JACKSON – The 12th District New Jersey Assembly race on the November 4 ballot will include four candidates, Democratic candidates Freshta Taeb and Kyler Dineen facing Republican incumbent candidates Alex Sauickie and Robert Clifton.
The Jackson Times spoke with one candidate from each side for this article – Sauickie and Taeb. The other candidates will be presented in an article next week.
Alex Sauickie
Assemblyman Sauickie said, “I proudly represent New Jersey’s 12th Legislative District, which includes Jackson and Plumsted, bringing over 20 years of leadership in financial technology and business innovation to public service.”
He is a lifelong Jackson resident and graduate of The College of New Jersey. “I built a successful career as CEO of several fintech and software firms, also serving as Chairman of the Kimball Medical Center Foundation, serving on the Jackson Environmental Committee, the Zoning Board, and on the Jackson Township Council, where I focused on open space preservation, cost reduction, and community safety.”
He noted that after being elected to the General Assembly in 2022, he served on the Commerce, Economic Development & Agriculture, Military & Veterans’ Affairs, and Telecommunications & Utilities committees, “advocating for affordability, fiscal responsibility, land preservation, senior and veteran tax relief, and stronger school funding.”
“I’m a devoted husband and father of five, active in my community, and an Ironman triathlete who at age 54 still enjoys running the occasional marathon,” the candidate added.
“Serving in the General Assembly is the greatest honor of my life. As a blue-collar kid from Brookwood 4 in Jackson and a Jackson Memorial graduate, I never imagined having the opportunity to help so many people. I’m seeking another term because our district deserves steady, common-sense leadership that puts people before politics. Over the past three years, I’ve delivered real results, with numerous bills I authored and sponsored signed into law,” the candidate added.
Sauickie said, “There’s still work to do. Families are struggling with high costs, overdevelopment threatens our communities, and too many policies are driven by politics over practicality. I’ll keep working to make New Jersey more affordable, safer, and stronger, and to ensure our local voices are always heard in Trenton.
When asked what issue he felt was the most critical to his constituents he responded, “The most critical issue for the people of the 12th District is affordability, making sure families, seniors, and small businesses can continue to live, work, and thrive in New Jersey.”
“Every conversation I have, whether it’s with parents trying to afford their mortgage, seniors on a fixed income worried about property taxes, or business owners trying to keep their doors open, comes back to the same concern: it’s simply too expensive to live here,” he added.
Sauickie said he is out in the community several times a week because “it’s essential to stay connected with the people I represent and hear directly how I can help make their lives better. I regularly attend local school board meetings to keep parents and educators informed about policies from Trenton and to ensure they know I’m fighting for them.”
“I also keep residents informed through my weekly and monthly columns in local newspapers and on my Assembly social media pages, so my constituents always know I’m working for them,” he said.
He said his experience as both a business leader and a lifelong resident of Jackson, Ocean County, and New Jersey uniquely prepared him to represent the people of the 12th District. “Having spent more than two decades leading companies in the financial technology industry, I’ve learned how to manage teams, balance budgets, and drive results, skills that directly translate to effective, accountable public service. But just as important, I’ve lived here my entire life.”
“I strive to proactively listen to people, find common ground, and deliver outcomes that make life better,” Sauickie said. He noted that this year’s campaign that he and running mate Assemblyman Clifton have been running has been “positive and focused on what truly matters, listening to people, being visible in the community, and talking about real solutions instead of partisan politics. I’ve spent a lot of time meeting with residents, business owners, teachers, first responders, and local leaders across the district, and what I’ve learned is that most people just want common-sense leadership that delivers results.”
“They’re tired of the noise and want someone who shows up, works hard, and gets things done. This campaign has reinforced what I’ve always believed, that the best ideas come from the people you serve, not from Trenton or any political playbook,” he added.
“What I’d like people to know most about me is that I never forget where I come from or who I work for. I’m a lifelong Jackson resident, a husband, a father of five, and someone who grew up in a blue-collar family, the son of a public-school teacher and a machinist, who taught me the value of hard work, honesty, and community. What distinguishes me as a candidate is that I didn’t take the traditional path into politics. I didn’t go to school for political science, and I didn’t get involved in public service until later in life. I decided to run because I didn’t want to just sit back and complain about what wasn’t working; I wanted to step up and help make things better.
Freshta Taeb
Taeb said she is “a 43-year-old mother from Old Bridge, and a mental health professional, educator, business owner, and community advocate. I have worked as an interventionist in domestic violence prevention and previously taught in both elementary and high school.”
She was running “to make New Jersey affordable again. The cost of living in New Jersey is too high and burdensome for families. Schools in our district have continued to lose funding year after year. Veterans do not have the access to healthcare and services they need and are hurt the most by financial strain.”
“Lack of mental health care access and the amount of red tape in our healthcare system weighs down our communities. Overdevelopment is destroying our farm land and open space, and diminishing our identity as the ‘Garden State.’ These are the most prevalent issues that our communities are facing,” Taeb said. “I am running to use my voice and professional experience to fight for our communities and offer a fresh perspective to LD-12.”
Taeb said she believes, “the issue of affordability poses the risk of crippling our communities if it continues to go unchecked. People will always need houses, always need food, always need electricity; if lawmakers cannot have these things provided at a reasonable cost, they’re failing. We all have a duty to our communities and the people that live in them, our neighbors, our friends.”
“Accessibility is my top commitment. As a community advocate and mental health professional, I’ve built my career on listening to people. If elected, I’ll continue that approach in the Assembly. I plan to hold regular community hours across the district rotating between towns like Jackson, Manalapan, and Old Bridge so residents can meet with me directly,” she added.
The candidate said she would “keep communication open through virtual town halls and public updates online, making sure that working families and seniors who can’t travel still have a voice. My office will return calls and emails promptly, and we’ll publish clear ways for residents to track legislation, request help, or share concerns. In short, I’ll be the kind of Assemblywoman who not only represents people in Trenton, but stays rooted in my neighborhoods.”
“I think my experience as a healthcare professional majorly helps me to connect with people. Ultimately we have to take a hands-on approach to things, and that often means directly interfacing with the people you plan to represent. Lawmakers shouldn’t be making decisions if they never try to see how the issue impacts their constituents,” she added.
As to what she has learned along the campaign trail, she remarked, “running this campaign has been one of the most humbling and inspiring experiences of my life. I’ve met so many people across our district. From small business owners to teachers, veterans, and parents, each with stories that remind me why I started this journey in the first place.”
“What I’ve learned is that people are not as divided as politics often makes it seem. Most of us want the same things: safety, stability, good schools, and a fair chance to build a better life. When you take the time to really listen, you realize how much shared hope there is in our communities,” she said.
Taeb added, “I’ve also learned how powerful local action can be. Every conversation at a farmers’ market, every door we’ve knocked on, every volunteer who’s given their time, it all matters. This campaign has reaffirmed my belief that leadership means service; showing up, listening, and standing up for people who often feel unheard.”
“What I’d like people to know most about me is that I lead with empathy and action. I’ve spent my life helping families through some of their hardest moments as an interventionist, an educator, and a community advocate. I don’t just talk about solutions; I work to build them,” Taeb commented.
“My goal in public service is the same as it’s always been: to make people feel seen, supported, and represented. What distinguishes me as a candidate is that I come from a background of direct service, not politics. I’ve spent my career working face-to-face with people who are struggling: families navigating mental health challenges, survivors rebuilding their lives, veterans seeking support, and young people trying to find hope,” she said.
The candidate remarked, “I understand policy not just from a theoretical standpoint, but from lived experience, seeing how decisions made in Trenton affect real people every day. My approach is grounded in empathy, understanding, and results. I’m not running to climb a political ladder, I’m running to make government more human, accessible, and responsive to the people it serves.”
