Roland Straten is taking his clarion call for lower taxes and school choice to the streets, but he’s putting a twist on the press-the-flesh campaign approach.
Straten, 67, a Montclair Republican candidate for the 8th Congressional District seat currently occupied by Rep. Bill Pascrell, is today beginning the first day of his walk through the district, calling the endeavor "Roland Rollin’ on to Congress."
Each day, he intends to trek about three miles, taking approximately 7,000 steps, until he reaches the district’s southern tip in South Orange.
It could take several weeks, perhaps up until Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
"I need to bring attention to the campaign," said Straten, who realizes a main problem in his first political venture is generating name recognition.
At 10 a.m. today, Thursday, Straten’s walk begins at the Pompton Lakes/Wanaque border, the northernmost corner of the district. The 8th District includes the northern section of Montclair and more than 20 municipalities in Essex and Passaic counties.
"It’s a way to get out there and let people see who I am," he said.
Straten will be following a campaign trailer, one he used in this past Fourth of July parade in Montclair. He is hoping to attract supporters to accompany him along the way.
When he reaches Paterson, where his business, Associated Fire Protection, is located, Straten has no intention of stopping by Pascrell’s office.
The two contenders have rarely crossed paths since the early 1990s, when Straten was chairman of the Paterson Chamber of Commerce and Pascrell was mayor of New Jersey’s third-largest city.
Pascrell, 72, a six-term incumbent, has a cadre of support from his many years in the House of Representatives, as a member of the New Jersey General Assembly and as a former mayor.
This is Straten’s first time running for public office.
A self-described fiscal conservative, Straten is running on a platform of reducing dependence on foreign oil, lowering taxes and tapping into alternative energy sources.
"New Jersey citizens are the highest taxed in the country and pay some of the highest costs for energy, education and health care," Straten said.
"Reelecting the same people to Washington who are responsible for this mess year after year is insanity," he said.
Contact Tanya Drobness at drobness@montclairtimes.com.
