Assemblyman Antwan McClellan centers his agenda on protecting South Jersey’s distinct communities — shore towns, bayshore, farm country, and small cities — and making sure Trenton stops treating LD1 as an afterthought. He emphasizes returning resources to Cape May, Cumberland, and southern Atlantic, supporting tourism, agriculture, and local industry so families can build their futures here rather than moving away.

McClellan ties community stability to safe streets, parental voice in schools, and attainable housing. He supports policies that lower the cost of living, protect seniors on fixed incomes, and keep neighborhoods safe through effective policing and first-responder support.

From boardwalk enterprises to bayshore marinas and main-street shops, McClellan views small business as the backbone of LD1. He advocates cutting red tape, resisting new fees and “sin-tax” hikes, and fostering year-round economic activity that complements seasonal tourism. Workforce development and partnerships with community colleges are core to his vision of local opportunity.

With New Jerseyans already facing some of the nation’s highest taxes, McClellan opposes what he calls executive overreach and budget practices that rely on ever-higher taxes and fees (e.g., on cigarettes, alcohol, and gambling). His agenda stresses balanced budgets, taxpayer value, and accountability for spending priorities.

He supports long-delayed regional upgrades — notably the Route 55 expansion for safety, evacuation, and commerce — and consistent state attention to local roads, bridges, and ports. Infrastructure should reflect how South Jersey actually lives, works, and evacuates during storms.

McClellan backs fair, practical rules for the fishing industry, investment in working waterfronts, and protections for farmland. He argues that environmental stewardship must be balanced with keeping coastal and agricultural economies viable for the next generation.

A consistent theme for McClellan is reintroducing civics — including the basics of local government — into school curricula so young people understand how counties, municipalities, and school boards work. Better informed citizens make stronger communities.

Beyond legislation, McClellan highlights hands-on service — with legislative offices in Vineland and Cape May Court House — helping residents with state agencies and casework. His background in the Cape May County Sheriff’s Office and 15 years coaching girls’ basketball reflect an agenda rooted in everyday service and accessibility.

McClellan argues the Governor’s recent budgets lean on fees and “sin taxes” that hit working-class residents while leaving South Jersey under-served. He opposes piling on new taxes and regulations, calling instead for restraint, transparency, and prioritizing core services.

He calls the unfinished Route 55 a decades-long broken promise that affects safety, storm evacuation, and economic development. Completing and hardening critical corridors — and fixing local roads and bridges — are baseline obligations the state owes LD1.

McClellan has raised alarms about proposed NJDEP changes to base flood elevations that could force costly home raisings across the bayshore, hollow out municipal tax bases, and ignore on-the-ground realities in LD1. He supports practical coastal resilience that protects people, property, and local budgets.

He backs strong K-12 fundamentals, practical post-secondary pathways, and partnerships with institutions like community colleges to build local careers — from trades and manufacturing to hospitality and marine industries — so LD1’s “best and brightest” can stay and thrive here.

Drawing on his Sheriff’s Office experience, McClellan supports ensuring police, firefighters, EMTs, and corrections have resources, staffing, and respect to keep towns safe, while maintaining accountability and community trust.

In your interview, McClellan explicitly supported making civics — including the roles of school boards, municipal officials, county offices, and state/federal branches — part of mandatory curriculum so future voters can confidently navigate elections and public institutions.

McClellan is open to exploring county-facilitated, nonpartisan voter information (questionnaires, basic candidate pages) while noting the need to consult county clerks on cost and implementation. He also supports rebuilding local press coverage — recalling past regional TV news — so citizens can follow evolving issues beyond one-time questionnaires.

He encourages residents to contact LD1’s legislative offices for help with state matters (e.g., MVC, unemployment) and coordinates with federal offices as needed. McClellan stresses direct engagement over rumor mills and invites voters to reach out, ask questions, and get facts.