hear from John Bennett
and Clare Farragher
Lafayette Mills pupils
hear from John Bennett
and Clare Farragher
By dave benjamin
Staff Writer
DAVE BENJAMIN State Assemblywoman Clare Farragher makes a point to pupils at Lafayette Mills School, Manalapan, as state Senate Co-President John O. Bennett listens during the legislators’ recent visit to the school.
MANALAPAN — Fourth-graders at the Lafayette Mills School got a firsthand lesson in civics recently from two veteran New Jersey legislators.
On Dec. 3, the pupils heard from and talked with state Senate Co-President John O. Bennett and Assemblywoman Clare M. Farragher.
Bennett and Farragher, both Repub-licans, represent New Jersey’s 12th District, which includes parts of Mon-mouth and Mercer counties.
Bennett, a native of Marlboro, began his career in politics as a New Jersey Assemblyman in the late 1970s before moving into the Senate in 1989. Farragher, a native New Yorker, has been a member of the state Assembly since 1987. She previously served on the Township Committee in Freehold Township.
In introducing the guests, Principal Mel Reid said, "We’re always talking about people thinking good thoughts, but frequently we speak to you about turning those thoughts into actions. People who commit their lives to politics and run for office serve us and the public. These are two of the good guys who try to make things better."
Teacher Ealeen Abbott noted that part of the fourth grade curriculum focuses on New Jersey and its history.
In his remarks to the pupils, Bennett explained that New Jersey is made up of 40 legislative districts, each with one senator and two assembly members.
He told the youngsters there are about 210,000 people in each of the 40 districts and that the 12th District stretches from eastern Monmouth County to the communities of Hightstown and East Windsor in Mercer County.
The senator explained that this year there are two Senate presidents, one Republican (Bennett) and one Democrat (Richard J. Codey). Although that is not normally the case, it is this year because the 40 members of the Senate are evenly divided — 20 Republicans and 20 Democrats.
"That means both sides have to work together to pass anything," Bennett told the pupils.
In explaining how different committees get their work done and how laws are passed, Bennett told the students how he and Farragher worked on a law which would impose stronger penalties on people who commit certain crimes.
The senator spoke to the children about environmental issues like clean air, clean water and cleaning toxic waste sites. He also explained the job of the Senate majority leader and how he became the senate President, which eventually led to his post as New Jersey’s acting governor for several days in January before Gov. James McGreevey was inaugurated.
In her comments to the children, Farragher explained that there are 80 people in the Assembly and told them there are strict rules regarding behavior.
"The speaker (of the Assembly) is just like a teacher," she said. "In some ways it’s a lot like a classroom. The speaker calls on you, if you want to speak. We have to listen and pay attention to what other people are saying."
The assemblywoman explained that the speaker decides where Assembly members sit, who will be on a committee, who will be the committee chair and which bills will be voted on during each session.
Farragher said her job runs the gamut from attending meetings with mayors to helping determine whether the brook trout or the Delaware River sturgeon will be the state fish.
Bennett said he likes to make time to visit schools, noting, "I think it’s important that young people get to see that we are not just names in a newspaper. We are real people." He said it is very important to convey the message to students about going out to vote.
During a question and answer period, the senator and assemblywoman responded to questions from students.
Bennett was asked how long had he been a senator, to which he replied, "13 years."
Other students asked if the age for driving could be lowered, provided the driver was "good enough and they had their parent’s permission."
Bennett replied that there are safety factors which must be considered and he also noted that the cost of insurance increases as the age of a driver decreases.
"Do you ever plan on getting a job higher than a senator?" another student asked.
"I don’t know. I enjoy doing what I am doing, but I wouldn’t rule anything out," Bennett said. Then came the voice of one female student who asked, "Can there be a girl senator?" to which Farragher replied, "Absolutely!"