NJ 3rd District House Race: Kate Gibbs

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Voters will be going to the polls on July 7 for the Primary Election to choose candidates for the Nov. 3 general election. That includes candidates for the House of Representatives from New Jersey's Third Congressional District, which includes portions of Ocean and Burlington counties.

Kate Gibbs is one of two candidates seeking the Republican bid. She lives in Lumberton with her adopted dog Fitz, a 4-year-old dachshund-beagle mix she rescued. She will be 34 at the time of the November general election.

Patch asked each candidate a series of questions; here are Gibbs's responses.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

MBA, Concentration in Finance, Drexel University, LeBow College of Business, Philadelphia
BA, Public Communications and Political Science, The American University, Washington, DC

Occupation

Engineers Labor-Employer Cooperative, Deputy Director - 2014 to present
Burlington County Republican Committee, Field Director, 2008-2009, Executive Director, 2010 - 2014.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

In November 2015, elected to the Burlington County Board of Freeholders. Served as a deputy director 2016, 2017 and as freeholder director in 2018.

Board of Trustees, Rowan College at Burlington County (formerly Burlington County College), 2014-2015.

Campaign website

www.Katefornj.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I’m running to change the status quo in Washington, we need a new generation of conservative leadership that will fight not only for our values but to make a difference in the lives of Burlington and Ocean County residents. I've led the most fiscally responsible county government in the state, cut property taxes, created jobs, and reformed government. I will take the same common-sense, get-the-job-done approach to drain the swamp in Washington and support President Trump to fix the mess created by career politicians and corporate elitists like my opponent, while growing our economy and putting America first.

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

Security. We must ensure financial security, making NJ more affordable and growing the economy to create jobs, as well as protect the quality of life, here in CD3. The COVID-19 pandemic has not only caused great suffering and even death for our seniors and veterans in long-term care centers, but it has destroyed our economy — especially small businesses who are the lifeblood of our communities in Burlington and Ocean counties. I will stand with our job creators and trust them to reopen responsibly and safely, while helping their businesses recover from the economic damage inflicted by COVID and exacerbated by poor decisions by politicians like Governor Phil Murphy. Moreover, I will stand with law enforcement and be a voice of reason and reconciliation to help bring our country back together.

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

For one thing, I own a home and pay taxes in the Third Congressional District, my opponent does not. In fact, David Richter is now registered in his fourth congressional district in just 18 months. That redefines carpetbagger and proves he’s running for Congress to get the title, not to represent the people who call Burlington and Ocean counties home.

Second, my opponent has trashed President Trump repeatedly, been condemned by the Trump for President co-chairs in New Jersey, was business partners with Joe Biden’s brother, opened offices and shipped jobs to China, and profited from a relationship with terrorist Muammar Gaddafi. That’s not conservative and is un-American — definitely not who we need representing our us or the Republican Party.

I am a young woman raised by a single mom in South Jersey who overcame obstacles early in life to pick myself up, put myself through school, rise to the top of my profession, and get elected to countywide office where Democrats severely outnumbered Republicans. When there, I cut taxes, created jobs, and ran the most fiscally conservative government in New Jersey, while investing in services for seniors, veterans, law enforcement and first responders and creating a $20 million school security grant program, to keep kids safe without infringing on our sacred Second Amendment rights and without raising taxes.

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

The Third Congressional District is home to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and a sizable population of veterans and seniors. Congressman Kim sold his vote to Nancy Pelosi (going back on his campaign promise in doing so) to get a seat on the House Armed Services Committee. Yet, despite that powerful job, he failed to secure key investments in Ocean and Burlington counties, like the new Army headquarters, and the VA Clinic he promised to deliver. Congressman Kim also promised to restore the SALT deduction on our taxes, but failed on that, too. In short, Congressman Kim is great at talking, but when it comes to results, he is sorely lacking. We need a doer in Congress, not a talker. We need a leader, instead of someone like Andy Kim who is content being a fairly irrelevant backbencher who takes orders from Nancy Pelosi, instead of leading.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

As the first woman to ever represent South Jersey in Congress, I will be a results-oriented leader who puts people before politics. That includes a pledge to: Achieve a long-term extension of the National Flood Insurance Program and a hard cap on rate increases; enhance affordable health care options for local veterans and their families; bring back federal dollars to invest in infrastructure, our local economy and to fight against the opioid addiction that hurts local families; restore the SALT deduction; deliver a VA hospital to our district; and unapologetically stand up for America first and American values that have made us the greatest country in the history of the world.

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

As a Burlington County freeholder, I cut property taxes and passed three consecutive budgets that spent fewer tax dollars per person than any other county in NJ. In 2018 under my leadership, Moody's Financial Services upgraded the county's credit rating to the highest level ever achieved. While reducing the size and cost of government, I created an innovative school security grant program to keep students and teachers safe, enhanced services for county veterans, and helped to protect the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. In my day job as deputy director at ELEC 825, I promote economic development and advocate for investments in all types of infrastructure that will improve our roads and bridges, water and energy systems and reduce costs for residents and businesses.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

You only fail when you give up. Set goals, work hard to achieve them and do not let anyone tell you that you can’t. That is what the American Dream and Republican Party are all about, that opportunity and prosperity are available to all those willing to work for it.

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

I have worked for the Republican Party and this community my whole adult life. I am running for Congress because I know that I can beat Andy Kim, help take back the House and support the president in growing our economy. I am authentic and a fighter. I know I can make a difference; no one will work harder for the residents of CD3. In Washington, DC, I won’t stay quiet; I will be a fierce advocate for CD3 and bring federal dollars back to New Jersey to make it more affordable for people to live, work, retire and raise a family.