Christopher Gagliardi, 28, is challenging Valerie Vainieri Huttle and Gordon Johnson for an assembly seat
After months of speculation, Assembly Democrats Gordon Johnson (D-Englewood) and Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Englewood) will face a primary challenge after all.
But it appears that it will not be a bloody one.
“They’ve done a very, very good job. I have no ill will towards them,” said their challenger, Christopher Gagliardi. “As a matter of fact, they recognized me as a hero in Bergen County, and I am indebted to them for all they’ve done so far.”
Gagliardi, a 28-year-old Englewood resident, was diagnosed with autism as an infant. Doctors would eventually advise his mother, Lynda Grace Monahan, to put him in a group home and medicate him with Ritalin.
“My mother defied them and said I could go places,” he said. “This assembly race will be a great adventure.”
Gagliardi caught the political bug at an early age, attributing it to his mother’s involvement in Robert F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign in the 1960's. He wanted to run for governor, but didn’t meet the minimum age requirements, and his letter to the Democratic Party expressing interest in being a delegate to the Democratic National Convention was ignored. So Gagliardi figured the legislature was in need of someone who will represent the mentally and physically challenged.
“During the time in the 80’s and 90’s, people who had challenges were either rejected in society or not recognized for their contributions to society,” he said. “But with the recent breakthroughs in civil rights with the physically and mentally challenged, I thought it would be appropriate to stand up and take responsibility.”
Gagliardi graduated from Ridgefield Memorial High School in 2002, where he was student council president – the first special education student to ever hold the position, he said.
But Gagliardi never went on to college. After high school, Gagliardi he found the transition to becoming a college student nearly impossible. The environment was “hostile” he said, and “like shock therapy.”
Instead, he works part-time at a Starbucks in Englewood and does some public speaking about autism.
“It is the cause of mine to fight for educational rights for those who have physical and mental challenges,” he said.
Events that took place across the river in New York City -- including a bowling alley assault of a disabled person and a wheelchair-bound student with cerebral palsy being left overnight on a bus -- also pushed Gagliardi to run.
Although he is a Democrat, Gagliardi counts Ronald Reagan as one of his heroes. But his mother noted that Gagliardi was also influenced by outgoing Englewood Mayor Michael Wildes (who has had a historically tense relationship with Huttle and Johnson).
“I think Mayor Wildes in a way influenced him, but they never spoke about it,” said Monahan. “His connection with Mayor Wildes, I believe, helped him feel more comfortable in even trying it.”
Garden State Equality fires new broadside at Dems Smarting over the state Senate's refusal to pass marriage equality and disillusioned at the moment with the Democratic Party majority, Garden State Equality’s 85-member Board of Directors unanimously decided against giving financial contributions to political parties and their affiliated committees. ...
“We will work harder and smarter to protect consumers, to preserve civil rights, to effectively regulate the alcoholic beverage industry, to ensure that the integrity of New Jersey’s casino gaming industry continues, to keep drives, passengers and pedestrians safe on our streets, to assist victims of crimes, and to remember always the importance of juvenile justice on issues affecting the state." -- Attorney General-designate Paula Dow, at her Senate confirmation hearing.
- PolitickerNJ.com, 02/08/10Press releases are submitted by PolitickerNJ users, not by staff. They do not represent the viewpoint of PolitickerNJ.com.
Should ride the
anybody but Huttle wave.
Mr. Gagliardi seems like an incredible person
And the fact is that Mr. Gagliardi might make a very good Assemblyman. Certainly, his life experiences could make him a leader on many issues. However, to make a case for election he needs to have a reason why Assemblyman Johnson (who is really great, btw) and Assemblywoman Huttle do not do an adequate job of representing the needs of physically and mentally challenged individuals, and more importantly, the needs of the people of the 37th district. Otherwise, we fall into the same logical fallacy that the candidate is required to be a certain way (race, ethnicity, gender, social class) in order to represent the needs of his/her constituents. Still, best of luck to Mr. Gagliardi and I hope that whatever the result of the election is, that he can continue to advocate and champion the needs of the disabled community.
seems like a very intriguing individual
thanks for covering this.
Fucking priceless
So, Ferrerio's rule is over? Big K is his own man? Nobody behind the curtain?
Can anybody explain why no Democrat will come forward to challenge these two lame turdz with a real primary?
Oh that's right, they scared.
Weak.
disgusting
RUIZ we all knew it. You are indeed a disgusting person.
Less than a human being. There is a special place in HELL for you and people like you. I am appalled that no matter what the POLITICAL DISCOURSE ON THIS WEBSITE THAT THEY WOULD PRINT YOUR FOUL AND DISGUSTING POSTING.
Mr Gagliardi has more class than you will ever have in a lifetime.
Bravo to him...
... for living his life the way he wants to. May I suggest "CARPE DIEM" as a campaign slogan.
Best story I've seen on here in a long time
Give them hell, Christopher. Best of luck.
Snake Pliskin? I heard you were dead.
paramus
Mr. Gagliardi would make a far better assemblyman than a certain loud mouth low life GOP subhuman hack who has been making a career sucking the taxpayer teats getting appointed positions from folks like Longan. People that are so dense they stick their hands in snowblowers.
Too bad, paramus, that you are unable to get a private sector job.
Reasons for Christopher to challenge Huttle and Johnson
They do not represent District 37 voters anymore; they represent themselves and the Huttle House; they increased property taxes exorbitantly by failing to reform property taxes in the assembly; they failed to increase school funding in the district; Johnson is still double office holder (resign one office already!); Huttle is in direct conflict with her hubby Frank running for the mayor of Englewood; they failed to check the irresponsible Wall Street Wizard and the Master of the Universe from destroying New Jersey; they voted for allowing municipalities to delay mandated contributions to state pension funds; they are against more hospitals in Northern New Jersey; they support Corzine’s budget that raises taxes on families making $75k and up and so on and so on.
I am sure that Christopher could tap into Starbucks management for some info about business taxes in NJ.
Good luck in challenging those two “mentally challenged.”
Padre
for the record I have a private sector job. Better luck next time
you Padre pee on.
Bright future for Gagliardi
Christopher Gagliardi should be recruited to be a spokes person for national and greater NYC Autism organizations. He is bringing attention to a population that is all to easily dismissed and disregarded. Bravo to him. Johnson and Huttle should invite him to join them at event to help raise the awareness of the issue.
This isn't an April Fools joke?
From the article: "After high school, Gagliardi found the transition to becoming a college student nearly impossible. The environment was “hostile” he said, and “like shock therapy.”"
Yeah, college is SUPPOSED to be competitive. You know. HARD.
Now Gagliardi espouses an 'educational right' for the mentally disabled to be provided college degrees?
A sad sack life story doesn't magically endow anyone with "an educational right" to dumb down college so anyone who wants a college degree is entitled to one.
Can't Believe it.!
Read the story jackass. The guy said the environment was hostile and no where in the story did it say he wanted things to be dumbed down. Maybe it should be dumbed down for imbeciles like you who can't read. The only thing in NJ that has been dumbed down are NJ's high school proficiency tests. Crawl back under your rock and go live with the insects where you belong. You really are a low life.
You got it!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for getting it!! I appreciate it very much ham n egger, it means a lot!
chris
Do you think most jobs are tendered better by people who know what they are doing. Well if you agree then i feel chris has done that and been there . WHAT BETTER PERSON TO QUALIFY . He wont have to second guess any choices he makes .To me he is just the person to fight and go places with his knowledge.I dont know the other people i am sure they are very nice . But i know chris and he dose not know how to be dishonest thats in all our favors . So he is a step in front for me .You go chris and win we all need you .
No he said
. . . .college was 'too hard' for him to figure out so instead he is running to represent YOU.
You get what you deserve if you vote for this halfling.
Ruiz
at least this person has the guts to put his name on a ballot
thank you
sohbet
sohbet siteleri
blog
irc
I chose an inauspicious day.
I chose an inauspicious day. It seems that the Democrats, then in control of Congress, had placed the Kemp-Roth tax cut up for a vote. Regards, free movie downloads
There were other
There were other considerations as well, like Crowley’s role as CEO of Amides Therapeutics and whether he would be able to disentangle himself from company affairs soon enough to declare a candidacy. Thanks.
Insurance Leads
the scene in which Arthur -
the scene in which Arthur - the Obama character - confronts the Black Knight (Hillary), lops off his arm and declares: "Now stand aside, worthy adversary."
Regards,
Cobra Insurance
I dont know the o
I dont know the other people i am sure they are very nice . But i know chris and he dose not know how to be dishonest thats in all our favors . So he is a step in front for me .You go chris and win we all need you . Lorenz High School
Dear Hulk269
Hi There,
I wanted you to know that I did win 15% of the vote, nearly 1000 votes. It was very humbling to try something out of the ordinary. By being on the ticket for the first time, i made history in 2 ways: 1) I'm the first person with a publicly disclosed challenge, to be ever on the ticket in any primary and 2) I'm the first person with a physical or mental challenge to ever attempt at something of this measure. I want you to know that this is a win-win-win for all! Please take good care and thank you for your great compliment.
Christopher C. Gagliardi
hi,is very interesting
hi,is very interesting article,very useful,thanks,goodluck
http://www.diggaloo.net
http://tummy-tuck-info.blogspot.com
dsvsvds
Official website for Ed Hardy Eyewear. The lifestyle brand is based on the original clothing, accessories, energy drink, randed by
ed hardy shirts
ed hardy
ed hardy clothes
ertre
شات
دردشة
منتدى شهد
شات
منتديات
منتدى
منتدى
منتدى
منتدى
منتدى الشهد
منتتديات غاليتي
منتدى بنات دلع
منتدى بنات دلع
منتدى الشهد
منتدى
شات
دردشة الشهد
سيارات
التكنولوجيا
دردشة
دردشة
دردشة
دليل مواقع
دليل مواقع
دليل مواقع
Introducing such a topic
Introducing such a topic you'd like to congratulate you've let us know. Have good work
--------
bayrak | reklam ajansları | kırlangıç bayrak | web tasarım
Christopher Gagliardi assembly seat
Good luck to Christopher Gagliardi he hasn't let autism stand in his way getting this far and he is obviously very keen and motivated to get an assembly seat. It just goes to show that a mother knows best and you make your own destiny.
Chloe Bead Stalk
The field of candidates
The field of candidates seeking the state Assembly seat vacated by Anthony Seminerio continues to grow, ..... New York Families for Autistic Children · New York State - Alliance for ... Naked Man Shot and Killed After Harrassing Cousin'. ... DC 37 and Tenants PAC Endorse Frank Gulluscio ..{china dropship}
This is a unique scenario in
This is a unique scenario in the history of the state's political arena. Christopher may or may not have what it takes as others see it. But it's a heap of a challenge for him with those odds. Alvin at folding rocking chairs