Glading Campaign Hosts Economic Conference

Business leaders from South Jersey invited to attend,
discuss pressing economic issues affecting citizens and businesses

HADDON TOWNSHIP – Dale Glading, candidate for U.S. Congress in New Jersey’s 1st District, hosted the first of a series of issue-based conferences this morning, with business leaders representing companies with 12 to 700 employees in attendance.

“I was thrilled with today’s turnout as well as the great feedback we received,” Glading said. “The response to our message of lower taxes and having a representative who is in touch with the problems facing our community was extremely positive, and we look forward to holding future conferences with other community leaders between now and November.”

“For far too long, New Jersey's career politicians have mistreated small and mid-sized business owners despite the fact that more than 80% of all companies have fewer than 100 employees,” Glading added. “I intend to fight for South Jersey’s small business owners and the families of those they employ when I get to Washington.”

When he was a U.S. Senate candidate, Rob Andrews was a big fan of debates -- and so if Dale Glading, the Republican who wants to succeed him in the House of Representatives.  Glading has called on his Democratic opponent – who for now, at least officially is Camille Andrews, the wife of the outgoing incumbent – to join him for a series of six debates.  Glading wants the first one in June.   But there’s no sign that Camille Andrews shares her husband’s affinity for debating; her campaign manager, Benjamin Parvey, hasn’t returned calls seeking comment.

South Jersey Democrats are in no great rush to designate a candidate for the first district congressional seat Rob Andrews gave up to campaign for the United States Senate – and they don’t have to be.  Placeholder Camille Andrews, the winner of the Democratic primary for the seat her husband has held for eighteen years, is under no obligation to drop out – and she could wait until very early in October to withdraw (note Angelo’s Law, the Supreme Court ruling that allowed Democrats to nominate Frank Lautenberg when Bob Torricelli dropped out of the race five weeks before the 2002 general election).  That gives Rep. Andrews quite a while to decide if he wants to return to the House, or who George Norcross wants to send to Congress.

This morning, victorious 1st District congressional candidate Dale Glading sent a registered letter to Camille Andrews, wife of two-time failed statewide candidate Rob Andrews, challenging her to a series of debates beginning this month. Below are the contents of Glading's letter.

***

June 4, 2008

Camille Andrews for Congress
PO Box 327
Haddon Heights NJ 08035-0327

Dear Mrs. Andrews:

First, allow me to congratulate you on your primary victory. I am sure that you were as humbled as I was by the election results.

Likewise, I am sure that you will agree that these same voters deserve a serious discussion of the issues that are of primary importance to our district. Oppressive taxation and the undermining of traditional family values by the career politicians in Washington have caused many New Jersey residents to lose faith in their government and, in many cases, to leave our great state.

For these reasons, I am challenging you to a series of debates now that you are the official nominee of your party. As I’m sure you recall, you promised to debate me once the primary was over and I intend to hold you to that promise.

In order to best accommodate the voters of our rather diverse district, I suggest a series of debates spread over the five months leading up to the general election. Since Camden County has the most towns in our district, my challenge is for three debates in Camden County, two in Gloucester County, and one in Burlington County. I also suggest a “town hall” format where our constituents are given the opportunity to ask questions directly from the floor.

With just 154 days left before the General Election, I think it is important for the voters to hear from both of us as soon as possible. Therefore, I am calling for our first debate in June, followed by one per month with the final debate held the Friday before the General Election.

So that we can schedule the appropriate venues, I would ask that you reply to my challenge by June 13.

I look forward to engaging you in a serious discussion of the issues.

Sincerely,

Dale M. Glading
Candidate for Congress

###

Glading Declares Victory, Prepares for November

Glading, champion of real change,
wins overwhelming victory;
Voters declare support for candidate
who represents their values

BARRINGTON – Dale Glading, candidate for U.S. Congress in New Jersey’s 1st District, won an overwhelming victory in today’s primary election to determine his party’s nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives.

“I want to thank the thousands of voters who went to the polls today and cast their ballots for me,” said Glading, the Republican nominee. “Now it’s on to November.”

“We are ready to take the fight to the career politicians who have failed to represent the people of South Jersey,” Glading added. “My opponents believe that bigger government and higher taxes are the way to go.”

“I disagree wholeheartedly with their assessment,” Glading continued. “New Jersey’s taxes are too high, and it’s time we had a representative in Congress who understands that.”

For now, Glading faces Camille Andrews, wife of two-time failed statewide candidate Rob Andrews. However, party bosses have planned to disenfranchise Democrats throughout the district by replacing Mrs. Andrews on the ballot with a handpicked choice sometime before September 17.

Glading Asks Democrats for Their Votes on June 3

Democrats should write in
Glading for Congress on June 3;
Glading only candidate
actively campaigning to represent them

BARRINGTON – Dale Glading, candidate for U.S. Congress in New Jersey’s 1st District, is asking Democrats throughout the district to write him in on their ballots for Tuesday’s primary election.

When endorsing Dale Glading for Congress, The Philadelphia Inquirer called the Democrats’ scheme to run Camille Andrews as a placeholder candidate “atrocious.” (“Editorial: N.J. First District Primary,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 23, 2008)

In protest, they encouraged Democrats to “write-in another candidate of their choice” as the “best alternative” to the machine politicians and unqualified candidates on their ballot.

As the only candidate running to represent every constituent in the 1st District, Democrats should write in Dale Glading for Congress on their ballots June 3.

The machine-selected candidate, Camille Andrews, previously told reporters that she is running to “do what's best for the party.” (“Andrews' wife hints at 'placeholder' role,” The Courier-Post, April 9, 2008)

In contrast, Dale Glading is running to do what is best for the people of South Jersey, not the machine politicians. That is why Dale Glading is asking Democrats to write in his name on their ballots on Tuesday, June 3.

Letter to the Editor
by Dale M. Glading, Candidate for U.S. Congress (NJ-1)

Submitted to The Philadelphia Inquirer on May 29, 2008

I write you today because your rationale in endorsing Rep. Rob Andrews for his party’s nomination to the U.S. Senate leaves me puzzled and disappointed.

In your editorial, you referred to Andrews’ qualifications and what you called “a solid record in the House as a thoughtful legislator.” Unfortunately, the facts do not mesh with your characterization.

According to GovTrack.us, Rep. Andrews has introduced 579 bills in Congress since January 5, 1993. Of those 579 bills, only six have even made it out of committee, a percentage that GovTrack ranks as “Exceedingly Poor” compared to his congressional peers. Apparently, Mr. Andrews’ colleagues think so little of him and his ideas that they are only willing to debate less than 1% of his bills on the House floor.

Moreover, of those six bills that made it out of committee, Congress enacted only one into law. In baseball terms, that gives Rep. Andrews a career batting average in Congress of .002. He has utterly failed the people of this district by his inability to navigate the legislative system.

The second reason you gave for endorsing Rep. Andrews is that, in your opinion, he would bring “a fresh approach to the challenges facing New Jersey.” While younger than Sen. Lautenberg, Andrews remains a man who has been a Washington insider since 1989. As a career politician, Rep. Andrews is part of the problem, not the solution.

It is no wonder that in the Power Rankings recently compiled for the House of Representatives by Congress.org, Rep. Andrews fell 130 positions from 68th to 198th in 2008. In fact, scores of legislators with far less seniority leapfrogged over Mr. Andrews, who ranked the fifth lowest from the Class of 1990.

According to that source, Andrews’ legislative record earned him a score of 3 out of 100. As for his influence in Congress amongst his peers, Mr. Andrews received the lowest possible score: zero.

Perhaps Rep. Andrews’ lack of power and influence in Congress is the reason why New Jersey only receives 61 cents back for every dollar in taxes that we send to Washington. That paltry figure ranks us dead last among the 50 states.

Your readers should know that the criteria used in your endorsement are faulty and, therefore, the endorsement is misleading at best.

Glading Launches Television Ad Campaign

Congressional candidate reaches milestone;
First candidate to begin advertising on TV
in 1st District race

BARRINGTON – Dale Glading, candidate for U.S. Congress in New Jersey’s 1st District, announced today the launch of a television advertising campaign.

The Glading campaign is the first to go on television in the 1st District race, reaching a critical milestone and demonstrating the extremely competitive nature of this year’s contest. On May 23, The Philadelphia Inquirer declared Glading the “most viable candidate in years.”

“We are sending a message loud and clear to the people of New Jersey’s 1st District: this year, you have a real choice,” said Tim Saler, Dale Glading’s campaign manager. “For more than three decades, the 1st District has been dominated by a political machine that prides itself on backroom politics and dirty deals. Finally, we have in Dale Glading a candidate who is standing up for the people of South Jersey and taking the fight to the career politicians who have led us down the wrong path.”

The advertising campaign will run from Wednesday, May 28, through Election Day, June 3. The buy covers 94 percent of the district. The Glading campaign will air two 30-second spots, entitled “Taxes” and “Competition.” The ads are currently available on the official campaign website at www.DaleGlading.com.

Glading Honors American Veterans on Memorial Day

Congressional candidate gives thanks for brave
men and women who sacrificed for America’s freedoms

BARRINGTON – Dale Glading, candidate for U.S. Congress in New Jersey’s 1st District, honored American veterans this Memorial Day.

“We owe our veterans an enormous debt of gratitude for their service to this country,” Glading said. “We should never forget those who have given their lives so that we may continue to live freely. It is through their sacrifice that we remain ‘a city upon a hill’; a model of respect for human dignity and civil rights the whole world over.”

Glading commemorated the solemn holiday by attending memorial services in both Barrington and Haddonfield.

In the 1st congressional district, Democrat Camille Andrews, who’s holding the ballot spot her incumbent husband Rep. Rob Andrews vacated to run for Senate, has raised a little under $30,000.

Andrews has said that she will run a real campaign but will step aside if party leaders want to give the ballot spot to someone else. Insiders say that Andrews will indeed be replaced. Two names that currently surface as prospective replacements are Assemblyman John J. Burzichelli and Assembly Majority Executive Director Bill Castner.

Last month, state Senate Majority Leader Stephen Sweeney downplayed his congressional aspirations to PolitickerNJ.com, and sources say that Assemblyman Lou Greenwald, previously considered a leading contender for the seat, is not interested.

Andrews has raised $29,455 so far and has $20,430 on hand.