Response by Rick Thigpen

The issue of sprawl is increasingly recognized by voters as a key element in New Jersey’s quality of life. Geographically, sprawl is more important in Republican areas than Democratic areas, but the profile of citizens most concerned about sprawl indicates they are more likely to be Democrats than Republicans. For Democrats this issue goes to the heart of the party’s central political dilemma: balancing urban and suburban interests. For the party now in power, this issue is one of real complexity and controlling sprawl may be the most daunting of political challenges. Sprawl appears poised to join property taxes as issues are too important to ignore but too hot to handle.

Comment by Fairleigh Dickinson University's PublicMind Academic Associate, Rick Thigpen (J.D., Columbia University Law School). Rick is a former Executive Director of the New Jersey Democratic Party and now a partner in The Strategy Group and is a campaign coordinator for the Essex County Democratic Party. Rick Thigpen, Esq. can be reached at (609) 394-0888.