Doherty rolls out support from Spadea

The telephone war between Assemblyman Michael Doherty (D-Washington Twp.) and Assemblywoman Marcia Karrow (R-Raritan Twp.) went into high gear today, with the Karrow forces securing an endorsement from Hunterdon County Freeholder Ron Sworen and Doherty going outside the box to land the backing of Republican activist Bill Spadea, president of the grassroots GOP outfit, Building the New Majority. 

A veteran of the Marine Corps, Spadea proudly endorsed Doherty for the vacant senate seat in the 23rd Legislative District. 

“Mike is a great role model for the residents of New Jersey,” said Spadea. “A West Point graduate and military veteran, Mike and his wife, Linda, have passed on their patriotism and love of country to their three sons, all of whom are now serving on active duty in the military. 2009 is a critical year in New Jersey. We have a great opportunity to defeat Jon Corzine and a new Republican governor will need strong, articulate, free market advocates like Mike Doherty in the state senate to rein in government and restore fiscal responsibility to Trenton. He has my whole-hearted support.” 

Win or lose at Saturday’s convention, Doherty said he’s ready to be the district’s top dog. If Karrow beats him in the convention, he will run in the special election primary in June, and he figures if history’s any indicator, he’ll win. 

“Whatever goes down Saturday, it’s all good,” said the veteran assemblyman trying to move up to succeed former state Sen. Leonard Lance (R-Clinton). “This is going to be a last stand by some people who don’t like my brand of conservatism, but I am in that primary regardless. If you look at who’s supporting me: Scott Garrett, a vote-generating king here, Kevin O’Toole, Steve Lonegan, Bill Spadea – it’s significant. There could be a total cleaning of the house here if they don’t watch what’s going on.”  

A lawyer, Doherty was born in Point Pleasant than raised in Essex County's Glen Ridge where he said he learned first-hand how the suburbs simply became a cash cow, in his words, for urban ills.

“Now it’s the same situation,” he said of Warren and Hunterdon county residents. “We’re a cash cow for Trenton.” 

Despite residing in the less populous county of the two-county legislative district, Doherty takes some pride in his record as the consistently leading vote-getter, and to date he owns Karrow in districtwide elections in 2001, 2005, and 2007.

In 2001, Doherty beat the next highest vote-getter (Karrow) by a 2,667-vote margin; in 2003, by 665 (a year in which Karrow did not run); 4,049 votes in 2005, a year in which Karrow says she did not campaign owing to the death of her father; and by 448 votes in 2007. 

Doherty admits Karrow has fostered a good relationship with the mayors in the district. But he argues his statewide activism relates directly to vital problem-solving that ultimately inures to the benefit of the 23rd. 

“We live in a safe Republican district,” he said. “We have to go out and fight the Democrats. I’ve been out there fighting and now it’s almost used against you. As a legislator you’re supposed to be engaging on state issues. The Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) needs to be killed. You can’t do it sitting at home. Forget about trying to get mayors to manage their way through, we’re never changing the funding formula unless we get the majority back.” 

Doherty watched Tuesday’s Inauguration of President Barack Obama and couldn’t think of much positive to say. He sizes up Obama as a return to New Deal economics and fears consequent inflation and a devaluation of currency.  

“He’s got a nice salute,” Doherty conceded of the President.