Congressional Election Profile: Lisa McCormick For NJ District 12

The coronavirus pandemic has pushed New Jersey’s primary elections back to July 7. This gives candidates more time to make their case as to why they should be sworn into political office next January.

The time can be valuable for lesser known candidates such as Lisa McCormick, who is challenging Bonnie Watson-Coleman in the Democratic Primary in New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District.

Patch sent questions to candidates in the race, and is publishing their responses in a series of profiles. Information provided by Lisa McCormick can be found below.

Age (as of Election Day)

51

Position Sought

House of Representatives

Party Affiliation

Democratic

Family

Jesse McCormick III, 20 (son)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Attended Rochester Institute of Technology, 1987-1990
Earned certificate in Office Automation, Cittone Institute, 1991
Graduated from J.P. Stevens High School, Edison NJ

Occupation

Publisher, 2006 to present

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Candidate for U.S. Senate 2018

Campaign website

LisaMcCormick.org

Why are you seeking elective office?

The fate of the world hangs in the balance but politics is treated like an entertainment venue by many Americans. I am running for Congress to reverse Reaganomics, restore the American Dream and save our planet from destruction. The coronavirus outbreak represents an example of the kind of danger that lurks around us, just as nuclear instability, the climate crisis and an increasingly dangerous economic divide among ordinary Americans present existential challenges for humanity.

The people who are running the government are not doing an adequate job. Corruption is tolerated and the Democratic Party establishment is cheating, even if less than the Republicans. Americans deserve better and it's up to the citizens to hold government accountable.

The single most pressing issue facing our community is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Corruption. The institutional pervasiveness of this problem is preventing the democratic system from addressing all the other issues that confront people. We cannot afford to live in a country where government is for sale. That's why I ran for U.S. Senate in 2018, and my current opponent supported the crook who was the incumbent in that election. In fact, she never challenged the political establishment or party bosses who have become so powerful that the voters have been unable to assert their desire.

Bernie Sanders declared that we need a political revolution to put people ahead of profits. I agree with that sentiment and I refuse to sit on the sidelines because I believe in the American people. We are capable of justice, integrity, and courage.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

The incumbent is part of the status quo, I represent change. She supported the bill that gave President Donald Trump a $6 trillion slush fund at taxpayer expense without any real oversight or accountability. I have shown that the president used that money to payoff his political supporters instead of being fair.

At no point has the incumbent been effective as a force for the 'resistance' because Trump has run roughshod over his political opponents. This is evident from the Supreme Court to draconian immigration policies, and from rolling back environmental protections to distributing economic benefits to the rich while making things worse for working families.

She also lacks any vision for our future, promising to reset our country to where it was before Trump's incompetence, Fascism and pandemic catastrophe created so much turmoil. That's missing the point. We don't have the luxury of making small changes in our society.

The Reagan revolution was a Republican victory of greater magnitude than is commonly acknowledged. Forty years later, his scheme is revealed to be an utter failure. Reaganomics shifted wealth to the rich but created a track toward slavery for the majority of citizens.

We must reverse Reaganomics and restore our economy to a system that operates on Keynesian principles. We must also transition away from fossil fuels to stop the climate crisis. Finally, we must recognize that President Eisenhower was right about the 'military-industrial complex' which has corrupted the institutions of power in our country.

My opponent is not interested in or aware of the scope of these problems, so she's entirely incapable of fixing them.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

My opponent does not see the 'big picture' or understand the consequences of her inaction on our climate crisis, income inequality and unfair economic policies, militaristic approaches to the rest of the world, or corruption in government.

We probably agree on many issues, but with her $174,000 salary and political establishment support, she thinks it is a little warm while I understand that the house is on fire. My approach is therefore going to be more assertive and successful.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

I am proud to defend the rights of women who want to control their own bodies.

I believe that climate change is a man made problem that is within our power to repair, but that requires urgency as defined in the Green New Deal.

I support Medicare for All, and I have proof that it will cost less than our current system, which leaves 40 million Americans uninsured and another 40 million Americans with inadequate coverage.

The incumbent paying lip service to these issues more than aggressively working to resolve them.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I raised a child, who is now in college on a full scholarship. I ran a business with a dozen employees and waged a statewide campaign that earned 159,998 ballots, a greater share of the vote than Bernie Sanders. I recognized that something had to be done, and I am doing it.

I have been called courageous, but I am simply a caring, intelligent adult who understands the importance of political action. I guess getting to know many elected officials makes it clear that they are rarely much different than anyone else.

America has been fortunate during our darkest hours, to have real leaders emerge who hold the people accountable to the responsibility of citizenship. Ordinary people have risen to meet extraordinary situations, and we have prevailed.

I don't think I am special or anything but it is our American tradition to pitch in when we are able to help make a difference. Perhaps that is much better than inheriting an elected office from a parent, but it bears reminding the public that anyone who is willing to stand up for the people is capable of being a representative.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Read more and expand your mind.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I have described many of my positions on the website at LisaMcCormick.org and I would welcome any opportunity to discuss matters with you or any constituents. I also welcome input from the community.