Congressional candidate Gussen visits Vernon

BY CHRIS WYMAN

VERNON — Although many voters might prefer otherwise, Sunday morning marked the only scheduled face-to-face debate between incumbent Rep. Scott Garrett and his challenger, Teaneck Deputy Mayor Adam Gussen. Held in Mahwah in Bergen County, roughly 100 people attended.
According to aide Daniel Ortega, Gussen welcomes the chance to debate Garret anywhere, anytime. In a telephone interview, Ortega said, “Our campaign welcomes the opportunity to engage in an open conversation whether in Hackensack, Hackettstown, or Liberty,” referring to municipalities across the face of the Fifth Congressional District.
Ortega added that, “In these difficult times it is important that those who seek to lead or to hold public office are heard by the voters.” He then shared his opinion that, “Congressman Garrett is notorious for not wanting to debate his opponents in the past.”
Without the opportunity to reach what might otherwise be large audiences, Gussen has instead committed himself to a series of road trips to meet with potential voters throughout the district. Immediately following Sunday’s debate, Gussen headed to Sussex County and visited Vernon’s Nordic House Café. The café’s main dining area was packed with area residents who overflowed into the adjoining hallway.

Questions and answers

Gussen, who as a former Rutgers University football player easily towered over nearly everyone in the room, fielded some easy questions as well as a few tough ones.
The first round of questions concerned outsourcing and its toll on the American worker. According to Gussen, the trend must be reversed and he feels that incentives to business may prove to be a valuable tool. He stated that however it is accomplished, it must be handled now. Gussen said that looking at the upcoming national budget, we must eliminate incentives that aid companies in moving jobs overseas. “We need the political will to start funding that kind of investment in our businesses. We need real bipartisan legislation that says we’re actually going to address jobs," he said.
Rather than describing himself as a liberal or conservative, Gussen sees himself as a centrist and said that “compromise is the cornerstone of leadership.”
Gussett said Garrett is widely referred to as “Mr. No” for refusing to compromise on nearly every issue.
According to a Gallup Poll in August, congressional approval ratings sunk to a 38-year low of only 10 percent. Only 11 percent of independents, 10 percent of Republicans, and 9 percent of Democrats approved. Prior to 2007, it sank below 20 percent only twice. To remedy this situation Gussen said that “hyper-partisanship” must end and leaders must stand up to their own parties, as necessary.
Other topics that were discussed included affordable healthcare, women's health, Medicare, Social Security, and the possibility of the national retirement age being raised.
Acknowledging that gun ownership and hunting are very popular in Sussex County, Gussen shared his belief that "the Second Amendment provides the individual right to bear arms, the court has supported that, and it’s the law of the land.” He acknowledged that New Jersey has very onerous gun laws and that state’s rights play a major part in individual state firearm regulations.
The Gussen campaign said they welcome the opportunity to speak with groups and organizations that would like to share their concerns and listen to his ideas and solutions. Contact information for the campaign can be found at www.gussenforcongress.com.
During the afternoon meeting Gussen was joined by Sussex County Freeholder candidates Susan Williams and Jim Tighe, who are themselves preparing for debates later this month at the Newton High School Auditorium. The debates are scheduled to start at 7 p.m. on Monday evening, Oct. 22.