(Mount Holly) – Republican Assemblywoman Jean Stanfield criticized party-switching incumbent Dawn Addiego today for her recent votes opposing emergency funding for small businesses and non-profits, saying the votes are proof that Addiego abandoned her principles and sold out to Trenton Democrats as part of her flip to the Democrat Party in 2019.

Late last week, the Senate Democratic Majority – with support from Addiego’s rubberstamp – continued to block attempts by Senate Republicans to increase financial support for struggling business and nonprofits. Addiego voted against an amendment that would have expanded S-3210 to make women-owned businesses eligible, fixed the bill to ensure that funding can be provided from other surplus funds if needed, and added the additional $300 million to support the needs of all businesses and nonprofits, not just select groups. Addiego also voted against consideration of S-2769, which would have appropriated $50 million of CARES Act funds to create a “Minority Business Development Program” in the EDA.

“When Senator Addiego switched parties last year, she claimed that her ‘core values…had not changed’, but her voting record since proves otherwise,” said Assemblywoman Stanfield, the former Burlington County Sheriff. “By voting to block desperately-needed, emergency funding for small businesses and nonprofits struggling due to COVID-19 shutdowns, Senator Addiego shows she didn’t just abandon her party, she abandoned her principles too.”

Stanfield said that the mom-and-pop shops, main street businesses, and local bars and restaurants – along with the working families they employ – are under siege.

“The state has hundreds of millions of dollars at its disposal to help these small businesses and struggling families, yet Senator Addiego and the Democrats would rather play partisan politics than help them in their time of need,” said Assemblywoman Stanfield. “Dawn should explain why if she had an ‘R’ next to her name she would be a ‘Yes’ vote, but now with a ‘D’ next to her name she votes ‘No’. It’s the very definition of putting your party before the people you represent. At this point, though, Dawn doing what’s best for Dawn shouldn’t surprise anyone.”

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