Tom Wilson's response

Republican State Chairman Tom Wilson's response to Cape May County GOP Chairman David Von Savage's letter:

Over the past month I’ve had the opportunity to speak with you about my desire to serve another term as Chairman of the State Republican Party. I am grateful for your willingness to spend time discussing the future of our party and for the support you’ve given me. This has been an awesome experience and I have enjoyed the opportunity to spend every day working to grow and strengthen our party.

Throughout this process I have adhered to the principle that our party is a family. Like every family we have disagreements. But what makes families different is that disagreements are resolved in the family living room, not on the front lawn for all to see. Unfortunately, others have chosen a different course. That is their right, but it does not make it right.

Last night you received an open letter from Cape May County Republican Chairman David Von Savage. Despite my desire to discuss our party’s business one on one, I feel that his letter deserves a response.

Our party succeeds when we work together. The State Committee must partner and have the support and cooperation of our Legislative Leaders, County Committees and through them our municipal committees. In that spirit, I have worked closely with our Legislative Leaders and County Chairmen to implement the kinds of ideas, strategies and tactics that refocus our energies on grassroots contact and organization.

On January 31st the county chairmen voted to support my bid for another term. There was nothing suspicious or shady about my motives or, in my opinion, of the Chairman who voted in favor of the motion. Each of us acted then, as now, with only the party’s best interests in mind. I am proud of the partnership we’ve developed with our county and local parties and I will continue to develop that partnership should you bless me with the opportunity to serve another term.

Chairman Von Savage raised issues pertaining to a former business partner of mine. While I have spoken to each of you individually about this matter, a recitation of facts seems in order.

Prior to becoming State Chairman I was one of four partners at The Strategy Group, a lobbying and public relations business in Trenton. When I became Chairman, I severed all ties with that firm and took on the chairmanship full time so as to avoid any conflicts of interest and devote all of my energies to job of helping our party succeed.

On December 1, 2006 (two months before the County Chairman’s meeting), Robert Stears, a former business partner of mine at The Strategy Group, stood before a federal judge in Camden County and pled guilty to failing to pay his personal income taxes for several years as well as having defrauded a public agency by submitting bills for work that was not performed. It is worth noting that during his appearance he was asked by judge if he was solely responsible for creating the invoices which inflated the billings that resulted in his convictions and he admitted that he was. While I was fully aware of the investigation into this matter, I had no knowledge that my former partner was engaged in illegal and unethical behavior prior to the initiation of the investigation.

At all times I cooperated fully with the US Attorney and FBI and offered several times to make myself available to them to assist in their investigation. At no time did they seek to interview me or otherwise suggest that I had any involvement with Mr. Stears’ actions. That remains true to this very day. I became aware of Mr. Stears’ actions only after the FBI initiated their investigation. Those are the facts not as I see interpret them, but as they are. The FBI and US Attorney’s office have investigated this matter thoroughly and concluded that Mr. Stears was the only person at the Strategy Group responsible or accountable for the actions which resulted in his conviction. Needless to say, no one is angrier or more disappointed than I at his conduct.

Last month, a lawsuit was allegedly filed by a former Democrat candidate concerning the over billing by Mr. Stears (I say allegedly in that I have never been served with any notice that it was, in fact, filed). That suit is motivated politics, not facts. Based on the advice of counsel, I am confident that the suit will be dismissed by the court at the outset. Based on that advice, I do not anticipate that Chairman Von Savage’s concerns about the time I will need to spend on this matter will amount to anything more than a few phone calls with attorneys. His suggestion that I would use State Committee staff or resources to assist me in this personal matter are just plain wrong and have no basis in fact or reality. I have not and would never do such a thing.

Throughout my term as Chairman elements of the case involving Mr. Stears (subpoenas to the firm seeking information, etc) have been public. During both the 2005 gubernatorial campaign and the 2006 race for US Senate, Democrats have attempted to raise the issue to obfuscate their own ethical or legal failings. Not once did those attempts succeed. Voters will always make their decisions based on the candidates before them. While I have certainly earned the wrath of those on the other side of the aisle, it is because I have been, and will continue to be, relentless in my efforts to defeat them.

Our ability to succeed in 2007 and beyond will be based on three things. First, we must present ideas and solutions to the problems which confront the people of this state. We must articulate not just what we’re against, but what we’d do differently. I began working with our legislative leadership in January to craft an agenda to present to the voters and I am confident that you will be seeing the fruits of that labor in a matter of weeks if not days.

Second, we must continue to refocus our energies to the grassroots based tasks necessary to re-connect with voters in the kinds of personal ways that result in votes. Knocking on doors, making telephone calls, listening to voters and addressing their concerns are what are needed to succeed. We’ve had some successes locally in that area over the past two years, but to achieve the kind of success we all want, that approach needs to be more broadly adopted. Again, I have been working with our county organizations and legislative leaders to further implement that approach.

Finally, we need to rebuild the financial base of our effort. Frankly, without a clear and compelling message we stand little chance of attracting donors. How can we ask them to support us if we can tell them what we’re going to do differently? These past two years have not been easy for any of our organizations – local, county, or state – when it comes to fund raising. Despite that, we were successful in raising $4 million dollars over the past two years. Our event with President Bush last month helped us raise over $600,000. Clearly there is more work to be done, but we are moving in the right direction.

I was pleased to see that Peter Mancuso has pledged to raise $200,000 for the State Committee. I hope he will fulfill that pledge and contribute to the growth of our party regardless of whether his elected Chairman or not. Politics is a team sport and all of us have a role to play and a job to do. All of us who care about the future of the party are obliged to help in whatever way we can.

Having spoken often to Peter throughout this process, I believe that he shares that view. He is a good man who wants to use his time to help the Party. That is noble and good. We have pledged to each other that we will be here to help no matter what, doing what we can, capitalizing on our individual strengths and applying ourselves to helping advance the Republican Party in New Jersey. And that is just as it should be.

As always, I am available to you to answer any questions you have about my time as Chairman, matters involving my former business partner, or my ideas for the future. I can be reached at the office (xxx-xxx-xxxx) on my cell (xxx-xxx-xxxx), or at home (xxx-xxx-xxxx).

Thank you again for your honesty, candor and commitment to the Republican Party. There is no doubt that we have work to do and no doubt that if we do the work, we will be successful – together. I am proud to have earned the support of Minority Leaders Lance and DeCroce, of the substantial majority of County Chairmen and State Legislators including our nominee for US Senate last year, Tom Kean Jr. I have earned their respect, their trust and their support largely because I have been up front and honest about the challenges we face and the issues raised by Chairman Von Savage. Many of you have heard me say of Governor Corzine, “For a guy who says he has nothing to hide, he’s hiding an awful lot from us.” Those who have nothing to hide have no reason to anything less than forthcoming with the facts.

I ask for your continued support, your confidence, and your vote so that I may continue to serve as Chairman of our great party for another term.

Thank you. I look forward to seeing you Thursday night or to hearing from you before then.