Herbert Brings Supporters Together at Morristown Green

The Democratic Congressional candidate for New Jersey's 11th district promises his supporters that, if elected, he will go down to Washington with the intention of creating jobs for people in the community.

Job creation and getting Americans back to work was the main topic of discussion Sunday as Chatham Borough resident Douglas Herbert spoke to more than 75 supporters about his plans for the district at a rally at the Morristown Green.

"We can [create jobs] by giving the businesses the tools they need to get America working again," Herbert said. "We can give them hiring incentives and stop subsidies to large companies that are raking in billions of dollars in profits."

Herbert, who had served with the 82nd Airborne Division while in the U.S. Army, likened the plight of the American job-seeker to an airborne soldier who has both a main parachute in back and a reserve in front. He said in the case that the main parachute doesn't release, soldiers have about 15 seconds to make the reserve parachute work.

"The American people are the airborne soldier whose shoot hasn't opened," Herbert said. "There was a financial and regulatory breakdown, and they didn't know what to do. They're plummeting to Earth. Somebody has to stop them, and it hasn't been our representative."

Herbert also discussed investing in the future by making sure teachers in the district have jobs.

"It is significantly important that we have leadership that recognizes that when we invest in our education and in our children, we invest in the long-term growth of this country," he said.

Much of the rally focused on dissatisfaction with Herbert's Republican opponent, the incumbent Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, who is vying for his ninth term in the U.S. House of Representatives. This sentiment was infused in much of Herbert's speech and a point of contention for many supporters in attendance.

"We need a change in Congress," said John Adem, of Florham Park and the chairman of that town's Democratic Committee. "I think Rodney Frelinghuysen hasn't done much with this district in the past few elections."

Morristown resident Yoram Meyer came to the rally with his wife after seeing an announcement for the event, and was interested in hearing what Herbert had to say.

"I'm acquainted with Frelinghuysen, based on what I've read," Meyer said, "which is enough to see him go."

Chatham Borough Mayor Nelson Vaughan introduced Herbert, who practices law in Brooklyn, N.Y., to the crowd on Sunday. Before the rally, he said that getting elected is not an easy task for a Democrat in Morris County, which he said usually elects Republican candidates.

However, Vaughan, a fellow Democrat, noted that he was elected mayor in a traditionally Republican municipality.

"Do I think he has a chance? Yes, I do," Vaughan said. "Lightning struck me, and I think it can strike him, too."

Herbert said much of his campaign's focus is reaching out to the district's independent contingency, which he said makes up the majority. There are 190,000 independents in the district, compared to 140,000 Republicans and 100,000 Democrats, according to Herbert's campaign manager Bassam Gergi.

"The way I see it is there is a lot of dissatisfaction among the independents with the present Congressman," Herbert said before the rally. "So I am trying to get everybody out to support that idea so that we can make a change."

Herbert was joined on stage by Avery Hart, who, along with Steven Reichenstein and Elliot Isibor, is running under the Democratic ticket for Morris County freeholder. Hart, who is a practicing psychotherapist, activist and author of multiple children's activity books, did not discuss job creation but focused on bond debt and green independence.

"Our freeholders have been very slow to pick up on energy independence," Hart said. "They own 66 buildings that they are directly responsible for in the county, and they're making plans to put solar panels on three of them. I think we can go a little faster than that."

The election for the 11th Congressional District, which includes all of Morris County and parts of Essex, Passaic, Somerset and Sussex counties, takes place on Nov. 2. Herbert and Frelinghuysen will also be opposed by Libertarian Party candidate Jim Gawron.