FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 16, 2009 Richard Merkt/908-850-1595 (ext. 1520)        908-507-5033 (cell) Chris Venis/     908-507-6589 (cell)                                                                      MERKT ON TARGET IN GLOUCESTER COUNTY GOP CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR  STUMPS ONCE AGAIN IN SOUTH JERSEY Assemblyman Richard Merkt, who is a candidate for Governor, last night raised the roof at Republican Headquarters in Monroe Township, Gloucester County.  The Monroe Township Republican Organization warmly welcomed Merkt, who has returned to Gloucester County again and again in recent months. “Rick Merkt is a regular here in Gloucester County,” commented Monroe Township resident Chris Cugini.  “He took the time to walk door to door with me during my campaign for Township Council last fall.” A 12 year veteran legislator from Morris County known as a tireless worker, Merkt has concentrated on visiting areas in New Jersey often taken for granted by statewide candidates. “If I expect to be Governor of New Jersey, then I had better know every town and county throughout the state,” remarked Merkt, adding, “I thoroughly enjoy visiting folks in Gloucester County, as well as all of South Jersey.” Cugini explained the frustration many South Jersey residents feel with both the state government in Trenton and most state politicians. “South Jersey usually gets ignored – or even forgotten – by most politicians,” he commented, “and it is really refreshing to see Rick Merkt here on a regular basis.  He understands our frustration and the issues that concern us most here.  Though Rick comes from Morris County, he has become our grass-roots South Jersey candidate.” With temperatures dipping into the single digits, the hardy crowd was very warm to Merkt, who gave a detailed explanation of his plans to put New Jersey’s economy back on track, receiving several rounds of applause. “The message I’m hearing from residents throughout New Jersey is crystal clear: people are worried about their jobs and the economy,” reported Merkt.  “Our state’s economy is in deep trouble, with nearly 300,000 jobless and state debt at record levels.” A respected fiscal conservative, Merkt has been a consistent and outspoken critic of shortsighted state tax and spending policies that have dragged New Jersey to the brink of financial ruin. “In a world that has watched such famous Wall Street firms as Merrill Lynch, Bear Stearns, and Lehman Brothers collapse overnight, New Jersey cannot afford to ignore the danger signs flashing at us,” warned Merkt.  “We need experienced state leadership with a proven track record to stop the ‘tax-spend-and-borrow’ train before it hits the wall and hurts millions of hardworking and innocent New Jersey families.” Phyllis Scapelatto of Franklin Township, a Republican freeholder candidate in Gloucester County last year, complimented Merkt on his clarity and candor in discussing the issues. “I am impressed with Rick Merkt’s intellect, poise, and respect for the people of New Jersey, as well as his common-sense approach to defusing the fiscal crisis and rebuilding the state’s economy,” noted Scapelatto.  “Rick has, by far, the most state experience of any of the Republican candidates for Governor.  Each candidate brings something good to the table, but it seems obvious to me that Rick Merkt, with his business and financial background, is the right guy to deal with the crisis we’re in.” The other hot issues of the evening’s discussion were Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) state mandates driven by the New Jersey Supreme Court’s Mt. Laurel decision, forcing communities throughout the state to building more than 100,000 low income housing units, and job protection. “For decades, COAH has been wreaking havoc on towns throughout New Jersey, and I will put an end to it on my first day as your Governor,” declared Merkt. “We will kill COAH, bury it, and drive a wooden stake through its heart, so it never again rises to terrorize New Jersey’s communities.” On protecting jobs, Merkt described a new bill he introduced in the Assembly earlier in the day: “The New Jersey Jobs Protection Act is designed to put unemployed New Jersey workers first in line for any job opportunities in this state,” said Merkt. “300,000 residents are currently jobless, and an estimated 500,000 illegal aliens are here, many of them taking jobs that could be filled by lawful residents.  My bill is aimed at requiring verification that everyone employed in New Jersey is legally eligible to work in the United States.  It is time that someone stood up on this issue to protect the rights and welfare of the lawful residents and workers of New Jersey.”   ####