Newton, N.J. – Mayor Steve Lonegan appeared on the Bill Spadea radio show this morning to formally announce his candidacy for State Senate in Legislative District 24. Lonegan, previously a candidate for one of the open Assembly seats in the district, will now vie for the seat being vacated by outgoing five-term Senator Steve Oroho.

During the interview, Mayor Lonegan asserted that the Republican Party in the state was in “crisis” having abdicated “its commitment to very core conservative principles.” Lonegan pledged to “get the Republican Party back on track” when elected to the state Senate, while focusing on cutting the size of government, eliminating regulations which are crushing small businesses, and reestablishing parental control of the education system.

Excerpts from Bill Spadea’s interview with Mayor Lonegan are highlighted below.

Bill Spadea Radio Show Highlights – Key Takeaways (SHOW LINK)

State of The Republican Party in New Jersey
“We certainly have a crisis in the Republican Party in the State of New Jersey…and the crisis is that the Republican Party has abdicated its principles and its commitment to the very core conservative principles on which, not only this nation is built, but the Republican Party should be standing on and advocating. So, I want to announce today and I’m going to do something about it.”

Declaration of Senate Candidacy
“I’m going to be running…I will be a candidate for state Senate in Legislative District 24 in this upcoming primary, and I will be the candidate in the general election. And my goal is to get into Trenton and get the Republican Party back on track and reestablishing our conservative principles.”

Trenton Priorities
“Cut the size of government and not just reduce the growth but cut its actual size. Take back parental control of our education system…and cut the regulations that are crushing small businesses like mine across the state. I’ve lived it. I’ve seen it firsthand, Bill, we can turn New Jersey around.”
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