Keep an eye on Tom Roughneen
By Wally EdgeIt’s not uncommon for a unsuccessful congressional candidates to find future electoral success. Thomas Kean, Sr. lost a GOP House primary in 1974 and became Governor seven years later; his son, State Senate Minority Leader Thomas Kean, Jr., lost a 2000 congressional primary and won an Assembly seat a year later.
So here’s a prediction: keep an eye on Thomas Roughnen, the young former prosecutor and Iraq war veteran who is seeking the GOP nomination for Congress in the seventh district. Republican leaders who watch him on the campaign trail say they are impressed; they say he’s smart, well-spoken and charismatic.
The son of blue-collar, Irish immigrants, Roughneen served in the U.S. Army, went to law school, and spent ten years an Assistant Prosecutor in Essex and Union counties. After 9/11, he returned to active military service, where according to his biography, he was the full-time government leader of the Kiruk government province. “Within months we accomplished our mission and turned over the leadership of the Council and Governorship to local Iraqis: Shia’s, Sunni Arabs, and Kurds who had never cooperated with each other before,” Rougneen says. “The team I led even persuaded the village leaders to open the first ever girls’ secondary school in that region.”
Contributors
Wally Edge
If Paul Sarlo becomes the new Senate Judiciary Chairman when John Adler leaves for Washington in January, Senate President Richard Codey will ... >
Bob Torricelli
There's nothing more difficult to see than the history before your eyes. It sometimes takes generations to understand the significance of ... >
Michael Patrick Carroll
OK, he didn't say precisely that, but when the Chairman of the Budget Committee informs us that governmental spending is the key to prosperity, ... >
Debbie Holtz
The Star Ledger got it right last April when it gave a thumb's-up to the NJN management plan to wean “the state's only public ... >
Steve Lonegan
The sub prime mortgage melt down and its ensuing financial “crisis” has tested the mettle of all of us who believe in and support the free ... >
Dr. Joseph Marbach
I am pleased to report the results from the first national poll conducted by Environmental Studies Program in the College of Arts and Sciences at ... >
Rob Tornoe
To view a larger version of this cartoon, click here. >
Michael P. Riccards
The media, which loves headlines and knows little history, is trying to sell President Elect Obama as another Franklin Delano Roosevelt. But that ... >
Joey Novick
Whenever I get the chance to visit my parents in Florida when working a comedy gig down there, it’s like living in a “Seinfeld” episode. They ... >
Juan Melli
In an election year driven by a hemorrhaging economy and an electorate hungry for an end to divisive politics, 7th Congressional District candidate ... >
Carla Katz
A couple of weeks ago, my mother, Angelina Katz, did her second debate on behalf of Barack Obama. A debate? My mother? If you knew her, you’d be ... >
Patricia Quattrocchi
Former State Senator Wayne Bryant got a smack on the back of the head from a jury of his peers today when they found him guilty of all eleven charges ... >
Poll
PolitickerNJ Partners
Hot Topics
| Politicker INTERACTIVE | |
 |
Lawmaker Profile Follow the funding of your representatives |
 |
270 to Win See how Obama got to the magic number |
Most Active Stories
- Christie to resign effective Dec. 1
- Pennacchio calls on GOP state chairman to resign
- Bryant guilty on all counts
- Lonegan gubernatorial announcement coming next month
- Wilson not certain whether he’ll stay on as GOP State Chairman after June
- Merkt calls for Wilson's resignation
- Governor reacts to Christie news
- Quinnipiac: Corzine 42%, Christie 36%
- After running as a local Obama, Hawkins runs early into the hard edge of Orange
- Mallet defeats Curley, Monmouth Freeholder Board becomes Democratic-controlled
- Correction: Weiner departure was not his own idea
- Torricelli on COAH
- 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
- Sixteen Democrats are on Norcross' short list for Andrews House seat
- Roughneen in court today on signature challenge
- Jackson will be Corzine's new Chief of Staff
- New Jersey's Most Powerful Law Firms
- Jersey City councilman makes it rain in Washington
- Torricelli on deer hunting
Recent Posts From Inside Edge
Quote of the Day
"What's been happening in the markets has brought out so many emotions. ... We are feeling it too. Our job is to be level-headed and cool and to run the portfolio. I think we are going to turn this around." -- An optimistic William Clark, the director of the state division of investment, after losing $25 billion in pension funds since July.
Recent Press Releases
In the News
Read the expanded Wake Up Call, our summary of today’s news media coverage.
Today’s Must Reads:
Christie's legcy― THE BERGEN RECORD
Corzine for Treasury? Don't Bet on It.― WASHINGTON POST
Immigrants still in New Jersey― THE BERGEN RECORD
Now it's the Dems' chance to be dumb― PAUL MULSHINE
Corzine likely to go nowhere― THE DAILY RECORD
SILENT ON CHARGE; LIPSKI TELLS OF ALCOHOL BATTLE― STEVEN LIPSKI
Reclaiming the narrative of an enlightened nation ― CORY BOOKER
Syndicate
His name isn't Kean
He should try a council or freeholder challenge first.
A Leader We Can Believe In - TR!
Wally - You are correct. Tom is someone we can believe in - he is someone who truly inspires people. I've been lucky to have the opportunity to get to know Tom, his wife Alice, his family and team. We need leaders in our country who inspire us. We need people we can believe in. We need people who will work to unite us as Americans, not divide us. We need leaders who put personal agendas aside and look at the bigger picture. It is one thing to talk about issues - it is another thing to put them into action. We post comments attacking one another, knocking the parties, knocking individuals willing to run and hold elected office - but we tend to forget about the reason we should want to run for office - making people's lives better. Fighting for the taxpayers. Tom gets it, and is a true inspiration.
Definately
I saw him speak at the Union Convention and he was nothing short of very impressive.
While I don't expect him to win in the very crowded 7th, there's no doubt that he's got a very bright future in the Republican Party.
Tom Roughneen Kicks Ass!
Linda Stender will look like the first class idiot that she is if she has to run against Tom Roughneen.
Stender will try to use the Iraq War as a campaign issue and Roughneen will say, "Linda while you were demagoguing the issue with all your Democrat friends, I was in the Sunni Triangle - getting shot at."
Tom Roughneen will kick Linda Stender's ass from the Delaware to the Raritan.
Interview with Roughneen
I am interviewing Tom Roughneen on BlogTalkRadio tonight at 9:00pm, please call in live to ask a question @ 646-716-7229 or catch the replay after the show airs.
Schedule for tonight:
8:15pm Michael Hsing
8:45pm Kate Whitman
9:00pm Tom Roughneen
9:15pm Vic Sordillo
Roughhneen is no Kate Whitman
THANK GOD!!!!!!!!!!
Troops Rally
You can keep an eye on Mr. Roughneen and hear him speak this Saturday at a Support Our Troops rally in Hackettstown.
4pm at the Hackettstown gazebo, March 29th..
seems good but
he just became a Republican in October 2007. Why all of a sudden a GOP contender after all his adult life a liberal democrat?
Give it your all
Having served with Tom in Iraq, I know he is a honest person and would make a difference. Given the chance I'm sure he would do the right thing always. So if folks are looking for a change I believe he's the one. Not someone with a hidden agenda.
Rock the Congress
Tom has shown he can be a leader. He would be a great representative for the people in the 7th District and would help clean up Washington. Good luck Tom!
Tom Roughneen - Right for New Jersey & RIGHT for AMERICA
Tom Roughneen is the best candidate in the race. Have you seen his website? www.rockthecongress.com Even the name of his website sounds like he is ready to serve our District in a fantastic way.
I had the pleasure of speaking with Mr Roughneen a few weeks ago. I asked him some questions and his "off the cuff" answers were music to my ears.
Tom Roughneen's got my vote and I hope he has your too.
explained
As Tom has explained in some of his speeches, he was a Democrat because of his Irish blue-collar upbringing. After he came back from Iraq in April 2004, he was disgusted with the Democratic party and how they wanted to quit and withdraw from the war, mainly to spite Bush. It almost seemed like they wanted more soldiers to die so they could prove their point. He unaffiliated with the Democratic party in 2004.
Tommy Rock!
I've had the pleasure of knowing Tom since we were "First Years" in law school. He runs now for Congress in large part for the same reason as he's done all of the other acts of public service he's performed throughout his life: he sees something that is not performing as well as it could and he wants to do what he can to make it better.
There are better financed, better well-known candidates running for the Republican nomination in CD7 but if you're a voter in that District, invest a little time to get to learn more about Tom. Irrespective of your position vis-a-vis his on issues or your party affilation, you'll come away impressed by the man and the quality of his character.
Nice Try
"Traditional Conservative" wrote: "Why all of a sudden a GOP contender after all his adult life a liberal democrat?"
Nice try, "Traditional Conservative", nice try.
Tom Roughneen is about as liberal as Phil Gramm, Dick Shelby (both ex-Democrats who became Republican U.S. Senators) and Zell Miller (the Democrat U.S. Senator who addressed the 2004 Republican National Convention).
You probably forgot about Gramm, Shelby, Miller and Roughneen because, guess what, they are all more conservative than your good friend the liberal Kate Whitman.