---

Newly elected Monmouth County-based Assembly Democrats JoAnn Downey and Eric Houghtaling have received their Committee appointments, according to a news release from the NJ Assembly Democrats. 

Downey will serve on the Assembly Women and Children committees, Financial Institutions and Insurance, and Regulated Professions.

“I am happy to lend my expertise as a former deputy state attorney general to the Women and Children panel, and look forward to working with my colleagues on all three committees to bring forth legislation to help meet the needs of our residents and strengthen our state,” Downey said.

Houghtaling will serve on the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources, Labor and Telecommunications and Utilities committees.

“As a labor official with decades of experience, I am excited about bringing this knowledge to the Labor Committee,” Houghtaling said. “And with two raceways and many horse farms in and around District 11 that employ so many of our constituents, I think I will have a unique point of view for the Agriculture and Natural Resources committee. There’s a lot of work to be done, and I am eager to get the ball rolling on these committee, and moving legislation that will better serve the people of New Jersey.”

District 11 includes Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Colts Neck, Deal, Eatontown, Freehold Borough, Freehold Township, Interlaken, Loch Arbour, Long Branch, Neptune, Neptune Township, Ocean Township, Red Bank, Shrewsbury Borough, Shrewsbury Township, Tinton Falls and West Long Branch.

“Given Assemblywoman Downey’s experience advocating for children, and Assemblyman Houghtaling’s experience as a labor leader, I am confident they will contribute meaningfully to their respective committees, especially Women and Children and Labor,” Speaker Vincent Prieto [D-Bergen/Hudson] said. “As we start the new legislative session, we need all capable hands on deck to fight for our working families, and I am certain our District 11 members will help us get the job done.”

Houghtaling, former Mayor of Neptune, and Downey, a Freehold based attorney, defeated Republican incumbents Mary Pat Angelini and Caroline Casagrande in November.

The Assembly Women and Children Committee handles issues concerning the status of women and families and the welfare of children. The Regulated Professions Committee is responsible for monitoring, updating and amending laws dealing with licensed professions, such as architects or electricians. The Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee is responsible for issues such as banking, finance, trusts and estates, auto insurance, liability insurance, life insurance, product liability, property insurance, and tort reform.

The Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee is responsible for monitoring issues that affect parks, farmland preservation, water resources and the growing agricultural industry. The Labor Committee oversees legislation regarding unemployment, workers’ compensation and disability benefits, workplace safety, employee training programs, family leave, and the minimum wage.  The Telecommunications and Utilities Committee is responsible for monitoring all segments of the telecommunications and utilities industry in New Jersey. The panel oversees issues affecting cable television, the Internet, public utilities, telecommunications technologies, and the energy industry.

[Photos courtesy of AssemblyDems.com]

————————————————————————

Follow the Asbury Park Sun on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Asbury Park Sun is affiliated with the triCityNews newspaper.

---