Candidate information:
Email: HolmesforAssembly@gmail.com
Phone number: 7325972920
Party affiliation: Independent
Campaign website: https://holmesforassembly.wixsite.com/holmesforassembly
Social media: https://www.facebook.com/HolmesforAssembly/
Date of Birth: 12/21/1997
Education: Attending until graduation in May 2020, BA Political Science and BA Philosophy, The College of New Jersey; Alumni of Brick Memorial High School
Occupation: Full-time student at The College of New Jersey and student senior-data clerk in its admissions office
Public/Party service: Intern, Constituency Services, Congressman MacArthur Ocean County Constituency Office, 2016; Intern, New Jersey State Legislature District 10 Constituency Office, 2016
Position on good government initiatives:
- Would you support reforming New Jersey’s Primary electoral ballots to give all candidates an equal chance of being elected?
Yes. I would rather suggest that it is more important to change the voting system itself, which would drastically change the ballot. I recommend Single Transferable Vote (STV) for any legislative election, and Ranked Choice Voting for the election of executive and senatorial positions. Before making the ballot more fair, perhaps it is time to make the voting system itself more fair and proportional. - Would you support measures to increase voter participation (eg. same-day registration, early voting)?
Yes. I already do. Proposals #10-15 of my Voting Reform package are designed to increase voter participation. - Would you support placing a nonpartisan commission in charge of the legislative redistricting process?
Yes. Without a doubt. This would ensure that all parties, candidates, and voters do rest assured that there is as little bias as possible when redistricting occurs. - Would you support ethics reforms that would require broader disclosure on financial information and the release of income taxes by candidates for public office, as a means for regulating campaigns and limiting corruption?
Yes. - Would you support reinstituting the statewide public advocate and making it a directly elected position?
It depends. I agree that the New Jersey Department of the Public Advocate should certainly return. However, I do not know know whether it should be a directly elected position. I would have to think further on the ramifications and responsibilities of the position and office. I would suggest immediately though that the office return under law so it could not be abolished, and it should be established as an independent agency separate from that of the governor’s office. - Would you support changing the nominating process for members of Commissions and Boards to have panels of nonpartisan experts nominate candidates, with full public disclosure of the candidates’ credentials, and to have the legislature vote on the nominations?
It depends. I like the idea, but it leads to the question of who appoints the panels of nonpartisan experts. This could be a slippery slope and more complicated than the question asks. I certainly agree that there should be public disclosure of candidate credentials during an appointment process for a commission, board, or cabinet/undercabinet position. The Senate should as usual vote on nominations through confirmation hearings. Nonpartisan experts should certainly serve on many state boards and commissions if they do not already do so for the sake of presenting unbiased information and expert knowledge in the field. - Do you support public funding of campaigns for all statewide offices, including the legislature?
Yes. Yes I do. This is proposal #8 of my voting reform package. - Do you support making the state legislature full-time and prohibiting simultaneous holding of other paid positions?
Yes.