April 23, 2008 - 3:39pm
Third District GOP spat features debate about financial disclosure, government service
By Max PizarroIn what is quickly becoming a dogfight, Ocean County Freeholder Jack Kelly this morning derided his opponent, Medford Mayor Chris Myers, for to date not submitting personal financial disclosure information required by the feds.
The Myers campaign answered that they intend to file in the next few days, and meanwhile took aim at Kelly as a government bureaucrat gorged for years on patronage jobs - a depiction that Kelly strenuously resisted.
"Ocean County has the sixth lowest tax rate in the State of New Jersey," Kelly said in defense of his own record. "Meanwhile, Medford has the second highest municipal taxes out of 40 towns in Burlington County.
"Chris Myers wants to hide from his terrible record.," Kelly said. "Why is he hiding from making a financial disclosure?"
While professing admiration for Myers’s war hero credentials, Kelly said his rival campaign’s efforts to depict their candidate - an executive at defense industry giant Lockheed Martin - as a prim private sector success story, falls flat.
"Where does Lockheed Martin get their money?" Kelly asked. "There’s every argument it’s a good investment, but don’t pretend your salary does not depend on taxpayer dollars."
Chris Russell, campaign spokesman for Myers, lambasted Kelly as a 16-year freeholder who has raised his own salary six times - compared to a Navy serviceman who fought in the first Gulf War.
"Jack Kelly’s a career politician, a beneficiary of patronage job after patronage job," Russell said. "Chris Myers is in private industry, he works for Lockheed Martin, a large corporation. Trying to compare that to a guy who’s held numerous public sector jobs and made a direct living off the taxpayers is simply laughable."
Kelly, who submitted his own financial disclosure forms on Jan. 30, kept on the offensive about what he alleged is his opponent’s filing foot-dragging.
"What are you hiding from? Why doesn’t he tell the people? It’s because he’s hiding from the real issues," said Kelly.
"The way he’s posing the question makes it seem like Chris Myers is in violation," Russell said in response to Kelly’s persistent query regarding financial disclosure, which Kelly himself fulfilled on Jan. 30, according to his campaign.
"Chris will be filing in the next couple of days, well before the law requires him to," Russell said.
The law requires the filing 30 days after raising or spending $5,000, or on or before May 15.
Vying for the right to face state Sen. John Adler (D-Camden) in the general election, Kelly and Myers both hope to succeed U.S. Rep. Jim Saxton (R-3), who has served as representative of the 3rd Congressional District since 1984.
Saxton early threw his support behind fellow Burlington County resident Myers. Following a fund-raising trip to Washington today, Myers planned to do a tag team tele-town hall meeting with the retiring congressman and district voters.
Defending himself against Russell’s onslaught about his public employment, Kelly challenged Myers to distance himself from Saxton’s endorsement if Myers has such a problem with what Kelly describes as longtime government service.
"Where’s their press release condemning Jim Saxton?" demanded the freeholder. "They’re happy to highlight his endorsement. If they’d like to rescind Jim Saxton’s endorsement, that’s fine. But they can’t condemn government and accept his support. They want to have it both ways, and they can’t."
"The main thing," Russell shot back, "is Jack Kelly’s quote unquote service is not just as an elected official; he's a creature of Ocean County government, getting a pension while working as a freeholder, literally serving as a poster boy for patronage."
Kelly said he has no problem with the way Chris Myers has made his living, but claims pride in the way he himself has put food on the table for his wife and five children.
"I have had three decades of public service," said Kelly, who also listed his volunteer efforts as a leader in the Boy Scouts, member of a county hospital board, CCD teacher and firefighter.
Two days before representatives from their campaigns are scheduled to sit down with fellow GOP candidate Justin Murphy of Tabernacle to discuss debate terms in their 3rd District Congressional primary, Kelly again criticized Myers for operating through surrogates, most notably Russell, and not stepping up to be the voice of his own campaign.
"Chris Myers should have the courage to speak for himself," Kelly said. "The campaign says he’s going door to door. In the world of cellphones, you can go door to door and still take calls from the press."
Contributors
Wally Edge
There's some specualtion that Gov. Jon Corzine will name Jaimee Gilmartin, a veteran Democratic operative and former aide to Richard Codey, ... >
Bob Torricelli
The Record announced yesterday that it was closing its Hackensack offices and "reinventing"itself. It was actually announcing its own ... >
Michael Patrick Carroll
NJ STARS, while failing in its intended purpose, nonetheless demonstrates the need for fundamental reform in NJ's high schools. >
Debbie Holtz
It’s not often a congressional seat opens up in New Jersey – so you would think that all editorial eyes would be focused on any and all ... >
Steve Lonegan
“Capitalism is responsible for the current food crisis and starvation around the world,” the voice on the radio said. “Attend our Introduction ... >
Dr. Joseph Marbach
For the past few weeks, I've watched with fascination as politician after politician have appeared on a beach or a boardwalk and declared their ... >
Rob Tornoe
Michael P. Riccards
As the presidential race heats up, both parties are looking at so called swing voters, those who have in the past gone from one party to another ... >
Carla Katz
As labor is burning, our National union leaders are fiddling. Some of them are simply arsonists. While the labor movement has made tremendous ... >
Juan Melli
Among the nearly 1 million residents of Bergen County, approximately 0.4 percent are on the county payroll. But that figure jumps precipitously -- to ... >
Top Tags
Most Active Stories
- Star-Ledger: Christie launches Katz probe
- Manahan will retire as NJN news anchor
- Anatomy of a Machine
- Katz probe: 'a very interesting twist in the plot'
- Winners & Losers of the Week
- Hillraiser Turner considers the McCain option
- Oink! Oink! Eldridge Hawkins, Jr.
- Brother of former candidate killed in Afghanistan
- The score so far: George Norcross 2, Steve Rothman 0
- Fulop, still undeclared, begins putting together a ticket
- Dr. Bones goes to Washington
- PoliticsNJ.com Power List 2007
- Eleven arrested in bribery scandal
- Lyndhurst GOP, nearly all of them, switching parties
- Lobbyist arrested
- Governor Paralysis
- Who is the best State Party Chairman in New Jersey
- KYRILLOS, BECK, KEAN & HANDLIN VOW WORK TO KEEP SEASTREAK FERRY UP AND RUNNING
- Torricelli on COAH
- Two N.J. super delegates go to Obama; Norcross backs Obama; key Clinton supporters endorse Obama
Recent Posts From Inside Edge
Quote of the Day
July 18, 2008
"Officer, stand down until your sergeant gets there." -- Trenton City Councilwoman Annette Lartigue, allegedly, to a police officer who had stopped her daughter for speaking on a cell phone for talking --- to the Councilwoman.
-Trenton Times, 07/18/08
Recent Press Releases
In the News
Read the expanded Wake Up Call, our summary of today’s news media coverage.
Today’s Must Reads:
Union head to seek restraining order against CWA― CARLA KATZ
Can Obama walk in Kennedy's footsteps? ― CHARLES STILE
Trump wonders why Corzine left the Senate ― CHARLES STILE
Bob Torricelli is Mad at the Big, 'Mean' Bergen Record― THE MEDIA MOB
Sweeney-Buono alliance shakes up N.J. Senate― JONATHAN TAMARI
Stile: Pay to play helped to quell party insurgents ― CHARLES STILE
Newark’s Mayor Cory Booker at Midpoint ― DICK BENFIELD
MUCHAS MARGARITAS― ANDY UNANUE
NJ Economic Growth chief leaves office― Gary Rose
PolitickerNJ.com Jobs
Syndicate
Very well said by Mr. Kelly
"Where does Lockheed Martin get their money?" Kelly asked. "There’s every argument it’s a good investment, but don’t pretend your salary does not depend on taxpayer dollars."
I didn't know he had it in him.
Big Difference
First - Lockheed Martin is a competitive company. It is not handed contracts - it competes for them against companies from around the country and around the world.
Unlike Kelly who is given a job with a guaranteed income from property taxes.
Second - The men and women at Lockheed are engineers with the brightest minds in the country. They design defense systems that shoot down missiles in outer space.
Would not compare the caliber of work from that group with any county worker regardless of the county.
Kelly is what he is, a creature of patronage.
Myers is a business leader working for a Fortune 100 company that produces some of the most sophisticated technology the world has ever seen.
It really is not a competition of talent (if it were Myers wins), but rather a competition of GOTV and individuals in OC asking themselves, "Do I want the guy that has been living of the public trough his entire adult life or do I want a business leader whose life experience includes putting his life on the line for his country?" Easy choice.
Kelly is desperate and it shows.
Myers dropped out?
"Chris Myers should have the courage to speak for himself," Kelly said. "The campaign says he’s going door to door. In the world of cellphones, you can go door to door and still take calls from the press."
Did Chris Myers drop out? Where is Chris Myers? I haven't seen or heard from him in ages! Might as well cross out the Myers and change it to Russell, because no one has seen or heard from him in weeks!
Is Chris Myers really going to slam Jack Kelly for being a government servant? This is Chris Myers, the tenured member of the corrupt BurlCo Republican organization really going to slam Kelly on working in government?
I'm very interested to see Chris Myers tax reports, this is exactly why Hillary Clinton didn't want to release hers, she made $109 million since leaving the WH. How much of taxpayers dollars has Chris Myers pocketed since working for Lockheed Martin?
No, not an easy choice
Lockheed also helped China join the space club. http://www.spaceandtech.com/digest/sd2000-15/sd2000-15-001.shtml Lockheed Martin Consents To Pay Fine For Export Violation Charges
China turned around and sold that technology to Iran, via Huawei Technologies, which put them to the space club.
http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080205/full/news.2008.556.html
Lockheed is also partnered with Savi in which they just contracted with the FBI to bring us RFID technology.
Savi Technology, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, and Hutchinson Port Holdings, a subsidiary of Hutchison Whampoa Limited of Hong Kong, controlled by Chinese billionaire Li Ka Shing.
Savi Technology owns 51 percent of Savi Networks and Hutchinson 49 percent. Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, a Washington-based foundation, charged that Hutchinson is "a front for the Chinese government," citing a Central Intelligence Agency analysis from 1998 concluding that Li Ka Shing "is directly connected to Beijing and is willing to use his business influence to further the aims of the Chinese government."
http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel08/ngicontract021208.htm FBI Announces Contract Award for Next Generation Identification System
http://www.defenselink.mil/pubs/pdfs/070523-China-Military-Power-final.p...
Lockheed partnered with Savi Technology
So yes, Jack Kelly is very justified in asking Myers about his financials and we should all wonder who's interests he has in mind. Especially when he is holding contracts with communist military business aggregates.
Stretch
Can you stretch it a little further? So you are saying that Chris Myers is involved with a deal in China? You have proof? There are 140,000 employees world-wide at LM. Every one of those employees does not have knowledge of every program going on in the company. That is common sense. However, using your rationale, an individual who for example works at an athletic facility where another individual has been caught selling steroids is somehow complicit? Or a person who is in the employ of a government agency, where another individual has been convicted of some type of fraud, is somehow involved based only on the fact of who his or her employer is? That is as big of a stretch as your example. By the way, is anything you described illegal? Just curious. PS - who is Duncan Hunter supporting in this race? Check out Chris Myers' FEC report to find out.
Translation =
"Give Myers credit for all Lockheed's job creation, economic development, innovation and technology, but none of the blame for its misdeeds, taxpayer-trough-swilling, boondoggle-contract-obtaining."
There is no stretch. I
There is no stretch. I said Kelly is justified in asking for financials because of what I posted. If Myer's credibility is going to be elevated by Lockheed, then he also has to stand by the downfalls that come with Lockheed.
>>>>By the way, is anything you described illegal? <<<<
Actually, yes, very much so and it is posted and linked. Obvious you didn't read my post.
>>>PS - who is Duncan Hunter supporting in this race? Check out Chris Myers' FEC report to find out.<<<
That is an interesting point of yours. I looked through the US Treasury site where CFIUS has their webpages and didn't notice any reviews on Savi. Yet, CFIUS just ruled against Bain for taking similar business measures. And I couldn't help but notice Savi is connected to the communist military as Huawei is. And Huawei, whom CFIUS just ruled a National Security risk, laid all the lines for Hutchinson Port Holdings.
Interesting times, huh?
Justified?
What is justified about it? Did Chris Myers have knowledge of the deals? Please show that he has before you implicate him in your posts with proof, not innuendo. Noticed you failed to discuss the Duncan Hunter part of the post. For the record, his PAC gave Chris $2000 according to the FEC.
And commonsense - please use some. Chris can certainly take credit for issues which he had involvement in - like job creation at the Moorestown facility. Do you see him taking credit for other facilities? No. So your attempt to put words in mouth is ridiculous. To say he had any involvement with any other issue without proof is equal to the situations I brought up.
Duncan Hunter belongs to
Duncan Hunter belongs to CFIUS.
I've put no words in anyone's mouth. But you are trying very hard to do that, huh? :)
Duncan Hunter
Duncan Hunter's PAC, Strength Through Peace PAC (http://www.peacethroughstrengthpac.com/Home.aspx) contributed $2000 to Chris Myers' campaign. You even have a link to it on your website. And CFIUS, which is charged with examining proposed foreign investment transactions, is a government agency which is chaired by the Secretary of the Treasury. They are not allowed by law to endorse political candidates. So I am not sure what you were smoking when you decided to bring that up :)
Sorry Peace Through Strength
my bad
>>>Duncan Hunter's PAC,
>>>Duncan Hunter's PAC, Strength Through Peace PAC (http://www.peacethroughstrengthpac.com/Home.aspx) contributed $2000 to Chris Myers' campaign. You even have a link to it on your website. And CFIUS, which is charged with examining proposed foreign investment transactions, is a government agency which is chaired by the Secretary of the Treasury. They are not allowed by law to endorse political candidates. So I am not sure what you were smoking when you decided to bring that up :)<<<
You have a reading comprehension problem. Go reread the posts. I'm not going to even try to unravel this garbage you posted.
What planet did you come here from?
You made some ridiculous comment about Duncan Hunter belonging to CFIUS, which is a government agency chaired by the Secretary of the Treasury in response to my comment that Duncan Hunter is supporting Chris Myers. And I am the one who has a reading comprehension problem? Talk about garbage. Get back on the antidepressants Cybil. Your multiple personalities are arguing with each other again.
>>>You made some ridiculous
>>>You made some ridiculous comment about Duncan Hunter belonging to CFIUS<<<
Yes, he does.
You claimed at post, 04/24/08 9:48 am, that I failed to discuss the Duncan Hunter part of your post.
I was tellin g you I did. I brought up CFIUS in post 04/24/08 9:46 am because you brought up Duncan Hunter. Duncan Hunter sits on CFIUS.
Now what planet do you belong to.
HERE WE ARE
going back and forth about completely ridiculous things. Lockheed Martin is involved with all kinds of countries and all kinds of arrangements. Are we going to fault Myers for taking the taxpayers' money from China? How about the Swedish taxpayers and the LM designed AEGIS equipment they bought for their cruisers? This is all part of Jack Kelly's capaign tactic: he must make the campaign issue all about Chris Myers because he has nothing positive to say about himself. I'm glad Chris Myers is staying above this fray... people hire campaign managers so they can handle this kind of stuff. Jack Kelly needs to get out of cess-pool of trash politics and realize people want a positive message - the exact kind of message Myers brings to the table.
You fail
You fail to realize that CFIUS cannot endorse anyone. What does it have to do with Duncan Hunter endorsing Chris Myers? Nothing. And Duncan Hunter is not a member of CFIUS. Here is a list of who is: Executive Order. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States ("CFIUS") was originally established by Executive Order 11858 in 1975 mainly to monitor and evaluate the impact of foreign investment in the United States. In 1988, the President, pursuant to Executive Order 12661, delegated to CFIUS his responsibilities under Section 721. Specifically, E.O. 12661 designated CFIUS to receive notices of foreign acquisitions of U.S. companies, to determine whether a particular acquisition has national security issues sufficient to warrant an investigation and to undertake an investigation, if necessary, under the Exon-Florio provision. This order also provides for CFIUS to submit a report and recommendation to the President at the conclusion of an investigation. In 1993, in response to a sense of Congress resolution, CFIUS membership was expanded by Executive Order 12860 to include the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy. In February 2003, the Department of Homeland Security was added to CFIUS. This brought the membership of CFIUS to twelve under the chairmanship of the Secretary of Treasury. The other members are the Secretaries of State, Defense, and Commerce, the Attorney General, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the U.S. Trade Representative, and the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. So before you spout bs, please get a clue - or at least a fact correct. Additionally, Hunter is not allowed to be a member of this group based on his position in congress. Cybil - it's time to take your medicine....
>>>You fail to realize that
>>>You fail to realize that CFIUS cannot endorse anyone.
I'm not going to extend the reciprocation of reading your post if you are not going to read mine. Read 04/24/08 9:46 am again if you want to discuss this. I never said CFIUS endorsed anyone. I said Savi didn't go through a CFIUS review to bring us the RFID tracking that Lockheed to just signed on with the FBI. IOW, that says CFIUS doesn't know about Lockheed being the conduit for Savi which would be a conduit for the Chinese Military. Therefore you using Duncan Hunter's endorsement as credibility for the actions I'm bringing to the table is moot.
You used
You used that as a defense to my statement that Duncan Hunter, who is plastered all over your website, endorsed Chris Myers. Not only did that come out of left field, it came from which ever galaxy you came from. You then went on to say, falsely I might ad, that Duncan Hunter is a member of CFIUS. He is not and never has been a member of CFIUS. He cannot be as a member of congress. My earlier post which included a description of the membership from the CFIUS website would have cleared that up. Oh I forgot. You don't want to read posts that prove you are wrong. Which personality am I talking to now?
>>>>You used that as a
>>>>You used that as a defense to my statement that Duncan Hunter, who is plastered all over your website, endorsed Chris Myers.<<<
No I used that as a defense to you saying I didn't address your Duncan Hunter comment.
>>>You then went on to say, falsely I might ad, that Duncan Hunter is a member of CFIUS. He is not and never has been a member of CFIUS. He cannot be as a member of congress.<<<
I guess you were asleep during the primaries late 2007/early 2008?
He has been very involved with the CFIUS investigations. What the official capacity is is not relevant. But I like how you are spinning this into an all about Duncan Hunter. It isn't. It is about Lockheed, China, interests serving and financials.
Ref.
Friday, November 30, 2007
HUNTER AGAIN CALLS ON ROMNEY TO OPPOSE BAIN PARTNERSHIP WITH CHINESE COMPANY HUNTER AGAIN CALLS ON ROMNEY TO OPPOSE BAIN PARTNERSHIP WITH CHINESE COMPANY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 30, 2007
It is certainly relevant
It is certainly relevant when you claim he is a member which is illegal. He has no "official capacity." Period. Additionally, Duncan Hunter's letter to CFIUS has nothing to do with Chris Myers or this campaign.
And I can cut and paste too
>>PS - who is Duncan Hunter supporting in this race? Check out Chris Myers' FEC report to find out.<<<
"That is an interesting point of yours. I looked through the US Treasury site where CFIUS has their webpages and didn't notice any reviews on Savi. Yet, CFIUS just ruled against Bain for taking similar business measures. And I couldn't help but notice Savi is connected to the communist military as Huawei is. And Huawei, whom CFIUS just ruled a National Security risk, laid all the lines for Hutchinson Port Holdings."
What does that have to do with Duncan Hunter endorsing Chris Myers?
"Duncan Hunter belongs to CFIUS."
An obvious fabrication. And you complain about me not having reading comprehension skills?
>>>Additionally, Duncan
>>>Additionally, Duncan Hunter's letter to CFIUS has nothing to do with Chris Myers or this campaign.<<<<
Great. Let's leave it at that then.
It Seems
Myers is the only one that can lead us in the same way Saxton has done. I do not get the feeling that Kelly has any other experience other than he feels he is entitled to have that seat.
Entitlement does not make a good candidate
Tele-town hall conference
Jack Kelly is all over this county. He can point to a record of bringing value to the taxpayers of Ocean County. There are areas he needs to expand into that Mr. Saxton has been particularly effective in dealing with - fisheries and beach nourishment come to mind. But he already has senior and veterans services down cold, BRAC down cold, and open space has been a huge priority in our county largely due to his efforts.
I fail to see how serving the public (as Mr. Saxton has done since 1984) makes one unfit for public service. If he hadn't been in local government and then county government, learning and serving, the argument against him would be that he has no experience! Admittedly, when we heard from Jack Kelly during the county council meeting in his acceptance of the county nod for Congress, his speech was less than inspiring. In the subsequent months, he has found his focus and is much better in articulating his vision for the district.
As one of the golden voters of the 3rd congressional district (meaning I vote in every election they throw at me, no matter how piddling) I imagine that Chris Myers would want to get to know me and my brethren. With the exception of a "sorry I missed you, I was hoping to subject you to 20 minutes of recorded town hall musings" voicemail message, the only thing I've gotten from him are mailers with pictures of Myers and Mr. Saxton cozied up together. He is welcome to visit this county, unlike Jack Kelly's experience of having the Burlington County welcome map rolled up and thrown away. In fact, Jack Kelly invited Chris Myers to our county council meeting and offered him the podium. There was no reciprocation from the BurlCo organization...no invitation to attend so no introduction to the members of the organization, no opportunity to speak. Is this how Ocean County should expect to be treated should Chris Myers. a BurlCo pol, get elected to represent us in Congress?
I have more respect for Mr. Saxton than anyone on this forum and I do NOT see Chris Myers as his heir apparent. I am looking forward to the debate later today.
Oceans Edge
Entitlement???
The only candidate who seems to think he is entitled is Chris Myers and that is due to his close relationship with Mr. Saxton. Just because Mr. Saxton is trying to get a fellow Burlington County politician to succeed him, that doesn't mean that Chris Myers can continue his attempt to skate into the seat.
Even if Jack Kelly loses the primary, at least that keeps ANYONE from being the anointed one, which judging from his campaign so far, Chris Myers seems to think he is.
BTW - I would prefer to have a congressman who actually says what he thinks rather than relying on surrogates. He is starting a pattern of inaccessibility a little too early in his public career, if you ask me.
Oceans Edge
Welcome MAT
I cannot let my error stand - BurlCo rolled up the welcome MAT, not welcome MAP. But the point remains the same. As the congressional candidate topping the ticket, Chris Myers has the right and responsibility to set the tenor of his campaign. By blocking access to the Ocean County candidate, he is setting a precedent that bodes ill for his potential Ocean County constituency. OE
Yes
Entitlement.
I have heard Myers speak and he did NOT come off at all like he was entitled. In fact, he unlike Kelly has a proven record of service in the armed forces, cutting taxes in Medford and not crying every time he does not get his way, or if an endoresement comes across that he did not get.
Saxton is a good, decent, hard working man who has done much for his constituents. Can Kelly say the same? I do not think so. I was immediately turned off to Kelly when he pitched his first tantrum about not getting Saxton's endorsement. But let us be honest, do you think he was going to get it compared to Myer's background?
Entitlement
You say:
Saxton is a good, decent, hard working man who has done much for his constituents. Can Kelly say the same? I do not think so.
Please explain to me why you "do not think so".
I am having a hard time understanding what it is in Myers background that everyone finds so compelling. He served our country and that is admirable. He took what he learned as a soldier and turned it into a comfortable career for himself. Good for him. But does that make him congressional material?
OE