Sen. Schluter’s 23rd Legislative District, which comprises Pennington Borough, Hopewell Borough and Hopewell Township in Mercer County as well as most of Hunterdon County and all of Warren County, may be redrawn to move the three Mercer County municipalities into the 15th Legislative District, currently represented by Sen. Shirley Turner (D- Lawrence Township)
By: Jennifer Potash
Against the backdrop of being redistricted out of his state Senate seat, Sen. William Schluter (R-Pennington Borough) announced March 7 the formation of an exploratory committee for a possible run for governor in 2001.
Sen. Schluter’s 23rd Legislative District, which comprises Pennington Borough, Hopewell Borough and Hopewell Township in Mercer County as well as most of Hunterdon County and all of Warren County, may be redrawn to move the three Mercer County municipalities into the 15th Legislative District, currently represented by Sen. Shirley Turner (D- Lawrence Township).
While the redistricting which occurs following every U. S. census was on his mind, Sen. Schluter said at a press conference at the Union Hotel on Main Street, he has been considering jumping into the gubernatorial race for eight months and his supporters in Hunterdon County and around the state have urged him to do so.
"The purpose of my committee is to assess whether rank-and-file Republicans are ready and eager to support a candidate who embodies the values that our party was built upon responsible government, independent thinking, fiscal accountability, competition and integrity of service," he said. "I am certain that there is substantial public support in both the primary and general elections for a candidate who will focus on substance, not slogans, who will offer solutions, not sound bites, and who will work for the overall good of the public."
His signature issues campaign finance reform and property tax reform have not been seriously discussed by the state Legislature or by the other gubernatorial candidates acting Governor Donald DiFrancesco (R-Scotch Plains), Brett Schundler, the conservative Republican mayor of Jersey City, and Jim McGreevey, the Democratic mayor of Woodbridge.
Sen. Schluter is chairman of the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards.
"Property tax reform is the 800-pound gorilla in Trenton and I am willing to take on that 800-pound gorilla and I wish other people were," he said.
On property tax reform, Sen. Schluter has introduced a bill in the state Senate for a ballot question asking to hold a convention on the state Constitution. As a founding member of the new public policy group Citizens for the Public Good, Sen. Schluter supports the proposals of having a limited initiative and referendum to modify the state Constitution for campaign finance reform.
On Tuesday, Sen. Schluter said he has been the top vote-getter in the 23rd District in every election held during the 1990s. His counts, he explained, "exceeded those of former Gov. Christie Whitman, the Assembly candidates, and even the county candidates in their own counties." The senator believes he has the support of the public in the 23rd.
Since "it’s going to be a difficult year for Republicans," judging from the fact that "Mr. (Al) Gore carried New Jersey by 16 percent, I believe and my supporters agree that my strengths match up best against McGreevey."
Sen. Schluter said his strengths are based on his beliefs in the need for "campaign finance reform, integrity in government and a real solution for property tax problems … These are the issues on which to beat McGreevey."
The senator has tapped friend and Pennington Borough resident Bob Prewitt to conduct polls and focus groups to test the senator’s viability as a candidate.
Mr. Prewitt, who owns Dana Communications and is a former president of the Hopewell Valley Regional Board of Education, said it is a matter of "employing some traditional marketing strategies to determine whether Bill and his issues are viable in the marketplace."
The cost for testing the waters is about $50,000.
Sen. Schluter said he will determine whether to announce for governor in the next few weeks.
The filing deadline for the June primary election is April 12. He must obtain 1,000 signatures from New Jersey residents.
Sen. Schluter said he does not see the compressed time period as a problem.
"We could get all the signatures from Pennington if we want," he said.
As a co-chairman of Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) presidential campaign in New Jersey, Sen. Schluter said his association with Sen. McCain could be a factor in generating support among voters for his candidacy.
While he prefers to run as a Republican, in order to improve the party, he did not rule out making an independent bid for governor.
"I never say never," Sen. Schluter said.
No matter what the outcome of his exploratory bid for governor, Sen. Schluter said he wants "to be a player" in Trenton on the issues of campaign finance reform and property tax reform.
Flanked by family and friends, Sen. Schluter also drew a Democratic well-wisher Princeton Township Deputy Mayor Steve Frakt.
Mr. Frakt said Sen. Schluter is a longtime friend, going back to early 1970s.
Mr. Frakt said "it’s not for me to say" if Sen. Schluter will be successful in his attempt to win the Republican nomination.
Sen. Schluter has served on and off in both houses of the Legislature since the 1970s. Prior to that time, the senator was a member of Pennington Borough Council.
Ruth Luse, managing editor, contributed to this account.