Congressional Candidate John Bartlett Concludes “30 Coffees in 30 Days”
Listening Tour of New Jersey’s 11^th Congressional District

WAYNE, N.J. – John Bartlett, Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress in the 11^th Congressional District, has fulfilled a commitment he made to voters at his campaign launch last month: meeting with constituents across the District by holding “30 coffees in 30 days.”

“I’ve already had more open, unscripted meetings with voters in the 11^th District in the past month than Congressman Frelinghuysen has had town halls in the last five years,” said Bartlett. “We have a 54-town strategy for victory, and we’re just getting started.”

As a Passaic County Freeholder, John already has a five-year record of results representing and responding to voters in the District. His 30-day listening tour brought him from his hometown of Wayne and other Passaic County towns to all corners of the 11^th Congressional District, including Chatham, Denville, Mendham, Morristown, Parsippany, and elsewhere in Morris county; Sparta in Sussex County; and the Caldwells, Livingston, Montclair, Roseland, Verona, and other parts of Essex County.

Most coffees were held in residents’ homes or backyards, and some in diners across the District.

“We hadn’t met John previously, but we came away from the evening impressed by the depth and breadth of John’s knowledge of the issues, his record of results as a Freeholder, and his commitment to hear out and respond to all our neighbors’ questions and concerns,” said Rob Soni, who hosted a coffee in Randolph.  “He’s a family man, and understands what it’s like to live in our area.  Everyone who joined us was struck by his ability to speak to the issues we’re concerned about, and issues affecting families like ours.”

“My friends and I appreciated the chance to ask John questions and hear what he’s thinking about the issues that affect our daily lives, like health care, college affordability, and environmental protection,” said Deborah Gordon, a teacher who hosted a coffee in Bloomfield. “This is something we haven’t had a chance to do with our current Congressman, even though I’ve called and visited his office many times.”

“These are not just the issues that Congress debates in Washington, they’re the issues I have been addressing for five years as a Freeholder,” Bartlett added. “These issues affect New Jerseyans of all backgrounds, all economic means, and all political stripes, and on each one Congressman Frelinghuysen has shown he’s out-of-step with the needs and concerns of people in the 11^th Congressional District.”

Indeed, the past month provided several vivid contrasts between the concerns and needs of 11^th District voters and the actions of Congressman Frelinghuysen, including:

• Congressman Frelinghuysen voted to cut essential women’s health care and family planning funds (Title X), while agreeing to spend $1.6 billion in taxpayer dollars on President Trump’s “border wall” boondoggle;
• Congressman Frelinghuysen voted to slash federal funding for research on renewable energies like wind and solar, while inflating federal support for the polluting fossil fuel industry;
• Following on the Congressman’s vote for Trumpcare, his bosses in the right-wing Washington establishment continue their efforts to gut health care coverage for millions of Americans.

“Leadership starts with listening, so it was important to me to kick off our campaign by showing voters that I’ll always be accessible, available, and ready to listen and respond to their questions and concerns,” Bartlett said.  “All are welcome to be part of this campaign.”

Join us at www.johnbartlett.com to ask a question, make a suggestion, or get involved in the fun, excitement, and hard work that lies ahead.