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Jim Keady (right) discusses a variety of issues with Kate Triggiano (left) and other committee members.

The highlight of the committee meeting last week was guest speaker Jim Keady. Famous for being told by outgoing Gov. Chris Christie to sit down and shut up during a 2014 press conference, Keady is now running for a seat in New Jerseys 4th Congressional District in an effort to unseat Republican congressman Chris Smith, who has held the seat since 1981.

Keady spoke to members of the committee about his platform and upcoming campaign. He says he plans on running his campaign on an unapologetic, bold progressive platform. He believes the majority of people agree with the progressive platform and that it is just a matter of running an effective campaign to turn out votes.

If you look at the polling, we are on the right side of all of these issues, Keady said.

We just have to get out and talk to people about them.

The committee showed similar enthusiasm toward Keady as it has for other progressive candidates.

We are really excited to have a real progressive running, said Triggiano of Keady.

Progressive candidates like Keady believe securing the demographic of young voters is crucial to winning elections.

On our issues, 18- to 25- year-olds are not agreeing with a conservative Republican agenda, Keady said.

The leaders of the Young Progressives Committee hope that creating the group will keep young people politically active and, therefore, increase voter turnout for progressive candidates.

I think the main purpose is to keep all of these people together and talking, especially young people. I think that for younger people, the progressive platform really resonates with them, said Triggiano.

The dates and times of meetings are posted in advance on the Monmouth County Democrats website or on the Monmouth County Young Progressives Committee Facebook group page.

This article was first published in the June 29-July 6, 2017 print edition of The Two River Times.

Originally posted here:
Monmouth County's Young Progressives Build Forum for Political Engagement - The Two River Times