Halfacre to launch campaign against Holt

Fair Haven Mayor Michael Halfacre will hold two press conferences tomorrow to announce his decision to challenge U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (D-Hopewell).   

“In his 10 years in Congress, Rush Holt has been ineffective on matters big and small throughout the 12th Congressional District and has compiled a voting record which is not representative of the district he represents," Halfacre said in a statement. “At a time when Americans of all political stripes are growing increasingly concerned about record federal spending and ever expanding government involvement in the private sector, I believe my record as a tax cutting fiscal conservative will be an attractive alternative.” 

Halfacre plans an 11 a.m. launch from Fair Haven Borough Hall, followed by a 2 p.m. Statehouse presser. 

An attorney who holds a law degree from the University of Dayton, Halfacre runs his own legal practice concentrating on real estate law and transactions relating to real estate, according to his Facebook page.

On his website, Halfacre, who has served as mayor of Fair Haven since 2007 and has completed seven Iron triathlons, specifically targets the federal bailout package as wrong-headed policy. 

"The average American works hard each day to earn a living," says the mayor. "Why do we let the government take our money and waste it on inefficient programs, expensive bailouts that prop up failing corporations or industries, or worse, government takeovers of entire industries that benefit only a favored few. Our government should find ways to be more efficient and allow the people to keep more of their own money through continued tax relief. If unchecked, Congress will have to increase taxes on American families and businesses, so that more money can be spent on their bailout and takeover programs."

Given the configuration of the 12th District, which spans pieces of five counties - Hunterdon, Mercer, Monmouth, Middlesex, and Somerset - it will be a tough slog for Halfacre, where he faces the challenge of nearly a 2-1 Democratic Party registration advantage. A ten-year veteran, Holt has turned back challenges by Buster Soaries, Bill Spadea, Joseph Sinagra and Alan Bateman, on average by a 60-40% margin.On his Facebook page, Bateman, a deputy mayor in Holmdel and ally of former GOP gubernatorial candidate Steve Lonegan, indicates that he intends to run again for the Republican nomination.Halfacre, who regularly served as a surrogate for GOP gubernatorial nominee Chris Christie during the primary, can bank on establishment GOP support.