David Von Savage

If there was one bright spot for New Jersey Democrats last night, it was in District 1.

In this southernmost district in the state, incumbents Nelson Albano (D-Vineland) and Matt Milam (D-Vineland) held on against Republicans Michael Donohue and John McCann by a relatively comfortable margin.

The two were thought to be the most vulnerable Democratic incumbents this year, since they represent a traditionally Republican district that is dominated by Cape May County - where Christopher Christie did especially well.  Perhaps considered most damning for their chances was the absence of state Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-Dennis), whose coattails helped get Albano elected in 2005 and Milam in 2007, from the ballot. 

But Van Drew was anything but absent from the campaign.  He played a crucial role in it, folding his two running mates into his independent brand and campaigning as if he were on the ballot himself. 

"Do I feel like I was on the ballot in a way?  Yes, because I have a commitment to them and the people in this district that we'll stand up and continue to do what is right regardless of party politics," he said, adding that the candidates still had to win on their own merits "regardless of how much help they had."

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(CAPE MAY, October 15) – The Cape May County Regular Republican Organization, under the leadership of Chairman David Von Savage, came out in full force yesterday afternoon to welcome Republican Lt. Gov. nominee Kim Guadagno to an endorsement press conference in which all the county’s major GOP elected officials officially endorsed GOP nominees Chris Christie and Kim Guadagno for Governor and Lt. Governor, respectively; the two Assembly candidates, Mike Donohue and John McCann; and the incumbent Freeholder running for reelection, Len Desiderio.

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Cape May County Republican Chairman David Von Savage said today that he does not agree with U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo's (R-Vineland) vote on cap-and-trade, but that conservative political consultant Rick Shaftan is “taking advantage of a highly volatile situation” by helping candidates take up primary challenges against three Republican congressmen who voted for cap-and-trade legislation on Friday.  

“I think Rick Shaftan is reckless," said Von Savage. I understand Rick is a vendor, and therefore looking for willing accomplices to advance his financial endgame.”  

Von Savage, whose county is entirely represented by LoBiondo, said that he does not agree with the his congressman's vote.  Instead, he favors tax incentives for alternative energy development and over  “punitive levels of taxation” to wean the United States off foreign fossil fuels.  

“While there are issues regarding the Congressman’s vote with conservatives in the party, I think it’s irresponsible for Shaftan to be sticking his nose down this way,” he said.  “Respectfully, what he ought to do is consider relocating to the south and utilizing his approach to campaigning south of the Mason-Dixon Line.”

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Former assembly candidate Norris Clark has not completely ruled out running to fill a vacancy in the 1st Legislative District, but he acknowledged facing several serious obstacles to making another go for it.

Citing business obligations, Upper Township Committeeman Frank Conrad dropped out of the race over the weekend, leaving Dennis Township attorney Michael Donohue, who ran with Clark in 2007, as the only remaining candidate in what is expected to be the most competitive district in the state.  Although Clark talked to Cape May County Republican Chairman David Von Savage about running after hearing of the vacancy, Ocean City GOP Chair John McCann had already started rolling up support and important endorsements.  

“I have never stopped considering another run for Assembly, as I am very interested in public service, and I believe the Democrats are taking us in the wrong direction at the state level,” said Clark, who had set up an exploratory committee leading up to the election.

Clark said that there are four factors that tend against him mounting an internal campaign: his own work commitments; the lack of interest shown by Donohue in running with him again; that McCann is already “in sync” with Donohue’s campaign; and that he is interested in running for Cape May County freeholder the next time the all-Republican board has a vacancy.

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The Republican organizations of Cape May, Cumberland and Atlantic Counties each have just over a week to pick a new running mate for assembly candidate Mike Donohue.

The organizations have set a deadline of Friday at 4:30pm to receive letters of intent from interested candidates, and each will vote separately on a candidate before by 4:30pm on Wednesday, July 1.  

It remains to be seen if it will be a contest.  Former candidate Frank Conrad dropped out over the weekend, leading Ocean City Republican Municipal Chairman John McCann to immediately start campaigning to replace him.  McCann wrapped up an endorsement from Donohue and party officials from the district’s towns in Cumberland and Atlantic Counties, but there have been some rumblings of interest from Norris Clark, who ran in 2007.

Despite expressing interest to party leaders in Cape May, Clark has not yet filed any letters of intent or contacted officials from the other two counties.  He could not immediately be reached for comment.

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Cape May County GOP Chairman David Von Savage says that his organization has endorsed Christopher Christie for the Republican nomination for Governor, becoming the seventh county organization to put the former U.S. Attorney on their line. 

"Governor Corzine obviously does not understand that the hardworking taxpayer is asked to reach deeper and more often into his pockets year after year to pay for the mistakes of our leaders in Trenton and Washington," said Von Savage, who is among the most ideologically conservative GOP party chairs.  "Chris Christie gets it and he is on the side of the taxpayer."

Von Savage said that Christie will run on the Cape May County Regular Republican Organization line with first district Assembly candidates Mike Donohue and Frank Conrad, and Freeholder Leonard Desiderio.

"Donohue and Conrad will vote for the reforms in a Christie Administration that are absolutely necessary to roll back the size of government, get it off our backs and out of our wallets," said Von Savage.

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It looks like there will not be a battle for the Republican organization endorsements in the 1st Legislative District.  

Vineland businessman Sam Fiocchi today withdrew his name from the race and endorsed  attorney Michael Donohue and Upper Township Committeeman Frank Conrad, who are both from Cape May County.  Fiocchi will serve as their Cumberland County campaign chairman.

“We are all united behind the Donohue-Conrad ticket,” said Fiocchi.  “I got involved because I believe Cumberland County is critical for our success this year.  Mike and Frank understand that too.  I intend to do everything I can to help them win in Vineland, Millville and Maurice River Township.”

Fiocchi’s withdrawal coincides with the Cape May County Regular Republican Organization’s endorsement of Donohue and Conrad.

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Mainstream Republicans are avoiding holding county conventions to give former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie favorable ballot placement in the primary, according to Rick Shaftan, the chief strategist for Christie rival Steve Lonegan.

"This is exactly why we can't win elections in this state.  They don't want any public involvement at all. It's a country club," said Shaftan.  "So we never expected any kind of fair process from these guys, because they hate conservatives more than they want to beat Democrats."

Shaftan made the comments in response to Camden County Republican Chairman Rick DeMichele's decision to award Christie the organization line without holding a convention where county committee members could vote on the decision.  The Camden GOP did hold a straw poll last month, where Christie won.

"Come on, it was a straw poll.  The guy invites his friends and says it was a straw poll," said Shaftan.

Monmouth County Republican Chairman Joe Oxley last week awarded Christie the line without holding a convention where county committee members could vote, arguing that the party had in recent months failed to reach quorums at its meetings. 

Oxley's endorsement came only after current and former GOP officials had a chance to meet with the leading candidates for Governor.  The Christie campaign has released endorsements from most Monmouth GOP officials. Read More >

Vineland businessman Sam Fiocchi said today will seek the Republican nomination for State Assembly in the first district, which is expected to be one of the most competitive legislative races of the year.

"It's just the state of affairs in New Jersey. I've been a small businessman," said Fiocchi, a Vineland resident who heads up a family run irrigation company.  "It's difficult to operate in this business environment, and I'm a Republican. I always felt if you want to make change, you have to step up and do something about it."

Three Republicans have submitted letters of intent to party leaders of the three counties that make up the southernmost legislative district in New Jersey.  They'll compete for two spots on the county lines to take on incumbent Democrats Nelson Albano (D-Vineland) and Matt Milam (D-Vineland).

The district is politically competitive, and both parties view Albano and Milam as vulnerable, especially without the benefit of State Sen. Jefferson Van Drew (D-Dennis) at the top of the ticket.

Michael Donohue, an attorney from Cape May County who came close to winning an assembly seat in 2007, is running and is expected to have no problem securing the party nod.  The real competition will likely be between Fiocchi and Upper Township Committeeman Frank Conrad.

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