Potosnak Formally Kicks Off Campaign Against Rep. Lance

In a small ceremony designed to highlight small business issues, Democratic nominee Ed Potosnak formally kicked off his months old campaign to unseat Republican Congressman Leonard Lance on Wednesday.

Potosnak choose the Organigaya Cafe in North Plainfield for the launch ceremony, explaining he wanted to highlight the issues facing owner Paul Alirnagues and other small business owners. Potosnak, a Bridgewater native, lives within walking distance to the cafe.

The Organigaya Café is an aspiring certified organic eatery, with plans currently in place to build a kitchen with Alirangues planning to add two to five jobs to his workforce. When Alirangues applied for a small business loan to fund his expansion, the bank told him the transaction would have to wait because of a delay in the passage of the American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010, commonly known as a bill expanding unemployment benefits—a bill Lance has opposed. The bill passed a procedural hurdle in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday with newly appointed Sen. Carte Goodwin (D-West Vir.) providing the 60th vote to move to a final vote. President Obama is expected to sign the bill within the week.

In a speech made by Alirangues in the location of his future kitchen, he said that Lance's vote against the bill, which includes provisions for $17 billion in business tax relief and the extension of credit to small businesses, proved where Lance's loyalties lie: "with the big banks and big businesses that export jobs overseas and not with the people right here in his own district."

Alirangues comments flow with a theme generating from Potosnak's campaign in recent days, criticizing Lance's acceptance of campaign donations from industies regulated by the financial services committee, where he serves as a member. Lance's vote was in line with other House Republicans, who said they were concerned with the funding mechanisms of the legislation.

The bank documents for the cafe's loan were also signed on Wednesday.

After being introduced by Alirangues, Potosnak, a former chemistry teacher at Bridgewater-Raritan Regional High School and former congressional aide, took the podium. He labeled Lance as "a third generation career politician" whom Potosnak said is more interested in reelection than he is in the people whom he represents.

Lance, a Hunterdon County resident, is a former minority leader of the state senate. His father and grandfather both previously served in the state senate. He has been a frequent visitor to Springfield in the last year, appearing at events like the Township's reorganization meeting and its Fourth of July ceremony. 

Potosnak said he'd like to "get rid of the career politicians in Washington and elect real world people."

"My intention," Potosnak said, "is to represent the families and businesses in the seventh congressional district and ensure that they have all the tools they need to be successful."

Potosnak said the he is running for Congress because "America needs to get its edge back... American is losing its edge because of divisive politics."

Potosnak defended holding a formal announcement ceremony in July despite being a candidate for months and winning the Democratic nomination in the June primary, saying no rule dictates the timing of an official candidacy announcement. He decided to make a formal statement launching his campaign now despite it having been underway for months.

Potosnak was joined at his announcement by Somerset County Democratic Chairwoman Peg Schaffer and a small crowd.

As a science teacher, Potosnak said that it is important to him that students be able to afford college. He said that the future is in our classrooms and that education is also vital to our economy. "The seventh congressional district has the best schools in the country," he said, "and I want to make them better."

He said that despite the seventh district having an impressive graduation rate, there are still students who do not graduate. Those non-graduating students equate to billions of dollars lost from our economy, Potosnak said.

Potosnak spent time in D.C as an Albert Einstein Fellow during which he worked as an aide to Rep. Mike Honda (D-Cal.). 

"Having a sustainable energy economy is our future," he said, "making sure we're investing in the right things to have clean air and clean water and clean land."

One energy related policy that Potosnak does not support is the current cap and trade rule. He said that the concept is one of good intent; however with current regulations in place, it is the families that end up paying with higher prices. Instead, Potosnak supports a cap and dividend system, which he says will truly make the big polluters pay and incentivize green practices.

Lance voted for the cap and trade bill in 2009, which he was criticized for during this spring's Republican primary against three more conservative challengers including Hunterdon County businessman David Larsen and Westfield businessman Bruce Baker. Lance easily prevailed in the primary.

Potosnak also said that he supports lower taxes, but in order to balance the budget, which he says is a high priority, "We need to make some tough decisions about where we spend our money."

He said that too much is being spent on America's two wars, which according to him have been largely unpaid for and have driven up the deficit and national debt.

At home, Potosnak said, "We face very difficult times with regard to ensuring the safety and security of Americans," He said that he supports terrorism prevention efforts implemented by the Department of Homeland Security, as long as the freedoms and rights of Americans are respected.

Lance has been stressing his work on financial and budgetary policy during his reelection campaign. He has been citing his authorship of the state constitutional amendment in 2008 that prohibits state borrowing without voter approval, along with his work on state budget committees. Lance is considered an expert on state finances.

Long considered a moderate Republican, Lance has garnered strong institutional support within the Republican party. Several Democratic leaders have told Patch that they expect Lance to easily win reelection and do not expect Potosnak to receive much party support. Potosnak's campaign points to an internal campaign poll showing the Democrat four points behind Lance and notes that he has gained endorsements from the Democratic party organizations in the four counties making up the district..

Lance was first elected in 2008 succeeding former Rep. Mike Ferguson (R-New Providence). He defeated Democratic nominee Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D-Fanwood) in the general election after winning a seven way Republican primary over such candidates as gubernatorial progeny Kate Whitman, former Scotch Plains Mayor Martin Marks and former Summit Common Council President P. Kelly Hatfield.