By MICHAEL SYMONS, LISA GRZYBOSKI
Staff Writer, Gannett News Service

The first-time candidate, running under the Green Party banner, is intent on pursuing campaign finance reform, renewable energy and intelligent growth.

The 22-year-old from Somers Point knows she has little chance of actually winning her bid for a seat in the state Assembly representing Vineland, Millville and the other communities encompassed by the 1st Legislative District. But that hasn't stopped her from campaigning when she isn't working in the marketing department at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa.

"I think it's really important to have a third voice out there," Massey said.

Odds are voters won't elect Massey or any of the 59 other third-party and independent candidates running for state office Tuesday in a cash-soaked system structured to favor Democrats and Republicans. But South Jersey residents will have several alternative candidates to consider.

In the 1st District Assembly race, which has a pair each of Democrat and GOP contenders, Massey is also joined by fellow Green Party candidate Mary A. Snyder and Socialist Party candidate Constantino Rozzo. The district's Senate contest has a pair of independents on the ballot -- Steven Fenichel and George Cecola. And the 3rd District, which includes several communities in western Cumberland County, has two Green Party candidates on its Assembly ballot, too.

"I don't expect to get elected, but I do think the Green Party is making progress," said Snyder, 79, also of Somers Point. "Our views are public now. This election year has been more open."

The state's Green Party doesn't expect too much success this year. Its focus is 2007, when it hopes to attain recognized party status by garnering 10 percent of the Assembly vote in a nongubernatorial year, as state law requires.

"We're not running candidates in every district. Our infrastructure is still in the formative stages," said Jane Hunter, the Green Party chairwoman and its Assembly candidate in the Somerset County's 16th District. "This is part of a long-term ballot access plan, if you will.'"

But they face long odds. Even the state Election Law Enforcement Commission, in a paper published last month, says New Jersey laws sustain the state's two-party system.

"New Jersey's history, culture, and statutory framework have combined to foster a strong two-party system, which allows for third party movements, but discourages their sustainability," ELEC said.

Despite those hurdles and substantial fund-raising shortfalls, dozens of independent candidates run year after year. Most say they're exasperated by the two-party system.

"If you look at it politically, there's no difference between the two parties," said Cecola, of Milmay. "When the budget came up, they were fighting over $200 million so they could make their differences, but there's no difference. It's just a dysfunctional system."

In the 1st District race, Massey and Snyder list campaign finance reform as a central issue and emphasize it's the foundation upon which further reform is based. Democracy doesn't work until political candidates are no longer financially tied to corporations and special interest groups, the women said.

"We're not speaking on behalf of the public, we're speaking for corporations," Massey said. of the current political system, noting she supports prohibiting corporate and lobbyist donations and allowing contributions only from individual voters.

After campaign finance, the two Green candidates' issues diverge somewhat.

Where Massey has chosen to focus on championing clean energy initiatives and taking a long-term approach to residential and commercial development, Snyder is concentrating on public education and prescription drug costs.

The state's public education should be funded through a tax on personal income and not property, said Snyder, who describes herself as a longtime activist. And pharmaceutical companies should be better regulated so that drugs aren't so expensive, she said.

"Until we stop all this warmongering, not much is going to happen in the (United) States because we are so strapped for funds," said Snyder, a retired school nurse.

Rozzo couldn't be reached for comment, but a quick peek at his 12-point issue statement shows him favoring affordable housing, public transportation initiatives, public funding for elections, living wage legislation and universal health care among other things.

"Everyone should have health care regardless of wallets. No fighting for referrals," Rozzo writes. "Anyone experiencing the health industry knows they stand to lose a fortune if they become seriously ill."

As for Massey, she intends to run in the next election, and seeks comfort in the fact that minor parties have forced certain issues into the political spectrum.

"Democrats and Republicans, they don't want to lose their votes to a minor party. What you've seen these candidates do is absorb some of our issues," Massey said. "I told myself if I could just change a couple of people's minds, I would be happy. I've done that."