LD26 Assembly Candidate Christine Clarke Receives the Endorsement of Clean Water Action

Jefferson Twp., NJ:   26th Legislative District State Assembly candidate Christine Clarke has received the endorsement of Clean Water Action.  The group also endorsed her running mate, Laura Fortgang.

Clean Water Action is a leader in New Jersey’s environmental conservation movement. Clarke has worked with members of the group in her capacity as a grassroots organizer for several years leading up to her run for office, and is thrilled by the organization’s support of her run for State Assembly.

Clean Water Action keeps a scorecard of New Jersey legislators’ performance voting on issues related to conservation of natural resources, protecting people from polluters and climate impacts, minimizing environmental threats to public health and accelerating the transition to clean energy.  In Clean Water Action’s 2015-2017 Scorecard, 26th District incumbents Jay Webber (R-26) and Betty Lou DeCroce (R-26) received scores of 13% and 4% respectively out of a possible 100% on their Assembly votes relative to clean water.  DeCroce’s 4% score is the third-lowest score among all members of the New Jersey Legislature.

By contrast, Clarke has a record of environmental activism, and specifically a focus on cross-organization collaboration to advance environmental awareness, promoting new innovative ideas in environmental conservation, and advancing renewable energy initiatives in New Jersey.  Earlier in her campaign, she gave a presentation to the UN NGO Committee on Sustainable Development at the Salvation Army Social Justice Commission on the importance of advancing UN Sustainable Development Goals and was invited aboard PeaceBoat for World Oceans Day.

“Christine Clarke and Laura Fortgang are independent thinkers who have fresh ideas for Trenton and are committed to protecting our environment, communities, and public health. They are the leaders that we need in Trenton. We believe they will put our communities first,” the group wrote in their announcement.

“We are in this together,” said Clarke, “and our collective legacy will be determined by the actions we take now as stewards of our environment to protect our children and the safe, habitable future they should inherit from us. We must vote for leaders ready to work with scientists, economists, elected officials, the public and the private sector to build conditions in which New Jersey can thrive through the sustainable energy transition.”

In addition to her role as an Honorary Advisor to the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development, Clarke is a Climate Reality Leader and a steering committee member of the Jersey Renews coalition, the NJ People’s Climate Movement and the NJ March for Science. She is the Chair of the Jefferson Township Democratic Committee and former Environmental Director of Action Together New Jersey.

Clarke is endorsed by a number of environmental, union, civic and grassroots organizations. She has lived in Jefferson for 15 years with her husband and four children.  You can learn more about her at www.clarkeforassembly.com.

The 26th District includes 13 communities in Essex, Morris, and Passaic counties: Butler, Fairfield, Jefferson, Kinnelon, Lincoln Park, Montville, Morris Plains, North Caldwell, Parsippany, Rockaway Township, Verona, West Caldwell, and West Milford.

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