Monday, March 08, 2010

CD 12 Race

Assemblyman Sam Thompson (R-13), the presumptive incoming Middlesex County GOP chairman, endorsed Scott Sipprelle for the GOP nomination to challenge Rush Holt today.

“Scott Sipprelle represents the Republican Party’s best chance to send Rush Holt into retirement this November,” said Thompson. “I have been impressed by his plans to fix our economy and create jobs, as well as his energy and passion to help the Middlesex County Republican organization build on the momentum of Chris Christie’s victory here last year and make serious inroads against the entrenched County Democrat machine locally.”

I'm wondering how closely Thomspon looked at Sipprelle's "plans to fix our economy and create jobs." That will be the subject of a piece I'm working on for later this week.

As far as "energy and passion to help the Middlesex County Republican organization build on the momentum of Chris Christie’s victory here last year and make serious inroads against the entrenched County Democrat machine locally,” that translates to money for local races, one of any county chairman's prime responsibilities.

Sipprelle also announced that he has picked up the support of Middletown municipal chairman Peter Carton, Middletown Deputy Mayor Tony Fiore and Committeeman Steve Massell.

Mike Halfacre's campaign manager Tom Fitzsimmons was unphased by the endorsements, "we knew those guys were not in a corner," Fitzsimmons said, "we're right were we think we should be."

Middlesex County's screening committee meets March 10, followed by an open convention on March 27 to award the line. Any Middlesex Republican can register and pay $10 to vote in the convention. Registrations must be completed on March 13 at Middlesex GOP headquarters. For more information on how to participate in the convention, click here.

Mike Halfacre picked up another Tea Party endorsement today.

Halfacre met with me last week for over an hour to make his case for why he is the best candidate to challenge Rush Holt. Sipprelle has so far declined numerous invitations to do the same.

This video is the first segment of my interview with Halfacre:

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

So Sipprelle picks-up endorsements from the chairman and elected officials in the biggest town in the Monmouth part of the district and Halfacre's backyard--Middletown--in addition to the endorsement of the chairman of the Mercer GOP and the effective Chairman of the Middlesex GOP and Art entitles this article "CD12" while giving Halfacre a page and a half on some unknown tea party endorsement that is merely a facebook page with 60 supposed members? Also, aren't these Middletown people who were on Halfacre's much advertised endorsement list? Now his manager claims he knew these people were with Sipprelle all along? Halfacre is toast.

Anonymous said...

Mike Halfacre is a good man.This is just not his race nor his time.Art ,you can blog,flog,do whatever you want for your candidate,he is in serious trouble,plus has no real money.If I was Mike I would be thinking about how I extricate myself from this wrestling match before I have to tap out.Tom,is doing the best he can for his candidate in terms of damge control,this is his job.Tom, you also are a good man.This is not you guy's race,not his time.But you gave it an honorable best shot.

Anonymous said...

Nice picture on the wall

Anonymous said...

how about interviewing Gooch and Little

Anonymous said...

Not a huge Fan but will say he did a good job addressing the Tax issue.

That is a big problem for municipalities they are a small part of the tax bill and most people do not realize that.

Maybe the way to comtrol taxes is have each taxing authority send out its own tax bill so the taxpayor caneasily see who is spending their money.

Of course the other problem is that Municipalities and especially school boards spend a lot of money that the state forces them to pay.
I would guess tht at least a third if not more of your tax bill is because of state mandates.

oops off subject a little bit. Sorry

Anonymous said...

Little would have to explain that she is just running for congress because she about to be blown out in highlands.

Art Gallagher said...

how about interviewing Gooch and Little

I might. Gooch said she would meet with me. I haven't asked Little, but I would be shocked if she declined.

Its a matter of time and coming up with an approach in my own mind as to how to do if fairly.

I know Little and her record well enough that I wouldn't have to do any research for that interview. It would be impossible to develope the same level of knowledge about Gooch in a timely manner.

Despite what the whiners are saying I did a fair and critical interview with Halfacre. You'll see that in the coming segments. I know I could do the same with Sipprelle and Gooch. I'm not sure yet that I can do that with Little. We've worked too closely together. Maybe I'll get someone else to interview Little. Any volunteers? Email me.

Anonymous said...

Halfacre has more experience feeding at the public trough than he does serving in elected office. He should run for re-election as his town's mayor and complete the work he has started. He hasn't even served one term and has a good GOP council to help him get the work done. This would give him the window to crawl out of in this race. This is just not Mike's time.

Anonymous said...

Does Halfacre disclose this site on the ELEC page for inkind campaign contributions?

Anonymous said...

Does Halfacre disclose this site on the ELEC page for inkind campaign contributions?

I doubt it. ELEC is an NJ agency, for state races. Congressional candidates fall under FEC's jurisdiction.