Posted on 07/12/2003 10:27:35 AM PDT by Frank Burns
Traier running for freeholder, and history
Wednesday, July 9, 2003
By KIBRET MARKOS HERALD NEWS
John Traier says he is "not the trailblazer type."
Running for Passaic County freeholder for the first time this year, the GOP chairman in Clifton says his only agenda is to make county government more accountable and financially responsible, do away with patronage jobs, and stop property tax increases.
Although his platform may not sound pioneering, Traier, 46, is blazing at least one trail: He is the first openly gay political candidate in Passaic County.
"I have always been out. I have always been honest about it," he said. "I am who I am."
Traier, who has been with his partner for 17 years, stresses that his sexual orientation plays no role in his bid for office.
"I am more than just 'an openly gay candidate,'" said Traier, who has an accounting firm in Clifton. "There is no smart planning in this county, and that's what I want to bring to the table. I am running for all citizens of Passaic County."
The leaders of the Passaic County Republican Organization, who unanimously endorsed Traier as a freeholder candidate on March 9, say his agenda is all that matters.
"We don't judge anybody on their sexual orientation. We judge them on their whole person," said Republican Freeholder Michael Mecca, chairman of the organization.
"John is working real hard, and we respect his ability to work with the county budget. That's why we put him on the ticket."
But gay rights groups say Traier's sexual orientation is too significant to be overlooked.
"I know of no politician in New Jersey who is openly gay," said Mark Mead, a spokesman for Log Cabin Republicans, a national non-profit group that supports gay rights.
New Jersey is one of the first states to introduce laws to protect gays from discrimination. But unlike California, New York, and Georgia, the political arena in New Jersey is not known for being gay-friendly, Mead said.
Traier's campaign could help change that, he added.
"This just shows that mainstream America is becoming more comfortable with gays," Mead said.
Michael Adams, director of education and public affairs at Lambda Legal, a group advocating gay rights, agreed.
"This is a great step forward," he said. "There are more gay public officials than we have seen previously, but gay people are still underrepresented in public office."
Traier is a lifelong resident of Clifton and attended public schools.
He studied economics and accounting at Rutgers University and in the 1990s was acting commissioner of the state Department of Banking and Insurance. He opened his accounting firm in 2001.
Traier became the city's GOP chairman in 1990. He ran for the Clifton Board of Education last year, winning the highest vote total. Traier describes himself as a moderate Republican on social issues and a conservative on fiscal issues.
Traier credited the county GOP organization for endorsing him despite the popular belief that the party is too conservative to accept gays.
"It shows a lot of enlightenment in the party," he said.
He predicted that more gay candidates will run for office in the coming years.
"I think most voters in New Jersey don't care about your sexual orientation," he said. "And when more gay people come out, it won't be such a big deal to run for office as a gay person."
Kibret Markos' e-mail address is markos@northjersey.com
Well, McGreevey is close enough.
| How about the new highway named for Clinton in his home stste of Arkansas? It's a little crooked, and has a long yellow streak down the center. Be careful if you drive on it, it's a little slick. Manufacturers announced today that they will be stocking America's shelves this week with "Clinton Soup, to honor one of the nation's most distingushed men". It consists primariy of a weenie in hot water. |
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SMART PLANNING = RINO
Apparently Republicans who know him don't go
along with blind hatred in evaluating the man. Imagine that.
"The leaders of the Passaic County Republican Organization,
who unanimously endorsed Traier as a freeholder candidate
on March 9, say his agenda is all that matters."
If he succeeded at that I wouldn't care if head had green skin and two heads. NJ is rife w/ no-show do-nothing patronage jobs.
do away with patronage jobs
Every politician in New Jersey says this, and every politician in New Jersey has an otherwise unemployable brother in law with a $120,000 toll collecting job.
and stop property tax increases.
I’ll believe it when I see it.
Cut taxes and you have my vote. I don’t care if you sleep with a mule.
He probably lost the Catholic and Evangelical vote.
Clifton ping!
SMART PLANNING = RINO
a Whitman appointee
Uh........nevermind. Speaking of politicans, I was at our church's feast last night (volunteering) and the Republican's candidate for Congress of our district was there, George Ajjan. It would be nice it Pascrell out of office.
"I know of no politician in New Jersey who is openly gay," said Mark Mead, a spokesman for Log Cabin Republicans, a national non-profit group that supports gay rights. >>
Now we have 2, McGreevey and Traier. One on each side.
Homosexual Agenda Ping - more weirdness from NJ. Why don't homosexuals stay in the Dem'o'crap party where they belong?
Pingify Scripter and me if anyone wants on/off this pinglist.
Their long range goal is to take over the Republicans in the same way they have taken over the Democrats, and the churches.
Unfortunately, my question was rhetorical, because I was afraid the answer would be just as you stated.
Dominance and total control by those whose specialness is their sexual dysfunction, less than 2% of the population, and who claim they want only "tolerance" and "diversity".
It's almost beyond belief when you consider the whole thing deeply. And really, conservatives have only ourselves to blame. We could have (should have!) stopped this thing years ago, but we (generally speaking) didn't have the guts/spines/courage to stand up and denounce the "gay" agenda for what it is. Conservatives, who should have known better, acted like wimps, pushovers, and Mr. Milquetosts in the face of the radical homosexual agenda.
What is it? Sow the wind, you reap the whirlwind? Well, we watched the wind being sown, and now the whirlwind gets us all.
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