Mercer County Republican Committee
Mercer County Republican Committee
  • Home
  • Candidates
  • Towns
  • Articles
  • Capital Club
  • Events
  • Contact Us
  • More
    • Home
    • Candidates
    • Towns
    • Articles
    • Capital Club
    • Events
    • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Candidates
  • Towns
  • Articles
  • Capital Club
  • Events
  • Contact Us

Join us for the 2022 Woman of the Year Reception July 21

      



Join the NJGOP on Thursday, July 21st at the Battleground Country Club for the 5th annual Woman of the Year reception honoring New Jersey's Republican Women Legislators with Special Guest the Lt. Governor Winsome Earle Sears from the Commonwealth of Virginia!       


Winsome Earle-Sears, a native of Kingston, Jamaica, immigrated to the United States at the age of six. She is proud to have served in the United States Marine Corps. In addition to her various appointments, she has served as the Vice President of the Virginia State Board of Education; and as a presidential appointee to the US Census Bureau, as co-chair of the African American Committee; and the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.    Winsome was first elected in 2002 to a majority Black House of Delegates district, a first for a Republican in Virginia since 1865. She is the first female Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the first Black female elected to statewide office. As Lieutenant Governor, Winsome Earle-Sears presides over the Senate when they are in session.    A former program manager for the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce and VISTA volunteer, Winsome is a trained electrician and successful businesswoman. However, Winsome is most proud of her community work leading a men’s prison ministry and as director of a women’s homeless shelter. She holds a B.A. in English with a minor in Economics, and an M.A. in Organizational Leadership, with a concentration in Government.    


 Honoring New Jersey's Republican Women Legislators  Senator Jean Stanfield, Senator Holly Schepisi  Senator Kristin Corrado, Assemblywoman Nancy Muñoz Assemblywoman Aura Dunn, Assemblywoman DeAnne DeFuccio  Assemblywoman Kim Eulner, Assemblywoman Vicky Flynn Assemblywoman DiAnne Gove, Assemblywoman Michele Matsikoudis Assemblywoman Bethanne McCarthy Patrick Assemblywoman Marilyn Piperno, Assemblywoman Beth Sawyer   Assemblywoman Claire Swift   


Click Here To Reserve Your Spot!    https://secure.anedot.com/njgop/woty-2022

Fire Nancy Pelosi. Stop Joe Biden. Sign up for our June Week of Action! June 3rd - June 7th

      



Sign up for our June Week of Action!  June 3rd - June 7th   Primary Day is this Tuesday. Winning in November starts with getting the vote out for the Republican Primary this Tuesday.   

We are poised to flip seats in Congress, take back the House and usher in Republicans at all levels of government up and down the state in 2022. But we need your help.   

Our Get out the Vote Push for Primary Day starts tomorrow, runs through the entire weekend and doesn't stop until polls close on Primary Day this Tuesday, June 7th. Sign up today to join our NJGOP Victory Team and help get the word out to Republican voters in your area! 


 CLICK HERE to sign up!  www.njgop.org


 Enough with the record gas prices. Enough with the sky-high inflation. Enough with the open borders, and the weakness and incompetence coming out of Washington. This is our chance to make things right and this is your chance to make a difference. 


With you on our team, we are one step closer to victory. We'll see you out the trail!    

Thank you,  

Team NJGOP      


Click Here & Sign Up   www.njgop.org                   


TwitterFacebookInstagram


PAID FOR BY THE NEW JERSEY REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE
150 WEST STATE STREET, SUITE 230 • TRENTON, NEW JERSEY 08608
SHAUN VAN DOREN, TREASURER
NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE COMMITTEE 

Should the Mercer County Board of Commissioners switch to a district-based system?

Should the Mercer County Board of Commissioners switch to a district-based system? 


Hispanic, Asian, Republican candidates could fare better in non-countywide races  

By Joey Fox, March 18 2022 4:41 pm  


Had Elvin Montero won the Mercer County Democratic Party’s endorsement two nights ago for one of two seats on the Mercer County Board of Commissioners, he would have been the first Latino ever elected countywide. Had Yan Mei Wang won, she would have been the first Asian American elected countywide.


https://newjerseyglobe.com/local/mercer/should-the-mercer-county-board-of-commissioners-switch-to-a-district-based-system/

Congressman Chris Smith Reports Home 12/29/21

             

Image

 

Congressman Chris Smith Reports Home 

 

20th Anniversary of Rep. Smith's   Historic Law to Help Homeless Veterans 

Helping Homeless Veterans in Monmouth County
 

            Twenty years ago, almost 300,000 veterans were experiencing homelessness in the United States on any given   night. 

         It was a scandal: men and women––who served our country honorably––on the   streets of America. 

         To   combat this epidemic and help our veterans in need, I authored the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001 (Public   Law 107-95), which continues to have an enormous impact in ending   chronic homelessness among those who have served our country and need our   support—especially and including in our own community. 


 Image          Recently,   the Gordon H. Mansfield Veterans Village officially opened in Tinton Falls.   Run by the non-profit organization Soldier On, the new facility is an   innovative housing complex that will provide 70 one-bedroom housing units in   a $23 million state-of-the-art complex for homeless veterans in our area.
 

           Through the Housing and Urban Development- Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH)   program--one of the many programs authorized in my law--the federal   government is providing a major source of rental assistance funding for   veterans who will be living at the new Monmouth County housing complex. In the last fiscal year alone, the HUD-VASH program provided $40 million in permanent housing subsidies and supportive services for veterans in need.
 

           As the former Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and author of more than a   dozen laws to help veterans, I remain committed to protecting veteran’s   benefits and program to help ensure that the brave men and women who have defended our country and those who are serving our country today, continue to have access to the resources and care that they deserve.
 

Opposing Payouts to Illegal Immigrants
 

           Like many Americans, I was extremely disturbed by an investigative report in the Wall Street Journal which   revealed that the Biden Administration was considering a policy to settle pending lawsuits filed on behalf of illegal migrants over the past two years by paying the exorbitant amount of up to $450,000 per person rather than continuing the fight in court.
 

           The proposed payment of such sums subverts Congress’s authority over the power of the purse and fundamentally misuses taxpayer dollars to reward illegal behavior. Some family members of 9/11 victims, US soldiers killed in action and New Jerseyans devastated by Hurricane Sandy have received less despite their sacrifice and suffering.
 

           Accordingly, I   have cosponsored the Illegal Immigrant Payoff Prohibition Act (HR   5854), which will prohibit the Department of Justice from paying off immigrants for claims related to their illegal entry into the US. Additionally, this legislation reaffirms that Congress, not the Administration, has ultimate discretion over the expenditure of funds.
 

           We must do better in combatting the current, unsustainable immigration crisis. It is critical   that the federal government knows the identities of those trying to enter our   country—which is why I have voted nearly 90 times since 1994 for legislation   to construct barriers and strengthen our southern border.
 

           Humanitarian crises and the national security issues at our southern border is not a new challenge. In 2006, I, as   well as then-Senators Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and Senator   Chuck Schumer, all voted for the Secure Fence Act, which authorized the construction of hundreds of miles   of fencing along with vehicle barriers and an increased use of advanced   technology—all to address the problems at the border. My position has   remained consistent.
 

           While I believe the United States has an obligation to welcome those fleeing humanitarian and   natural disasters, civil war, and similar dangers, any immigration proposal   must put the safety of Americans first. With this in mind, I will continue to   advocate for a comprehensive solution to our broken immigration system, which both restores law and order at our borders, and provides a more just and fair immigration process.
 

Ending Animal Cruelty
 

           Shocking reports   have recently come to light exposing the use of U.S. tax dollars to fund tests and experiments on dogs, primates and other animals in 300 foreign   laboratories in over 57 countries.
 

Image          Although   U.S. tax dollars fund these animal research experiments, tragically, many of   these foreign laboratories do not adhere to or maintain the same humanitarian   policies, protection laws and oversight as in the United States.
 

           Americans do not   want their tax dollars subsidizing animal cruelty––especially and including   under the lens of federally funded research. There are ways to safeguard the   humane treatment of animals and conduct ethical research with important   guidelines.
 

           To that end, I joined a group of bipartisan lawmakers in sending a letter to the Comptroller General of the United States, requesting that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) examine the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) oversight of taxpayer-funded animal research at foreign institutions.
 

           While sound scientific research is critical to address many of the ailments and illnesses that plague our society, it must be conducted responsibly and humanely—no   exceptions.
 

Contact Me
 

           As always, I appreciate hearing your insights on the important issues facing our community and our Nation. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of further   assistance on these or any other matters of concern to you. 

 

Sincerely,
Image
 Chris Smith
 Member of Congress 

    

Washington DC 

2373 Rayburn House Office     Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
(202) 225-3765 


Monmouth County 

112 Village Center Drive
Second Floor
Freehold, N.J. 07728
(732) 780-3035 


Ocean County 

405 Route 539
Plumsted, N.J. 08514
(609) 585-7878
   Call for an appointment 


Mercer County 

4573 South Broad Street
Hamilton, N.J. 08620
(609) 585-7878 

NJGOP Blasts “Nakedly Partisan” Gerrymander by Democrat Operatives in Disguise 12/22/21

      


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 22, 2021
CONTACT: Alex Wilkes, Communications Director
Alex@NJGOP.org 




TRENTON – Today, Bob Hugin, Chairman of the New Jersey Republican Party (“NJGOP”) released the following statement in response to the Redistricting Commission’s decision to disenfranchise millions of New Jersey voters with the release of its congressional map:
 

“On the heels of an election in which Republicans saw historic gains in the State House and a margin that was too-close-for-comfort in the gubernatorial race, the Democrats on the Redistricting Commission decided to circle the wagons in protecting their own. Tie-Breaker Chairman Wallace ignored basic facts and voted strictly on partisan lines. Instead of choosing a map with multiple, fairly drawn competitive districts, the Commission through this nakedly partisan gerrymander has undermined the basic tenets of our representative democracy,” said Hugin. 
 

"Over the last ten years, Republicans in New Jersey normally win nearly 45% of the congressional vote in federal election years, and yet this partisan map was engineered by Democrat operatives to attempt to ensure Republicans only hold 25% of the seats in Congress in 2023 and beyond. Make no mistake though, through their horrific policies, inflationary spending and failed leadership, Congressional Democrats have ensured they are all vulnerable this November, and the New Jersey Republican Party will fight for every vote and every seat in Congress."


TwitterFacebookInstagram


PAID FOR BY THE NEW JERSEY REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE
150 WEST STATE STREET, SUITE 230 • TRENTON, NEW JERSEY 08608
SHAUN VAN DOREN, TREASURER
NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE COMMITTEE 

NJ GOP Update 12/20/21

          

Happy Monday, New Jerseyans! Welcome to your one-stop-shop for Phil Murphy's sad presidential dreams, Dems in Disarray™, and other goings on in the Garden State.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We'll see you in 2022!

IT WAS ABOVE OUR PAY GRADE 
Murphy says voters didn’t understand how much good his policies are doing
ROI-NJ
“I think the message for me is, we’ve got the right substance, but we have to get into kitchen tables much more deeply that we’ve gotten into,” he told Bret Baier. “Folks have to understand why we stand for what we stand (for), how it impacts their lives, their kids’ lives, their futures. I think that is where the gap is, and I’m committed in New Jersey to closing that gap.”

THE BIGGEST LOSER: POST LEAVES MURPHY UNRANKED BEHIND BOOKER
The top 10 non-Biden Democrats for president in 2024, ranked
The Washington Post
6. Cory Booker: Perhaps nobody in 2020 demonstrated unrealized political talent like the senator from New Jersey — with emphasis on the “unrealized” part. The good news for him is there’s some unrealized upside. Booker also recently headlined a major party fundraiser in New Hampshire.
...
Others worth mentioning: Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, former first lady Michelle Obama.

DRINK UP
‘Let’s get a drink’: Dems confront prospect of a 2022 hurricane
Politico
“I’m scared,” said Peg Schaffer, vice chair of the Democratic Party in New Jersey, whose Democratic governor, Phil Murphy, won reelection this year, but by a far closer margin than expected. “We need to get the vote out, and in the midterms, it’s hard.”

IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE
No cars, cream cheese, Christmas trees ... even booze! How the supply chain has affected N.J.
NJ.com
Even some beloved New Jersey Wawa stores are actively warning about shortages. “Some products may be temporarily unavailable,” said a sign posted in the Bridgewater store on Union Ave. “We appreciate your patience as we continue to work through external supply chain shortages. We are working as quickly as possible to get back to full product inventory.”

MURPHY: LET'S TEST AND ARREST LEGISLATORS.
N.J. quarantines too many students, lawmaker says. We need a ‘test and stay’ policy for classrooms.
NJ.com
State health officials issued new guidelines Thursday recommending schools shorten the length of student quarantines to seven to 10 days. But, everyone is “growing weary” of seeing students quarantined at home, state Sen. Troy Singleton said in a letter to Gov. Phil Murphy earlier this week.

WHERE STRICT IS NOW REDEFINED AS DRUNK, LIBERAL, AND MASKLESS
Murphy plans in-person inauguration ceremony with strict safety protocols
NJ Globe
The coronavirus pandemic will almost certainly diminish any time of extravaganza related to Murphy’s second term.

WEIRD FLEX FOR 2025, BUT OKAY ...
Callahan nomination released from committee, despite accusations of ‘stonewalling’
Politico
“With all due respect Colonel, I think you’re stonewalling us,” Senate President Steve Sweeney said.

HAPPY NEW YEAR
Unhappy new year for NJ commuters: Tolls scheduled for 3% automatic increase on Jan. 1
NJ Spotlight
But the looming automatic toll hikes are also generating new attention from lawmakers in Trenton who want to provide some relief for motorists walloped by rising inflation.

MASKS, NOW SHOTS FOR TOTS
WEIRD: N.J. Department of Health ad shows child asking Santa for the covid vaccine instead of toys
Save Jersey
We’ve heard plenty of lies and propaganda from the Murphy Administration over the past two years, Save Jerseyans, all designed to terrify and manipulate the people of our state into compliance. The latest New Jersey Department of Health ad nevertheless takes the cake. It features a young boy writing to Santa while reading his letter aloud: “Dear Santa: I don’t want games. I don’t want toys. Just get me the Covid vaccine!” A little sick?
'
BUT NOT FOR HIS FRIENDS!
Murphy keeps masks mandatory in classrooms
NJ Spotlight
“We’re trying to call balls and strikes, make decisions based on facts and science and data — and keep kids in school face to face,” said Gov. Phil Murphy Monday as he announced there would be no changes to school quarantine rules or to his school mask mandate.

BONUS: Murphy continues to terrorize school children. 


Alex Wilkes | Communications Director
New Jersey Republican State Committee 


 TwitterFacebookInstagram


PAID FOR BY THE NEW JERSEY REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE
150 WEST STATE STREET, SUITE 230 • TRENTON, NEW JERSEY 08608
SHAUN VAN DOREN, TREASURER
NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE COMMITTEE 

NJ GOP Update 12/6/21

                        

 

Happy Monday, New Jerseyans! Welcome to your one-stop-shop for Phil Murphy's sad presidential dreams, Dems in Disarray™, and other goings on in the Garden State.

(DEMOCRATS DID NOT...SEE STORY #2)
Did NJ lawmakers really hear what voters were saying in November?
NJ 101.5
In the aftermath of the November election, Democratic Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin said, “There was clearly a message that was sent by voters last Tuesday. We're going to sit down and figure out what that was.”

COUGHLIN DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE ASSIGNMENT
Trenton drama ends with Coughlin criticizing GOP, State Police
Politico
A chaotic scene unfolded in the Assembly on Thursday as Republican members who refused to comply with a new vaccine-or-test mandate staged a sit-in in the Assembly chambers, delaying the start of the first lame-duck voting session by two-and-a-half hours before Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin relented, gaveled it in and gave an angry speech. Coughlin, typically mild-mannered, took the extraordinary step of criticizing the State Police, who are in charge of Statehouse security — albeit not by name. “There’s been a colossal failure of security here at the Statehouse. This is something we cannot tolerate,” Coughlin said of the troopers, who earlier in the day allowed some lawmakers who refused to comply with the newly-instituted mandate to pass through security

WHERE'S THE LIE?
Democrats Show Double Standard On Public Health: NJ Senator-Elect
Patch
"Where was the DCCC when Phil Murphy issued orders that killed 10,000 nursing home residents? Where were our 10 Democrat members of Congress," Durr said in a prepared statement. "Plain and simple, the DCCC and our 10 Democrat members of Congress didn't care about 'basic public safety measures' when dangerous Phil Murphy's COVID-19 orders were killing nursing home residents. They were all too busy whining about former President Donald Trump's tweets."

THE PHIL FACTOR
NJBIA survey: 3 in 4 NJ employers faced hiring shortages this year
NJBiz
Despite waning fears about the COVID-19 pandemic, three out of every four employers said they’ve struggled to find workers this past year, and many said they’re pessimistic about the year ahead, according to the New Jersey Business and Industry Association’s 63rd annual Business Outlook Survey. The organization also found that 28% of respondents said they plan to sell their business or cease operations due to the pandemic restrictions and cuts to both revenue and staffing...“Due to these continued obstacles, it should be a red flag for our policymakers who might consider more mandates or policies that make it more costly to do business in New Jersey,” Siekerka said.

A ONE-TRICK PONY NO MORE
Why the threat to Roe may not save Democrats in 2022
Politico
“It hasn’t moved people to the polls in places like Virginia and New Jersey this year. It wasn’t an issue in either state,” said Julie Roginsky, a former top adviser to New Jersey’s Democratic governor, Phil Murphy, who won reelection this year, but by a far narrower margin than expected. 

TURNS OUT INFANTICIDE ISN'T SUPER POPULAR
Why Haven't NJ Democrats Passed The Reproductive Freedom Bill?
Patch
But the election seemed to provide an interesting benchmark in the life of the bill, with little to no movement happening in the legislature. With some New Jersey Democrats perhaps tepid because of a strong showing from Republicans, there's an understanding that bills viewed as especially progressive could prove troublesome when it comes time for re-election in toss-up districts.

BUILD BACK BROKE
NJ Small Businesses Face Holiday Supply-Chain Impacts
Patch
And small businesses like Jimmy's Deli in Metuchen are reporting that "all the meat, poultry's gone up 100%, 200%," owner James Jones told News 12. Anthony Campisi, the owner of New Pearl Cleaners in that same town, told News 12 the cost of all supplies has skyrocketed. For example, a box of hangers went from $36 a box to $76.

...IS THAT A REPUBLICANS "POUNCE" WE HEAR?
Republicans complain about a lack of transparency on New Jersey $700 million spending plan
The Center Square
“Democrats have taken a nothing-to-see-here approach to transparency throughout this process,” Wirths added. “They frankly don’t care what anyone else thinks, so they don’t provide detailed explanations to the public because, to them, the public is irrelevant and potential concerns are white noise.”

THIS IS MY LOVE LANGUAGE
Sizable spending by Dems, independent groups still couldn’t raise a blue wave
NJ Spotlight News
Despite spending 700 times more than challengers, former Senate President Sweeney and assemblymen Burzichelli and Taliaferro were hung out to dry by Republicans on a shoestring budgetAlex Wilkes | Communications Director
New Jersey Republican State CommitteeTwitterFacebookInstagramPAID FOR BY THE NEW JERSEY REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE
150 WEST STATE STREET, SUITE 230 • TRENTON, NEW JERSEY 08608
SHAUN VAN DOREN, TREASURER
NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE COMMITTEE 

NJ GOP Update 11/22/21

                        

 


Happy Monday, New Jerseyans! Welcome to your one-stop-shop for Phil Murphy's sad presidential dreams, Dems in Disarray™, and other goings on in the Garden State.
Programming Note: The newsletter will return December 6th. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

THOUGHT WE NEEDED TO LEAVE THE STATE
$75M in Public School Funding Means Tax Relief, Murphy Says
NJ Business 
“Every one of these $3 billion is one dollar that property taxpayers can keep in their pockets. … Through these investments, we are [developing] communities for new families to [establish] roots and so that long-term residents don’t have to pull up their roots,” Murphy said.

ENERGY MASTER SHAM
Murphy sets 80% greenhouse gas reduction target, but groups question the cost
The Center Square
“Studies have shown that the cost for New Jersey homeowners to convert their homes to electric heat through the use of heat pumps will cost $20,000 or more,” Jeanette Hoffman, spokeswoman for SmartHeatNJ, an advocacy group backed by the Fuel Merchants Association of New Jersey, said in a statement after Murphy signed the latest executive order. “When asked about the extraordinary cost this mandate would have on New Jersey families, Governor Murphy has continually denied the public a straight answer.”

RUNNING SCARED
Lawmakers: lame duck session must tackle affordability, taxes
NJBiz
“I think no matter what stripe you wear, the electorate told us that affordability and also efficiency of government is essential, and things we need to be mindful of as state legislators,” Sen. Troy Singleton, D-7th District, said during Nov. 17 panel at the New Jersey League of Municipalities convention in Atlantic City.

SO TRUE IT HURTS
'Milestone moment': Republicans officially overtake Democrats in Florida
Politico
“You are seeing people move to states that value freedom,” DeSantis said during a breakfast speech at the National Conference of State Legislatures on Nov. 5. He also joked if Republicans had not been leaving New Jersey that they would have beaten Gov. Phil Murphy.

*UNLESS THEY CARE ABOUT TAXES
New Jersey grants $400M to help keep students in-state for college
KYW
Gov. Phil Murphy said New Jersey’s public school system is the best in the country, but too many high school graduates are picking colleges outside of the Garden State. “We need to stop letting our high-achieving young people be one of our state’s greatest exports," Murphy said.
 

👑QUEEN ENERGY ONLY 👑
Monmouth County Officials Call For Mail-In Voting Protocol Change
Patch
"I believe that the process needs to be reformed," agreed Monmouth County Clerk Christine Hanlon, also a Republican. She called for "legislators to sit down with election officials to craft solutions. Election officials have vast knowledge of these problems and how the changes to laws passed over the past four years have contributed to the delays in counting of ballots." Her comment was a not-so-subtle dig at Murphy, who has greatly expanded mail-in-voting during his time in office. Murphy says mail-in voting improves access to voting; he backs a bill likely to be passed in Trenton right now that will give New Jersey voters living abroad the right to vote in all state and local elections.

Alex Wilkes | Communications Director
New Jersey Republican State Committee 

NJ GOP Update 11/3/21

                        

                  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 3, 2021
CONTACT: Alex Wilkes, Communications Director
Alex@NJGOP.org
 

NJGOP Celebrates Historic Republican Wins Statewide,
Urges Patience and Confidence As our Election Integrity Team Ensures Every Legal Vote is Counted
 

On behalf of Chairman Bob Hugin and the entire New Jersey Republican Party, I             would like to start off by congratulating all of our Republican candidates across the Garden State. Our Republicans ran bold, issue-based campaigns and provided a stark contrast to the failed policies of Phil Murphy and the radical Democratic Party. And boy,  did it pay off. The victories were plentiful and historical.
 

           Jack Ciattarelli, in a complete defiance of nearly every public pollster and "mainstream" media prognosticators, is now in a complete dead heat with Governor Phil Murphy. New Jerseyans spoke loudly and clearly last night: they are sick and tired of the             Governor's arbitrary mandates, high-tax agenda and socialist policies and callous indifference to the struggles of everyday New Jerseyans. Votes are still being counted and the process is very much ongoing. More on that below.
 

           I’d like to particularly offer my congratulations to our new Republican legislators, who together represent the biggest pickup of legislative seats for Republicans in 30 years. I am especially proud to highlight that we have added 6 new women to our caucus!
 

In LD2: Senator-Elect Vince Polistina, Assemblyman-Elect Don Guardian, and             Assemblywoman-Elect Claire Swift
 

In LD3: Senator-Elect Edward Durr (a stunning underdog victory over Senate President             Steve Sweeney), Assemblywoman-Elect Bethanne McCarthy Patrick, Assemblywoman-Elect Beth Sawyer
 

In LD8: Senator-Elect Jean Stanfield  (a victory over party-switcher Dawn Addiego),             Assemblyman-Elect Brandon Umba and Assemblyman-Elect Michael Torrissi
 

In LD11: Assemblywomen-Elect Marilyn Piperno and Kimberly Eulner. Also, Senate candidate Lori Annetta currently holds a 500+ vote lead over incumbent and embattled Democratic Senator Vin Gopal in a race that is too close to call.
 

*And keep your eye on LD16, where the race is too close to call and GOP candidate             Vinny Panico is in a dead heat!
 

           I would also like to indicate that while some numbers are still being tabulated, we are well-poised for countywide victories in Gloucester, Cumberland and Somerset Counties where our candidates showed the door to Democratic incumbents.
 

           This is all in addition to the INCREDIBLE amount of local seats we flipped, where we won huge races in many swing and Democratic towns, and turned many Democratic majorities over to GOP-control.
 

           I would be remiss if I did not thank our incredibly hard-working and talented team at the NJGOP. Together, we worked to persuade and turnout voters, as well as provide confidence in the security of every New Jerseyan’s ballot. Our efforts resulted in nearly 3 million voter contacts statewide - the largest field/voter contact effort in New Jersey GOP politics, EVER.
 

           Additionally, the NJGOP formed an Election Improvement Committee to work with Boards of Election to ensure best practices were implemented and filled nearly 1,000 poll worker shifts and nearly 1,000 challenger shifts.
 

           On that front, please be advised that the New Jersey Republican Party is working hand in glove with the Ciattarelli for Governor campaign and Republican National Committee to guarantee a robust legal presence to scrutinize the process and ensure every legal vote is being counted. This process will take some time to play out.
 

           Your support throughout that process is appreciated! As is all your effort to get us to this point and deliver a ROCK SOLID night for the New Jersey Republican Party last night.
 

           So on behalf of Chairman Hugin and the entire NJGOP- let me say from the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU!
 

           Tom Szymanski
           Executive Director 

Jack Ciattarelli: Why I want your vote to become New Jersey

           

      

ICYMI: Jack Ciattarelli: Why I want your vote to become New Jersey's next governor

I     am running for Governor to fix our broken state.

      

By Jack Ciattarelli

November 1, 2021

Fox News

LINK TO STORY

What would you say to a governor who told you, "If you don’t like paying high taxes, you should pick up your family and your small     business and leave the state?" Well, if you live in New Jersey, that’s     exactly what Gov. Phil Murphy suggested you do. He told the     highest-taxed people in America to deal with it or get out. 

No governor from New Jersey – one who truly understood our residents – would     ever say that. Murphy is tone deaf and out of touch. He’s not one of us.   He’s not New Jersey. He’s an extreme liberal transplant from  Massachusetts.  

My story is a New Jersey story. It’s where my grandparents immigrated from Italy 100 years ago. It’s where I was born and  raised. It’s where I went to school. Where I became a CPA. It’s where my wife Melinda and I raised our four children. It’s where I started two     successful Main Street businesses and created jobs and opportunities for     fellow New Jerseyans (while Murphy was busy making rich people richer on Wall Street).   

Whatever Murphy     learned on Wall Street has not helped him in managing our state’s economy. New Jersey is ranked the worst state in the country in which to do business. And one out of three small businesses has shut their doors forever because of Murphy’s oppressive regulations during the pandemic. 

If that wasn’t bad enough, now Murphy is standing shoulder to shoulder with President Joe Biden’s failed economic agenda. Rising gas prices, inflation, supply chain issues and, adding insult to injury, a refusal to restore our SALT deduction despite promises that he would.

I am running for governor to fix our broken state. I know that taxes ARE an issue. But in New Jersey, we don’t run from problems, we solve them. In fact, I have a plan to lower taxes for everyone and     reduce the size and cost of our bloated government. 

Under Murphy, murders and gun violence are up 40%, while our police are constantly disrespected and disarmed by his anti-law enforcement agenda. When questioned on it, the governor resorts to lies, telling police officers, firefighters and even teachers that I am going to take     their pensions.  

As governor, I will stand with our police and get tough on crime to make our communities safer and more secure. I will also keep whole the pay, health benefits and pensions of police, fire and teachers.

Murphy proved he was the most extreme politician ever to serve as our governor when he said he wanted to make New Jersey "the California of the East Coast." Who says that?! How has he tried to do     it? By mandating kindergartners learn about sexual orientation and gender     ID and by requiring that sixth-graders learn about mature sexual content.

Murphy even went as far as to mock the role of parents and is so extreme on abortion that he wants to prohibit parents from knowing if their 15-year-old daughter is seeking an abortion. He even wants to allow pregnancies to be terminated up until the day of birth for any reason. Who     does that?!

On the issue of vaccines and masks, I am very up front with people. I am vaccinated and encourage others to get vaccinated. 

At the same time, I don’t believe government has a right to tell adults that they or their children must get a COVID vaccine. 

Government should educate people with the facts and let them make decisions on how to protect themselves.

On this issue and others, rather than respect people’s viewpoints Murphy prefers to call people "knuckleheads" and     demean parents gravely concerned about putting their children at     risk.  

Recently, an undercover video of Murphy’s staff revealed that the governor plans to implement blanket vaccine and mask mandates AFTER the     election. A stunning and appalling lack of transparency that puts his political career above the health and safety of New Jerseyans. He     should be ashamed. 

But what would you expect from someone who ordered our nursing homes to take in COVID patients? A decision inconsistent with CDC advice and despite warnings that it would result in people dying? The end result? More than 8,000 seniors and veterans died, prompting an investigation by the     Biden Department of Justice! 

New Jersey, it doesn’t have to be this way. We can do better. And when I’m governor, we will. I just need your vote on Tuesday, Nov. 2.

Click here to read Jack Ciattarelli's Fox News op-ed in its entirety. 

      

Follow Jack on social media!

      

Facebook‌ Twitter‌ Instagram‌ 

      

     

Happy Election Eve, New Jerseyans! 

For months, I have included the following statistics in this email as a reminder of what the Garden State has lost under Phil Murphy, but it's easy to gloss over them.

For the the families 8,006 residents in long-term care facilities who have died of COVID-19 because of Murphy's disastrous directive - one he was warned would be deadly - it means they will have an empty chair at the upcoming holidays. 

In the 255 days since the Murphy Administration has failed to respond to gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli's Open Public Records Act ("OPRA") request investigating COVID-19 nursing home deaths and communications with former Governor Andrew Cuomo, the public has been left in the dark about what transpired. We are entitled by law to this information, but the Administration's arrogance and media's apathy - even with respect to their own requests - have ensured that we will never see it. 

In considering the one out of three New Jersey businesses have closed their doors forever, thanks to Phil Murphy's unscientific and arbitrary lockdown measures, remember that families and communities have lost immeasurably important institutions, and they will never be the same. 

Tomorrow is our only opportunity to end this madness.

And in other Phil Murphy news...

There’s been a jail break at Edna Mahan just two days before Election Day 2021
Save Jersey
As New Jersey kids were trick-or-treating around the state, law enforcement was looking for a 40-year-old female inmate who apparently escaped from the notorious Edna Mahan Correctional Facility located in Clinton. Jessica Graham was reportedly captured around 7 p.m. by Clinton police.

Camden Candidate: ‘We Want Dem Party out of Our Educational System’
Insider NJ
Among those at the forefront of fighting the machine in Camden stands Vida Neil Rosiji, who had hopes of the Gov. Phil Murphy administration derailing the organization here only to see him endorse their candidate for mayor and fold onto the top of the party ticket. “He really let the City of Camden down,” Neil Rosiji told InsiderNJ, referring to Murphy, who formed a task force examining the alleged misuse of $11.5 billion in tax incentives for a corporate network with ties to the Camden County Democratic Party power structure only to gradually ease away from pursuing the story.

Outside groups shatter spending records in this year’s N.J. gov’s race
NJ.com
Murphy overwhelmingly benefited from outside spending. More than $34.7 million went to support him compared to nearly $4.5 million for Ciattarelli in the pre-primary, primary and general elections. 

Chris Christie: NJ Governor Phil Murphy Is Running For President & If Anybody Tells You Anything Differently Is Not Telling You The Truth.
Fox News Radio
When asked about why New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy had Senator Bernie Sanders stump for him, Christie says Murphy is running for president and he needs the support of the acolytes of Bernie Sanders, AOC and Elizabeth Warren to help make New Jersey the California of the East. Christie added, “Anybody tells you anything differently is not telling you the truth.” that Murphy is not running for president.

N.J. Latino voters are important and unpredictable. Where will they land in N.J. governor’s race?
NJ.com
Castaneda, a sales manager for a plastics company, feels Murphy “went too far” regarding pandemic-related mandates, including shutting down businesses. “My parents started a small business, a restaurant, in the middle of the pandemic,” Castaneda said. “He closed everything down, and I understand it was with good intentions, but we haven’t recovered.”

NJ governor’s race: Who’s funding Gov. Phil Murphy’s campaign?
NJ 101.5
The out-of-state donors hail from 28 states, plus Washington, D.C...Second was California, where donors gave $178,150[.]

Why a New Jersey Democrat Is Calling for Gov. Murphy's Emergency Power to Be Revoked
Town Hall
To Holley, this is unacceptable and reveals the mandate is not about health or science, but politics. “It has come to my attention that Governor Murphy will impose #Covid_19 vaccine mandates statewide if he is re-elected,” the Democrat tweeted. “Public health is not a political issue. Medical decisions are a choice and should be treated as such for every individual. Not election timing.”

Alex Wilkes | Communications Director
New Jersey Republican State Committee

One and Done 10/23

                              

      

Volume  XXV | October 23, 2021

      

Friends,

Have you seen the news? In the first public poll released in nearly a  month, Jack and Phil Murphy are locked in what is essentially a dead heat. Even better, Jack is ahead by 3% among very likely voters, thanks in large part to the fact that he's leading among independents by 24%. Phil Murphy is now sounding the alarm, calling in national Democrats to bail him out, and warning donors that he is being outraised, outspent, and overpowered. 

While all of this is exciting, remember, it only matters if our supporters get out and VOTE. And believe it or not, it's already time to cast your ballot! Today marks the very first day of in-person early voting here in New Jersey. This is a new option that we highly recommend that you take advantage of – you never know how your plans may change by Election               Day, and voting early is a great way to show your strong support! Click here to               learn more about this safe, secure voting option and find out your own early voting locations here. 

Once you've voted yourself, don't forget to message every supporter you know to encourage them to get to the polls to vote for Jack and the Republican ticket! And if you'd               like to help with our grassroots campaign in your area, simply text JACK to 21776, email us at FixNJ@Jack4NJ.com, or just click here to join our volunteer army and we'll get you on board right away! The stakes are too high to sit this one out. 

As we head into the home stretch, our campaign released a number of new digital ads that you can watch below – be sure to share your favorite one on social media! On top of this, Jack continued to earn his title as the hardest working candidate in the state, visiting community events in Far Hills and Hamilton, spending a day in Lakewood, hosting town halls in Galloway and Parlin, and joining RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel for a rally in Medford. Jack's running mate Diane Allen was busy on the campaign trail as well, making stops in Haddonfield, Southampton, Cherry Hill, Northfield, and West Berlin. Miss any of this week's action? Don't worry, we've got you covered in this One And Done Report: 

          

              

 

Jack's Latest Digital Advertisements

          

 

KITCHEN TABLE: Murphy Ridicules the Role of Parents 

         

Watch Here 🎥

       

 

          

          

 

   

HELP WANTED: Jack is Ready to Support Struggling Small Businesses 

        

Watch Here 🎥

          

      

DEATH SENTENCE: Murphy Ignored Dire Warnings, Seniors & Veterans Died 

        

Watch Here 🎥

       

 

              

 

COMING  SOON TO A TOWN NEAR YOU: 

The 10 Days to Fix New Jersey Tour

  

 

If viewing on a desktop, click here or  on the image above to see a listing of Jack's upcoming events. 

      

Jack's '10 Days to Fix New Jersey' tour of the state starts TODAY! Over the course of the next 10 days heading into Election Day, Jack will be visiting all 21 counties during a blitz of town halls, meet and greets, get out the vote events, and more. Join us at a stop near you, and bring a friend who's still undecided in this race to meet Jack in person! 

To view Jack's public event schedule on your phone, go to Jack's Facebook page, hit "About," and scroll to the very bottom. To view the schedule on a laptop or desktop, simply click               the button below!

             

🗓 10 Days to Fix New Jersey Tour 🗓

              

              

      

📰 Jack Ciattarelli: In The News 📰 

      

                   

  

PIX POLL: NJ governor's race tightening in final days
 

                     NEWARK, N.J.- In the run for New Jersey governor, an exclusive PIX11 News, NewsNation, Emerson College poll shows incumbent Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy with a lead, but Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli within striking distance. About half...
 

Read more
                     pix11.com

              

  

What   would Jack Ciattarelli do if elected?
 

                     Up until the last year or so, Jack Ciattarelli was mostly known as a moderate policy wonk with a hard-to-pronounce last name. That's changed drastically in his underdog bid to unseat Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy next month.
 

Read more
www.northjersey.com

               

  

Ciattarelli Campaigns in Newark, NJ's Main Dem Stronghold
 

                     NEWARK, NJ - Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli is clearly the challenger in this year's ballot box clash with Democratic incumbent Gov. Phil Murphy. But during a campaign visit to...
 

Read more
www.tapinto.net

                

  

Top Republican says Murphy's 'shaking in his boots'
 

                     Jack Ciattarelli, the Republican nominee for New Jersey governor, strode into the Burlington County GOP headquarters in Medford on Tuesday afternoon to chants of                       "we back Jack" as he welcomed...
 

Read more
www.nj.com

              

  

Jack Ciattarelli campaigns in Lakewood
 

                     Lakewood is one of the fastest-growing towns in New Jersey and has an interesting political makeup. The town voted for both Donald Trump and Phil Murphy. And now Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli visited the town looking to...
 

Read more
                     newjersey.news12.com

               

  

FOX 5's Good Day New York: Jack Ciattarelli
 

                     Jack Ciattarelli, the Republican candidate for governor of New Jersey, talks about his campaign as election day nears.Subscribe to FOX 5 NY: https://www.yout...
 

Read more
www.youtube.com

      

              

      

🌐 Social Media: Our Top Posts This Week! 🌐 

      

   

   

      

   

   

      

Click on each image to link to post.

              

      

Chip In and Make Phil Murphy One & Done in '21!

      

      

We have the right candidate and the right message to win this election — now all we need is YOUR support!  Will you help get Jack across the finish line by donating $10, $21, or even $50? Remember, all of your donations are triple matched, so every contribution goes a long               way to help our campaign. 

$10 =               $30

$21 =               $63

$50 =               $150

Simply click here or on the image above to contribute! 

              

          

      

   

A Message from Team Jack

 

If there is anyone you think might be interested in reading the One and Done report each week, make sure to forward it or have them each out to the campaign! We’d be glad to add them to our list! 

         

Visit Jack's Website

          

         

Get Involved!

Ready to make Phil Murphy One and Done in ‘21? Join our volunteer efforts to help get Jack over the finish line:

Contact   fixnj@jack4nj.com! 

   

#IBackJack

Do you want to share your support for Jack? Send us a 30-second video about why you back Jack. 

Make sure to end it with: “I Back Jack,” and email it to stami@jack4nj.com! 

          

      

Facebook‌ Twitter‌ Instagram‌ 

          

Recent Articles

Opinion: Mercer County To Spend $1.88 Million Replacing Abandoned Railroad “Bridge To Nowhere”

 MidJersey.NewsFrom the Delaware River to the Jersey Shore. Covering: Mercer, Monmouth, Ocean, Burlington and Middlesex Counties

📷EDITORIAL, MERCER COUNTY, OPINION, TRENTONOctober 19, 2021


October 19, 2021Opinion:TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Mercer County sent a press release this morning informing us that Parkside Avenue in the City of Trenton will be closed for approximately 5 months for a replacement of a “bridge carrying an abandoned railroad trail” This abandoned “trail” is blocked off on several sections and has signs saying “No Trespassing” and that the property is owned by CSX Transportation, Inc. This “trail” runs Parallel to Oakland Street and Homan Avenue. A quick Google measurement shows that the current worn foot path or “trail” runs just less than a 1/2 mile from Maple Avenue in a southerly direction ending approximately at Edgemere Avenue. On the north end at Hillcrest the railroad right of way is gone and houses have been built over it so there could be no expansion for a “rail to trail” for the neighborhood north into Ewing Township. In the southerly direction the right of way is less clear since it appears that others have built over it, paved sections for parking lots or fenced the right of way. There appear to be no CSX signs south of Ellsworth Avenue.Multiple fences and signage in the area of Hoffman Avenue indicate that this “trail” is indeed on private property and users are currently trespassing by going around the fences. This area is known to some of the most serious gun violence and shooting deaths in the City of Trenton the past few years. A visit to the site and “trail” today showed the area covered with trash, empty beer and liquor bottles, needles and used condoms strewn about the area.According to the press release a $1,885,277.00 bid was awarded at the Mercer County Board of Commissioners meeting on October 7.In our opinion this is a “Bridge To Nowhere” because the current “trail” is illegal because it is currently on private property and clearly marked “No Trespassing” Instead of a bridge replacement the County should perform a bridge removal at a lower cost to the taxpayers. If indeed one day the City or County does acquire the property for a trail a lower cost pedestrian type bridge could be used similar to many used in County and State Parks for foot traffic. I can think of a lot better projects that Mercer County could have spent $1.88+ Million Dollars on that would have done a lot of good for the County.Mercer County Press Release 10/19/2021The Mercer County Department of Transportation and Infrastructure will start the replacement of the bridge carrying an abandoned railroad trail over Parkside Avenue in the City of Trenton on Monday, Nov. 1, 2021. It is one of 17 County bridge projects in progress, including those in the design stage, according to County Executive Brian M. Hughes.Officially known as Bridge #180.1, the structure is located between Oak Lane and Oakland Street. This project is to be completed in 150 calendar days, weather permitting.During construction, Parkside Avenue between Oak Lane and Oakland Street will be closed to vehicular traffic on a 24/7 basis. Pedestrians will be provided a safe passage through the site during construction. A detour will be posted directing motorists to West State Street to Sullivan Way to Lower Ferry Road and Parkway Avenue, ending on Parkside Avenue.The existing bridge carrying an abandoned railroad trail over Parkside Avenue is a concrete-encased steel girder bridge. The structure is in poor condition, extremely deteriorated and poses a hazard due to the potential of falling concrete debris.The replacement bridge will be a single-span structure supported on full-height concrete abutments. The superstructure will consist of precast prestressed beams with a composite reinforced concrete deck. The substructure will be full-height reinforced concrete abutments founded on cast-in-place spread footings. The proposed structure was designed to identically match the aesthetics of the existing structure while being upgraded to meet current New Jersey Department of Transportation standards.The successful bidder for the project was Rencor Inc. of Somerville, which submitted a bid price of $1,885,277. Rencor Inc. has successfully completed similar projects in Mercer County and provided the lowest bid price for this project. The contract was approved by the Mercer County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 7.https://midjersey.news/2021/10/19/opinion-mercer-county-to-spend-1-88-million-replacing-abandoned-railroad-bridge-to-nowhere/ 

Recent Get Out the Vote Appeal Letter Was One-Sided

  

To the Editor:

While I applaud efforts to get more Americans involved in our electoral process, I was disappointed with the letter in your October 6 edition (“Urging Princetonians to Vote in Upcoming General Election”). The letter was essentially an appeal for local voters to vote the straight Democratic ticket without any reasons given why voters should do so other than it was “crucially important” for New Jersey.

My takeaway of the urgency the letter seems to call for is because Republicans want to deny American citizens their lawful right to vote. I am unaware of any Republican candidate on our local ballot who advocates such an opinion. I encourage voters to examine what the Republican ticket from top to bottom has dedicated itself to confronting and turning around: 1) Ever higher property taxes leading to lack of affordability; 2) A sputtering economy; 3) Unresponsive state bureaucracies such as the DMV; 4) Intrusive government regulation; and 5) An unemployment rate 35 percent higher than the national average.

The letter invokes Thomas Jefferson as having warned Americans that “The price of liberty is eternal vigilance.” It was not that eminent slaveholder who is the source for the statement, but the prominent Civil War abolitionist Wendell Phillips who was a leading advocate for equal rights for all Americans, including women, Blacks, and indigenous Americans. That’s a position that I and the Republicans I know believe in.

Bottom line: It’s time for a change. As governor, Jack Ciattarelli and his team will get New Jersey turned around and back on the path of prosperity for all.


Dudley Sipprelle
Chairman, Princeton Republican Committee
Victoria Mews

  

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: (202) 225-3765

August 24, 2021

http://chrissmith.house.gov


Smith cosponsors legislation condemning Biden’s Afghanistan ‘failure’


Resolution calls on President to continue evacuations for ‘as long as necessary’


WASHINGTON, DC – A resolution cosponsored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and introduced in the House of Representatives today “condemns President Biden’s failure to heed the advice of military and intelligence advisors about the speed and nature of the Taliban offensive, leading to a disorganized, chaotic, and abrupt evacuation of United States personnel and Afghan allies.”

        

 “It is clear that President Biden utterly failed to anticipate or effectively respond to the Taliban’s rapid military offensive and continues to implement a timetable—without conditions—for withdrawal of U.S. forces,” said Smith, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. “Why wasn’t the withdrawal of U.S. troops linked to conditions on the ground?”


The legislation—authored by Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL)—calls on President Biden to commit to continuing the evacuation operations in Afghanistan for as long as necessary to safely evacuate U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and Afghan partners that request evacuation assistance. The resolution also calls on Biden to use all U.S. military resources to ensure that access to the Hamid Karzai International Airport remains open and unobstructed.


“Safe passage out of Afghanistan for thousands of Americans and our allies including Afghan translators, their families, former U.S.  employees and others must be the immediate priority,” said Smith. “Biden’s August 31st deadline for withdrawal was arbitrary. We simply cannot walk away.”


“The Biden-Harris Administration must provide a full, honest, and thorough accounting—devoid of all political spin and manipulation—of what can only be described as an unmitigated disaster,” Smith said.


           Among its provisions, the legislation introduced in the House:


  • Condemns President Biden’s inability to present a coherent plan to prevent a Taliban takeover or prepare for the long-term counterterrorism effects of a withdrawal;
  • Condemns Biden’s inability to effectively plan for the evacuation of U.S. citizens or to adequately respond to concerns from Congress about the need to rapidly take steps to evacuate Afghan allies following his announcement of full U.S. troop withdrawal;
  • Condemns the damage done to United States credibility, partnerships, and national security by the President’s abandonment of Afghan allies, failure to consult with NATO partners, and creation of a vacuum for terrorist networks and other U.S adversaries to thrive in; and
  • Calls on Biden to conduct a multiagency accounting of U.S. military equipment and other resources left behind in Afghanistan, now in the hands of the Taliban or other groups, and immediately present a clear plan to Congress of how he intends to fill the intelligence gaps created by the chaotic withdrawal.
     


External Articles

Pat Johnson wants to put “people first” in her bid for New Jersey state Assembly in LD 15

Insider NJ - August 18, 2021, 10:04 pm  

Find out more

N.J. businesses to get socked with $250M unemployment insurance tax hike

 Updated: Aug. 14, 2021, 8:12 p.m. | Published: Aug. 14, 2021, 8:00 a.m. 

Find out more

Articles and Blogs

Political Perspective: From a Princeton Republican

 

Political Perspective: From a Princeton Republican

Responses by Dudley Sipprelle, Edited by Lisa Jacknow

What is it like to be a Republican in Princeton, Mercer County, New Jersey? When working on this elections issue, many Republicans or conservative-leaning voters were reluctant to speak their minds. They feared retaliation from the liberal majority. Current records indicate slightly fewer than 2,000 Princeton residents (of just under 21,000 registered voters) are registered Republicans, though several “independents” may share their views. To expand on the views of the local Republican party for those that align with it and to enlighten everyone else on what the “other” party thinks, we reached out to the Chair of the Princeton Republican Committee, Dudley Sipprelle, to get his perspective on today’s political climate.

  1. What is it like to be a Republican in Princeton today?

Being a Republican in Princeton in 2020 is not unlike being a Republican in Mercer County or in the State of New Jersey.  Republicans are in the distinct minority of registered voters in our “blue” State (23%) and County (15%), but even more so in our Town (10%).

Princeton is an exemplar of a phenomenon that has been building in America in recent years. What we are witnessing is a geographical sorting and ideological clustering of Americans.  The location of a renowned Ivy League university in town which is also Mercer County’s largest private employer has attracted many people to Princeton who share the university’s progressive liberal mind-set.

  1. Can you explain what the Princeton Republican Committee is/does and how it compares to other local republican organizations?

The Princeton Municipal Republican Committee is a legal entity defined in State Statute.  It is composed of publicly elected members, two for each of Princeton’s 22 voting districts who are elected in the primary every four years.  The local committee members are also members of the Mercer County Republican Committee.  The members represent the political interests of their constituents within the party.  The role of local Republican committees is similar throughout the state and includes the recruitment and endorsement of candidates for public office and promotion of the Republican brand.  The success of local committees is directly related to the number of Republicans in the community, the ability to raise funds, recruit qualified candidates and volunteers and to put it bluntly, the availability of patronage, that is, the power of appointment to coveted municipal boards, commissions and committees.  This appointment power lies with our elected Mayor and the six Council members, all of whom are Democrats.

  1. If you could impart some experiential wisdom as head of the Princeton Republican Committee, what would you like local Democrats and unaffiliated voters to know about what their vote means?

Although there are 11,519 registered Democrats in Princeton, the party

apparatus is essentially controlled by a relatively small group of “insiders” or what is known as the political “establishment” which decides policy.  This group is often the most partisan party members and has a low tolerance for dissent.  The insiders include a number of elected officials and members of the Democratic Municipal Committee.  The Municipal Committee’s campaign endorsement means the endorsed candidate has “won the line” and will appear in the official Democratic column.

Why is this important?  Because the overwhelming majority of Democrats vote the “straight party line,” that is, straight down the party column from top to bottom.  It is widely understood that winning the Princeton Democratic primary decides who will be elected to office in the general election.  It is virtually impossible for dissident Democrats, independents and Republicans to win election to office in Princeton.  In addition, 75-80 percent of the registered “unaffiliated” vote for Democratic candidates. The party faithful are quick to unite around the Democratic party primary winner.  Having gained office, elected officials turn their focus on remaining in office and the way to do that is not “make waves,” that is, don’t depart from the party policy line.

  1. There is a concern, amongst some, that this year’s election process could be flawed due to mail-in voting, provisional voting, etc. What is being done locally to ensure the democracy of this process?

We can count on a flawed election process owing primarily to the Governor’s hasty and poorly thought-out decision to go to an almost total vote by mail (VBM) election without a reorganized system and trained staff in place to handle millions of paper ballots.  The perpetual vagaries of the U.S. postal system are well-known: undelivered mail, misdirected mail, lost mail, delayed mail, trashed mail.  Add the pandemic which is affecting staff.  The instructions for the VBM ballot are complicated and confusing and result in a high percentage of ballots being rejected and voters disenfranchised.  The voting process is directed by the County Board of Elections and there is not much we can realistically do locally beyond carefully filling out our ballots and using the VBM drop box at Municipal Hall.

  1. What key issues would you like local voters to understand regarding the 2020 elections?

The viral pandemic is on everybody’s mind and has upset our lives and economy.  We will overcome this pandemic in due course as we have in the past.  We will not see a return of economic strength and prosperity, however, if we don’t lower taxes and our debt.  This is topical locally where taxes continue to rise and our community is consequently adversely affected.

  1. There are several uncontested local races in this year’s election, with Democratic candidates running unopposed. What does that say about our local politics?

(The unwavering partisanship that impacts the local political environment has been discussed above in section 3.)

  1. Our municipality and county tend to lean Democratic. What must be done to broaden opportunities and gain more Republican leadership?

“Diversity” is the mantra that suffuses every political campaign in Princeton.  Every type of diversity one can think of is promoted and accepted.  The one exception is political diversity.  The idea of a Republican, however qualified, being elected or appointed to a position is not seriously entertained.  Until a significant number of Democrats subordinate their partisanship and consider merit as a basis for election or appointment to office, Republicans cannot gain traction.

  1. What can be done locally to help Republicans in higher office win this area (i.e. Congress, Senate, Presidency)?

We must overcome the demoralization of many local Republicans who have experienced defeat in recent elections in spite of valiant efforts and highly qualified candidates.  We can help candidates for national and statewide office by increasing Republican turnout and encouraging candidates to recognize they have a role to play in energizing local Republicans.

  1. As a Princeton Republican leader, what else would you like to share with our readers?

Local government as exemplified in Princeton is too often characterized by elected officials pursuing their own agendas, lack of community involvement, torpid bureaucracy, over-regulation and a lack of transparency and accountability.  Our community deserves better but will continue to be plagued by high taxes, indecision and outcomes that have questionable benefit to local residents and taxpayers until voters accept that party labels alone do not produce good government and are willing to vote for change.

Dudley Sipprelle

Dudley Sipprelle, originally from Compton, CA, is Chair and member of the Princeton Republican Committee (2005-2020). A retired teacher of History, Economics and English and a coach in the California Public School System, he was a Foreign Service Officer, U.S. Department of State for over 30 years, responsible for political/economic reporting and analysis, protection of American citizens, immigration, refugee & human rights affairs. Sipprelle was a Diplomat-in-Residence and Visiting Professor of International Relations at Lehigh Univ. and received a Presidential Meritorious Performance Award from President Reagan. In retirement, he enjoyed a year as assistant girl’s basketball coach at Stuart Country Day School, was Chair and member of Princeton Regional Sewer Operating Committee, and has been involved as an ESL Certificated Tutor, as well as with Princeton University International Center, Mercer County Literacy Volunteers, YWCA Princeton ESL program, and Nassau Christian Center.

Article

2020 Budget Open Letter to Hamilton Mayor and Council

  

To: Mayor Jeff Martin, Hamilton Township Council

From: Win Cody

Date July 20, 2020

I am trying to enlighten residents and help with questions that they may want to ask as well as finding places the council may want to consider for savings.  I have a few comments and questions that I hope will be helpful.  I will not be able to attend Tuesday’s budget and wanted to share these thoughts in advance.  I will post publicly so all residents can see.   While I am now a resident of Hamilton, I was previously a Mayor of a New Jersey municipality and understand the budget process.  

I am concerned that in this difficult time for many people, a large tax increase is being proposed.   From what I have seen, taxes on increasing 8-10% for most people.  While I realize that it is only an estimate and would get trued up during the 4thquarter.  But when taxes are increased, they tend not to go down.

  1. While      I see most staffing increases in departments were controlled, there is an      overall staffing increase from 523 to 528 people.  The largest areas      of increase are the administrative departments – Business Administrator,      Clerk, Human Resources, Budget/Purchasing and Financial      Administration.  
    • For       these Departments, overall salary and other expenses have increased 18%       over last years adopted budget and 15% over the revised budget       2019.  
    • The       Business Administrator Department budget increased 38% with staff going       from 2 to 4 people.

  1. I      see the lower paid employees (less than $65,000) took a furlough saving      $500,000.  But, that was not a true savings for taxpayers.       Federal funds of $700,000 - $800,000 were used to pay the employees so      they would not have an income reduction.  This funding comes from      taxpayers.  
    • Why       not have a furlough of the higher paid employees and get some true       savings.
    • It       was stated the furlough only caused a “minimal disruption of services”.        If that is the case, why not make these changes permanent saving more       money?

  1. The      revenue was reduced over $2 Million for the year, primarily due to      COVID-19.  There are expenses associated with generating much of this      revenue, why weren’t expenses reduced.  If a private business lost      revenue, they would need to reduce expenses.  Shouldn’t the town do      the same thing.
    • $300,000       for loss in Municipal Court Fees.  If courts were closed, shouldn’t       some employees be furloughed?
    • $450,000       loss of interest on Deposits?  Taking money market rates of 1% and       assuming that is over 3 months, that would mean $180 Million in delayed       deposits, that sounds exceedingly high.
    • $150,000       lost interest on delinquent taxes?  Aren’t there penalties for       paying late taxes that would make up for this?

  1. Capital      Budget issues.  While the public has not received details about what      was closed from the historical capital budget, I had thought many older      approved items were closed in 2019 which would allow the township to      reduce the overall debt and reduce interest.  In this difficult time,      I would question some new capital items.
    • There       is $6 Million in road repair.  Is all this necessary?  Can       township employees be used for some of this.  There are state road       grants, are these being used?
    • There are $380,000 in       improvements for the Sayen Gardens house and Kuser Mansion.  While       these facilities are important for the town, are all these necessary this       year, especially when they have not even been opened for most of 2020?
    • There       are $152,000 in improvements for the Senior Center (including $20,000 for       a bocce court).  While the center is important for the seniors in       town, not all residents benefit from the center.   Are all       these necessary this year when the center has not even been opened for       most of 2020?
    • There       is a $125,000 expense for repaving the tennis courts in the budget.        There is a proposal on July 21 meeting to spend $137,000 to repave 2       courts for pickle-ball.  Is there duplication here?  Do we need       to spend $137,000 for pickle-ball? 
    • While       it is important to be current with technology, there are $1.6 Million in       new expenses.  Many organizations have outsourced the management of       technology infrastructure to professional firms (US based) that do this       for a living.  They can provide economies of scale and professional       skill to keep the expense under control.  Has this been investigated       before making such a large investment?

  1. The      surplus comments were confusing.  Based on the budget documents,      surplus for 2018 was $5.1 Million, for 2019 was $6.6 Million and 2020      ending with $3.5 Million.  This means $3.1 Million of the surplus is      being used to fund ongoing expenses.  The introductory commentary      states that $9.2 Million was available in the prior year, but the budget      says it was $5.1 Million.
  2. I      see that in the council meetings, they reduced the $108 Million budget by      $35,350 which is about 0.03%.  Is that all that was done, has there      been more scrutiny done to find more reductions to help taxpayers.

Thank you for your review.

Mercer County Republican Committee

PO Box 10535, Hamilton, NJ 08650

609-954-6273

Copyright © 2022 Mercer County Republican Committee - All Rights Reserved.

Powered by GoDaddy Website Builder