Contact: Ted Bordelon

(267) 469-7048

ted@314action.org

314 Action Endorses Christine Lui Chen and Laura Shaw for New Jersey State Legislature

Chen Is a Neuroscientist Running In NJ-23 for State Senate; Shaw Is an Engineer and Entrepreneur Running in NJ-23 for State Assembly

(Washington, D.C.) — Today, 314 Action announced its endorsement of Christine Lui Chen and Laura Shaw, who are running for State Senate and State Assembly, both in their respective 23rd Districts. 314 Action is the nation’s largest and only resource specifically created for scientists and STEM professionals seeking assistance running for office.

Christine Lui Chen released the following statement:

“I am excited to be endorsed by 314 Action as a pro-science candidate. This November, is our chance to stand up for science and fight to take back a key legislative district.”

Laura Shaw released the following statement:

“I want to thank 314 Action for their endorsement.  As a woman in STEM, it will be my honor to serve the public as an advocate for data-based policies that bring transparency to government and hold lawmakers accountable.  Future generations are dependent on our ability to harness our knowledge and address a range of issues from our lagging economy to our threatened environment.”

Founder and Board President of 314 Action Shaughnessy Naughton released the following statement:

“Christine’s experience as a neuroscientist and healthcare executive make her exceptionally well suited to lead New Jersey toward job growth that is built on innovative policies and forward-thinking. 314 Action is proud to endorse her.”

“Laura’s background as an engineer and entrepreneur — as well as her enthusiasm to step up the plate after the 2016 elections — make her a triple threat, and we are thrilled to endorse her run for office.”

About Christine:

• Christine is a neuroscientist and healthcare executive running for State Senate on a mission to break down partisan barriers and expand innovation-driven job growth in central New Jersey.

• Christine was previously the COO of New Jersey’s largest Alzheimer’s and dementia residential care provider and held leadership roles at Johnson & Johnson and Independence Blue Cross where she shaped public policy to improve health care. She studied neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University and earned her Masters from Columbia University and MBA from Wharton at the University of Pennsylvania.

Christine’s race:

• Christine is challenging a career-politician who has voted against legislation for equal pay for women and is a self-proclaimed climate skeptic. The incumbents in the 23rd legislative district are bottom rated by the NJ League of Conservation Voters for their votes on key environmental issues.

• New Jersey is one of only two states with statewide elections in 2017 and Christine has a great opportunity to win in this district and be a champion for science.  If elected she would be the first Asian-American woman to ever serve in the New Jersey State Legislature.

• Christine has run a strong campaign while teaming up with another scientist and endorsed candidate for State Assembly, Laura Shaw. Christine needs your help today.

About Laura:

• After excelling in mathematics, Laura Shaw took up coding in high school and received degrees in Computer Science from Rice University and Purdue University.

• Laura moved to New Jersey in 1981 to work for Bell Labs as an Engineer, and spent over 30 years in the telecommunications industry ultimately managing R&D and starting her own small business to support other entrepreneurs.

• Laura was able to retire just three months before last year’s Presidential election and was shocked into action after seeing its results. Laura became more politically active in her community and decided that she needed to step up herself and run for State Assembly in her home district.

Laura’s race:

• New Jersey is one of only two states with state-wide elections in 2017 and Laura has a great opportunity to win in this district.

• The incumbents in the 23rd legislative district have the worst score according to Clean Water Action Fund’s 2015 scorecard of key environmental issues.

• Laura has run a strong campaign while teaming up with another scientist and endorsed candidate for State Senate, Christine Chen. Laura needs your help today.

314 Action has also endorsed challengers Jackie Rosen (Senate-NV), Hans Keirstead (CA-48) and Chrissy Houlahan (PA-6), as well as incumbents Jerry McNerney (CA-9), Paul Tonko (NY-20), and Louise Slaughter (NY-25).

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314 Action is the largest and only resource specifically created for scientists and STEM professionals seeking assistance running for office. 314 Action is a nonprofit 501(c)(4) that was founded by members of the STEM community, grassroots supporters and political activists. Formed in July 2016, 314 Action has over 225,000 active members and donors across the United States. 314 Action is concerned that STEM education in the United States is falling further and further behind the rest of the world, that our political leaders continue to deny scientific facts and that Congress fails to fully fund scientific research so we can solve pressing issues. For more information, visit 314action.org