Michael Koontz

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Michael Koontz

Republican Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 2, 2021

Education

Bachelor's

Ramapo College of New Jersey, 1978

Personal

Birthplace

New York, N.Y.

Religion

Christian

Contact

Personal Facebook

Michael Koontz (Republican Party) ran for election to the New Jersey State Senate to represent District 37. He lost in the general election on November 2, 2021.

Koontz completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. Click here to read the survey answers.

## Contents

* 1 Biography
* 2 Elections
* 2.1 2021
* 3 Campaign themes
* 3.1 2021
* 4 See also
* 5 External links
* 6 Footnotes

## Biography[edit]

Michael Koontz was born in Manhattan. He graduated from Ramapo College of New Jersey in 1978.[1]

## Elections[edit]

### 2021[edit]

See also: New Jersey State Senate elections, 2021

General election

##### General election for New Jersey State Senate District 37

Gordon Johnson defeated Michael Koontz and Glenn Coley in the general election for New Jersey State Senate District 37 on November 2, 2021.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

✔ |

| Gordon Johnson (D)  |

67.0

| 34,410

| Michael Koontz (R) |

31.5

| 16,155

| Glenn Coley (New Directions)  |

1.5

| 759

* * *

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 51,324

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

#####  Democratic primary for New Jersey State Senate District 37

Gordon Johnson defeated Valerie Vainieri Huttle in the Democratic primary for New Jersey State Senate District 37 on June 8, 2021.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

✔ |

| Gordon Johnson |

72.2

| 10,404

| Valerie Vainieri Huttle |

27.8

| 4,011

* * *

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 14,415

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

#####  Republican primary for New Jersey State Senate District 37

Michael Koontz advanced from the Republican primary for New Jersey State Senate District 37 on June 8, 2021.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

✔ |

| Michael Koontz |

100.0

| 1,124

* * *

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 1,124

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

## Campaign themes[edit]

### 2021[edit]

#### Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Michael Koontz completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Koontz's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Origanlly for Haworth I have settled in Hackensack Graduated from Ramapo State College and Attended SVA advertising Worked for IBM and Time Life Accounts My political interest began in 1980 with Young Graduates for Reagan and later a County Coordinator for The Ross Petro Campaign in 1992. The Reform Party was then absorbed into the NJCP or New Jersey Conservative Party. This is where I became battle tested in the political process competed in The State Senate Race in 1997, US Congress in 1998, Assembly in 1999, and Freeholder in 2000 and was proud to receive the party’s nomination for Governor in 2001, at a difficult time for our country after 911. The parties’ platform focused on individual freedoms, liberty, a smaller government, lower taxes, the right of the unborn and entrepreneurship. I was the lone independent candidate that debated James McGreevy and Bret Schundler in Tenafly, New Jersey. Although my margins of votes were modest the experience was priceless.

From 1999- 2004 I hosted and produced the Television Show No-Limits with my co-host George E. Soroka, biofeedback specialist and healer. We hosted over 100 shows with many well-known celebrities, authors and guests. In 2012 I launched Screenwriting Interest and now write independently under Mike Koontz writer-screenwriter. I have certifications in Television Production

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

* Reduce Property Taxes
* Increase Business Opportunities
* Expand Jobs and Career's

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

My core belief is in God, Unity, The US Constitution, and working hard to support our men and woman in blue who give their lives every day. I believe in a strong free enterprise system and expanding our opportunities in our business community while helping those less fortunate with well-budgeted government programs and input from community organizations. The state of New Jersey has a huge deficit of nearly 214 Billion and an “F” rated budget of 46 billion, the highest property taxes in the nation, and the highest migration out of state. Taxing the hard-working citizens of New Jersey at every level is out of control leaving our debt at 58000.00 per individual in our state. This has been ongoing for over 25 years with no plan to challenge the waste. Our Governor has driven up this debt and acted in fiat on executive orders leaving our taxpayers to hold a bag of debt. At this point, something must change or the dam will break. I hope that if elected I can work with the communities of the 37th to improve our district, improve unity, and individual success. With Gods Help and support from our citizens. My running mates and I will fight for Lower Property Taxes, Streamline Government, Inclusive policy of Diversity to Excellence and Contract with Commerce more jobs and more business growth. We will fix The Failing DMV, our Transit System reduce congestion and pollution and fight for unity among all 37th residents. I believe in family values not false theories. Thank You.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Thomas Jefferson:

“Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

Martin Luther King:

“The time is always right to do what is right”

Abraham Lincoln:

“We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and Courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who prevent the Constitution”

George Washington:

“Truth will ultimately prevail where there are pains to bring it to light”

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

The Death Of Common Sence ( Book )

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Liberty and Community

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Communications and quick problem-solving.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Honesty, availability, and problem solving one by one.

What legacy would you like to leave?

That I touched enough people with abilities to help others and pass the ability to others to pass it on.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The Viet Nam War and 911 were both 19 years old and 48 years old.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

After settling with my family in Haworth, New Jersey in 1967, where I graduated from Northern Valley Regional High School, Demarest. In 1971 I was called up to serve in our countries arm forces while our country was withdrawing from the Viet Nam Conflict / War. I was later denied active duty due to our policy of Withdrawal with Honor. I went on to Bergen Community and then received a BA in communications/business from Ramapo State College. During this period, I worked for nine years with Grand Union Co. helping to finance my college education. I went on to an internship with IBM and then worked for Time-Life accounts in NYC where I attended the School Of Visual Arts and received, advanced education in design and planning. Later I studied planning, interior design and was employed with a Design Firm specializing in plan layouts and cabinet installation. In 1987 I formed my own Co. Artcraft Interiors LLC as a design consultant, project manager, and contractor. I presently live in Hackensack, NJ.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Death of Common Sence layouts the idea of less Government Contol and more standards of self-determination

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Dr. Strange

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Living in America by James Brown

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Ego and keeping a close watch that I make others important also not to get ahead of yourself.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

Balance and communications with all representation.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Trimming the budget, reducing Property Taxes, increasing opportunities, helping seniors, and stop politicizing government.

What are the benefits and drawbacks of a unicameral state legislature, in your opinion?

No.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Yes.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Yes to exchange ideas and concepts so a clear balance of citizens' requests is met.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

None

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

There are many but I will use my own abilities to find fairminded ideas and feedback from the taxpayers.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

No not at this time I have run for both.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

Yes of recent from all African American Residents (4) Please help lower property taxes, please fix the DMV, please help in a clear legal path to citizenship, and please help in receiving unemployment benefits well overdue. These are a few but there are many this district is on life support.

Tell us your favorite joke.

never underestimate the power of stupid people especially in a large crowd George Carlin

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

Yes

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Yes as long as it does compromise our American bedrock the Constitution or diminish our Greatness and protecting our way of life. Life Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

## See also[edit]

2021 Elections

What's on the ballot? U.S. Congress special elections State executives State legislatures State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards Election analysis hub

Government

Who represents me? U.S. Congress State executives State legislature State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards

Newsletters

Documenting America's Path to Recovery The Daily Brew The Weekly Brew The Ballot Bulletin Checks and Balances Economy and Society Hall Pass Number of the Day Robe & Gavel Union Station

## External links[edit]

* Search Google News for this topic

Personal

* Facebook

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on September 12, 2021

[show]

Current members of the New Jersey State Senate

Senators

District 1

Mike Testa (R)

District 2

Vincent Polistina (R)

District 3

Edward Durr (R)

District 4

Fred Madden (D)

District 5

Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D)

District 6

James Beach (D)

District 7

Troy Singleton (D)

District 8

Jean Stanfield (R)

District 9

Christopher Connors (R)

District 10

James Holzapfel (R)

District 11

Vin Gopal (D)

District 12

Samuel Thompson (R)

District 13

Declan O'Scanlon (R)

District 14

Linda Greenstein (D)

District 15

Shirley Turner (D)

District 16

Andrew Zwicker (D)

District 17

Bob Smith (D)

District 18

Patrick Diegnan (D)

District 19

Joseph Vitale (D)

District 20

Joseph Cryan (D)

District 21

Jon Bramnick (R)

District 22

Nicholas Scutari (D)

District 23

Michael Doherty (R)

District 24

Steven Oroho (R)

District 25

Anthony Bucco (R)

District 26

Joseph Pennacchio (R)

District 27

Richard Codey (D)

District 28

Vacant

District 29

Teresa Ruiz (D)

District 30

Robert Singer (R)

District 31

Sandra Cunningham (D)

District 32

Nicholas Sacco (D)

District 33

Brian Stack (D)

District 34

Nia Gill (D)

District 35

Nellie Pou (D)

District 36

Paul Sarlo (D)

District 37

Gordon Johnson (D)

District 38

Joseph Lagana (D)

District 39

Holly Schepisi (R)

District 40

Kristin Corrado (R)

Democratic Party (23)

Republican Party (16)

Vacancies (1)

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State of New Jersey
Trenton (capital)

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