Michael Fedun, a third generation resident and businessman in Montgomery Township, is a partner in a general practice law firm in Montgomery. His professional practice includes litigation, land use, condominium association law and representation of small businesses. The practice, local and hands on, keeps Michael in touch with the community he seeks to represent.
Having been involved in politics for years, Michael is seeking a seat in the Assembly so as to bring the core values of the District to Trenton. As a fiscally conservative Democrat, he believes that the current representation is grossly out of touch, and clings to the failed policies of the Bush administration and the minority party in the Statehouse.
Central to Michael’s candidacy is bringing an end to the American participation in the Iraqi civil war. Most Americans do not support the aggressive, arrogant and destructive foreign policy of the Bush administration, and the vast majority of the country is demanding a return of our troops. While Trenton has no control over the war, Michael is calling for the New Jersey Legislature to adopt a resolution calling for its end, as a number of other legislatures have, so as to bring the grass roots message to the Bush administration that supporting the troops means bringing them home.
New Jersey’s property taxes, the highest in the nation, are everyone’s burden. The problem stems from the imbalanced statewide school funding system that requires wealthier areas to shoulder an unfair level of statewide school costs. Addressing the problem with quick fixes, as has been the trend, at best can only temporarily alleviate the stress, but it does not reach the true cause of the problem. Until lawmakers cease pointing fingers and take on this difficult task, relief will not come.
We are a nation that prides itself on striving to treat all citizens equally under the law. With the legislature providing for Civil Unions for same-sex couples, it took a step in the correct direction, but it was not enough. Until we allow all of our citizens to marry the persons that they want, we are treating same-sex couples as second class citizens, much as we treated people of color for decades. It was wrong to make people drink from different water fountains, and it is wrong to make some people walk different aisles.
Questionable ethics in government is shaking the foundations of citizen’s trust in their leaders. Ethics reforms at all levels begin at home. The Somerset County parks system is fraught with corruption, and Somerset County officials are dragging their feet in addressing the recently discovered blatant abuses and waste of taxpayer dollars that has been occurring for years. Until these abuses are addressed, faith in government will not be restored.
The practice of law requires listening, leading, and creatively approaching difficult issues. Like many of us, Michael has become fed up with the unwillingness of politicians to stop blaming and get things done. He seeks his first political office for the opportunity to forget about complaining about Trenton, and to go Trenton to see what can be done.
Michael was educated in Montgomery’s schools. He studied with the Franciscan Friars at Saint Francis Seminary and Saint Bonaventure University, then earned his Juris Doctorate from Vermont Law School. He lives in Montgomery with his wife Jeanne, their sons Martin, 13, and Noah, 11, and their daughter Hope, 6.
