by George Amick
 June 7, 2010
Times of Trenton

Inspiring ordinary citizens to become leaders in their local governments isn't easy in a busy, distracted society in which even the most important elections attract barely half the registered voters. And the effort gets no support from entrenched politicians who like to run things their way, without interference from the outside. But reformers in New Jersey keep trying, bless 'em. In two days, they'll stage one of their most ambitious programs.

A few years ago, the Coalition for the Public Good brought together 100 people from all 21 counties to Trenton in a Citizens' Assembly that brainstormed ways to lessen the state's reliance on property taxes to fund education and other government services. It was an encouraging demonstration of grassroots enthusiasm -- even though, in the end, the Legislature ignored the recommendations.

Since then, however, the lawmakers have shown more willingness to open up the system. To that end, the Legislature and then-Gov. Jon Corzine last year enacted two important laws. The Party Democracy Act weakened the power of the bosses of a county political party to rig the selection of candidates, fill legislative vacancies and dictate how campaign cash is spent. The Citizen Service Act required towns to publicize the availability of memberships on agencies such as planning boards, recreational and environmental commissions and make it easier to volunteer for them.

This Wednesday evening, the Citizens' Campaign, a nonpartisan group that helped bring about those successes, will sponsor a "Jersey Call to Service Summit" at the Hyatt Regency in New Brunswick. The free event is expected to draw more than 1,000 people, bringing together leaders in business, labor, nonprofits, religion, government and politics with ordinary citizens who want to help their state solve its staggering fiscal problems and improve its quality of life.

Four leadership forums will offer tips on how Joe and Jane Taxpayer can contribute to making their towns, school districts and counties operate more economically without sacrificing needed public services. The forums will focus on ways to control property taxes and cut government waste, open up government policy boards to new members with new insights and resolve, provide neighborhood-level citizen leadership for political parties, and let the light shine on closed-door government through a "citizen journalism" that, as one organizer put it, goes far beyond conventional "I-hate-the-mayor" blogging.

Among the forum speakers will be Matthew Boxer, the state's comptroller and chief fiscal watchdog; Chris Daggett, whose independent campaign for governor last fall provided the only bright spot in a dreary partisan slugfest between two party candidates; and Tom Byrne, chair of the New Jersey Tax and Fiscal Policy Study Commission, advocate for educational innovation and a former state Democratic chairman.

Other featured participants will be former Gov. Brendan T. Byrne; Dennis Bone, president of Verizon and chairman of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce; and the keynote speaker, the Rev. DeForest "Buster" Soaries, a Somerset clergyman and former New Jersey secretary of state who at one time was assistant pastor at Trenton's Shiloh Baptist Church.

The Citizens' Campaign's long-term goal is to inspire 5,000 New Jerseyans from outside the political establishment to take active leadership roles in their communities. As Harry Pozycki, its chairman, wrote on The Times' op-ed page last week, "New Jersey faces an immediate budget crisis at all levels of government and a long-term fiscal problem that can no longer be papered over by budget gimmicks. It took us a long time to dig this big a hole, and it will take more than new leadership in Trenton to dig ourselves out.

"To put it simply, it requires a culture change, and that means all of us must step up to the plate. ... The Jersey Call to Service aims to change New Jersey's political culture from one dominated by political careerism, corruption and waste to a culture of service and frugality."

Advance registration is required to attend the Summit. You can register online at JoinTheCampaign.com or by calling (732) 548-9798, extension 2. Heather Taylor, the Citizens' Campaign's media chief, points out that the four forums and other Summit activities will be videotaped and available afterward to all on the website.