Candidate Christopher Gagliardi

by Kristina Chew · 2009-04-08 14:27:00 UTC
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Map of Ridgefield, NJ, and New Jersey from http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Bergen_County_New_Jersey_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Ridgefield_Highlighted.svg/200px-Bergen_County_New_Jersey_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Ridgefield_Highlighted.svg.png
28-year-old Christopher Gagliardi is challenging Assembly Democrats Gordon Johnson (D-Englewood) and Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Englewood) in a primary election. The April 7th NJPoliticker.com says that the race, though a three-way, won't be "bloody" and quotes Gagliardi, who was diagnosed with autism as a young child.

“They’ve done a very, very good job. I have no ill will towards them,” said their challenger, Christopher Gagliardi. “As a matter of fact, they recognized me as a hero in Bergen County, and I am indebted to them for all they’ve done so far.”
......
Gagliardi caught the political bug at an early age, attributing it to his mother’s involvement in Robert F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign in the 1960's. He wanted to run for governor, but didn’t meet the minimum age requirements, and his letter to the Democratic Party expressing interest in being a delegate to the Democratic National Convention was ignored. So Gagliardi figured the legislature was in need of someone who will represent the mentally and physically challenged.

“During the time in the 80’s and 90’s, people who had challenges were either rejected in society or not recognized for their contributions to society,” he said. “But with the recent breakthroughs in civil rights with the physically and mentally challenged, I thought it would be appropriate to stand up and take responsibility.”

Gagliardi was student council president at Ridgefield High School, and the first special education student to hold that position. After graduation in 2002, he attended college, but found its environment "'hostile.'" He now works part-time at Starbucks and occasionally speaks public about autism.

Cheering on the candidate.........

Kristina Chew
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