Assemblyman Sean Kean (R-Wall) wants New Jersey to allow Israeli citizens to get New Jersey driver’s licenses, along with a reciprocal agreement for New Jerseyans living in Israel.
Kean, who represents Lakewood, the largest Orthodox Jewish municipality in the state, made the request in a letter to Gov. Phil Murphy today, asking him to model the plan after one he agreed to with South Korea and Taiwan during an economic mission to East Asia in October.
“Israel, like South Korea and Taiwan, is a key partner with whom New Jersey maintains strong economic and diplomatic ties. Further, many New Jersey residents have family and friends in Israel and travel there,” said Kean. “Establishing a driver’s license reciprocity agreement could not only facilitate the movement of residents within these countries but also symbolize the strength of New Jersey’s international relationships.”
The letter signals Kean’s intent to forge a close relationship with the Lakewood Orthodox community in advance of the 2025 election.
Last year, Democrat Avi Schnall (D-Lakewood) defeated Republican Assemblyman Ned Thomson (R-Wall) by 11,766 votes in one of the reddest legislative districts in the state after Lakewood signaled its support of Schnall and Kean. Kean finished 470 votes ahead of Schnall in Lakewood, and 19,071 in front of Thomson, his running mate.