PACKET EDITORIAL, Oct. 20
By: Packet Editorial
Eight years ago, when Rush Holt was first elected to Congress, he was a wet-behind-the-ears scientist-turned-politician better known for his mastery of physics than of policy, more adept at thinking deep thoughts than at speaking in public, who had the good fortune to run against an incumbent whose 15 minutes of fame consisted of singing "Twinkle, twinkle, Kenneth Starr" on the floor of the House of Representatives.
Rep. Holt has come a long way.
Today, he is a knowledgeable, articulate, savvy congressman who has built a reputation not only for constituent service, but for his commitment to progressive causes election reform, smart growth, sustainable energy, stem-cell research. His leadership in the effort to require all electronic voting machines to produce a verifiable paper trail has garnered national attention. His background in science, and his devotion to the scientific method in researching and analyzing complex public issues, has earned him widespread respect among his colleagues in Washington.
Rep. Holt has also benefited greatly from the redrawing of his 12th Congressional District which includes the Princetons, West Windsor and Plainsboro following the 2000 Census; what was once a Republican bastion has morphed into what some observers now consider a fairly safe Democratic seat. This, in part, may explain why his Republican challenger this year is little-known former Helmetta Borough Councilman Joseph Sinagra.
Mr. Sinagra’s campaign is built largely on a platform supporting President George W. Bush "stay the course" in Iraq, cut taxes, outlaw abortion (except when the health of the mother is in danger), ban embryonic stem-cell research. On two issues illegal immigration and the minimum wage he moves well to the right of the president, railing against "amnesty" for undocumented aliens and calling for abolition of minimum-wage laws.
Rep. Holt is the clear choice in this race.
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In the neighboring 7th Congressional District, which includes Montgomery and Rocky Hill, incumbent Republican Rep. Mike Ferguson continues to impress us with his sincerity, his principled stand on issues and his willingness, on occasion, to buck his party’s leadership on matters ranging from gun control to the minimum wage.
But on balance, Rep. Ferguson’s principles tend to guide him toward policy positions that are out of step with those of his constituents. An implacable foe of abortion and embryonic stem-cell research, and a slavish defender of the Bush administration’s rose-colored assessment of the war in Iraq, the three-term congressman is, in our view, out of the mainstream, even in the Republican-leaning 7th District.
His opponent, Assemblywoman Linda Stender, a former mayor of Fanwood and Union County freeholder, rejects Rep. Ferguson’s assertion that the U.S. forces are "making progress" in Iraq. She sensibly calls for diplomatic efforts to rebuild America’s standing around the world, and to redouble our nation’s efforts to achieve energy independence. She vows to fight against the GOP’s assault on programs that provide assistance to the poor and the middle class, and to roll back tax cuts that have benefited only the wealthy.
Assemblywoman Stender characterizes this race as "stay the course vs. change direction." We agree. We encourage voters who believe, as we do, that a change of direction in needed in Washington to elect Linda Stender to Congress.

