Environment New Jersey Announces Endorsement of Burlington County Freeholder Aimee Belgard in Tight South Jersey Congressional Race

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Trenton – Environment New Jersey, a statewide citizen-based environmental organization representing more than 20,000 members, announced today the endorsement of Burlington County Freeholder Aimee Belgard over Tom MacArthur in the 3rd Congressional District stretching from the Delaware to the Shore in South Jersey.

Today’s endorsement was triggered by strong support from Freeholder Belgard on key environmental issues facing the South Jersey districts, including combatting global warming by promoting clean energy, protecting open space, and expanding protections for clean air and clean water.

“To ensure a healthy environment in New Jersey, we need more voices in Congress to fight for action on global warming, measures to clean our air, stop pollution flowing to the Shore and promote clean energy like wind and solar,” said Doug O’Malley, Environment New Jersey director. “Aimee Belgard has shown commitments to solving these environmental problems for New Jersey. As we continue to recover from Hurricane Sandy, we need members of Congress who are going to stand up for the environment.”

Freeholder Aimee Belgard, who is running for an open seat after Rep. Jon Runyan’s retirement, has a record on the environment that is a better fit for the district than her opponent’s. Freeholder Belgard has had a strong environmental record on the Freeholder Board, pushing for more open space funding for Burlington County and strongly opposing a proposed incinerator in Bristol Township. 

She has actively campaigned to protect the Jersey Shore and Atlantic Coast from potential off-shore drilling (a moratorium will be lifted in less than three years) and on the need to protect the Shore from sea-level rise by taking action on global warming pollution from our power plants and reducing fossil fuel consumption.

“I am honored to have the support of Environment New Jersey heading into this final stretch of the campaign,” said Aimee Belgard. “There are clear differences between me and my opponent when it comes to the environment. When asked about the future of energy in America, Mr. MacArthur said, ‘we must exploit every resource.’ He is in favor of offshore drilling and holds direct investments in the Chinese National Offshore Oil Corporation. He is also an ardent defender of subsidies to dangerous polluters. I have always been an advocate for green energy as a means by which to create jobs, reduce carbon emissions and reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and I am proud that my strong record on the environment has been recognized by Environment New Jersey, the Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters and Ocean Champions.” 

Environment New Jersey will be communicating its endorsement to more than 20,000 citizen members across the state and more than 50,000 e-mail activists, urging them to support green candidates on Election Day.

“On November 4, voters in the Third District will be able to make a clear choice on the ballot for the environment by supporting Aimee Belgard for Congress,” said O’Malley. “To make sure we tackle our climate crisis and protect the Shore, make progress on clean air and clean water, support South Jersey’s parks and bring more wind and solar energy online, the 2014 election is a critical time to exercise our right to vote.”

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