April 29, 2008 - 5:02pm
Kelly questions rival's primary voting record
By Max Pizarro
They claim it’s a gentleman’s contest, and in a sit-down debate on NJN over the weekend they confessed to Jim Hooker that they would close ranks after one of them outworks the other to secure the Republican Party’s nomination in the 3rd Congressional District.
In the meantime, however, Ocean County Freeholder Jack Kelly and Medford Mayor Chris Myers continue to wage arguably the most acrimonious press release war in the state.
Already bolstered by news that his rival had donated money to U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Kelly today lashed out at what he said was Myers’s thin voting record.
"Now we find out that Chris did not even bother to vote in 70% of Republican primary elections since 1997 – including the Presidential primaries in 2000 and 2004," Kelly said.
Myers responded through campaign manager Chris Russell, who targeted 1997, the first of those years the Kelly campaign listed as one in which they contend Myers was missing in action.
"Is Jack Kelly looking to star in a remake of the Keystone Cops?" Russell asked.
"...His latest smear was attacking Chris Myers in a press release for not voting in the June 1997 Republican Primary, when Chris didn’t even live in New Jersey until August 1997 and register to vote in Medford until October 6, 1997," Russell said.
The Kelly campaign admitted they erred in including 1997 as one of the primaries in which Myers failed to vote.
But they stood by the other dates.
"Instead of 70 % it’s 64 %," said Kelly spokesman Frank Luna. "If Chris Myers is elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, is he not going to refrain from voting on a bill because it’s not contested?"
In his counter attack, Russell highlighted his candidate’s "perfect" general election record since 1997.
Myers, said Russell, "has voted in school board elections in each of the past five years and six of the last eight (2001, 2004-2008), and in 4 of the last 11 primaries including the contested 2001 and 2005 gubernatorial primaries and the February 2008 presidential primary."
While Kelly pressed the attack, emphasizing his record as a working member of the party faithful, Russell described as "disgraceful" the rival candidate’s suggestion that Myers, a decorated war veteran, failed in his civic duty over "a handful of primary votes."
Contributors
Wally Edge
Besides giving a shout out to Wally Edge at Wednesday's New Jersey Legislative Correspondents Association Dinner ("As Wally always says, ... >
Bob Torricelli
Everything that I admire and fear about the Democratic Party was on display this week. The compassion for creating affordable housing and the ... >
Michael Patrick Carroll
McCain announce his intention to appoint real judges, and both teh Times and the Journal muff the story. >
Debbie Holtz
Let’s get this straight. Does U.S. Attorney Chris Christie think he only has a role to play when there’s a violation of US federal ... >
Steve Lonegan
FOR 190 YEARS, New Jersey had no income tax and no sales tax. As recently as 1966, it had only the third-highest property taxes in the nation.
>
Dr. Joseph Marbach
The budget proposed by Gov. Jon Corzine has produced myriad negative reactions, featuring various interests seeking to limit the impact of the cuts ... >
Rob Tornoe
NATIONAL CARTOON: Bush sacrificed golf for the troops >
Michael P. Riccards
With her victory by ten points in Pennsylvania, Hillary Clinton has re emerged as a very viable candidate for the Democratic nomination. It is ... >
Carla Katz
A hugely misguided attempt to eliminate the Department of Agriculture is the spark which has lit an angry fire which took over West State street ... >
Poll
PolitickerNJ Partners
Top Tags
Most Active Stories
- Does Lautenberg have an Unanue problem?
- Election Results: Vas defeated in Perth Amboy, Barse loses in Vineland, Orechio upset in Nutley
- Updated: Handicapping the Senate & House primaries
- What's happening in seven key towns
- Upset of the night: Vas loses re-election in Perth Amboy
- Gov. Corzine’s powerpoint presentation at the Legislative Correspondents dinner
- Will Bennett replace Puharic?
- The future of Joe Vas
- Alleging retaliatory harassment, Katz sues CWA officials
- Hawkins and Codey celebrate big win
- 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
- Two N.J. super delegates go to Obama; Norcross backs Obama; key Clinton supporters endorse Obama
- At energy policy meeting, Rose fights with cabinet and walks away
Quote of the Day
May 16, 2008
"The saying about Dominicans is that we have two things in our blood — baseball and politics. We are passionate about politics, and just about getting involved."
-- Cid Wilson, a Leonia resident and past president of the national Dominican American National Roundtable, on the growing influence of Dominicans in New Jersey politics.
-The Record, 5/16/08
Recent Press Releases
In the News
Read the expanded Wake Up Call, our summary of today’s news media coverage.
Today’s Must Reads:
Passaic freeholder breaks ranks to back Andrews― The Record
Republican primary bloodbaths leave Democrats smiling― PolitickerNJ.com
Dominicans flex their political muscle― The Record
Zimmer spells out a McCain-like health care plan― Star-Ledger
Are Democrats making peace with the'burbs?― Star-Ledger
Where GOP rivals stand in New Jersey's Third― Philadelphia Inquirer
Labor leader sues union officials for retaliation― Star-Ledger
Hawkins and Codey celebrate big win― PolitickerNJ.com
Romano and slate sweep Team Barse― The Daily Journal
PolitickerNJ.com Jobs
Syndicate
Burlington GOP uses same tactic
Its funny how Burlington GOP mouthpiece Chris Russell calls it an attack when someone questions his candidates voting record.
However, the Burlington GOP uses this same tactic all the time w/ their opponents. They can't have it both ways.
Geeeesh
Ok, so I have a few questions for Mr Kelly in doing some research on him:
1. How many patronage jobs does he have?
2. How many donations has he given out?
3. HOw many times has he cut taxes for OC?
4. What exactly is his platform as to cutting taxes?
5. What is his platform on healthcare?
I think these questions are far more important than worrying about a voting record.
There is nothing wrong with questioning an opponents record, however so far Kelly has yet to articulate anything except Myers is bad, bad bad.
Myers?
Myers obviously cant speak or has not taken a creative writing class, Russell may be his downfall.
Impeachie
Wow, you are the reason to vote for Myers; only someone with your intellect always seems to be a loser right?
Gee
If Myers only had the no-show taxpayer funded jobs that Kelly has he might have a better primary record.
Not making an excuse but I am sure if you look at the primary voting record of most corporate executives who have to travel around the country and around the world at a moments notice, it would look pretty much like Myers' record.
Fact is, Myers served his country, community and helped create jobs as a successful executive. Kelly has been a pig at the trough with the taxpayers footing the bill.
Kelly knows this and is grasping at straws regarding voting records for primary elections which is a clear sign of desperation.
If the debate continues down this path rather than substance of policy issues, Kelly will be clobbered by the weight of his own pigish lifestyle fully funded by taxpayers.
You are all forgetting there is a real, NON boss associated
candidate running!
We do NOT need to sit back and watch two boss loyalists take over our pocketbooks. In either place where these people have been elected, have they ever sided with the PEOPLE? NO! Instead they insist on giving their souls to their party bosses!
VOTE JUSTIN MURPHY, the people's only hope!
Primary Voting record?
Can anyone reasonably care that much about his voting in a primary? Both Presidential primaries were over before it come to New Jersey. And the only big primaries worth voting in were for Governor and Senate in the last couple of years. The Kelly people must be bored and have nothing better to do. Most primaries have turnout of less than 30%. Do those people that stay home have no right to be elected to office or voice their concerns? Get a grip. If Kelly can't win on his own accomplishments, he does not deserve to be the Republican candidate for Congress.
Myers DOES have two taxpayer-funded jobs
It just so happens that one of them is with a government vendor.
Get real Jack
Get real Jack. In your press release you state: "While I have worked hard over the past 30 years to help Republican candidates on all levels Chris Myers has been absent again and again." Please show me where on the Federal Election Commission's website it shows you lift a finger for any federal candidate - that includes your Congressman, whom you now scorn and complain that he is sticking his nose in the primary when guess what? He is a VOTER in the District. It also includes the Congressman who has endorsed you, Chris Smith. How about ANY Republican candidate for US Senate? Or Republican candidate for President? Still think you can be honest and claim to have helped Republicans "on all levels?" I think not.
no commonsense
Once again, you prove commonsense is not a prerequisite to post here. Lockheed Martin is a publicly held company and is not a vendor relying exclusively on the teat of the American taxpayer, like Jack Kelly does with his taxpayer funded position. Commonsense would tell you that LM works with other countries and businesses to generate revenue. Using your logic, every person would in some way have a taxpayer funded job. But I forgot to whom I was speaking.
Read
Go back and read all of Kellys rants. You will see that they are full of nothing but I am so good and Myers is so bad, but without any substance as to what his positions are.
Now, that attack on Myers having a govt funding position, he works for Lockkheed, one has help create positions of employment for people. Had Kelly done that? Of course not.
Also, in speaking to my pal the other day, they made the interesting commnet, it is no surprise that Adler is praying Kelly wins because Adler knows he is a lightweight and Kelly would be easy to run over. Myers offers Adler a different election and can beat him. Kelly has no prayer.
pablos3
All I'm saying is that Myers should speak for himself and not Russell spewing the mumbo jumbo.
Kelly is leading him right into it every time.
If you read the Kelly's PR: "Kelly goes after Myers on campaign mailer" You will see Russell Fluffed up the numbers in a major way. Read it again it may take you a few times to understand.
Myers should stick to the basics, speak for himself and he will do fine. (Mr. Myers you can thank me later for my PR advice )
Interesting
I do not know Chris Russell, but I have heard Myers speak and I have to say I am impressed.
I mean, lets be honest; Kelly signed off on Myers "lack of primary voting" then realized Whoops, I made a mistake "fluffing" up the years where Myers actuall did vote.
Right now,in my opinion, I think Kelly would do much more harm than good to our district. I do also respect the heck out of Myers and Murphy for serving this Country in the armed forces.
Did Jack?
I too have heard Meyers
I too have heard Myers speak based everything on his record also serving in the Armed Forces. I thought he did a great job.
My point is Russell did not get up and speak for him, and I did notice a difference between him speaking and the written media.
In the article above I counted Russells name about six times and Myers nine times. Maybe I'm too harsh on Russell but he needs to remain back stage and stick to facts.