Election Profile: Ruth Dugan For NJ State Senate

NJ 39TH — The 39th District's seat in the state Senate is no longer occupied by Gerry Cardinale, who died in February after 54 years of public service.

Republican Holly Schepisi became the first female senator from Bergen County to represent the 39th District when she took the oath of office in April, and will run for the seat again.

"It’s an honor to continue serving the people of Bergen and Passaic counties in my new role in the New Jersey Senate,” said Senator Schepisi. “I’ll do my best to build upon Senator Cardinale’s legacy and continue the fight for affordability and opportunity for all of our constituents."

But she does have a democratic challenger in Ruth Dugan.

Dugan, 73, a resident of Saddle River, has also had a long career in public service, and will seek to win the seat in this year's election.

A graduate of Dean College, Dugan presently sits on the Board of Trustees for the college and is a member of the Council of the Woodrow Wilson School for Scholars.

Learn more about her platform in this Patch Q&A.

Why are you seeking office in this election?

I’m running for the Senate because after working as the Chief of Staff for Ray Garramone, the first Democratic Senator in District 39, I know what effective leadership can achieve in this district. With our current representatives, I see the lack of progress, I see the inability to identify problems and work across the aisle to improve the lives of the residents in District 39, and I plan on changing that. The people of NJ deserve better and I look forward to working together to find solutions to the issues facing our neighbors.

Throughout my career, my advocacy-driven work has led me to serve in leadership roles in a number of different sectors, including healthcare, cancer support, and education. From serving as the President of the Saddle River Board of Education to leading Gilda’s Club of Northern New Jersey, my objective has always been the same – get involved, do the work, and make a difference.

I also know that a good leader doesn’t back down from a challenge. In 2006, I was enlisted to come to Bayonne and to try and save their only hospital. I was able to create a working coalition of people from every sector to make the case in court that this was more than a hospital, it was a vital resource for the city and it’s residents. Together we collected 40,000 signatures that were delivered to the Governor's Office and the hospital was saved. When a community works together under the right leadership, miracles can happen.

What is the single most important issue you’d like to tackle in this role, and what is your plan to address it?

For most of my life, I have lived in District 39. Every year, I watch my children and grandchildren get older and I’ve watched as it becomes increasingly more expensive to live here. Not only are the housing prices one of the highest in the country, but we need to address our exorbitant property taxes and the public education costs.

Unfortunately, there is no uniform, sweeping solution for these interlocked issues. Our school systems make up almost 60% of our property tax bills, and by consolidating administrative redundancies and working with the unions, administrators, parents, and kids to build a better system, we can significantly reduce the economic burden our schools place on residents without sacrificing quality education.

This can be done and it has been done. As president of the Saddle River Board of Education, I was able to create a number of shared services while also elevating the education opportunities for our students.

Additionally, having better infrastructure is far more effective than sending out paving crews regularly. Addressing our infrastructure woes means making sure that our electric, broadband, and water systems are safe, secure, and viable while also capitalizing on a green economy.
Difficult problems don’t come with easy answers, instead, they require creative solutions that bring our community and state leaders together. Abandoning the one-size-fits-all approach, I know we will find effective, tailored solutions that will ensure our communities thrive.

The coronavirus pandemic had a major impact on many aspects of life. What are your plans for the future when it comes to offering assistance to those impacted by the pandemic, and where do you think is the best place to start?

As the pandemic is coming to an end, offering band-aid solutions will not be enough. We must help to rebuild an economy where everyone can succeed. First, we need a minimum wage that allows full time employees to live outside a poverty level. No one should work a full time job and still struggle to make ends meet. Our workers also need predictable scheduling, which will help families to anticipate their income and childcare needs. Additionally, it is time to conduct a new housing assessment to better target development and provide local, good-paying jobs. Finally, we can offer child tax credits to ensure that New Jersey becomes more affordable for families, and more importantly, so they can provide the necessary resources for their children.

In addition to that primary issue, what are the other pillars or your campaign platform?

One additional area that I am deeply passionate about is improving healthcare quality, access, and affordability. Our current medical system is fundamentally broken. Not only is there a care and affordability crisis for patients, our doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel still struggle to get appropriate protective equipment. Additionally, hospitals are unable to maintain the current bare minimum levels of staff, creating critical shortages in care.

These issues are a symptom of an overarching cause: a lack of coordination and planning for this essential industry. Ensuring people have access to quality, affordable healthcare and that our medical professionals are getting what they need to do their jobs is a matter of life and death. I will use my proven record to find solutions to these issues.

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

I have had a long and accomplished career in public service in District 39. In 2011, I won the Garden State Women Humanitarian of the Year, in 2013 & 2014 I was nominated as a Health Care Hero of the Year, and in 2019 I was listed as among the Top 25 Leading Women Entrepreneurs.

Additionally, I have served in a variety of elected positions, including the Saddle River Board of Education, as well as Chair of the Board of Bayonne Medical Center.

I have also worked and volunteered on political campaigns since the 1970s. I have served as the Democratic Municipal Chairwoman for District 39, in addition to being a Democratic National Committee member. Throughout my life, I have been an effective organizer, administrator, and problem solver for the Garden State.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

“Always be prepared to listen to the other person.”

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

If elected, I will work as hard for your family as I work for mine. I believe in leading by example, taking care of others, and fighting for what’s right.

I believe there’s no issue too complicated or task too small for me to solve. I am eager to get to work for my district and give my community the representation they deserve.

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