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In their second of a series of town hall events slated for this election year, The Asbury Park Democratic Organization has announced Assemblyman John Wisniewski [D-19] will be their featured guest Wednesday.

Wisniewski, who has served for close to 20 years in the State Assembly, was recently appointed state chairman of the NJ for Bernie Sander presidential campaign.

In a written statement on his Wisniewski for NJ website, he said: “Senator Sanders’ call for reducing income inequality and taking money out of politics has resonated from coast to coast, but here in New Jersey I believe that the appetite for a new kind of politics is particularly palpable. As a member of the State Assembly for nearly 20 years and a former Chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee, I have seen firsthand the dissatisfaction that exists here in New Jersey for business as usual.”

Held from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at Cowerks, the event is an open public forum that will allow attendees to ask any questions of Wisniewski and the NJ for Bernie team, Asbury Park Democratic Organization Chairman Joe Grillo said.

“With a number of important elections this year, the Democratic Party in Asbury Park is providing voters with as much face-time with candidates, elected officials and their campaigns as possible,” Grillo said in a written news statement. “We owe it to residents to involve them in the political process – one from which many young people, small businesses and middle class families throughout the City feel excluded and marginalized.”

The town hall forum is cosponsored by the Asbury Park Democratic Organization and Cowerks.

“For so many reasons, this year’s presidential election is critical for residents in Asbury Park to be as informed and involved as possible,” Cowerks cofounder Bret Morgan said. “We’re happy that Cowerks can be a part of that process with a fun night with friends, neighbors and Bernie’s NJ campaign.”

City residents also will be able to register to vote during the town hall event and may sign up for volunteer opportunities, organizers said.

“Last year, the voter turnout in Asbury Park was a dismal 15 percent for an important November election,” Democratic committeewoman Angela Ahbez-Anderson said. “That needs to change, and it will. We are registering more young people, more new residents and more disenfranchised voters.”

Grillo said the local Democratic Organization will provide an ongoing roster of town hall events to help inform voters by giving them one-on-one opportunities to ask questions of those running for political office.

Last week, the first of the town-hall events featured Congressman Frank Pallone Jr D-Monmouth. Plans are now in the works to sponsor an event with the NJ for Hillary Clinton campaign later in February at a location on the west side of Asbury Park, Grillo said.

“One of the takeaways from the Pallone meetup was that these events must encompass all parts of the city, that’s why we will move around our meet-ups to different and unique venues within the city,” Grillo said.

Cowerks is located on the 3rd floor of the Lakehouse Building at 619 Lake Ave. To RSVP or for more information, e-mail Joe Grillo at joegrillo@gmail.com.

[Photo courtesy of Wisniewski]

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