In this full-length interview, NJ Republican gubernatorial candidate Justin Barbera shares his background as a father of three and contractor, and outlines his grassroots campaign to bring practical, conservative leadership to Trenton. Hosted by Steven Solof of InformTheVoteNJ.com, the conversation covers Barbera’s key platform pillars—ending sanctuary policies and supporting ICE, cracking down on government waste and corrupt contracts, restoring practical education like trades and civics, securing elections through paper ballots, reducing healthcare and insurance costs using NJ’s population scale, and defending gun rights with expanded Second Amendment protections. Barbera emphasizes his connections to South Jersey, citing family property in Cumberland County and local engagement efforts, and proposes infrastructure improvements like broadband expansion and recycled asphalt roadwork. He advocates for better civic awareness through county-run voter info platforms and calls for NJ colleges to help rebuild local press by assigning journalism students to political coverage. Barbera presents himself as an unbought outsider committed to restoring common sense, empowering working families, and shaking up the state’s political establishment.

In this 55-minute radio interview, Commissioner Doug Albrecht joins InformTheVoteNJ.com's Steven Solof for a wide-ranging conversation about his re-election campaign, the current state of county affairs, and long-term priorities. Although the Cumberland County Regular Republican Organization provides a platform bio outlining some of Albrecht’s stances, he does not have a dedicated campaign website. This interview is intended to go deeper—giving voters a chance to hear him explain his work in his own words.

Fiscal Responsibility and Measurable Results:
Albrecht discusses key strategies like holding the line on taxes for three consecutive years while highlighting improvements in public health rankings and infrastructure upgrades across the county.

Modernization and Emergency Response:
The conversation touches on efforts to stabilize core county functions, expand broadband access in rural areas, and respond to public emergencies effectively. Projects like the Middle Mile fiber initiative and South Ave Culvert are explored in detail.

Transparency and Public Communication:
Steven introduces the idea of a quarterly report to help bridge the information gap between elected officials and residents. Albrecht agrees this could improve public understanding and address the challenge of under-communicated government work.

Civic Engagement and Education:
Albrecht emphasizes the importance of teaching local civics in schools, instilling a deeper sense of pride in community participation and awareness of how county government impacts daily life.

Final Thoughts:
Whether you're lightly engaged or ready to go down the rabbit hole, this interview offers a rare, direct window into the mindset and leadership style of one of Cumberland County’s long-serving commissioners. It's a valuable listen for anyone curious about what’s being done—and what could still be improved—in county government.

In this interview with InformTheVoteNJ.com, Sean Pignatelli outlined his platform and philosophy for improving Downe Township through proactive leadership, better communication, and stronger community engagement.

Background and Motivation:
Sean shared his personal journey from vacationing in Downe as a child to becoming a full-time resident. A personal loss in 2020 motivated him to enter politics, determined to help his neighbors and raise the standard of leadership beyond the status quo.

Key Initiatives and Projects:
- Dividing Creek Park: Designed to be the township’s first community-owned park, providing a centralized location for family-friendly events like township-wide Easter egg hunts. The project is delayed due to township officials' focus on the Fortescue sewer project but is otherwise ready to proceed.
- Newport Veterans Memorial: Originally spearheaded by the Recreation Committee, the project was handed off to the Environmental and Historic Commissions. Sean emphasized the importance of honoring veterans and creating more public gathering spaces.

Transparency and Civic Engagement:
- Information Pipeline: Sean advocates for short, digestible township newsletters funded by the Green Communities Grant, ensuring residents receive clear updates without needing to dig through complicated websites.
- "Just Google It" Problem: He emphasized the flaws in assuming residents can easily find information online, pointing to confusion with projects like the Newport Veterans Memorial.
- Civic Education and Local Press: Sean supports restoring civics education in local schools, requiring candidate information packets at election filing, and rebuilding local, nonpartisan press coverage to strengthen voter knowledge.
- Technology Use: Sean recognizes that modern tools like AI can streamline fact-finding and communication when used responsibly.

Senior and Family Support:
- Seniors (via ADRC): Downe’s senior group does excellent outreach, but Sean believes key services should be available online without requiring group membership.
- Young Families (via Gateway, Visiting Angels): Programs exist but are poorly advertised. Sean wants better pipelines to connect families with services like utility assistance and nutrition programs.

Resident Engagement:
Sean’s leadership style is highly hands-on—preferring face-to-face discussions, open-door access, and even hosting public meetings at his home. He supports anonymous suggestion dropboxes to ensure residents feel comfortable sharing feedback.

Final Thoughts:
Sean concluded by emphasizing that collaboration between township and county officials could dramatically improve service delivery. He believes clear, basic communication fills major cracks in local government — and that robust voter education is essential to prevent situations where uninformed voting allows candidates like Charles Laspata, who ghosted the campaign, to still earn major support.