| Candidate
Information
Professional
Background: Assemblyman Eric Munoz, M.D., is a
trauma surgeon and professor of surgery at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (Newark) University Hospital.
Education:
Dr. Munoz is a graduate of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, where he received his
B.A. He graduated from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx,
N.Y., and completed his internship and residency at Yale-New Haven Medical
Center in New Haven, Conn. Dr. Munoz later received his M. B. A. in
finance from Columbia University in New York City.
Family
Life: Dr.
Munoz lives with his wife Nancy and their five children in Summit.
Government
Experience:
Dr. Munoz has been a
member of the New Jersey General Assembly since May 2001, when he was appointed to replace Assemblyman Kevin O’Toole. In
November of that year he was formally elected to the General Assembly as a representative of the 21st Legislative District. He currently holds the position of Republican Deputy Conference Leader. He is a member of the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee and the Assembly Human Services Committee. He served on the Summit Common Council from 1996 – 2001 as Councilman at Large. Dr. Munoz was appointed to serve on the National Institutes of Health Committee from 2002 – 2006 and was a member of the New Jersey Medical Practitioner Review Panel from 1990 – 2001.
Clubs
and Organizations: Dr. Munoz is a member of the New Jersey Medical
Society, the New Jersey Ballet Board of Directors, the American Surgical Association,
the Society of University Surgeons and the American College of
Surgeons. He is an executive board member of the National Puerto Rican
Coalition.
Major
Campaign Issues:
a. Lower Taxes and Government Spending
- New Jersey residents are paying the highest property taxes in the nation. This is a result of the runaway spending of the Democrat Majority Party. Since 2002 State spending has increased by 50% and the Democrats have imposed 94 new taxes, fines and fees. New Jersey’s economy is lagging behind much of the country and between 2000 and 2005, almost 195,000 residents have moved from New Jersey. Real Property Tax Relief will begin with spending cuts. I support the limitation of state spending to no more than 2.5% per year.
Ethics Reform - Every act of public corruption, pension padding and improper awarding of a public contract increases the cost of government and in turn contributes to the increase in property taxes. I introduced A-957, a bill that will provide for mandatory forfeiture of retirement benefits of elected officials convicted of a crime involving the office held and A-958 a bill that will impose mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment and forfeiture of pension and retirement benefits for public officers or employees convicted of crimes involving or touching their office or employment.
Increased Protections from Sexual Predators - Make no mistake, sexual predators travel to our neighborhoods and schools, watch our children and pick their next victim. Day after day we learn of attacks on our children by “repeat” sexual offenders. I have introduced A-960, “The Jessica Lunsford Act” that will require convicted child predators to serve at least 25 years in prison and, if released, to wear a GPS tracking device for life. When passed this will be the most comprehensive and toughest legislation in the nation for the protection of our children.
Honoring the members of the Military and Veterans - Our Military Personnel and Veterans make tremendous personal sacrifices while serving our nation and protecting our freedom. Approximately 20,700 military personnel from New Jersey are serving worldwide; annually they pay approximately $9 million in state income taxes. I have introduced A-3957, legislation that will exclude military compensation of military personnel, serving outside the State, from New Jersey’s gross income tax. To assist our disabled Veterans, I have introduced A-2381, legislation that will provide for an enhanced Homestead Rebate for tenants who are disabled veterans equal to 18% of the rent they have paid.
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