Herbert Speaks in Montville With Fellow Democrats

Douglas Herbert knows that the 11th Congressional district is traditionally a tough area for democratic candidates. He doesn't care.

"I've got this itch that Morris County and the 11th district need a democrat," the Chatham resident said. "It's time to get out there, it's time to show people who we are and that we're not afraid to be there."

Herbert, who is challenging Republican incumbent Rodney Frelinghuysen in November's election, was one of six Democratic candidates for state and local office to speak at the Montville senior house on Thursday.

The event, sponsored by the Montville Democratic Club, was described as a means to introduce area residents to the candidates, as well as energize local voters.

Speakers included Herbert, county freeholder candidates Avery Hart, Steve Reichenstein and Elliot Isibor, as well as Montville town committee candidates Mike O'Brien and Truscha Quatrone.

Hart, Reichenstein and Isibor are running against Republican freeholder candidates Tom Mastrangelo, Ann Grossi and John Krikus.

Herbert outlined his concerns for the 11th district, including the area's rising unemployment rate and its 111 percent increase in foreclosures in the first six months of 2010, promising to be "an independent voice for the 11th district," if elected.

"I think [Frelinghuysen] has given up," he said. "I think it's easier to just check the box and go along with the party."

Herbert stressed the importance of party building, stating his desire to energize the Democratic Party, which is sometimes portrayed as something of a political minority in Morris County.

"When you knock on doors, it's always 'Oh, I didn't know there were other Democrats around here," he said. "When everyone starts to figure out that half the doors in town are Democrats, people are going to start coming out."

O'Brien told the audience in attendance that it would take "every one of you to work and help us out," but that a Democrat on the township committee could bring " a change like maybe never seen before."

"If we can reach across the aisle to someone else on the other side, you're going to see a hell of a lot of change in this town, a hell of a lot of accountability," he said.

"We need to limit development in areas that are already developed, and encourage land owners to stop leaving unkempt areas," she said. "We need to bring business into Montville. We need to make this community serve everybody."

Freeholder candidate Steve Reichenstein echoed Herbert's sentiments, calling for area Democrats to think positive.

"We know this is a Republican town," he said. "We have to keep positive thoughts."

Reichenstein outlined his team's plan for Morris county, a focus on consolidation transparency and development of alternative energy sources that he called "lean, clean and green."

Avery Hart praised Reichenstein for his enthusiasm, saying that he represented innovation that isn't always present in Morris County.

"The freeholder board, as an institution, is kind of like one of those toy drinking birds," she said. "It just foes on and on doing the same thing while society changes around us."

Hart acknowledged, however, that, even if elected, change would come slowly to the area while embracing Herbert's spirit of optimism.

"We wouldn't be able to march in and change all the law right away," she said. "But it's good to have people thinking of new ideas. If people vote, we can win, and we're dedicated to fighting this myth of 'Democrats can't win in Morris County.' It wasn't so long ago that people said a black man couldn't be president. We can do it."