District 5 General Election Profile: Frank Pallotta

MAHWAH, NJ — Frank Pallotta, a former consultant hailing from Mahwah, is running for Congress in New Jersey's 5th Congressional District as a Republican.

Pallotta, 59, and his wife Patricia have two sons, Daniel, 27, and Michael, 25. Their eldest, Daniel works as an economist for the Department of Labor.

Pallotta is a graduate of St. John's University.

Campaign website

www.PallottaForCongress.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

My entire career has been in the private sector so I know what it's like to navigate the behemoths of government as well as the red tape and ineffective leadership Washington is sometimes known for. I believe the 5th district has suffered from having a congressman who doesn't have the ability to lead nor does he have the skills to navigate through crisis. I've spent 30 years in this district, I was married in this district, and I've raised my family in this district. I understand the struggles of the families in the district, and I feel my background, and my proven ability to lead makes me the perfect fit for Congressional District 5 in New Jersey.

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

The most pressing issue facing our district today is that our economy remains shut down, even though all evidence points to the contrary. There are more than 19,000 small businesses in our district and our current congressional leadership refuses to address the economic disaster that will cripple this district and our state for many years to come. Even prior to the pandemic, Congressman Gottheimer has done nothing to address the tremendous tax burden facing the residents of the 5th District, which will only get worse with Democrat Joe Biden’s proposed tax plan. I plan to immediately begin to work on a plan to open up our economy in a smart, and safe way. The only way to get things moving forward is to take a hard stance against those who wish to keep us locked down. Unfortunately, Josh’s response to this economic meltdown will be Biden’s proposed tax increase which will raise New Jersey resident's top marginal tax rate to as high at 60%.

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

My opponent Josh Gottheimer has spent four years in this district doing exactly nothing except kowtowing to his leadership in Washington DC. Nearly all of his campaign money is raised outside of the district and the state, which means he is beholden to his large donors and not the people of the 5th district. He also has been on the wrong side of nearly every significant bill that this district believes to be important. Josh voted to defund the police through Bill HR7120, and he voted to impeach our president. He then lost the endorsement of the New Jersey PBA because of his negative stance against the police. Lastly Josh has developed a reputation in our district of only showing up when there's a podium and a microphone for a photo op. He is not the moderate he claims to be, and has been moving further left over these past two years. Josh is a career Washington insider who worked for a lobbying/PR firm that represented dictators around the world who murdered and jailed their own residents.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

I am a pro-life, pro-second amendment, fiscal conservative Republican who believes in small government and even smaller deficits. I am a pro-business candidate and after spending more than 25 years in the private sector, I can assure my constituents that I will be focused solely on the tasks at hand in the District including standing up for our small businesses, Veterans, Police and Seniors.

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

First and foremost, as a private sector candidate, my experience in dealing with budgets, with people, and with crisis, will be brought to bear in the role. I created through my startup, the first private sector program to encourage and promote timely mortgage payments. The program was successful enough to win my company a Time magazine award for one of the best inventions of 2010. There are two reasons why that is significant: First we helped more than 150,000 people including 10,000 veterans without ever charging the homeowner a single penny. Second, I was able to navigate both public and private sector red tape in order to launch this program in record time. It takes leadership, and private sector experience, to be able to navigate much of the backlog and red tape in Washington DC. Finally my working class upbringing in a District that runs the gamut from urban industry to suburban neighborhoods to rural farms, allows me to work across all backgrounds, and all areas of the district, for a common goal.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

My first boss on Wall Street, Bob Rubin, told our team that it's never enough to simply work for a living. Find the opportunity to serve your faith, your country, or your community. It's only then that you will be considered a success. He then went on to serve as the 70th United States Secretary of the Treasury a few years later, at what was likely the height of his professional career. Hank Paulson, whom I also worked for, did the same thing and went on to serve as the 74th United States Secretary of the Treasury.

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

First and foremost, I'm a father and a husband. Everything I've done in my life, I owe to my God, my family and an unwavering desire to wake up looking to do better than the day before, and have always focused on helping others. I'm a team player and a firm believer that leaders lead. Leaders take blame, give credit and then move on to tackle the next problem. When elected, my entire focus will be on that which is best for District 5. In my past professional career, I always focused on my team, my shareholders and my customers. I plan to do the same in Congress, focusing on the residents, the voters, and all the families across the District.