Jamel C. Holley represents the 20th Legislative District (Elizabeth, Hillside, Roselle, Union) in the New Jersey State Assembly. 

CDNJ: Tell us about how you got interested in politics. What made you decide to pursue it as a profession?

JH: My interest in politics arose from my desire to pursue a career in public service aimed at giving back to the community hat that given me so much.
 
CDNJ: Which accomplishment are you most proud of?

JH: Roselle First, Park Renovations, and Development Projects. 
 
CDNJ: Most College Democrats' members plan on remaining active in politics and government after college. What would you tell students who are planning to enter the world of public service? 

JH: Being active in politics and government after college has a lot of gratification. Knowing that you are able to help others in your community and within in the state is a gratifying feel. By staying active in politics and government after college, you can help your community, along with it being a great networking plan. It is also a way to advocate for what you and your community believes in, needs, and wants.

CDNJ: How have you found meaning through your political work?

JH: Yes. Seeing the lives of others change for the better.

CDNJ: As an member on the Higher Education Committee, what do you think is the best way to make college/universities more affordable in the State of New Jersey?

JH: As a Higher Education Committee, I think the best way to make college/universities more affordable in the State of New Jersey is to shift the federal power to the states. This will cause for the states to be more accountable based on what students need and what their state needs when it comes down to the cost of universities/colleges. I am a sponsor of ACR-200 in the Assembly, which encourages New Jersey Colleges and Universities to offer $10,000 degree programs.

CDNJ: What are your thoughts on BlackLivesMatter movement?

JH: As a society, we all must understand that all lives matter. The BlackLivesMatter movement shows the public that there are specific problems that are happening in African American communities that are not going through others. The BlackLivesMatter movement addresses issues that need to be addressed.

CDNJ: What is your favorite place to hang out?

JH:  Central Park Restaurant in Roselle

CDNJ: Starbucks or Dunkin?

JH: Definitely Starbucks!

CDNJ: Fun Fact?

JH: I am a funny guy in person. 

Mr. Pereira currently serves as an Aide to United States Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey. 
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​​CDNJ: How and where did you get your start in NJ politics?

DP: I started working, in my home county, Morris County, with their field program back in 2009. My first big job in NJ politics though was on the 2012-coordinated campaign. This is, I think, the most important story I can tell about getting involved in politics. At the time, I was the Vice President of the Rutgers University Democrats. A staffer from the Menendez campaign came to speak to us looking for interns. The next day I was at their office ready to volunteer. I showed up every day, volunteered on weekends, and when I didn’t have class I was the first one to the office and the last one to leave. Eventually, the campaign manager took notice and I was hired full time. I worked my way from a volunteer, to an intern, to managing the field program for suburban Essex County. So to any aspiring politicos reading this: people in power will take notice when you’re the hardest worker in the room.

CDNJ: What issues in particular have you been an advocate for and why do you feel they're important?

DP: I have always been an advocate for candidates, not specific issues. That being said, I have recently developed a passion for education policy and plan to pursue a graduate degree in education so that I may advocate more effectively for changes to education policy.

CDNJ: What do you think could be done to ensure college democrats have more of a role in the political process in NJ?

DP: I think the key to influence is activity. Elected officials in the state need to know that college students are active and involved. By volunteering on campaigns, advocating on behalf of issues, and in general making your presence known, you will expand your sphere of influence.

CDNJ: Any hobbies?

DP: I read, constantly. I aim for a book a week, at least. I highly recommend everyone read Our Kids by Robert Putnam and Between the World and Me by Ta Nehisi Coates. If you like Science Fiction and philosophy, though, the best book I read all year was The Mechanical by Ian Tregelis .I also play chess, which I think helps clear my head and helps my concentration.

CDNJ: Favorite POTUS and why?

DP:President Barack Obama. Aside from the tremendous policy accomplishments both at home and abroad, his was the first campaign I ever worked on, and he was the first person for whom I ever cast a vote. The emotional ties to him and his success cement him as my favorite.

Mr. Castañeda recently won an election in the town of West New York for the Board of Education. He is pursuing his second masters from the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy from Rutgers University. On January 6th 2016, Castañeda  will be officially sworn in to fulfill his term. In addition, he will be working with the NJ Assembly Majority Office in Trenton, New Jersey. 

CDNJ: Tell us about how you got interested in politics. What made you decide to pursue it as a profession?

JC: Public Service, I’d argue, is not a profession per se, it’s a way of life. I became interested sophomore year of High School at Memorial when my History teacher, Mr. Booth, would walk us through the legislative process and the impact of government in our daily lives. I began to look at local leaders, in particular then  Congressman, now Senator Robert Menendez and then Mayor/Speaker of the  Assembly, now Congressman Albio Sires and I looked up to them because my reality resembled their upbringing. Congressman Sires played basketball at Memorial so that he could have access to a hot shower, which he lacked in his home. Senator Menendez grew up in a tenement building with parents who worked in an embroidery factory like my grandmother did when she arrived and my mother when she was limited in her employment options. Their resilience and perseverance, and most importantly – dedication to our Latino community  impacted my frame of thought. This developed into a consciousness of my  responsibilities once I finished my undergraduate studies, a privilege afforded to a  small percentage of Latinos, to give back – empowering my community and holding the door open for kids like my little brother and his classmates, who are working hard in the classroom with a hope shared by their parents, that education can become the catalyst for beating the cycle of poverty that plagues so many of our neighbors.

CDNJ: Which accomplishment are you most proud of? 

JC: I am most proud of making my family proud. My dad escaped a communist regime in Cuba for the liberties our nation safeguards, my mother made the hard decision to leave her family to find economic opportunities that would end our families’ reality of extreme poverty in Colombia. I was born in Jersey City, NJ into relative privilege; access to incredible education, running water, incredible healthcare providers, to name a few – things we don’t think about because we have them readily available, but that so many around the world consistently lack. For them, and to an extent for my community, I did what I had the opportunity to do; became the first in my family to graduate from college, first to graduate with a masters (my MPA), became a Public Policy Fellow for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute in DC (an accomplishment, to highlight one, that I am especially proud of and has led to the opportunities I have today), received a full ride to pursue a second masters from the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning Public Policy in City and Regional Planning, earned a Planning Fellowship with the Louis Berger Group, and now I am a Legislative Fellow for the Eagleton Institute of Politics and Trustee-Elect of the West New York Board of Education. 

CDNJ: Most College Democrats’ members plan on remaining active in politics and government after college. What would you tell students who are planning to enter the world of public service?

JC: Don’t forget where you came from and have a vision of where you want to go. Stay true to yourself, have a moral compass that guides your work and find yourself a hobby. Don’t let politics take over your life and don’t take it so seriously, government is an institution that has a process; learn it and use it for good – if you are doing it for the wrong reasons you will ultimately fail. 

CDNJ: How have you found meaning through your political work?

JC: I am humbled that the Town of West New York entrusted me with their vote on November 3rd, a trust that I plan on developing as I work hard for our children and the residents of our town on a daily basis. That responsibility is fresh in my mind every morning, however I remind myself that I would still be out there fighting for my community; I am just blessed and thankful that residents of my town trusted me with a platform to scale my ideas and perspective so that I can now have an impact on all of the kids who are going through the school system I came up through. 

CDNJ: What’s on your music playlist?

JC: My library consists mostly of Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Cumbia and Reggeaton – at least 65% of it. The other 35% contains a mix of Rap and Hip Hop, Alternative, Classical and some other Oldies like Frank Sinatra, a favorite of my dad and me. 

CDNJ: What is your favorite place to hang out?

JC: Favorite place would be home with my parents and my little brother, I’m a simple guy – some good friends, good conversations and some good music and I’m happy as can be.

CDNJ: Starbucks or Dunkin?

JC: I am a fan of both – Starbucks is clutch when I need a place to go and do work late night and their Cinnamon Chai is a favorite of mine. However, Dunkin Donuts is undoubtedly my go-to for a nice Dark Roast pick me up.

Mr. Field currently serves as an Aide and Speechwriter for Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop.

CDNJ: Tell us about how you got interested in politics. What made you decide to pursue it as a profession?

RF: My interest in politics stemmed from an unique curiosity in the United States Presidents and specifically the Kennedy family when I was about 6 or 7 years old.  After spending several years door to door canvassing with a childhood friend on various campaigns from Gore to McGreevey to Kerry and Corzine among others, I knew I wanted to do it for a living.  I had an opportunity to volunteer for the Obama campaign, Congressman and now Indiana Senator Joe Donnelly as well as South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg while in Indiana where I went to school and I was briefly involved in my school's College Dems too.  So you can say I've wanted to do this for a while.     

CDNJ: Which accomplishment are you most proud of?

RF: While I have had many professional moments that have been gratifying, whether it was successfully navigating Senator Bob Menendez's Middlesex County GOTV (Get out the Vote) Operation through a hurricane in 2012, keeping a district that Governor Christie won by 32 points within six points at the legislative level in 2013, or being a part of a historic campaign which elected Bonnie Watson Coleman, New Jersey's first African American woman in Congress in 2014, the most rewarding experience has been working to elect strong public servants and having the opportunity to now serve in a public capacity, working for the people of Jersey City and moving the city forward.  

CDNJ: Most College Democrats' members plan on remaining active in politics and government after college. What would you tell students who are planning to enter the world of public service?

RF: For those who have a dream of entering public service in either an official government or political capacity, I would say go for it.  The key in anything is to find your passion and to work hard.  In order to really stand out you have to work hard.  The gratifying part is knowing that you are working to make a difference each day and help a strong Democrat get elected and to help people.  Helping people is what it's all about and you can never lose sight of that whether you are first starting in the field or whether you have years of experience.  Being in the business for the right reasons is vital. 

CDNJ: How have you found meaning through your political work?

RF: Yes.  Public Service and my political work isn't a job.  It's my life,  It's my vocation.  As they said in the movie Rudy, "Having dreams is what makes life tolerable" so again, I should reiterate: for those who know what they want to do, go for it and work hard to achieve your dreams.  For those who don't know what they want to do, that's ok, but be open to new things and try new things.  Go out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself to expand your horizons.  This will lead to more growth and you'll find something you enjoy.   

CDNJ: What's on your music playlist?

RF: I have all kinds of stuff.  Just this morning, I listened to "How's it going to be" by Third Eye Blind, one of my favorite bands, Taylor Swift's "Wildest Dreams", "Nutville" performed by the Buddy Rich Orchestra as well as the Finale to Dmitri Shostakovich's 5th Symphony.  So I'm kind of all over the place.   

CDNJ: Best book you've read recently?

RF: Over the past couple days after the election, I re-read parts of "Confessions of a Political Hitman" by GOP Opposition Researcher Stephen Marks. It's about research campaigns do on opponents.  It is interesting to read about a different side of politics.  The weekend after the election, I also read through a Plato Dialogue on Alcibiades, a young ambitious Greek ruler. Socrates, his teacher attempts to guide the naive and hubris filled Alcibiades to gain wisdom and seek virtue.  It's a good read for Poli Sci students and relatively a short read.