David Longenhagen, who ran for city council last year, has jumped into the state Assembly race in the 31st District as an independent candidate in the June Democrat primary.
This is Longenhagen’s second attempt to become the Democratic candidate for state Assembly. He ran as an independent Democrat in 1997 as well.
“The last time when I ran for Assembly, I got 10,600 votes,” he said.
Oddly enough, his son ran for the state Assembly as a Republican in Middlesex County against Perth Amboy Mayor Joe Vas in the late 1990s.
With the city waiting for the Hudson County Democratic Organization to announce its candidates for the district that State Senator and Bayonne Mayor Joseph Doria is expected to head, Longenhagen was actually the first candidate to announce, pre-dating Councilman Anthony Chiappone’s announcement earlier this month by a few days.
Longenhagen is expected to be running against Incumbent Assemblyman Louis Manzo, and other candidates to be named later.
Longenhagen became a familiar sight in Bayonne during last year’s municipal election when he toured the town in a car covered with campaign signs and a public address system calling out the vote – harkening back to the roots of American political campaigns when politicians often stood on soap boxes on street corners and broadcast their message to the passing public.
Longenhagen says this is his way of reaching the people to let them know how they can find him when it comes time to vote.
Yet Longenhagen isn’t one of the fly by night candidates that shows up only around election times. An extremely humorous man, he is also well versed in local issues, and can be seen regularly attending various meetings such as the city council where he serves to keep an eye and ear open to what transpires.
In many ways, Longenhagen’s Assembly race is an extension of last year’s municipal race since his unwavering concern remains the issue of taxes.
“I’m running because I think I can make a difference,” Longenhagen said, during a brief comment after a recent municipal budget hearing.
Although he has not yet officially given his campaign a theme, Longenhagen’s municipal race last year was called “Where’s the money?” based on his opposition to constantly rising taxes and the ever increasing cost of auto insurance.
He believes that people on Social Security and other limited incomes just can’t keep up with the constantly increasing tax bills.
A resident of Bayonne for 29 years, Longenhagen is currently a teacher for heating and air conditioning repair at Hudson County School of Technology. He previously worked as an engineer at the former Military Ocean Terminal, where he led a staff that provided heating and air conditioning services, which he believes gives him insight into the redevelopment of the base.
He has been a strong proponent of using development at the MOTBY to lower taxes, and believes that more should be done to protect traditional businesses, such as those along Broadway.
But he is also looking to hear what the public has to say.
“I am interested in hearing from anyone with regard to concerns that you may have in this district,” he said. “I vow to you that I will do my utmost to address any and all of your concerns.”
People can contact him through his email address at chessman_2@juno.com.
“If elected, I would not have a problem working with the current Legislators within Hudson County, most importantly current State Senator Joseph V. Doria, Jr.,” he said. “I further promise that when elected, I will forfeit one half of my yearly salary to such worthy organizations as the PAL and the Boys and Girls clubs. I look forward to hearing from you, regarding the upcoming election.”