Tennille McCoy served as Assistant Commissioner of Labor and is now seeking an open State Assembly seat in Mercer-Middlesex district
By David Wildstein, October 18 2023 2:47 pm
A hard-hitting new TV ad in the 14th legislative district goes after a Democratic Assembly candidate Tennille McCoy for suggesting that white state employees should be pushed out of their jobs so that people of color could be hired in their place.
“At the end of the day, it’s being able to shift some people out of positions so we create opportunities for other people of color,” McCoy said on a Zoom meeting while serving as assistant commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development.
The ad was made by Adam Elias, an attorney who is the Republican Assembly candidate in the 14th, which has more state employees as residents than any other district.
In “American Dream,” Elias’ ad slams McCoy for her belief that some state workers should be pushed out to enhance state government diversity.
Script: (Narrator) “The American Dream is the opportunity for every hard-working individual to succeed. Tennille McCoy takes those opportunities away from the people she’s supposed to represent. (McCoy) At the end of the day, it’s being able to shift some people out of positions so we create opportunities for other people of color. (Narrator) Adam Elias immigrated to the U.S., works hard to achieve success for his family, and is living the American dream. Vote for opportunity for everyone. Vote Adam Elias for Assembly.”
McCoy says Elias is twisting her words.
“The point I was making, and what I firmly believe, is better characterized as that our state workforce should look like our communities and afford opportunities for everyone, regardless of who they are,” McCoy told the New Jersey Globe.
But Deborah Palombi, a personnel Assistant at the Department of Human Services, disputed McCoy’s claim.
“As a 28-year career service employee in the civil service system who was appointed as a promotional candidate, Tennille McCoy definitely applied this to me and appointed a ‘man of color’ who did not qualify until the civil service list expired, Palombi said on social media.”
Words that appear on the screen in Elias’ ad call McCoy a “disgraced public servant” who was “sued four times by her employees” and that she “resigned in shame.”
McCoy was personally named in lawsuits filed against the labor department, but that’s not uncommon in state government. Still, lawsuit allegations point to a pattern of discrimination, harassment, and creating a toxic work environment.
While several senior Murphy administration officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, did not dispute that she resigned to avoid termination, some at the labor department say the accusation is not true.
“This ad is disgusting and is Adam’s desperate attempt to distract the voters away from his extreme anti-choice, anti-union, culture war tactics for New Jersey,” McCoy said. “His political games won’t work, because the voters of LD-14 know that this election is far too important.”
Elias ran for the State Senate in 2021 and, with little party funding, lost to incumbent Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro) by ten percentage points. Republicans are more optimistic about beating McCoy than they are about unseating Greenstein or Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo (D-Hamilton).
McCoy wants to succeed Dan Benson (D-Hamilton), who gave up his Assembly seat to run for Mercer County Executive. He’s a shoo-in for that post.
The 14th is an uphill climb for Republicans: Joe Biden won it by eighteen points in 2020 and Phil Murphy by nine in 2021. The GOP hasn’t carried the district in sixteen years.
McCoy was the surprise winner at a rocky Mercer Democratic convention in March, where three candidates from Hamilton were seeking two seats; Rick Carabelli finished first with 120 votes, followed by McCoy with 111, and DeAngelo finished third with 106 in a shocker.
Three days later, DeAngelo scored a comeback as the top vote-getter at the Democratic convention in Middlesex with 58 votes; Carabelli dropped out after McCoy defeated him by just four votes, 45-41.
Happy Monday, New Jerseyans! Welcome to your one-stop-shop for Phil Murphy's sad presidential dreams, Dems in Disarray™, panicked midterm Democrats, and other goings on in the Garden State.
Tomorrow is Election Day and our opportunity to end some of the insanity you see below. Think your vote doesn't matter? Think again. In a low turnout year, some of these races may come down to just 1 or 2 votes. If you needed a sign to go out and change the direction of our state, this is it. Find your polling place here, turn in that vote-by-mail ballot sitting on your counter, and let's end the madness. Thanks for reading.
Can Republicans flip New Jersey’s state legislature from blue to red?
Fox News
Republicans may have a small advantage when it comes to turning out more monthly new voter registrations compared to Democrats. According to a recent poll by Stockton University, voters have a low approval rating for Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., who is facing a federal indictment for alleged bribery and allegedly acting as a foreign agent...Biden's approval stands at only 38%, with a majority, 54%, expressing disapproval.
New Jersey GOP sues group boosting third-party candidates
New Jersey Monitor
The Republican suit, lodged in state Superior Court in Atlantic County, alleges Jersey Freedom, the independent expenditure group, failed to timely file some paperwork with the Election Law Enforcement Commission and sought to illegally shield donor and spending information from disclosure in its latest filing, a move the GOP claims is meant to hide the group’s ties to South Jersey Democrats. “We need to take a stand here as Americans and New Jerseyans. As Republicans, yes, but more importantly for the rule of law. This is just egregious,” Bob Hugin, the state Republican chairman, told reporters earlier this week. “We need to really stand firm here and make sure people are aware of it and stop this nonsense. It’s really bad for democracy.
N.J. is sending ANCHOR property tax rebate checks right before the election. Some pro-democracy watchdog groups question the timing
WHYY
Many Garden State residents began receiving money after Gov. Phil Murphy announced on Oct. 11 the second round of ANCHOR property tax relief payments. Some pro-democracy groups believe the timing was less than ideal. “The question here has to do with whether or not folks are feeling like the checks so close to election day is an issue,” said Jesse Burns, the executive director of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey.
New Jersey Republicans eye election gains despite uphill climb
The Hill
“The majority of voters have grown tired of total Democrat control in Trenton and agree with us on the issues that are top of mind for most residents: affordability, parents’ rights, and Murphy’s outrageous energy policies,” Velardi said. “All you need to do is look at the money they’re spending to see that Democrats know they’re in trouble and are scared like never before.”
Inherit the Wind | Zdan
Save Jersey
Orsted, the Danish company already signed as a tenant for that facility in Salem County known as the New Jersey Wind Port, pulled out of its commitment to build two massive wind farms 15 miles off the coast of Atlantic City. Orsted, by the way, is the only current tenant at the Wind Port. They signed a $25 million lease for “up to” two years. The state’s investment in the Wind Port? Half a billion dollars in taxpayer money.
Bob Menendez boasts he’s still briefed on nation’s secrets despite ‘foreign agent’ charge
New York Post
The embattled New Jersey Democrat who was indicted on federal corruption charges in September told New Jersey PBS’s Chatbox with David Cruz show “I still have all my intelligence credentials” and that he still attends regular briefings of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “I was not barred from going into an intelligence briefing,” he said when Cruz asked if he had been sidelined after his most recent indictment last month. “I still have all my intelligence credentials.”
Are Democrats about to hand First Lady Tammy Murphy a U.S. Senate seat?
New Jersey Monitor
But here’s what worries me: New Jersey has a long history of politicians who would rather be coronated than participate in a competitive primary. And Murphy’s presence at the very center of power in Trenton makes it likely that she and her husband, Gov. Phil Murphy, will wield their considerable influence to put a finger on the scales as she tries to succeed the indicted Sen. Bob Menendez.
Bucco, Testa Smack Murphy For Keeping Orsted News Secret
New Jersey Globe
“It is very disturbing that the Murphy administration knew about Orsted’s decision a week before an official announcement was made. This kind of unacceptable behavior is further evidence of Governor Murphy’s lack of transparency and his administration’s desire to keep the Legislature in the dark.”… The New Jersey Globe has confirmed that the Governor’s office was told last week that the project was in trouble. Democratic legislative leaders were notified on Tuesday morning, while Republicans learned about it from the New Jersey Globe.
Blue State Taxpayers May Pay The Price For Dems’ Wind Power Gamble
Daily Caller
Orsted is evaluating whether it will be able to get out of paying the state the $100 million performance security fee, a company spokesperson told Politico. That evaluation comes as S&P has indicated that it may decrease Orsted’s credit rating in light of the cancellations, according to Reuters.
Military Aid For Israel: NJ House Members Divided On GOP Proposal
Patch
Eight of New Jersey’s House members voted against the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, with four of their peers voting in its favor. The bill passed the full House by a margin of 226-196. Reps. Andy Kim, Robert Menendez Jr., Donald Norcross, Frank Pallone, Bill Pascrell Jr., Donald Payne Jr., Mikie Sherrill and Bonnie Watson Coleman voted “no” on the bill.
New Jersey Gov. spent nearly $1,000 on Taylor Swift concessions, records show
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Murphy’s office told Politico that the Democratic State Committee was originally expected to cover the stadium costs, but didn’t. When the state was left with the bill, it was paid through the governor’s $95,000 annual expense account, which may be used for official receptions, the official residence, and “other official expenses,” language from the budget says. It is not allowed for “personal purposes” and cannot supplement Murphy’s annual $175,000 salary. Murphy, a former Goldman Sachs executive, disclosed a taxable income of nearly $700,000 last year and made more than $5 million in 2021, tax records show.
Alex Wilkes | Communications Director
New Jersey Republican State Committee
Alex Wilkes
alex@njgop.org
Communications Director, NJGOP
ANDREW SIDAMON-ERISTOFF | SEPTEMBER 29, 2023 | OPINION
The federal indictment of the senator, his wife and co-defendants raises civil and criminal tax liability issues
Sometimes it’s the little financial details that trip you up. Ask Al Capone.
On Sept. 22 the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York unsealed the indictment against Sen. Robert Menendez, his wife Nadine Menendez and three New Jersey businessmen for “participating in a years-long bribery scheme” in which Menendez and his wife allegedly accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars of bribes in exchange for Menendez’s agreement to use his official position to protect and enrich them and to benefit the government of Egypt. Menendez faces one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, one count of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right.
That’s bad, but more may be coming: civil and criminal tax liability.
The indictment doesn’t specifically allege tax crimes, but it does assert that Menendez and his wife received bribes consisting of cash, gold bullion, payments toward a home mortgage, compensation for a low- or no-show job, a new Mercedes convertible, home furnishings and “other things of value” from their co-defendants. In response, Menendez and his wife face a legal conundrum: how to characterize these things of value for tax purposes?
One approach would be to argue that there was no receipt and thus no tax consequence. Not coincidentally, Sen. Menendez, in a post-indictment statement to the press, claimed that the $480,000 in cash found in his home simply represents withdrawals from his savings account over some 30 years. Presumably, Sen. Menendez would not have made this claim without being confident that bank records and date information from serial numbers on the currency bills will back him up. But how will he explain the $70,000 in cash found in Ms. Menendez’s safe deposit box and the fact that some of the envelopes holding the cash are linked through DNA and/or fingerprints to a co-defendant? Moreover, this “no receipt” argument may be tougher to make in connection with the other things of value listed in the indictment, such as the payments made by the co-defendants toward the Mercedes convertible and Ms. Menendez’s home mortgage.
Assuming it can be proven that they did indeed receive things of value, the Menendezes will be obliged to choose whether the receipt of these things constitutes taxable compensation, a loan or a gift. Each carries distinct tax consequences.
Menendez could maintain that he and his wife received the things of value as compensation for services rendered. The facts alleged in the indictment suggest that would be a stretch: Is it normal to receive gold bars as compensation? In any case, the Menendezes could easily preempt speculation by disclosing their tax returns for the relevant years, as the senator voluntarily did when up for reelection in 2012 and 2018. But what happens if those returns don’t include those items of income? (Awkwardly, per the indictment, Menendez did not disclose car payments, gold or cash in the relevant calendar year on his annual Senate financial disclosure form.) Menendez would either have to concede that the stuff he and his wife received was not compensation or admit that he underreported income and filed false tax returns, statements and documents — serious tax offenses.
The couple might assert that the things of value they received were a loan and thus not taxable. Indeed, they may already be advancing this argument. According to the indictment, following the execution of search warrants on the Menendez home in June 2022, Nadine Menendez wrote a $21,000 check to a co-defendant who had been making payments on her Mercedes convertible with a memo line reading “personal loan.” Maybe Ms. Menendez can produce documentation to substantiate the car payments as a loan, but she and her husband may find it a bit more challenging to argue that the other stuff, such as gold bars or home furnishings, were loans. Moreover, even if it accepted the depiction of the car or mortgage payments as made in connection with a loan, based on the facts in the indictment, the IRS might well assert that the co-defendants forgave a portion of any such loan, generating taxable income to the Menendezes.
Finally, the Menendezes could claim that the things of value they received were gifts. This is their best scenario since the receipt of a gift is not taxable. But there are complications.
First, donors of gifts are liable to pay tax on the value of any gift that exceeds the annual gift tax exclusion amount ($16,000 in 2022, the relevant year). In this case, the donors are the three co-defendants, and some of the transferred things of value (e.g., the gold bars) appear to have exceeded $16,000 in value. If the co-defendants did not in fact pay applicable gift tax — a not unreasonable assumption, and easily checked — they might object to any attempt to characterize the transfers as gifts since it would expose them to civil tax penalties. But if they weren’t gifts, what were they?
Second, the IRS is aware that some taxpayers will try to mischaracterize income as gifts and therefore is fairly strict in defining a gift as “the transfer of property by one individual to another while receiving nothing, or less than full value, in return … whether or not the donor intends the transfer to be a gift.” Here, the alleged facts suggest that it would be difficult to argue that the co-defendants received “nothing in return,” even if they claim that it was their intention to make gifts.
Third and finally, Senate Rule 35 generally prohibits the receipt of gifts unless an exception applies. The only reasonably applicable exception in this case is for gifts “given on the basis of personal friendship, unless there is reason to believe that the gift was provided because of the individual’s official position and not because of the personal friendship.” Although the indictment suggests that Sen. Menendez and his co-defendants were indeed friendly, the rule also provides that senators must obtain written approval from the Select Committee on Ethics before accepting any gift given on the basis of personal friendship that exceeds $250. Query: Did Sen. Menendez request and receive such approval? If not, how could he claim that he received gifts for tax purposes without admitting that he violated the Senate’s rules?
Al Capone reportedly once boasted that “they can’t collect legal taxes from illegal money.” Sen. Menendez would be well advised to remember that Capone was ultimately jailed for tax evasion.
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Tricks of the Trade: The Trenton Tax Trap | Elias
July 8, 2023 Adam J. Elias Taxes 0
From its inception, the senior tax credit plan introduced earlier this month by Democrats in the Legislature has been called several things, from reverse robin hood, to smoke and mirrors, election year politics at its worst, or simply nothing more than a trick to give Trenton lawmakers a victory lap in their districts as they recess for summer and campaign for reelection in November.
Reasonable minds can differ on whether the plan is good policy, but here is a question worth asking our representatives: is the plan even enforceable? Not at all.
The New Jersey Constitution limits the powers of the Governor and State Legislature to spend our tax dollars in two ways: The Appropriations Clause and the Debt Limitation Clause. The Appropriations Clause allows the Legislature to submit an appropriations bill to the Governor reflecting a “negotiated” budget for the upcoming fiscal year, with a balance of enough revenue to cover the wish list of expenses outlined in the bill. Our government cannot set aside a specific dollar amount for future budget years and tie the hands of future legislators who may find themselves dealing with unanticipated economic setbacks like a recession, or a pandemic.
The Debt Limitation Clause requires any newly proposed state debt amounting to more than 1% of the year’s budget to be submitted directly to the voters by referendum. By applying both of these principles to the Democrat StayNJ plan, specifically how the plan is supposed to be funded with annual increasing sums of hundreds of millions of dollars set aside in a “lockbox,” it is clear that the tax relief plan is nothing more than a pinky promise to set aside money “subject to” the State Treasurer’s approval and can be broken as early as next year’s budget season, well before the delayed start date of January 2026 as the next Governor is getting settled in at Drumthwacket.
This is the same reason why many state workers will never see their pensions, or at least as much of it as anticipated. In 1997, Governor Whitman suspended the State’s contribution to the pension funds in exchange for granting public employees a “non-forfeitable” right to their pensions, which was meaningless.
After Democrat Governors McGreevey, Codey and Corzine continued to suspend these payments with the blessing of a Democrat-controlled Legislature, Chapter 78 was enacted in 2011, phasing in the State’s obligation to fund the pensions for the first time in 15 years. While beach bum Chris Christie is often blamed for “screwing public workers” and taking more out of their pockets, voters should remember that it was the Democrat-controlled Legislature—the same folks promising senior tax relief—that voted to increase employee contributions in exchange for a “contractual right” to the State funding their pensions.
The New Jersey Supreme Court later ruled in 2015 that any such contract would violate both the Appropriations Clause and the Debt Limitation Clause and likewise amounts to another pinky promise by Democrats.
Herein lies the Trenton tax trap. Governor Murphy has followed through on that promise for the past six years. But for how long (if ever) can the State deliver on promises to our public employees AND our seniors? It is unsustainable, that is, without breaking another promise to the rest of New Jersey: more taxes.
It may be worthwhile to start considering whether the “Next New Jersey” needs the next New Jersey Constitutional Convention to overhaul the status quo. A Constitution that lays out protections for public employee pension benefits and/or senior property tax cuts, both of which can already be found in other states. A Constitution that restructures our State obligations and ties school funding to alternative, more equitable revenue sources like income taxes, as proposed every year for the past five years by Republican lawmakers. Most importantly, a Constitution that provides for a full-time legislature subject to reasonable term limits, spending its time wisely solving our State’s ever worsening problems rather than staving off retirement until the next pay raise.
In the meantime, with just four months left to go for an election with all 120 seats in the Legislature on the ballot, voters must give major consideration to a desperately needed overhaul of the Statehouse roster.
Testa obliterates Ørsted bailout on ‘Fox & Friends’ (savejersey.com)
A $2 billion wind farm bailout cleared the New Jersey legislature last week, one which isn’t only corrupt but guaranteed to increase energy costs rather than lower them.
On Wednesday, State Senator Mike Testa Jr. (R-1) joined Fox & Friends to explain why throwing billions at a foreign company is an indefensibly stupid idea.
Pappas Says Zwicker Overreaches on
State Control of Local Libraries
Urges Age-appropriate Books
Decided Locally with Parental Involvement
May 22, 2023
Branchburg – Mike Pappas, candidate for New Jersey State Senate, today offered comments regarding Sen. Andrew Zwicker’s sponsorship of legislation that would directly connect State funding for public libraries and School District libraries to traditionally local decision making.
“Andrew Zwicker wants to sensationalize this into a conversation about book banning. I am not advocating banning books. However, there should be age-appropriate standards that are decided locally with the vital input from parents. The legitimate concerns of many parents, local educators and librarians could be summarily dismissed if Andrew Zwicker has his way. He seems to have determined that parents and local communities are incapable of making decisions that are in the best interests of their children and students,” said Pappas.
“The public policy advocated by a national library organization has been offered as the leading authority to be followed. I am sure this group has important professional perspectives but parental responsibility and parental rights should be supported and not negated,” stated Pappas.
“Parents should be given every opportunity to be involved in the education of their children and the State government should not take the heavy-handed approach that Mr. Zwicker wants. He is trying to confuse the issue and divert attention away from his extreme position that places greater control in the hands of State government that is insulated from parents and communities,” said Pappas.
“I urge Andrew Zwicker to step forward and join me in respecting and supporting parental responsibility. I urge him to support age-appropriate books and educational materials for school-age children. Grammar school-age children, such as first and second graders, are not taught algebra or geometry, they are taught basic arithmetic such as addition and subtraction. This should hold true for all educational materials,” concluded Pappas.
# # #
Michael Pappas
Candidate for New Jersey State Senate
P.O. Box 5016, North Branch, NJ 08876
District 16
Pappas Highlights $13 Million Impact to South Brunswick School District Due to Andrew Zwicker’s Inaction
May 15, 2023
Branchburg – Mike Pappas, candidate for New Jersey State Senate, today issued the following statement concerning impact to the South Brunswick School District:
“When Andrew Zwicker was given the chance to vote to restore full funding for school districts due to the S2 school funding formulas, he abstained from voting – twice! When given the chance to vote to use some of the State’s $10 billion budget surplus, his decisions to abstain on March 10 and 30, 2023, are prompting these scenarios in school districts throughout New Jersey.
The South Brunswick School District, his hometown, is reported to expect a $13 million shortfall,” said Pappas.
See attached article from South Brunswick Patch
south brunswick schools could be in financial jeopardy in 2024-25, saynofficials - Search (bing.com)
“When it mattered to his constituents, Andrew Zwicker was absent. He chose to ignore the needs of the people he actually represents in Trenton,” concluded Pappas.
# # #
Michael Pappas
Candidate for New Jersey State Senate
P.O. Box 5016, North Branch, NJ 08876
District 16
Governor Murphy: Do Your Damn Job and End the Rutgers Strike
April 13, 2023, 9:24 pm
New Jersey’s 14th legislative district is situated in close proximity to Rutgers University’s New Brunswick campus. Consequently, the current strike by Rutgers University employees is having a disproportionate impact on many families in the district with students just a few weeks away from concluding the spring semester or graduating college.
Today, Adam J. Elias, candidate for the General Assembly in the 14th legislative district, called on Governor Murphy to take more deliberate steps to end the strike and get faculty back to work with their students.
https://www.insidernj.com/press-release/governor-murphy-do-your-damn-job-and-end-the-rutgers-strike/
Tax Increase And Audit Demonstrate Need For New Leadership In Mercer County
The need to end single-party rule in Mercer County
HAMILTON TWP – Republican candidate for Mercer County Executive, Lisa Richford, said today that passage of a tax-increasing county budget last week and the expected release of an audit of county finances this evening demonstrate the need for new leadership in Mercer County government.
“Last week the County Board of Commissioners voted to raise our taxes and announced they will be releasing details of an audit of the county’s finances this evening.” Mercer County Executive candidate Lisa Richford said, “The thing is we should not be raising taxes on residents who are already among the highest taxed, 16th as a percentage of median income, in the nation.”
Richford continued, “Families are tightening their belts, our government should be doing the same. Instead they choose to point the finger of blame at the county’s former Chief Financial Officer. That’s not leadership!”
“Mercer County’s next Executive needs to understand that we cannot tax our way out of our problems, especially living in the era of Bidenomics.” Richford added, “Real leadership and transparency in the government’s budget process along with innovative ideas to solve our problems are what will win the day for the people of Mercer County.”
“The mere fact that we are looking forward to this evening’s release of an audit of county finances demonstrates the need to end single-party rule in Mercer County,” Richford said. “Mercer County’s column B team will end single-party rule and bring innovative leadership to Mercer County.”
By Ricky Suta, August 21 2023 11:48 am
The Republicans in the 14th legislative district unveiled their “StayNJ Today” plan, which would move the existing StayNJ plan’s start date from 2026 to 2024.
A 2026 start isn’t soon enough for State Senate candidate Patricia Johnson and Assembly candidates Adam Elias and Skye Gilmartin.
The plan, approved by the legislature and signed by Gov. Phil Murphy in June with bipartisan support, provides a 50% property tax credit for qualifying seniors, with accommodations to renters. Until StayNJ kicks in, the $250 tax rebate under the ANCHOR program remains in effect.
“The voters need representatives committed to taking action now while we have a $10 billion surplus, rather than making promises for a day that may never come,” Johnson said.
Although all but two Republicans in the legislature voted to pass the StayNJ plan, the delay in the program’s start date has been a concern among Republicans in the legislature since the legislation was first introduced.
“Republicans in both the Senate and Assembly moved to amend the bill to take effect now, and the Democrats rejected the amendment because they were never serious about helping our seniors in the first place,” said Elias.
State Sen. Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro) and Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo (D-Hamilton) voted for the StayNJ plan and will headline a town hall on the tax relief program this Wednesday in Monroe.
Elias, Gilmartin overcome off-the-line challenge from Shah
By Joey Fox, June 06 2023 9:26 pm
The Republican organizational candidates for two Assembly seats in the 14th legislative district, Adam Elias and former Hightstown Councilwoman Skye Gilmartin, have won their Republican primary against challenger Bina Shah, the New Jersey Globe projects.
As of 9:25 p.m. and with only mail-in ballots reported, Elias and Gilmartin have 46% and 45% of the vote, respectively, while Shah has just 8%.
Shah, who was one of the district’s Republican Assembly nominees in both 2019 and 2021, attempted to get the county line this year but was rebuffed. Undeterred, she filed to run off-the-line anyways, but she never raised much money or drew attention to her campaign.
Elias and Gilmartin, alongside Senate candidate Patricia Johnson, will now confront a difficult general election in the Democratic-leaning district. Though Republicans began the cycle with hopes of competing in tough districts like the 14th, the district’s Democratic slate – State Sen. Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro), Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo (D-Hamilton), and Tennille McCoy – appears to be in a strong position to win.
___________________________________
MCRC March 16, 2023 Candidate Nomination Convention
An epic evening was held in Hamilton, Mercer County, New Jersey last evening where the Mercer County Republican Delegates selected their 2023 Candidates. It is my pleasure and privilege to announce the following outstanding Mercer GOP 2023 endorsed candidates for our June 2023 Primary:
Candidates for LD 16:
Michael Pappas - Senate
Ross Traphagen - Assembly
Grace Zhang - Assembly
Candidates for LD 15:
Roger Locandro - Senate
Michael Hurtado - Assembly
Candidates for LD 14:
Pat Johnson - Senate
Adam Elias - Assembly
Skye Gilmartin - Assembly
Mercer County:
Bryan "Bucky" Boccanfuso For Sheriff
Joseph Stillwell - Commissioner
Denise Turner - Commissioner
Respectfully yours,
Lisa Richford, Chair
MCRC
P.O. Box 10535
Hamilton, NJ 08650
609-954-6273
lisa@lisarichford.com
March was an incredibly successful month for our campaign team. I received the nomination to be Hamilton's Republican Mayoral candidate from the Hamilton Township Republican Committee, along with my running mates Michael Chianese & Gino Melone for Council.
Our team knocked on doors along the St. Patrick's Day Parade route, secured an overwhelming amount of signatures to get on the ballot, and built out our team.
We had a wildly positive reception at the St. Patrick's Day Parade, meeting new faces and neighbors from around the town, giving out almost 3,000 stickers, and putting out dozens of lawn signs.
Our campaign had our first KICKOFF event at the Hibernians. Over 125+ supporters and friends attended our first event, kicking off our fundraising efforts in a big way.
And we are regularly attending community events in town, supporting our fellow Hamiltonians and our community.
We are just getting started - there is plenty of work to be done. Thank you to everyone for lending a hand or donating to make our efforts a success. We are very excited for all April will bring & we look forward to seeing you all on the campaign trail.
Every dollar will make the difference in this race. We need your help. Please consider making a donation HERE - Support - Friends of Marty Flynn (anedot.com)
Hamilton Republicans came together on February 28 at their municipal convention to select candidates for the 2023 election. The group of over 100 Republicans were excited to select candidates that can win in November and help Hamilton.
Marty Flynn was selected as candidate for Mayor. Marty brings great experience and qualifications for the position. Marty spent seven years on the leadership team in Hamilton as Director of Economic Development and Director of Health, Recreation, Senior and Veterans Service. Marty was responsible for record economic development projects which brought Hamilton nine major projects resulting in over 4,000 jobs for Hamilton. Marty also had several leadership positions in local schools including Director of Athletics for West Windsor-Plainsboro School District as well as Nottingham High School.
Gino Melone and Mike Chianese were selected as candidates for the Hamilton Township Council.
Gino was a councilman in Trenton for 16 with a strong reputation for constituent service. Gino is retired with 35 years of service with Mercer County Government. Last Department within the County Government was with The Mercer County Division of Consumer Affairs. Gino has a strong background in public service.
Mike has been involved with local government for many years including being a fire commissioner in Hamilton and chair of the Hamilton Republican party. Mike has recently retired from a successful career at the State of New Jersey with management positions in facility operations and new construction in the Department of Information Technology, Department of Public Safety and Department of Treasury.
Come support the candidates in the upcoming elections to restore Hamilton’s community.
Your tax dollars hard at work.
The New Jersey Office of the State Comptroller has released a report revealing Mercer County paid almost $4.5 million in penalties and interest for delinquent tax filings and payments between 2018 and 2021.
According to the report, the Democratic-controlled county's Finance Department regularly failed to make adequate and timely payroll tax payments to both the Internal Revenue Service as well as the New Jersey Division of Taxation.
Read More: New report: Mercer County NJ wasted millions in taxpayer dollars | https://nj1015.com/new-report-finds-mercer-county-nj-wasted-millions-of-taxpayer-dollars/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral
Completed ballots strewn across the floor at a polling facility in Mercer County on November 8, 2022. (Photo: Obtained by the New Jersey Globe).
By David Wildstein, November 10 2022 8:54 pm
The missing ballots from three voting districts in Princeton and one in Robbinsville were found today at the Mercer County Board of Elections, where they had been since Election Day, the New Jersey Globe has confirmed.
This is just one problem in a disastrous Election Day operation that started with every polling location in Mercer County. County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello has asked the Mercer County Prosecutor to launch an investigation.
The Robbinsville ballots were counted today and the Princeton ballots are set to be counted on Friday.
A small number of additional ballots were found inside voting machines when they were opened today. Superior Court Judge William Anklowitz signed an order this morning authorizing the machines to be opened.
Voters across the Mercer County were told to vote using paper ballots on Election Day after a programming glitch rendered the Dominion optical scanner as unusable. The ballots were dropped into the machine’s storage bin and collected by a team of one Democrat and one Republican.
Mercer County Superintendent of Elections Nathaniel Walker will keep his office open on Friday, a state holiday, and this weekend, to continue counting ballots.
Great Day in Hamilton, Bob Healey greeting large group of Young Republicans helping get the word out
Jack Ciattarelli joined the group at their lunch break.
MERCER COUNTY REPUBLICAN CAPITAL CLUB
REPUBLICAN HEADQUARTERS
P.O. Box 10535
HAMILTON, JERSEY 08650
mercernjgop.com
December 21, 2020
Subject: 2021 Mercer County Republican Capital Club Membership
Dear Fellow Republicans:
These are challenging and difficult times for our Republic. I am writing to ask that you to join the Mercer County Republican team that is energized and committed to supporting and electing Republicans to office. We are working on recruiting quality and qualified candidates for years to come. The best way for you to do that is by joining the Capital Club and also by supporting our next event.
I have been excited to see the outpouring of support from all corners of the County and the State. If you are a Mercer County Republican Committee person, I am asking that each Committee person make an additional vested minimum donation of $100.00 or whatever you are able to, to the club. By becoming vested, you will become a valuable member of the team. No amount is too small in these unique times where we are unable to gather to have traditional fundraisers and share time together with one another. As a member, you will also receive invitations to Capital Club events that will allow you to interact at this time virtually with County and State political leaders. Your membership will also help to fund County Republican operations and support campaigns throughout Mercer County.
In closing, I ask that you support the Mercer County Republican Party by joining and or renewing your membership to the Mercer County Republican Capital Club. Application attached, please make your check out to “Mercer County Republican Capital Club” and return to: Mercer County Republican Capital Club, P.O. Box 10535, Hamilton, NJ 08650.
Thank you for your time, consideration and support of the MCRC and I look forward to working with you to elect Republicans to all levels of government.
Sincerely,
Lisa Richford, Esq.
Chair, Mercer County Republican Committee
Paid for by MCRC, P.O. Box 10535, Hamilton, NJ 08650
MERCER COUNTY REPUBLICAN CAPITAL CLUB
Mailing address: P.O. Box 10535, Hamilton, NJ 08650
2021 MEMBERSHIP and RENEWAL
Membership in the Mercer County Republican Capital Club is one of the easiest and most important ways to show your support for the Republican Party. As a member you will have the opportunity to meet informally with both political and government leaders, all while building the Republican Party throughout Mercer County. The Capital Club membership entitles you to attend at no charge two events during the year sponsored by the Club.
Name: _______________________________________________________________________
Email address: ______________________@________ . ________
Address: _____________________________________________________________________
City: _________________________ State: ________ Zip: ____________________________
Phone: Work: _________________ Cell: ___________________ Home: _________________
Occupation: _____________________________ Employer: ____________________________
Employer’s address: _____________________________________________________________
Referred by: (optional) __________________________________________________________
Enclosed is my check for my 2020 membership:
Single: $175 ______ Joint: $275 _______ Sponsor: $500 ________ Director: $1000 ______
I am unable to join now, but my contribution is enclosed $__________.
YES, I would like to volunteer: ________
Paid for by MCRC, Cynthia Simon, Treasurer
P.O. Box 10535, Hamilton, NJ 08650
The Mercer County Republican Committee's mission is to promote conservative ideals of limited government, individual freedom and traditional American values by electing Republican leaders.
2020 is an important year to elect Republican leaders. Check out our site and get involved.
Mercer County Republican Committee Consitution
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