Former federal and state prosecutor and Democratic candidate for NJ State Assembly in the 21st Legislative District, Andrew Macurdy, gathered with a crowd of supporters on Saturday to officially kick off his campaign. Summit’s Bull N Bear Brewery was filled with nearly 100 friends, kids, and supporters cheering on as Macurdy laid out the urgency for fresh perspectives in Trenton:

We need to fight for our children’s futures.  To fight for trains that work, housing people can afford, childcare that doesn’t break the bank, and for government that has integrity.  The hurdles we face in our time often feel huge.  But we cannot throw up our hands and give up and leave it to someone else to figure it out.

Macurdy, a New Jersey native, is a newcomer to the political scene. The campaign is off to a strong start, raising $94,000 in the first 6 weeks of fundraising.

Among those in attendance were former Summit Mayor Nora Radest, who gave the following statement:

I am proud to endorse Andrew Macurdy for the New Jersey State Assembly in District 21. As a former mayor of Summit, I know firsthand what it takes to lead a community, listen to residents, and make thoughtful decisions that improve people’s lives.  Andrew has those qualities–and more. I hope you’ll join me in voting for him to bring real leadership to Trenton.

Chatham Township Deputy Mayor Jennifer Rowland also attended the launch and shared why she is excited about Macurdy’s campaign:

We need smart and thoughtful leaders for our district in the state legislature, especially with the chaos of our federal government.  Andrew is someone who will fight for our residents and help solve problems.

The campaign also released a short video introducing Macurdy and his experience as a prosecutor and policymaker.

Andrew Macurdy served as a federal prosecutor in Newark and a county prosecutor in Jersey City. At the Attorney General’s Office, he oversaw numerous public safety initiatives, including designing and building the ARRIVE Together program, which pairs mental health workers with law enforcement officers to jointly respond to mental health crisis calls for service and currently operates in municipalities around the state. For more information, please visit andrewmacurdy.com.