Two challenge Pallone for 6th District seat
Ocean protection, energy policy, health care among issues
BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer
In a district that spans from coastal Monmouth towns to the urban neighborhoods of Edison, issues run the gamut from health care to energy alternatives.

This year's race for a two-year term in the U.S. Congress' 6th District has two challengers seeking to unseat incumbent Democratic Congressman Frank Pallone Jr., who has represented the district for the past 20 years and is seeking election to his 11th term.

Pallone is being challenged by Robert McLeod, a Republican from Keyport, and Herbert Tarbous, of Piscataway, an independent candidate from the northern section of the district.

McLeod, an attorney and former Holmdel Municipal Court judge, said he wants to address issues not now being addressed.

Those issues, McLeod said, include the national deficit and unfunded liabilities.

"They don't want to address things such as the huge deficit they just added $10 trillion to, and they don't want to address the unfunded liabilities such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid with a deficit of $54 trillion," McLeod said. "This government runs the economy on debt and consumption. Between our government and the citizenry, we have built a house of cards, because we owe twice what we are worth."

To address these issues, McLeod said he would keep them in the forefront by talking about them.

"I want to keep talking about it," he said. "I am not in favor of tax cuts until we can bring the deficit under control."

McLeod said he wants to bring spending in line with revenue and assets.

"Besides the macroeconomics, I think we need to address patrolling illegal immigrants and tighten it up, because illegal immigrants send money out of our country and they do not contribute to income taxes and Social Security," McLeod said. "I also want to, what I call 'regularize' health care, by incrementally changing the administrative aspects of health care."

McLeod said he is also in favor of offshore drilling.

"Drill here, drill now, pay less," McLeod said. "The danger from [offshore drilling] is very minimal in regard to oil contamination in the ocean, and according to NASA [National Aeronautics and Space Administration] and the Smithsonian [Institution], most oil contamination in the ocean is the result of runoff and ship maintenance and tanker spills when oil is imported."

McLeod said his primary goal is to forge an alliance between Republicans Democrats.

"I want to try to forge an alliance between moderate Republicans and so-called 'Blue-Dog Democrats' and to be part of it in the middle," he said. "I have the knowledge and experience and I have the ability to analyze a balance sheet."

McLeod said that before becoming a municipal court judge, he was a councilman in Keyport. He is currently retired but still practices law and is still special counsel to Union Beach.

Pallone, who has a long track record of supporting environmental legislation, said he would continue to make health care reform and environmental issues a priority.

"I want to continue to concentrate on health care and environmental concerns," Pallone said in an Oct. 23 interview. "I have chaired several committees regarding the environment and health care issues. These are things that are of great importance to our district and they are issues that I have spent a lot of time on."

Pallone, Elberon, said he fought to eliminate ocean dumping off the coast of Monmouth County.

"I worked on the Clean Ocean Zone Act alongside Clean Ocean Action, and what that act does is ban industrial uses of our ocean off the New Jersey coast," Pallone explained. "It permanently stops offshore drilling, which I am opposed to, and allows for renewable energy technologies such as windmills."

Pallone said that if re-elected, he would like to see New Jersey and the rest of the country move away from the use of fossil fuels.

"The goal is to try to get the Clean Ocean Zone Act passed so we can move away from using fossil fuels," Pallone said. "I have also worked on the Beach Protection Act of 2007, championing the idea that people should know if the water they swim in is clean."

Pallone said that legislation promotes testing beach waters and closing beaches when pollution levels are high to help protect recreational users of the ocean waters.

P

allone also chairs the House Health

Care Subcommittee, working on bills to provide greater safety in drugs and to enforce the monitoring of drugs.

"I would like to work on health care reform similar to [Barack] Obama's, where there is a national insurance pool similar to what federal employees receive," Pallone explained. "People would be able to buy into the national pool, and there will be subsidies to help people pay. It would also expand on the New Jersey Family Care Plan for people who can't afford health insurance for their kids."

Pallone said he believes that one of the most important issues to the people of the district is the prevention of pollution of the ocean.

"Before I started working, there were about a dozen ocean dumping sites," Pallone said. "Gradually, through my efforts and through legislation, we have eliminated those sites. I have provided funding for beach replenishment and I have also worked to clean up Superfund sites, since New Jersey has more Superfunds than any other state in the union."

Before Pallone was elected to represent the district, he was a Long Branch councilman and a maritime attorney handling issues related to shipping and marinas.

Tarbous said he would like to create a political party someday and is running in this election to educate people about the process.

"After running for Congress in 2006, I learned a lot about the electoral process, and really, it is written into our law for one of the two major political parties to succeed," Tarbous said in an Oct. 23 interview. "I am running because I don't think the [Democratic and Republican parties] serve the electorate. Besides, my conscience won't allow me to sit on the sidelines.

"I am running to learn more about how our system works and to talk to people about New Jersey and our specific issues," he said. "Our political process is an uphill battle, so I am really trying to inspire other people to get involved and run for office. I do see a way to change, and it can be done."

As for the issues, Tarbous said he has opinions but doesn't think the district needs more opinions.

"I have opinions, but there are plenty of opinions out there," he said. "There is no one in [Washington, D.C.] who wants to build consensus. I do. I could see myself in a role more like a moderator."

Tarbous said his approach to issues begins with their principles.

"I shy away on taking positions on issues, not because I don't feel a certain way, but because I want people to take a closer look at the issue itself," he explained. "Take abortion, for instance. I cannot tell a woman what to do with her body."

As for offshore drilling, a hot topic in the district, Tarbous said he isn't for it or against it.

"I look at both positions. Pallone doesn't want us to touch it, but McLeod wants to drill now," Tarbous said. "I have a combination approach. First, the oil is out there off our shores, so it is there if we need it. But second, oil is not the way to energy for us anymore. We need to ask what are some cleaner, more sustainable ways to create energy."

An engineer for AT&T in Middletown, Tarbous said he does have an interest in financial issues.

"I would like to reform credit card companies, because they are abusive and corruptive," he said.

Tarbous said he believes that he is a good candidate for Congress because he has always been commended on his analytical skills.

"I have always been given great feedback on how I analyze things, and I have always been someone who can bring people together," he said. "That is what is missing in Congress. I am also a trained facilitator, and that's what's needed, not more people with agendas; we have enough of that. We need someone who won't be a slave to the Democrats or the Republicans."