Dear Editor:
Republican truck driver Edward Durr was David who defeated long time Democrat NJ State Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney as Goliath in the 3rd Legislative District.
Four years earlier, Sweeney was easily reelected by a 18 point margin despite the teachers union spending over $4 million to defeat him. Republican underdog Durr spent less than $10,000 versus Democrat Sweeney’s $1,061,957. Sweeney has served in the NJ State Senate as a member since 2002 and President of the NJ State Senate since January 2010. This provided him with nineteen years of name recognition, all the perks of holding public office along with endorsements and campaign contributions from all the pay to play special interest groups doing business in Trenton.
It was old fashion shoe leather going door to door evenings and weekends by Durr knocking on over 20,000 doors that overcame the tremendous odds against his winning. Investing in some good walking shoes carried the day for Durr. This is a lesson all first time underdog candidates could learn from.
Larry Penner
