In the Nov. 4 election for the district's two state Assembly seats, Republican incumbents Eric Munoz of Summit and Jon M. Bramnick of Westfield face challenges from Democrats Ellen Steinberg of Chatham Township and Norman Albert of Cranford, and from Green Party candidates George DeCarlo and Ryan Reyes, both of Berkeley Heights.

Eight of the nine candidates hail from Union County, reflecting the county's dominance of District 21 politics. The district includes nine towns in Union County: Cranford, Garwood, Mountainside, Summit, Westfield, Roselle Park, Berkeley Heights, New Providence and Springfield.

District 21 has four Morris County towns: Chatham Township, Madison, Harding Township and Long Hill Township; two Somerset County towns, Warren Township and Watchung, and one Essex County town, Millburn Township.

Republicans

Kean was sworn into the Assembly in April 2001 to fill a vacancy. The Westfield consultant with degrees in law and diplomacy was elected to a full, two-year term in November 2001. In January, Kean was elected by a GOP convention to a state Senate vacancy.

Munoz was sworn into office in May 2001 to fill an unexpired term in the Assembly, and elected to a full, two-year term in November 2001. He is a professor of surgery and a trauma surgeon at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark.

Bramnick is partner in a Scotch Plains law firm. He was elected to an Assembly vacancy in February by a sharply divided Republican convention. He is a former professor of business law at Rider University in Lawrenceville, from 1984 to 1989, a former member of the Plainfield City Council, from 1984 to 1991, and the chairman of the Westfield Republican Committee since 2001.

"The Kean-Munoz-Bramnick team prides itself on efficient, successful constituent services and a creative approach to policy for the good of the people," said Munoz.

The team is sponsoring legislation for economic and government reforms, and leading the push for "a revolutionary campaign finance reform bill, known as 'Pay to Play'," according to Kean.

Already passed by the Senate, if approved by the Assembly, the bill "would prohibit contributions to any candidate in public office that has the ultimate responsibility for the award of a public contract, and would prohibit and limit contributions by certain public contractors, principals, officers and individuals," Kean said.

Kean, Munoz and Bramnick are responsible for a bill that would require the state Department of Transportation not only construct noise barriers in key areas along Route 78, but to require the barriers are made of less costly recycled materials.

Bramnick and Munoz are sponsors of legislation that would allow school districts to set up endowment funds and accept public donations, to reduce property taxes and ease school budget crunches.

"Efficiency is not the only thing that can be improved in public education," said Munoz. "As with all things involving children, we also need to make sure that our public schools are as safe as they can be for students of every age."

Democrats

McIntyre, the Democratic candidate for Senate, and a practicing lawyer since 1991, said he wants to bring his legal training to bear on state government. If elected, he said, he hopes to develop a plan "to stabilize taxes and not cut the programs that rely on these taxes."

McIntyre said he might support a gas tax to help support state programs.

Originally from Springfield, McIntyre said that since he moved to Westfield with his family nine years ago, he has seen his taxes rise substantially and as the father of four, he is concerned. He added his neighbors are, too.

"I want to make sure people in our communities know where their tax dollars are going," said McIntyre.

"I would be remiss if I didn't get involved," he said. "Maybe I can make a difference. Maybe I can help people with the skills I acquired in my law practice and that I put to use everyday."

McIntyre works in Newark, handling insurance defense litigation, real estate litigation and matrimonial cases. He said he enjoys working with people to reach agreements on issues.

Steinberg, who won a Democratic nomination to the Assembly by bucking the district's Union County dominance in the June primary, said senior citizens are paying an unfair share of high taxes and she wants to do something about it.

"Many seniors are living on a fixed income," said Steinberg. "They are house-rich and cash-poor. They paid $30,000 to $40,000 for their homes and now those homes are worth half a million dollars."

Younger, more affluent families moving into towns translate into higher property taxes all around, she said.

Steinberg said she wants to develop a program for senior homeowners in which property tax increases would be deferred until the seniors' homes are sold. At present, she said, seniors face tax hikes of 10 to 12 percent per year.

"If you're living on a fixed income, where do you find the money?" Steinberg wondered.

In addition to putting her program in place "within a year to two years," Steinberg said she aims to put her skills as a businesswoman and lawyer to work in streamlining government across the board.

"I'm proud to be running for office," said Steinberg. "I think I can do something. I'm in a position in my life where I can give back. I want to engage the public."

Albert, a Democrat for the Assembly, is an attorney and the father of three children who came to Cranford in 1986. He served on the Township Committee from 1993 to 1995 and as mayor in 1995.

Albert said he wants property tax reform to make sure all state-mandated local programs are funded. "So we don't have to rely on property taxes," he explained.

If elected, Albert said he wants to work to preserve open space by examining ways in which the state can stimulate redevelopment in New Jersey's urban areas. He said he would look at offering tax breaks to businesses creating re-development projects in the inner cities. "One of the benefits to development is an increase in revenue," noted Albert.

Albert said he has enjoyed his work in the law and in local government.

"I'm a strong proponent of participation in the process, " said the Plainfield native. "I thoroughly enjoyed being on the Township Committee. I just see this as an extension of that."

Albert said public service is a vital part of American citizenship.

"I see it as a way of giving something back for the privilege of living in this country," said Albert.

Green Party

Like the Republican ticket, the Green Party candidates are running as a team.

Senate candidate Migliore-DiMatteo is a junior high school teacher. Assembly candidate DeCarlo is an office manager, and running-mate Reyes is a coffee house manager.

DeCarlo, speaking for the ticket, said that if elected the Greens want to sponsor legislation to create "clean money" elections, a new funding mechanism for public education, and a single-payer, universal health care system for New Jersey residents.

DeCarlo said much good legislation never gets passed in New Jersey because politicians are beholden to big businesses that contribute to their election and re-election campaigns. The Green said he wants to limit private monies and campaign contributions to "just enough for the candidates to get their message out to voters in their districts."

DeCarlo said the Greens want to end property taxes as a way of paying for public education in favor of a progressive state income tax.

"The way it is now, if people live in a wealthy community, they pay high property taxes and are able to maintain good schools - teachers, teachers' aides and safe, clean environments," DeCarlo said. "Conversely, the cities are so densely populated and consist of much property that cannot be taxed or people who cannot pay the taxes. As a result, the schools suffer. There are school districts in this state where the schools are falling apart."

If elected, DeCarlo said he and his fellow Greens would support imposing an income tax whereby the wealthiest taxpayers would shoulder the biggest financial burden in paying for school costs.

The tax revenues would go into a single, public school fund, separate from the general tax fund, DeCarlo said.