New Study Shows New Jersey Lagging COVID Job Recovery

LD-16 Candidates Say the Time is Now to Elect Small Business Advocates

Somerville, NJ – According to an April 29 report from Fitch Ratings, which relied on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and reported by NBIZ, New Jersey gained back just half the jobs it lost during COVID, lagging nationally and falling behind other states in the region like Pennsylvania and Delaware.

Republican legislative candidates in the 16th district, Mike Pappas, Vinny Panico and Joe Lukac released a joint statement declaring that now is the time to elect small business advocates to public office:

“Assemblymen Zwicker, Freiman and Mayor Jaffer are politicians that are part of the problem. They dumped 100% of the pain of the pandemic on the shoulders of the private sector and in particular small business. Now, their tax, spend and borrow first, ask questions later mentality is compounding the problem and stymieing recovery. We need elected leaders that will advocate for small business and foster and nurture their needs in this critical time. We are running because we have the experience and commitment to make that happen.”

Mike Pappas is a former Congressman with a distinguished record of public service. He brings valuable knowledge for the small business community in their crucial time of need, having served in the United State Small Business Administration as the Regional Administrator covering New Jersey.

Vinny Panico is a millennial businessman and the President of the Hunterdon Central Board of Education. He has successfully managed to implement fiscally responsible policies that have eliminated debt while still expanding student programs and building new facilities.

Joe Lukac is a veteran and IBEW Local 102 member and no stranger to tough elections as a sitting Councilman in Manville. He has been a strong advocate for smart budgeting and successfully fought to bring his hometown hundreds of thousands of dollars in new school funding.