Elizabeth Pla
Elizabeth Pla (Republican Party) ran for election to the New Jersey General Assembly to represent District 35. She did not appear on the ballot for the Republican primary on June 4, 2019.
Pla completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. Click here to read the survey answers.
Elections
2019
See also: New Jersey General Assembly elections, 2019
General election
General election for New Jersey General Assembly District 35 (2 seats)
Incumbent Benjie Wimberly and incumbent Shavonda Sumter defeated Tamer Mamkej in the general election for New Jersey General Assembly District 35 on November 5, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Benjie Wimberly (D) | 43.5 | 14,089 |
| ✔ |  | Shavonda Sumter (D) | 43.4 | 14,033 |
| Tamer Mamkej (R) | 13.1 | 4,241 | ||
| Total votes: 32,363 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Robert Cartalemi (R)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for New Jersey General Assembly District 35 (2 seats)
Incumbent Shavonda Sumter and incumbent Benjie Wimberly advanced from the Democratic primary for New Jersey General Assembly District 35 on June 4, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Shavonda Sumter | 50.4 | 3,579 |
| ✔ | | Benjie Wimberly | 49.6 | 3,522 |
| Total votes: 7,101 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for New Jersey General Assembly District 35 (2 seats)
Robert Cartalemi and Tamer Mamkej advanced from the Republican primary for New Jersey General Assembly District 35 on June 4, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Robert Cartalemi | 52.0 | 965 | |
| ✔ | Tamer Mamkej | 48.0 | 892 | |
| Total votes: 1,857 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Elizabeth Pla (R)
Campaign themes
2019
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Elizabeth Pla completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Pla's responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
Homelessness Public Safety Vawa Gun Rights
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
I am passionate about homelessness because no one should have to live in the street. We as a nation take care of the undocumented, yet we forget about our own. A lot of our homeless are military veterans, and they live in the street all the while investing millions into taking care of the undocumented. If elected, I will fight to put a stop to this. I will fight to make sure that our homeless have proper food and shelter and free medical care. They deserve it. I am also passionate about public safety. I have been a victim and so has my elderly mother. I know first hand and no one should have to live in fear and always looking over their shoulder day and night wondering if they are going to be assaulted. No one should have to lay awake at night wondering if they will be broken into. If elected, I will fight to put measures in place to combat crime and increase public safety. Next I am passionate about Gun Rights. Being a responsible law abiding firearms owner, I will continue my fight to make sure that our second amendment rights do not continue to be violated. We law-abiding citizens cannot allow the government to rewrite our Constitution. The Constitution was written precisely for the corrupt government that we have now. Our 2A-Rights shall not be infringed upon and I will continue in this fight for me and for you. Lastly, my other passion is VAWA, the Violence Against Women Act. If elected, I will fight for resource centers to open up in each Town for individuals affected by domestic violence and sexual assault. VAWA has been signed by the White House for many years now. It is a cause that they continue to support, but it's not enough and we need more. We need resource centers, but not secular recourse centers. We need faith based resource centers because individuals are being abused in all denominations of our churches and it is all being swept under the rug. No one wants to talk about it and the victims even end up in prison for self defense and that is just not right. They need help. I am fighting for this even now.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
I look up to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. The woman had class and no matter what she went through, she handled everything with a smile. She never allowed anyone to see her sweat. She was strong and always held her head high.T
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?
The only book I read everyday that consumes my time when I have time to read are the Bible and other Christian based books. As close as I got to watching anything political was the TV show by Shonda Rhimes, Scandal with Kerri Washington, Scott Foley and Tony Goldwyn who played the US President. I guess I would recommend that one.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Characteristics and principles that are key for an elected official are integrity, character, honesty, and don't be a prude. It's okay to have a little sense of humor.The,
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
The qualities that I posses that I believe would make me a successful officeholder are integrity, character, I am understanding and helpful. I know how lead, how to be a team player and I also know how to delegate. At the same time, if I do not know something, I know how to ask questions and learn. I am not prideful. I know how to get things done, and get them done correctly.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
The core responsibilities of someone elected to this office is to work alongside the Senate passing bills on public policy matters, raising and lowering taxes, setting levels for state spending, voting to uphold or override the Governors vetoes.
What legacy would you like to leave?
What legacy would I like to leave? My older sister and I was born and raised in the Bronx, NY. We lived very poor. My father was an Army Officer. We struggled growing up. My mother survived on welfare and then worked in a factory. Her salary was based on piece work. My dad always took care of us though, so we would never lack anything. When I moved out on my own, I struggled as well, worse than my mom did. When my dad passed away, even more. I was even homeless at one point with my husband and two sons. However, we picked ourselves back up out of nothing and we made it. We made it. We moved to New Jersey. Things still weren't easy and I almost died a couple of times, but God is good. We are good now, and we made it, and it is because of all that I went through that I can help people today, because "I have been through and come out of." So, I would like to leave a legacy for other little girls that if I could do it, coming from where I came from, they could do it too because they are strong. Women are stronger than we give ourselves credit for.U
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
The first historical event that happened in my lifetime that I remember was when we were involved in some dispute with Iran when Ayatollah Khomeini was their leader. I do not remember my age, but I do remember that I was must have been in High school.
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
My first job was a fast food joint called "The Chicken Experience." I think I must have lasted one day. My mother showed up and made a ruckus because I was working there and I did not have her permission to work. Mind you, I was about 16 or 17 years old if I remember correctly. I could not return to work after that day. It was so humiliating. She did that in front of everyone there.
What happened on your most awkward date?
The most awkward thing that happened to me on a date was that the guy took me to a place that you could also dance to. I never learned how to dance because my mother raised me sheltered locked up in her apartment. So when he asked me to dance, I told him I didn't know how. He did not believe me. I got up, I tried, I failed, I was horrible, I feel to the floor since the dance floor was slippery. My dress went up and you could see a part of my undies. Lord have mercy, I started to cry. I was mortified.
What is your favorite holiday? Why?
Thanksgiving and Christmas are my favorite holidays because I'm the family cook and I get to make the big dinner for the entire family and enjoy something that I made with my own hands. I show my love with my food.
What is your favorite book? Why?
The Bible. Need I say more. But secondary, I am hooked to the Twilight Saga by Stephanie Meyers. I can read the whole series over and over and not get tired of them.
If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?
If I could be any fictional character I would like to be Wonder Woman because I get to kick serious butt.
What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?
My favorite thing in my home is my recliner that my husband bought as a gift several years ago because it has a heat and massage function. After getting home all pained after work, that is the best seat to be in.
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
You Say by Lauren Daigle
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
Not being taken serious and not being treated like an equal.
Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?
No. I do not believe that it is beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics because that does not make one bit of difference. The people we have in legislative now have previous experience and they are doing a disgraceful job. They are doing a disservice to this country. It is embarrassing. So no, it does not matter whether they have experience or not. If someone with experience can do a lousy job like what they're doing now, I bet a someone with no experience can probably do a better job than the ones in office now and put them to shame.
What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?
Over the next decade, I perceive that New Jersey's greatest challenges will be finding a worthy governor that would step up for the people and stand up to defend our second amendment rights, as well as step up and stand up for the people and take care of our own American Citizens in implementing free two year college education. We need people in office that will run this state like you would run a business so that it will grow financially. Stop overtaxing the poor who can barely support themselves now. Do something about Rent Control because New Jersey rents are sky high and we have many homeless because they could no longer afford to pay high rents for apartments that weren't even worth $600 in the condition they were in. New Jersey has many challenges and the moment we vote out Governor Murphy and vote in a real Governor that cares for New Jersey, New Jersey will prosper.
What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?
I believe the relationship between the governor and the state legislature is amicable only because he's the current governor. Do I think they like him? No. Do I think they will all be happy when he's gone? Yes.I
Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.
I believe that it is beneficial to build relationships with other legislator's. We all must work together whether we like it or not. We are all working for the same nation, for the same Commander in Chief. We are there not to serve one another, but to serve the people and we cannot serve the people if we are all in chaos and disarray.
What process do you favor for redistricting?
Compactness, Contiguity, Preservation of counties.
If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?
I am a General Assembly Candidate, but if I weren't running and/or if I lost the primary and would not make it to the legislature, I would want to be a part of either, Indian Affairs, Homeland Security an Governmental Affairs, Rules and Administration, or House Administration
If you are a current legislator, what appealed to you about your current committees?
I am a candidate, and what appealed to me was the dissatisfaction of current state of the legislative house today. I knew that continued complaining was not going to fix things. I knew that if I wanted to see a difference, if I wanted to see change, then change had to start with me. So I decided to run for office so that I can make a difference, so I can be that change.
If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the legislature, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?
I am interested in joining the legislature in leadership. I wanted to run for NJ Senate, but the position was not open for 2019, therefore, I then petitioned to run for General Assembly.
Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?
In the future, I want to run for Senator.Yes
Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?
I hear the same stories over and over again about the illegal immigration status and how they are disappointed that our government is not doing anything to have these undocumented people deported back to their country. Mind you, I live in an area predominantly of immigrant Polish people. However, they came into America the right way and got their US Citizenship the right way, so it's understandable that they may feel upset at how Congress is doing a disgraceful job at handling this matter.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
2019 Elections
External links
Footnotes
