED IT.

IN MORE CASES THAN NOT, THEY ARE WORKING MOMS.

SO THEY BY NECESSITY HAVE TO CHANGE THAT CULTURE.

SO I THINK WE SEE IT.

WE ARE SEEING A CHANGE.

BUT IS IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR WOMEN?

ABSOLUTELY.

AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO ACCOMMODATE WOMEN.

AND I THOUGHT A BILL THAT SENATOR TERESA RUIZ SPONSORED WENT BY WITH NOT A LOT OF NOTICE.

AND THAT WAS TO ALLOW CANDIDATES TO MAKE MONEY OUT OF THEIR CAMPAIGN FUNDS TO PAY FOR BABYSITTING.

>> YEAH.

>> I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S A PHENOMENAL STEP FORWARD.

AS I SAID, IT KIND OF WENT BY WITH VERY LITTLE NOTICE.

BUT IT HELPS TO CHANGE THE CULTURE.

IF YOU CAN TAKE MONEY OUT TO GO TO POLITICAL EVENTS OR I DON'T KNOW, ATTEND -- >> OR TO TAKE 20 PEOPLE TO PUERTO RICO FOR THE SUPER BOWL.

>> I WAS TRYING TO THINK OF SOMETHING.

>> AND HAVE THE CAMPAIGN PAY FOR IT.

THAT'S JUST AN EXAMPLE.

>> I WAS TRYING TO THINK OF THE PROPER ANALOGY.

BUT YOU FILLED IN THE BLANK PERFECTLY.

>> OH GOOD.

ALL RIGHT.

SO YOUR FOCUS IS ON ELECTING PROGRESSIVES.

WHAT ABOUT PROMOTING CONSERVATIVE WOMEN?

DO YOU LEAVE THAT TO THE GOP?

>> YES, I LEAVE THAT TO THE GOP.

OUR ONE CAVEAT AND THAT I PUT FORTH TO EACH OF THESE CANDIDATES WAS THAT YOU ARE PRO CHOICE.

WE ARE NOT ASKING THAT THAT BECOME A CENTERPIECE OF YOUR CAMPAIGN, OF EACH INDIVIDUAL CAMPAIGN.

BUT THAT IS THE ONLY CAVEAT FOR SEEKING SUPPORT FROM THE LORETTA PAC.

ARE THERE VARIATIONS LOCALLY WHERE ONE COULD BE CONSIDERED CONSERVATIVE ON PROPERTY TAXES OR PROGRESSIVE ON SCHOOL ISSUES, WHATEVER.

>> ZONING.

>> I'LL LEAVE THAT TO THE LOCALS.

BUT THIS IS DEFINITELY A DEMOCRATIC PAC.

>> SO SOMETHING THAT YOU WERE REALLY SPEARHEAD WAS THIS EFFORT AT ADDRESSING THE TOXIC ENVIRONMENT THAT EXISTED IN THE MURPHY CAMPAIGN, AND IN GOVERNMENT IN NEW JERSEY IN GENERAL.

THE CONTINUING USE OF NDAs, A BILL BEFORE CONGRESS CALLED THE SPEAK OUT ACT WHICH BANS THEM FROM COVERING HARASSMENT, ET CETERA.

WHAT IS THE ENVIRONMENT AND YOUR SENSE A COUPLE OF YEARS -- A YEAR OR SO REMOVED FROM BEING IN IT HIP DEEP?

AS AN OUTSIDER, HOW DO YOU OBSERVE THINGS RIGHT NOW IN NEW JERSEY IN THAT REGARD?

>> WELL I THINK WE'VE IMPROVED THE ENVIRONMENT IN NEW JERSEY.

BUT HAVE WE IMPROVED IT ENOUGH?

THE ANSWER IS NO.

WE OUTLAWED IN THE CASE OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT.

IN NEW JERSEY, THEY ARE OUTLAWED.

IN FACT, THE FEDERAL PUSH RIGHT NOW IS KIND OF BASED ON OUR NDAs.

BUT THERE IS A VERY LARGE SEGMENT OF THE LEGISLATION WE PASSED THAT WAS LEFT UNDONE.

IT WAS PASSED BY THE SENATE BUT NOT BY THE ASSEMBLY.

AND THAT WAS TO SET UP AN APPARATUS TO DEAL WITH ISSUES OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND SUCH IN THE CAMPAIGN ENVIRONMENT.

BECAUSE THERE WAS VERY LITTLE WAY TO REGULATE THAT.

CAMPAIGNS ARE NOT REALLY PART OF THE STATE APPARATUS.

THEY'RE KIND OF INDIVIDUAL.

SO THE BILL CALLS FOR THE ELECTION LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMISSION TO SET UP AN APPARATUS TO LOOK AT THIS IN CAMPAIGNS.

A PLACE WHERE WOMEN OR MEN COULD COME WITH COMPLAINTS.

THAT BILL WAS HELD UP AT THE 11th HOUR IN THE ASSEMBLY.

SENATOR GILL HAS THE BILL BACK IN THE SENATE.

I'M HOPING TO SEE THAT PASS.

THAT IS A LYNCHPIN OF THE LE LEGISLATION THAT WE PASS TO PROTECT WOMEN.

I HOPE THE LEGISLATURE WILL LOOK ON IT KINDLY IN THIS SESSION.

>> STILL LOTS OF WORK TO DO.

LORETTA WEINBERG, ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO SEE YOU.

>> THANK YOU, DAVID.

>>> AND THAT'S "CHAT BOX" THIS WEEK.

THANKS TO CHRIS RUSSELL AND LEROY JOINS.

YOU CAN FROLLOW ME ON TWITTER.

AND BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

BE WITH US NEXT WEEK WHEN WE MARK THE 10th ANNIVERSARY OF SANDY WITH A SPECIAL EDITION OF "CHAT BOX."

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

FROM EVERYONE OVER HERE, THANKS FOR WATCHING AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "CHAT BOX" WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

NJM INSURANCE GROUP.

SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY INSIDER NJ.

A POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE NETWORK DEDICATED TO NEW JERSEY POLITICAL NEWS.

INSIDER NJ IS COMMITTED TO GIVING AN INTERACTIVE FORUM FOR IDEAS, DISCUSSION AND INSIGHT.

ONLINE AT INSIDER NJ.com.