Cecilia Birge for Freeholder

Background:

Cecilia Xie Birge was born in China at the height of the Cultural Revolution and spent part of her childhood in Chinese labor camps where her Western-educated parents were sent. As a student in Beijing, she participated in the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989 and came to America the following year to Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania. After college, Cecilia built a successful career on Wall Street as a bond analyst and, in the process, gained financial skills which she has put to use in her work for Montgomery Township, both on the Township Committee and the numerous other subcommittees on which she has served. In 2007, Cecilia became the first, and so far only, Asian-American woman mayor in New Jersey history. In 2008, Cecilia served as Delegate to the National Democratic Convention in Denver, Colorado. She also ran for Somerset County Board of Freeholders and received DFA-NJ’s endorsement.

Goals:

Not a single Democrat in Somerset County, New Jersey has been elected to the Board of Freeholders for 30 years. Throughout the years, with one party rule, the Republican Freeholders have grown more arrogant than ever. It’s been three years since scandals were first discovered at the County Park Commission. Nobody has been held accountable. The chronic mismanagement continues because nobody on the Freeholder Board is willing to ask any questions, let alone the tough questions. I ran for Somerset County Freeholder last year and lost by 1%. I was endorsed by DFA-NJ and DFA-Somerset. I am seeking your endorsement so that we can continue the fight for cleaner, better government together.

Issues:

1) Restore Fiscal Sanity: During our campaign last year, we proposed a 15% cut of the county operating budget excluding emergency and social services. After years of increasing county taxes, the Freeholders finally responded to our call with a token budget cut. I will continue to push for a much leaner government in these tough times.
2) Stop Chronic Mismanagement: The scandals keep coming. The latest is the sale of counterfeit brand-name merchandise at the pro shop of a County golf course. Meanwhile, County Park Commission managers continue to live in expensive County-owned homes—in one case paying no rent at all. Large contracts go to the Freeholder’s biggest campaign contributors. I will bring competent, ethical government to Somerset County.
3) Make Government Work for Taxpayers: County Open Space taxes should go toward parks and recreation facilities for everyone, not for exclusive golf courses and luxury spas. Our priorities are your priorities; taxing residents to build country clubs is not on the list.

Grassroots Support:

Our campaign will be a 100% grassroots campaign. Almost all members of the campaign team are volunteers. All campaign related activities are organized by volunteers.

DFA Values:

I believe democracy is not a spectator sport. I believe political participation is a big part of citizenship.