2025 Candidates NJ Assembly, Legislative District 23 (LD23)
Please note: all four candidates were invited to participate in this Voter Guide. Some did not supply all the information we requested. One did not respond to our invitation.
Candidate Name: Guy Citron
E-mail: guy@ld23dems.com
What do you consider the most important issue facing CD7 voters this year?
The most important issues facing CD7, LD23, and all voters in New Jersey this year, are climate change, support for education, and affordability.
Why are you running? And, what challenges have you faced as a candidate?
Holding my now 16-year incumbent opponents publicly accountable has been the challenge. They do the absolute bare minimum and coast. They are career politicians, and that comes with an establishment advantage. In that light, I am running to deliver real innovation on quality of life, public service, and representation.
What specific measures can you implement to increase civility, voter engagement, and community connections?
We need town halls, regularly, to discuss our common ground issues and take feedback directly from the public.
How do you see your office interacting with other levels of government to benefit your constituents?
Once in office I will continue to attend local government meetings. That is where true accountability lives. Being there to listen to what the public brings up, and what local elected officials are working on, regardless of party, is essential.
What community connections or special skills do you bring that will help your success in office?
My superpower is that I am not beholden to any party bosses because I do not come from a political, partisan, or government background. I cut my teeth in private entrepreneurship, and nonprofit, community service. I can say for certain we have a true grassroots, issues-first, people-first campaign. We cannot say that about the current representatives.
How do you expect to continue outreach and education of your constituents?
We will use the traditional “get-out-the-vote” tools of texting, mailers, and knocking on doors with literature to continue outreach year-round. It baffles me why such resources are only used for getting out the vote.
Candidate Name: John DiMaio
E-mail Address: asmdimaio@yahoo.com
Brief Bio:
Assemblyman John DiMaio has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 2009, representing the 23rd Legislative District. This district includes parts of Warren, Hunterdon, and Somerset Counties. He currently has the distinction of being the Assembly Republican Leader.
A Hackettstown native, DiMaio was first elected to public office at the age of 23 as a member of the Hackettstown Town Council where he served from 1980 to 1990. He was elected Mayor of Hackettstown and remained in that office from 1991 to 1999. Mr. DiMaio served as a Warren County Freeholder from 2000 to 2009. He was elected Freeholder Director twice during his tenure.
DiMaio is recognized for his legislative efforts to support the business community of New Jersey. He was a small business owner himself for over 40 years, operating a family-owned general construction company, and understands the challenges experienced by small businesses. He is also known for being a watchdog for taxpayers, as well as a supporter of farmland and open space preservation.
Questions:
What do you consider the most important issue facing CD7 voters this year?
The most critical issue facing all New Jerseyans this year is affordability. New Jersey has a major affordability problem between the exorbitant property taxes and the massive increase in energy rates. The Majority Party in Trenton has two major problems that they created. The first, that we have seen over the last 8 years, is a budget that has ballooned from $34.5 Billion to an astonishing $58.8 Billion dollars under Governor Murphy’s Administration. This represents over a 70% increase in just 8 years. But budgets are not the only problem New Jersey faces due to Governor Murphy. Murphy’s Energy Master Plan creates a mandate that would try to completely electrify New Jersey. At the same time, the Majority party began shutting down our existing power generation infrastructure, shutting down coal and gas plants, throwing all their efforts behind offshore wind farms.
Why are you running? And, what challenges have you faced as a candidate?
I am running for Assembly to continue to stand for Hunterdon, Somerset, & Warren’s views in the Legislature. In the 23rd District I represent a majority of Warren County, a part of Northern Hunterdon County, and parts of Western Somerset County. Being able to represent the views of these three counties is a privilege and I do my best to voice the opinions of my constituents.
What specific measures can you implement to increase civility, voter engagement, and community connections?
The most important role that an elected official has is to listen and try to assist their constituents with the problems they face. By attending events throughout our communities and hosting Town Hall events, I hope to meet as many constituents as possible so I can learn and understand how to best assist them and their concerns. By connecting with my constituents, I hope to increase the trust between my constituents and I, and to connect with the community as much as possible.
How do you see your office interacting with other levels of government to benefit your constituents?
My Legislative Office works closely with Congressman Kean’s and Congresswoman Watson Coleman’s Office, as well as our county and local governments to best help our shared constituents. My Staff and I have excellent working relationships with the officials across our district, and we do everything in our power to address the concerns of our constituents.
What community connections or special skills do you bring that will help your success in office?
As a former small business owner, I am familiar with the plight that these small businesses face. While facing the unaffordability problems that our constituents face, these businesses also face hostility from the Majority Party as restrictions put a heavy strain on businesses in New Jersey. Beyond my business knowledge, I have a great working relationship with a vast majority of the elected and appointed officials, not only in District 23, but throughout the state. I am fortunate to be able to help allocate resources through these connections to try to address the concerns of the district’s residents
How do you expect to continue outreach and education of your constituents?
My staff are creating a monthly digital newsletter that will share the details of the happenings in Trenton, as well as what is going on in the district. Participation in the community is an especially important part of being an elected official. Attending community events and meeting with constituents is vital to truly understanding how to stand for them in Trenton.
Candidate Name: Eric Peterson
E-mail: ecp@hunterdonlaw.com
Brief Bio:
I am a lifelong resident of New Jersey and a 35 year resident of Hunterdon County. My wife Jenni and I have raised our four children in Hunterdon County. We love Hunterdon County and plan to remain here after retirement. I have served on the Hunterdon County Freeholder Board and currently serve in the New Jersey State Assembly. Outside of politics, I practice law in the Town of Clinton and attend my kid’s sporting events.
Questions:
What do you consider the most important issues facing LD 23 voters this year?
Affordability of living in New Jersey. Affordability is the number one issue with every family in New Jersey. The following
are some ways I would reduce the cost of living in New Jersey.
Repeal Democrat’s Energy Master Plan. The policies adopted by Governor Murphy and the Democrat controlled legislature have made New Jersey less affordable. The Democrat’s Energy Master Plan has caused electricity costs to increase by 20-30% just this year alone. Increased electricity costs makes the cost of living increase not just for operating your home but every good and service you purchase. I support repealing the Democrats’ Energy Master Plan and creating a plan that relies on proven, plentiful, clean and reliable energy generation not just those sources of energy dictated by the Democrats.
Fair School Funding. The current school funding formula is not equitable and does not condition funding on student achievement. The tax for schools is typically 75-80% of our property taxes. If State school aid was based on a per pupil amount and distributed equally and any increase in funding was required to reduce the tax levy, most if not all, residents in the 23rd Legislative District would see a reduction in their property taxes.
Reduce State Budget by 10%. While I was a Hunterdon County Freeholder, we reduced spending by using common sense principals that we all use at home. We asked questions like do we still need to provide this service? Can we find a more economical way to perform a service? The State Budget under eight years of Governor Murphy and the Democratic legislative majority has increased almost 70% almost 3 times the rate of inflation over the same period. These increases have not provide very little or no noticeable increase in the quality of life here in New Jersey. Cutting the budget 10% can easily be achieved without impacting our quality of life.
Affordable Housing Mandate. The Democrats passed an affordable housing mandate which requires every municipality in the 23rd District to provide for a substantial number of affordable housing units. Most of the 23rd District is rural without public water or sewer. This misguided legislation is at odds with our rural way of life and our protection of open space, farming and our pristine waterways. This legislation needs to be repealed and replaced with a common-sense approach to provide affordable housing where there is the infrastructure to support it exists.
Parental Rights. Governor Murphy and his Attorney General have systematically worked to diminish a parent’s GOD given right to make decisions for their children. I believe parents, not the government, are in the best position to make decisions for their children. However, for parents to make decisions for their children, parents must have be informed of their child’s mental and physical condition exhibited and school. Furthermore, if schools want to venture into values-based curriculum, it should be optional, by requiring parents to opt their kids into this curriculum.
Why are you running? And, what challenges have you faced as a candidate?
I am running to continue to be a voice of reason and a voice for our kids’ future here in New Jersey. I have a proven track record of being fiscally responsible as well as being willing to stand up for the values that have made 23rd Legislative District a place we all love and want our children to call home. Due to the failed policies of the last eight years, this is all in jeopardy.
What specific measures can you implement to increase civility, voter engagement, and community connection?
Personally, the best way to bring about civility in politics is to set an example and engage people with varying political perspectives with respect. For example, when people disagree on whether books with sexually explicit content should be in public schools instead of calling your opposition “book banners” and “nazis”, as I have been called, I have always sought to discuss sensible solutions to differences of opinion and values. While I may not share the same values of someone else, that does not make them a Nazi, white supremacist or a fascist. These terms are used to dehumanize people with differing opinions and foments the level of hate we saw occur at Utah Valley University.
I live, work, and spend most of my free time in the 23rd Legislative District. In other words, I am very accessible to my constituents and enjoy taking the time to hear from them about issues and concerns they have about New Jersey and the District.
How do you see your office interacting with other levels of government to the benefit of your constituents?
Since I was a Freeholder, I have always had a policy that when it comes to helping people with problems, party affiliation does not matter, everyone is treated the same. I have always hired capable people whose sole job is to provide quality constituent services. If you need help with something, call my office and they will be glad to assist you.
I know just about every elected official that represents the 23rd Legislative District. These personal relationships allow us to work collaboratively to help our constituents and to keep me well informed of the issues facing the residents of the 23rd Legislative District.
What community connections or special skills do you bring that will help your success in office?
Over the past 35 years of living, working, going to church, being a member of local community organizations, and being a father and husband in the 23rd Legislative District, I have had the pleasure to develop relationships of trust and respect with people from every walk of life, in every industry and every organization that serves our community. As a result, whenever someone needs help, I know someone that can help. Whenever I have a question about legislation, I know someone that is an expert who can explain it to me. Whenever there is legislation that is passed that will impact our community, I know who to call to get the message out.
How do you expect to continue outreach and education of your constituents?
I believe that meeting people and being available to hear their concerns is the best outreach. In addition to living, working, and going to church in the district, I attend as many community events as possible. While attending events, I take as much time as needed to make sure that I meet as many people as possible.
I will continue to provide information on Facebook and in newsletters, and I plan to continue to hold townhall meetings throughout the District.
Candidate Name: Tyler Powell
E-mail address: Tyler@ld23dems.com