Valerie Vainieri Hutttle Announcement Speech

Good afternoon and thank you for joining me today for this important announcement.

I would like to start with an acknowledgement that this decision is not one that I have made lightly. But, after speaking with family, friends, supporters and advocates, it is one that I make confidently.

I have served the people of Bergen County and District 37 proudly for over twenty years – first on the Board of Chosen Freeholders for Bergen County, where I served as the County’s first female Chair, and eventually winning election to the General Assembly where it has been an honor to serve District 37 for fifteen years.

As a proud Democrat, I am proud to have worked hand-in-hand with the members of our party to elect Democrats up and down the ballot and to champion progressive causes in the legislature.

And, it is because I am a proud Democrat that I am making this announcement today. I believe in our party and I believe in the future of our party.

However, my opponent has already declared victory. Therefore, I have no choice but to fight for an open and fair process, one that respects the voices of all Democrats.

And so, I am running for State Senate in an open primary. I will not allow a pre-determined outcome to shape the future of District 37. I will fight for a true Democratic process that ensures the voices of the thousands of people in District 37 are truly heard.

Those benefiting from the status quo, the insiders game and the old boys club think the choice of who should run for office should be decided by a privileged few, behind shut doors.

It’s a closed process where the deck is stacked and the deals are cut. The votes are tallied before the votes are cast. Leading up to the convention, there was no debate about issues, no vetting of candidates, no assessment of resumes and accomplishments and no consideration of who would be the strongest candidate to help other Democrats. I won’t validate that process.

I’m running for State Senate because I believe this isn’t just about counting votes, this is about making people count, and making people feel seen and heard.

Making people count is what has driven my time in public service and it’s what motivates me today.

I have championed landmark laws to improve the lives of my constituents no matter who they are, no matter where they live and no matter who they love. I have fought for women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, workers’ rights and rights for those with disabilities.

I’ve championed the passage of laws that help taxpayers, commuters, parents and frontline health care workers. And I didn’t just vote for those laws, I did the hard work of helping write the laws and persuading my colleagues to vote for them. Representing people is a lot more than pressing the yea or nay button. It’s about listening to people… hearing their concerns…understanding their hopes and using government to get good things done.

I’m proud to have helped get the nation’s toughest anti-bullying law passed. I was out front to get New Jersey’s Global Warming Act signed into law to make our state a leader in environmental protection. I sponsored landmark legislation to protect places of worship from the violence of domestic terrorists and right-wing extremists.

And in these difficult and unprecedented times I’m helping lead the fight to enact long-term care reform to protect the most vulnerable who suffered in the wake of the pandemic.

While New Jersey may be one of the more progressive states in the nation, we are woefully inadequate when it comes to the percentage of women we elect to office, particularly in the Legislature. As one of too few women legislators, I’m fighting for stronger protections for sexual assault survivors. As one of too few women legislators, I sponsored historic legislation to go after those who sexually abuse prisoners. And as one of too few women legislators, I’m fighting to make sure reproductive rights are safe here in New Jersey- no matter what a Trump-dominated United States Supreme Court tries to do.

So let’s talk about the question hanging over this race – shutting qualified candidates out of this race before it even starts, in a county that is sorely under-represented by women to begin with.

We were all proud when Loretta Weinberg became the first woman to represent not only the 37th District but the entire Bergen County delegation in the New Jersey State Senate. And, she shouldn’t be the last.

I think we can all agree that when Senator Weinberg retires after a long and distinguished career- her legacy should not be fewer women in the State Senate.

But this race is not only about gender- it is about competence, effectiveness and integrity. This is not about the voice of one woman. This is about all of our voices.

You can tell who someone will listen to by who they answer to. I’m taking this campaign to every Democratic voter because I answer to you.

The insiders have criticized me for not respecting “the process.” You know what, I respect the process enshrined in the constitution, not the one forged in the backrooms. I respect the voters.

Here’s the cold, hard truth – far too often the passion, the drive and the grit of women who want to use their voice to make a difference is dismissed with a “it’s not your turn,” or “we’re just more comfortable with Joe or Paul.” If I walked away every time the men in power told me to back off, I never would have been elected in the first place.

And that is why I’m proud to announce today not only my candidacy for State Senate but my running mates: Councilwomen Gervonn Romney Rice and Lauren Dayton.

And our story is one that is far too familiar for women in politics – myself, Gervonn and Lauren were all interested in seeking higher office. Immediately, we were all told by the powers that be that this was not our time, that the deals had already been cut.

But we are three passionate, effective leaders. And, as women in politics, we know that you cannot just wait for things to be given to you, you have to go out and work for them.

And so, today I am announcing my candidacy for State Senate and I am proud to be joined by Gervonn and Lauren, they are the most competent and dynamic running mates that I could imagine.

As I close out my remarks, I want to end with a promise: those in power who pull the strings behind the scenes have told me that now is not my time, that I should back down. They gave me their half-hearted explanation of why one of Trenton’s most effective legislators is not the best person for the job. Nevertheless, I will persist.

So I have a message for all those who think the result is already ordained – I’ve run against the odds before… and I won.

It’s 2021. It’s time to shatter the glass ceiling for good. So I’m running to kick some glass. And I am confident that my incredible running mates are ready to kick some too.

Let’s go.