Are Republicans becoming inconsequential in the Garden State?

Ben Dworkin, director of the Institute for Public Policy and Citizenship at Rowan University, said while Republicans have had trouble breaking through at the federal and state level for decades, the GOP has not become irrelevant.

“Government in New Jersey extends far beyond Trenton,” he said. “We have 564 municipalities, many of those are led by Republicans, so there is a vibrant and engaged Republican Party in the Garden State.”

Bucco said he worked with Sherrill when she was in Congress representing the 11th District, which overlaps his 25th legislative district in Morris County. They were able to get a lot accomplished together, and he said he’s hopeful they can continue that relationship, giving Republicans a meaningful seat at the table.

“There will be times when we agree on things, and we’ll be able to get it done. And there will be some times I’m sure when we’ll disagree, but we’ll do it in a manner in which is respectful to both sides,” he said.

McClellan agreed it’s important for Democrats and Republicans to work together for the betterment of New Jersey residents.

“We definitely need to talk, work across the aisle, to make sure that everybody’s needs are met,” he said. “Every issue is not the same, but there is common ground that we need to work on and work towards.”

Dworkin said it will be challenging for the GOP, as the minority party in the Legislature, to make a real difference as policy is developed.

“Many times they [Republicans] are just going to be trying to point out what they believe are the oversteps and mistakes by the Democratic majority,” he said. “You have to look for partnerships in trying to find compromises, since Democrats don’t need Republican votes, they’re not necessarily looking for it.” He noted Republicans in the Senate have a little more clout because of the political tradition [it’s not a law] of senatorial courtesy.

“This allows for any state Senator, regardless of party, to effectively put a hold on a gubernatorial nomination if that person is from their home county,” he said.

FLORHAM PARK, New Jersey (WABC) — A woman is asking the public for help finding her dog after her car was stolen with the dog inside in New Jersey.

The dog, Bauer, is only three months old and was inside the BMW when it was stolen.

The owner, Jaclyn Katz, ran into CVS and left the car running to keep the puppy warm, but she took her phone and key fob for the car with her.

“It was freezing out, so I left my car running to keep him warm. I did not leave the key inside the car. Went inside for my prescription came out. My car was gone,” Jaclyn said.

It happened around 5 p.m. on Monday night.

The thief jumped in the car and drove off.

“My husband and my son were at hockey practice so I figured I’d just take the dog with me. He doesn’t like to be left alone, he’s still a baby,” Katz said.

She thought taking the key fob inside the store with her would prevent someone from being able to drive off with the car.

“Don’t ever leave your car running, don’t ever leave the key fobs in it. Even too close to the car, some of the cars will activate even if the car is close to the fob without being in it,” Captain Brian Ford with the Florham Park Police Department said.

Captain Ford said there have been three car thefts in the past two and a half weeks, all similar situations, but no dogs were taken.

If the car is running even if it’s locked, a thief can jump in, drive off, and create a key later.

“It’s not that difficult to re-key a car. To reprogram key fobs or an actual key if the car is still using the actual keys,” Ford said.

Katz said the family had just gotten Bauer for Christmas after losing their 13-year-old family dog Rufus around Thanksgiving.

The family says they don’t care about the car, just Bauer.

“We love our dog. We don’t care, we just want our dog back. You can have the car, we don’t care, no questions, we just want our dog back,” Katz said.

Police say the GPS on the car was ripped out in Newark on Monday night and the car and plates were spotted in the Bronx.

“You can have the car, please just give me our dog back,” Katz said.

The family is hoping someone who knows where the dog is will reach out to the Florham Park Police Department.

* Get Eyewitness News Delivered

* Follow us on YouTube

* More local news

* Send us a news tip

* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts

Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News

Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.

From Camden and Cherry Hill to Trenton and the Jersey Shore, what about life in New Jersey do you want WHYY News to cover? Let us know.

New Jersey Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill will begin her four-year term Tuesday as the state faces an affordable housing crisis. She said making the state more affordable does not happen without making housing more affordable.

During her campaign, she called on the state to “work collaboratively with local governments on the conversion of underused office parks, strip malls, and industrial properties into homes, transit-oriented development, and mixed-use projects, which increases housing inventory while minimizing sprawl.”

That strategy has worked well for other states, according to John Boyd Jr., principal of The Boyd Company, a corporate site selection firm.

“It’s going to create new development opportunities,” he said, adding that the company expects to see that trend “continue to occur in the months and years ahead.”

Adam Gordon, executive director of the Fair Share Housing Center, said he is “pretty hopeful” that Sherrill can oversee the conversion of underutilized commercial and industrial properties.

He said a 2024 law signed by Gov. Phil Murphy that required municipalities to update their master plan and zoning provided incentives to reuse office parks and strip malls.

The plans still must be compliant with a series of court decisions that ensures each municipality builds their “fair share” of affordable housing known as the Mt. Laurel Doctrine.

“We’re seeing a lot more compliance with the law a lot quicker,” Gordon said. “I’m very optimistic that we’re going to see a lot of that redevelopment happen under these plans.”

Boyd, however, points out that states like Texas and Idaho are able to build homes faster because they have fewer regulations, unlike New Jersey.

“You have 560 plus municipalities, that’s 560 plus zoning and permitting systems that companies and developers need to navigate and 560 plus tax climates that companies need to navigate through,” he added.

Boyd says streamlining regulations will help New Jersey build homes faster.

Gordon, who was a volunteer on Sherrill’s transition team, hopes that the Legislature takes that up in the new session. He said cutting red tape is a much-needed “bold action” to address the housing crisis.

“I think we have to shake up business as usual and this presumption that we can have endless regulatory processes and sacrosanct home rule,” he said. “A lot of those processes are 50, 100 years old and they’re not responding to the realities of how bad it’s gotten for so many New Jersey families.”