Public service as 'calling:' GOP's Dunn lays out reason to seek election in state Assembly

By P.C. ROBINSON, NewJerseyHills.com

Making the state a more affordable – and subsequently better – place to live is the key objective for the two Republican incumbents hoping to overcome their Democratic challengers be re-elected to the state Assembly 25th District this November.

Aura Dunn of Mendham and Christian Barranco of the Oak Ridge section of Jefferson Township are seeking to preserve their seats from their Democractic challengers, Morristown Councilman Steve Pylypchuk, and Marisa Sweeney, also of Morristown.

The 25th Legislative District includes the Morris County towns of Boonton Township, Butler, Dover, Harding, Jefferson, Kinnelon, Madison, Mendham Borough, Mendham Township, Mine Hill Township, Morris Township, Morristown, Mount Arlington, Randolph Township, Rockaway Borough, Rockaway Township, Victory Gardens and Wharton.

All candidates were asked to submit answers to a questionnaire submitted by this publication. Barranco did not provide answers. Pylypchuk and Sweeney did provide answers, which are shared in a separate story.

Dunn’s answers are below.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4. Voters, however, can cast ballots in person now, as early voting started on Saturday, Oct. 25.

‘Responsibility’

Dunn said she is seeking re-election “because public service is more than a responsibility, it is a calling. I care deeply about this work, and I bring the experience, knowledge, and integrity needed to represent all constituents with fairness and a steadfast commitment to opportunity and the greater good.

“Every day, I wake up focused on how to make government more accountable, affordable, and responsive,” she said.

According to Dunn, “I am the daughter of a combat-wounded Marine father and a mother who, by the age of 28, found herself a single parent of three.

“With only a high school diploma, she became an electrical apprentice, often the only woman on the construction sites where she worked, to support our family,” Dunn said of her mother. “Her grit and resilience shaped my belief that government should work just as hard for families as families work for each other.”

And, said Dunn, “There is still much to do. From fixing our broken school funding formula to restoring fiscal discipline in Trenton, protecting taxpayers from wasteful spending, and strengthening public safety and mental health services, I want to continue building a government people can trust and believe in – one that listens to residents and delivers real results.”

Ask her accomplishments to date, Dunn said receiving the highest number of votes cast in an Assembly race was one. That was in the 2020 election, representing for her “a powerful affirmation of our message of unity and service.

“Since then, I have been proud to see several key bills I sponsored become law: elevating strangulation to a higher crime to protect victims of domestic violence, ensuring students continued receiving meals when schools were closed during the pandemic, and making sextortion a punishable offense,” she said.

But, she said, “my proudest work remains constituent service, helping residents navigate issues with state agencies, recover benefits, or simply feel heard.

“Sometimes those calls change lives; in a few cases, they have even saved them. That is what public service is all about.”

Asked which programs she’d like to see continue if re-elected, Dunn said she would “continue championing programs that strengthen families and communities, particularly those supporting mental health services, childcare access, domestic violence prevention, and veterans’ wellbeing.

“I also remain deeply committed to local journalism, STEM education partnerships, and career and technical education initiatives that prepare our young people for good jobs right here in New Jersey,” she said.

“And on the fiscal side, I will keep pressing for property tax relief, school funding fairness, and accountability in state spending so taxpayers know their money is being used wisely.”

As for any new programs, Dunn said that the state “needs to take a more proactive approach to energy affordability and reliability. I am working to advance a Realistic Energy Plan that supports clean energy goals while protecting ratepayers from soaring utility bills.”

That’s not all.

“I also want to launch initiatives that expand homeownership opportunities, not just rental expansion, through community-based models like Habitat for Humanity, which help families build wealth and stability,” Dunn said.

“In addition, I am focused on reforming the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to better serve our residents. That means streamlining processes, expanding outreach, deploying more mobile units, increasing oversight, and ensuring every MVC location offers the same level of service: efficient, effective, and responsive.

“Lastly, I would like to see the state do more to support leadership and workforce participation, including apprenticeships, small business mentorships, and return-to-work programs for parents and caregivers.”