January 14, 2008 - 2:00am
Iraq War vet examines 7th district run for Congress
By Max PizarroRepublican attorney Tom Roughneen of Watchung, twice awarded the Bronze Star for his Army service in Iraq, is forming an exploratory committee to run for Congress in the 7th district.
"My Irish-immigrant, blue-collar parents raised their 5 children to appreciate the opportunities in America," said Roughneen in a letter to Republicans he sent out earlier this month. "For 10 years I served as a prosecutor and for twenty years I have served in the Army. I know that more government employees will not solve our nation’s very serious challenges to both our economic and national security."
Roughneen described the next couple of weeks as a "critical decision-making stretch of time" as he probes funding sources and determines whether or not he will be able to finance a run.
"I cannot finance my own campaign nor am I a well-known candidate," said the Army major. "Depending on your feedback, my wife, family and friends will decide if we can win. We are uninterested in a moral victory. Together let’s maintain America’s position of strong leadership in the world by facing our own security, economic and healthcare challenges."
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Well if you can't finance....
your own campaign and noone in the District knows who you are I guess this will be a very short run for Congress.
Sad
Someone with relevant experiance, who will bring an important, but often overlooked, perspective to the race, will be overshadowed by a career Trenton politician and the scion of a well known former office older.
It makes no sense that we waste millions for congressional races and hundreds of thousands for state legislative races. What have we gotten for all this money? Mediocraty, at best. Too bad that someone who seems like a quality candidate will be shut out.
Best of Luck
I can only hope that he doesn't get hung out to dry by the party like Vince Micco did in the 9th CD in '06.
If putting your life on the line for your country isn't enough for your party to go the extra mile and finance your campaign, what is???
Ronald Reagan actually DID amnesty. I think he would be in one of Mitt's negative commercials! - Rudy Giuliani
Whitman Junior is No War Hero
How many Bronze Stars was Christie Whitman, Junior awarded? Zero. We need to elect someone who has actually done something with his life, not some debutante who hung out on a horse farm in Morris County her entire life! Without mommy's connection, Whitman Junior has nothing.
I'd give up my long and manly mustache to see Roughneen in office!
Peace out,
Magnum
Roughneen Kicks Ass!
Congressman Tom Roughneen wouldn't just be good, he would be amazing!