Sabrin: Sopranos Version of New Jersey GOP

Tom Wilson and Other Failed GOP Bosses Write Bad Script for NJ GOP

Jersey City, NJ – New Jersey conservative Republican leader Dr. Murray Sabrin, the Garden State’s strongest advocate of limited government and individual freedom and candidate for United States Senate, highlighted the corrupt and undemocratic processes of the leadership of the New Jersey Republican Party today.

Dr. Murray Sabrin stated, “Tom Wilson has once again shown his incompetence in hand-selecting a slick playboy nightclub owner to run for the United States Senate without doing any due-diligence whatsoever.  Along with Boss Wilson, GOP County Chairmen Rob Ortiz (Bergen), Adam Puharic (Monmouth), George Gilmore (Ocean) and Keith Davis (Atlantic) showed their disdain for democracy by either undercutting their local Republican Committee Members or endorsing a candidate they know nothing about other than his checkbook.”

Sabrin continued, “Rob Ortiz needs to disclose exactly how much money Andy Unanue and his companies have paid Boss Ortiz over the past two years.  This type of corruption is exactly what the New Jersey voters have been complaining about and why Republicans lost control of the Congress in 2006.  Boss Puharic, Boss Gilmore and Boss Davis need to explain how they can endorse a candidate they know NOTHING about.”

Sabrin continued, “The actions of these political bosses fit the characters of an unbelievable Sopranos episode.  These are not leaders, they are bullies, and New Jersey Republican voters have had enough of their failures and corruption.  My campaign is offering that change and Republicans are responding to my message.”

Dr. Sabrin pointed out the characters and what their nicknames would be on The Sopranos:

Tom “Lose-Win-Lose” Wilson – While the GOP Loses, Tom Wins and NJ Taxpayers Lose

• Tom Wilson and his former lobbying firm, The Strategy Group, was sued for their role in stealing $1 million from New Jersey taxpayers (Tom’s former partner, Robert Stears was recently sentenced to 27 months in prison)
• Tom and his family members have received over $1 million from the New Jersey Republican Party since he became Chairman, while the NJ GOP has continued to lose
• Or take it from Cape May County Republican Chairman, David Von Savage’s own words,
  • “Earlier this year - - I believe it was in February or March, during a statewide meeting of Republican chairmen -- a motion was made for the immediate adoption by county chairmen to support Chairman Wilson for another two (2) year term effective June 2007. In my 12 years of experience as Cape May County Chairman, this was an unprecedented maneuver.  I objected.  I have my suspicions why there was an attempt to push through this vote so early and so quickly, but I will only give the facts as they are and let you draw your own conclusions.  Just prior to this vote being called for, Chairman Tom Wilson’s former partner in the Trenton lobbying firm The Strategy Group, Bob Stears, pled guilty to overcharging the Burlington County Bridge Commission by $1 million for services never rendered.  Since then, a $2.8 million lawsuit has been filed in civil court by a Democrat against Chairman Wilson and Mr. Stears seeking repayment to the Burlington County taxpayers of all funds collected by their old lobbying firm. This will be an issue in the 2007 campaigns used by Democrats in their plans to continue the dismantling of the NJGOP.I sympathize with Chairman Wilson when he says that this lawsuit is without merit and is politically motivated. Given my experience with Democrats, I would have to agree.  However, Chairman Wilson’s defense actually proves my point – because of Chairman Wilson’s association with Mr. Stears, Tom has become a major target for the Democrat attack machine, and as the campaign heats up, it will only get worse.”

Rob “Pay-to-Play” Ortiz – He wants to play while you and the taxpayers pay.

• How much cash has Andy Unanue and his companies paid Rob Ortiz and his “firm” for “services” over the past two years?
• He recently joined the lobbying firm Porzio, Bromberg & Newman whose website claims “our significant contacts in the New Jersey Legislature and Executive Branch, Congress, and several federal agencies ensure access to key information and key decision makers.”
• Election results of State Senate races from 2003 to 2007 (keep in mind Democrat Joe Coniglio’s corruption problems were disclosed in 2007):
  • District 38 the GOP share of the vote dropped from 44% in’03 to 40% in ‘07
  • District 39 the GOP share dropped from 62% to 55%
  • District 36 the GOP share dropped from 44% to 42%
  • District 37 the GOP share dropped from 38% to 25%

Adam “Big Mouth, Little Ears” Puharic – He does too much talking and not enough listening.

·        Notable quotes from Big Mouth Puharic

•  
  • February 27, 2008: “…blogs are a form of mental retardation because those who post and reply only allow similar opinions to perpetuate on their sites – thereby reinforcing an already weak gene pool.”
  • March 5, 2008: Big Mouth Puharic calls on Rudy Giuliani to run for U.S. Senate after his candidate, Anne Estabrook withdrew from the campaign
  • March 6, 2008: “Before Monmouth makes a decision on any candidate, I want to make sure that everyone who is interested in running for U.S. Senate and is serious about it is availed to our party leaders before we make a recommendation to our county committee.”
  • March 24, 2008: About Andy Unanue, “I’m very interested in hearing about Andy’s story, because I find from what I’ve talked to the people around Andy, that some of his positions are sort of mainstream New Jersey conservative positions, which make me very happy.”
  • March 25, 2008: “As a strong friend of Presidential nominee John McCain, Andy Unanue will receive the attention from leaders in Washington and the financial backing needed to overcome the Democrats’ negative attack money machine. Andy Unanue is strong on national defense, calls on secure borders to stem the tide of illegal immigration, and will fight to make the Bush tax cuts permanent.”

·        Election results:

•  
  • In 2006, Democrat Barbara McMorrow won her party’s first Freeholder seat in a generation; she defeated Andrew Lucas by 5,000 votes
  • In 2007, Democrats won their second Freeholder seat with John D’Amico and how easily take control of the five-member Monmouth Board this November

·        Fundraising results:

•  
  • In 2003, Monmouth County Republicans out-raised Monmouth County Democrats by $596,339 to $486,346
  • In 2007, Monmouth County Democrats out-raised Monmouth County Republicans $540,292 to $379,139

George “Boss Tweedledee” Gilmore – He whistles while taxpayers work.

·        Boss Gilmore inflated his pension as municipal attorney to collect $85,000 at the age of 60 according to OceanCountyPolitic.com

·        Boss Gilmore quadrupled the salary of a voting machine mechanic to $85,000 over seven years – the mechanic, Carmen Amato serves as the GOP leader in Berkeley

·        Boss Gilmore’s firm made $1.3 million in no-bid contract in 2004

·        Local Ocean County Republicans got so upset, they formed the “Traditional Republican Organization of Ocean County” to stop the tax hikes and corruption – the group received 45% in Toms River and 37% throughout the county against Boss Gilmore’s machine

Keith “Eyes Wide Shut” Davis – He changes his vision for New Jersey with the seasons.

·        Notable quotes from

•  
  • December 10, 2007: “Change is coming. Anne Estabrook is the leader we need to provide a common-sense approach to finding solutions for New Jersey’s affordability crisis.”
  • March 9, 2008: Atlantic County Republican Chairman expressed some interest in U.S. Marshall James Plousis as a United States Senate candidate.
  • March 25, 2008: “I think he has the best chance of success against Frank Lautenberg, and I think he’ll help our entire ticket down to our freeholder candidates this year.” – Boss Davis’ comments about Andy Unanue after only speaking with him over the phone.

·        Election Results

•  
  • Despite a Republican registration advantage, in 2007 the Republican percentage for State Senator dropped from 60% to only 43%
  • In the portion of Atlantic County in the 1st District, Democrat Jeff Van Drew defeated Republican Nick Asselta by a margin of more than 10%

·        Fundraising results:

•  
  • In 2003, Atlantic County Republicans out-raised Atlantic County Democrats by $363,478 to $119,544
  • In 2007, Atlantic County Democrats out-raised Atlantic County Republicans by $757,142 to $314,845

Murray Sabrin is a retired successful entrepreneur working in commercial real estate, portfolio management, and economic research. Murray is an author, TV and radio commentator, and Professor and Executive Director of the Center for Business and Public Policy at Ramapo College. He and his wife Florence of 39 years reside in Bergen County. For more information, please visit www.murraysabrin.com.

###