District 21 Greens

the alternative choice for the 2003 New Jersey Legislative elections

Covering parts of Essex, Morris, Somerset & Union Counties in New Jersey

Green Party fields Reyes

Filipino Reporter / New York City / Year 30 No. 35 National Edition, page 4 / August 15-21, 2003

N.J. Assembly candidate Ryan Reyes (right) with fellow Green Party candidates George DeCarlo and Teresa DiMatteo

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, N.J.— The Green Party of New Jersey has announced the candidacy of Filipino-American Ryan Pesigan Reyes for the New Jersey Assembly’s 21st Legislative District covering parts of Essex, Morris, Somerset and Union Counties.

    Reyes, who turned 27 on Aug. 14, was born in Quezon City, Philippines, to Raoul Reyes and the former Bernadette Pesigan.

    A history graduate of Regents College, he is in civil union with George DeCarlo since August 2000.

    Advocating for clean money campaign in New Jersey, Reyes said the current election campaign fund-raising system allowed by law is a problem not being fully addressed by the state legislature.

    A solution is for choice in how candidates may run their campaigns either with clean money or PAC (political action committee) and corporate sponsors.

    “Cut the ties that bind elected officials to corporations by instituting clean money campaigns,” said Reyes, who finished high school at the Ateneo de Manila University, and elementary school at Claret School of Quezon City.  “Clean money for candidates eliminates corporate cash and PAC money but does not violate freedom of speech as decided by the courts for other piecemeal solutions.”

    Aside from clean money campaigns, Reyes — with his fellow Green Party candidates George DeCarlo for Assembly and Teresa Migliore-DiMatteo for Senate — is also pushing for health initiative (single-payer universal health plan with protection for freedom of medical choice), school funding (end property tax to fund public schools in favor of progressive state income tax), voting reforms (instant runoff voting for all elections), social justice (abolition of the death penalty/full and complete rights for all state residents).

    Reyes is working as cafe manager at Brewed Awakening Coffee and Tea in Metuchen.  Prior to that, he worked with McDonald Corporation in Tano Mall as maintenance crew chief, the A&P Supermarket as sales rep, Mowelfund Film Institute in the Philippines, the World Theater Project, and the Philippine Centennial Commission in Quezon City.

    He is a member of the American Society of Notaries.

    To support Reyes or for more information on the Green Party call (908) 322-4319 or e-mail reyesforassembly@district21greens.org, or go on the web at www.district21greens.org.

    You can also write to P.O. Box 172 Gillette, N.J. 07933.

-- .jpg of the original article "Green Party fields Reyes"

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Contact:  P.O. Box 172, Gillette, NJ 07933 ● (908) 322-4319 ●  CampaignManager@District21Greens.org

District 21 serves Berkeley Heights, Chatham Township, Cranford, Garwood, Harding, Long Hill, Madison, Millburn, Mountainside, New Providence, Roselle Park, Springfield, Summit, Warren, Watchung, Westfield.