Chris Smith

Fact #34: Chris Smith Voted Against Additional Dwell Time for our Troops

"Voters deserve to know why Chris Smith opposed granting our over-deployed troops adequate dwell time to rest with their friends and family."

For Immediate Release

Tuesday March 18, 2008

Contact: Steven D'Amico 609-668-1754

(Bordentown, NJ)-Chris Smith says that he wants to run on his record in Congress. Unfortunately, there are parts of his record that voters may find less than appealing.

Josh Zeitz appeals to Monmouth County Democrats. 

ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS - After giving standing ovations to U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (D-12) and U.S. Rep Frank Pallone (D-6) at the Shore Casino on Saturday, Monmouth County Democrats greeted their young contender in the 4th congressional district with a polite pitter-patter of hands.

Of the 4th, "I don’t know if its going to be contested or not but we do have someone here," Party Chairman Victor Scudiery said in his introduction of Zeitz, a 34-year old American History professor at Rutgers University from Bordentown who has taken a leave of absence this year to challenge the formidable U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-4).

With at least 200,000 newly registered Democrats appearing on the voter roles after this month’s primary, a new hope has arisen in Democrat Josh Zeitz’s campaign to unseat long-time incumbent Republican Chris Smith.

Zeitz estimates that 20,000 of those new Democrats will be in his district, which is comprised of four counties: Ocean, Burlington, Monmouth and Mercer. As of the last count, the district was made up of 17% Democrats, 22% Republicans, and 61% unaffiliated voters. Adding 20,000 new Democrats to the rolls will make party registration in the district roughly equal. Zeitz campaign manager Steve D’Amico added that the district is getting younger, with about 60% of the residents under 50.

“In this kind of atmosphere, in a year that Democrats are surging with these resources, party parity will make the difference. It provides the winning margin,” said Zeitz, 34.

But Smith says he’s heard this from opponents before. He heard it from Brian Hughes just after redistricting in 1992; and from Reed Gusciora, who promised to run an aggressive campaign in 2000. And now, Smith says, he represents the most heavily Republican district he’s had since entering the House in 1981.

“No one should have a congressional seat for three decades,” 33-year-old Democrat Josh Zeitz, a college professor challenging fourteen-term incumbent Christopher Smith told the Burlington County Times. “You can’t help but stop relating to your constituents.” You can be Frank Lautenberg disagrees with his would-be running mate.

Hamilton Mayor John BencivengoStrengthened by what he described as a "shared vision with my people, a cause to be accomplished and a dream come true," John Bencivengo officially became mayor of Hamilton today as he was sworn in by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith in the ballroom of the Nottingham Firehouse in front of a crowd of 350 people.

"I wish that I could have given a more cheerful address today," said Bencivengo in a nod to the town’s $10 million budget deficit. "But even if our fiscal circumstances had been better, even if we had ample surplus, I’d be saying the same things. It should be our goal, no matter the circumstances, to do more with less."

The former Republican Party municipal chairman and fired government worker ran and won on a platform of restoring common sense and accountability to government. Today Bencivengo swore always to remember that working families fund the town, and promised to present the 2009 budget on time in July.

He made the second of these vows in defiance of the record of his predecessor, Glen Gilmore, who sat on the document last year until a judge ruled he had to release it to the Township Council prior to the November election. The release of the 2008 budget, which initially showed a $5 million shortfall, helped propel the Republican Bencivengo to victory over Gilmore by fewer than 500 votes.

With 10 months to go before the Democratic congressional primary, Amy Vasquez has announced that she’s running for congress in the fourth district, again.

There wasn’t any fanfare in Vasquez’s announcement. Rather, it came in the form of a press release criticizing Republican incumbent Chris Smith for his vote against a bill that renewed the State Children’s Health Insurance Program with “Amy Vasquez for Congress” written in the address heading.

Assembly Assistant Majority Leader Reed Gusciora says that he has not ruled out a bid for Congress in 2008 against fourteen-term incumbent Christopher Smith. The Princeton Democrat won 36% against Smith in 2000 and has been waiting for the right time to run again.  Today, Gusciora was critical of Smith's vote this week against legislation that would add sexual orientation to a list of enhanced penalties for hate crimes.

New Jersey Right to Life
113 North Avenue West
Cranford, NJ 07016

Contact: Marie Tasy
Executive Director

NJRTL Applauds NJ Congressman Chris Smith’s Life-Saving Umbilical Cord Blood and Bone Marrow Bill

Research is Ethical; Already Saving Lives

December 21, 2005--

New Jersey Right to Life, the state’s largest pro-life organization issued the following statement today.

“We applaud NJ Congressman Chris Smith, for his tireless work on this life-saving legislation," said Marie Tasy, Executive Director. “NJ Congressman Chris Smith proves once again that he is a human rights champion. Umbilical cord blood stem cell and bone marrow treatments are already treating patients. Thanks to Congressman Smith, thousands of people will now be offered this life-affirming, ethical and successfully proven research.�

CODEY ANNOUNCES TOP FINALISTS FOR STATE TOURISM SLOGAN
Governor Asks State Residents to Vote for Best Tagline

(TRENTON) – Acting Governor Richard J. Codey today revealed the top five entries for New Jersey’s tourism slogan and asked State residents to vote for the best tagline.

Rep. Chris Smith and Mercer County Delegation to Welcome President Lech Walesa from Poland
Meeting will commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the Solidarity Trade Union