DOHERTY AGREES TO LEAD “DRAFT LONEGAN” EFFORT

-- “Steve Lonegan is New Jersey’s Ronald Reagan”

WASHINGTON, NJ -- Calling Steve Lonegan “New Jersey’s Ronald Reagan”, Assemblyman Mike Doherty (R-Warren, Hunterdon) has agreed to chair an effort to draft Steve Lonegan for Governor against Jon Corzine in 2009.

“Steve Lonegan is the conservative leader New Jersey taxpayers need to take back our state from Jon Corzine and his administration of tax and spend liberals,” Doherty said. “As Mayor he froze spending and debt and kept taxes far below inflation. No one speaks out louder or stronger for taxpayers and in defense of our conservative values than Steve Lonegan. He is not only the strongest candidate we can run against Jon Corzine, he is the best man for the job.”

Doherty, who year after year garners more Primary votes than any other member of the legislature in either party, said that the only way Republicans will take this state back is with a strong and principled champion for taxpayers.

“Steve Lonegan is that man.”

The four-term Assemblyman and former Warren County Freeholder said that in particular importance to his district is Lonegan’s strong opposition to Governor Corzine’s proposed 100,000 Low Income Housing units.

“If implemented, the Corzine COAH Low Income Housing plan will destroy New Jersey by forcing every single town to pay for creating it’s own slum area with high density urban style low income apartments and townhouses,” Doherty said. “Steve Lonegan is our only chance to stop it.”

Doherty, an attorney and West Point graduate, said “Lonegan was not only our only hope to save our state, but our last hope.”

“We cannot afford to lose this election, and with Steve Lonegan as our candidate, we won’t,” Doherty said. “Steve is a fighter and isn’t afraid of either Corzine or his money. He’s got guts and that’s something we haven’t seen in a statewide candidate in a long long time,” he added.

Dan Gallic, founder of the Draft Lonegan Committee, welcomed the leadership of Doherty to the committee, "I can think of no better leader for our cause than Michael Doherty. Not only has Assemblyman Doherty been a true conservative voice in New Jersey politics but he's fought for conservative issues from day one!"