Jack Kelly

(TOMS RIVER, April 21) – Third District Republican candidate for Congress – Freeholder Jack Kelly – today said that Chris Myers has launched his direct mail campaign in a “decidedly less than candid and honorable way,” most notably by misrepresenting his record on government spending and staffing.

Expect Christopher Myers’ $500 personal check to Frank Lautenberg’s 2008 re-election campaign to become an issue in the Republican primary for Congress in the third district.  Myers wrote the check last year, before Jim Saxton announced that he was retiring – presumably in his capacity as a Lockheed-Martin Vice President.  But what was Myers thinking? Even last year, he was a Republican elected official (the Deputy Mayor of Medford) and had to know this contribution would be used against him in the future.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg received a $500 contribution from GOP House candidate Chris Myers: Getty Images Photo
Third district Republican congressional candidate Jack Kelly took Republican rival Chris Myer to task today for donating money to Democratic Sen. Frank Lautenberg.

According to campaign finance reports, Myers, the mayor of Medford and an executive at defense contractor Lockheed-Martin, donated $500 to Lautenberg in January, 2007.

As someone who has dedicated their life to the Republican Party and public service, it baffles me how ‘a conservative Republican’ and ‘Washington outsider’ could personally contribute to the liberal ‘Washington insider Frank Lautenberg,’” said Kelly in a press release. “It is clear that I am the candidate in this race who truly believes in the principles of the Republican Party of Ronald Reagan, not the Democrat Party of Hillary Clinton.”

(TOMS RIVER, April 14) – In response to learning of a financial contribution that his “Republican” primary opponent, Chris Myers, made to liberal Democrat Senator Frank Lautenberg – Third District Republican candidate for Congress, Freeholder Jack Kelly – offered the following:

The moment Medford Mayor Chris Myers stepped into the third district congressional primary, most insiders picked himas the favorite Republican to continue retiring Rep. Jim Saxton’s legacy.

Even after Ocean County Freeholder Jack Kelly entered the GOP race with the support of his large Republican county’s powerful organization support , Myers managed to maintain the mantle of frontrunner, winning the coveted line in his native Burlington County, along with neighboring Camden County -- which only has one town in the district, albeit a large one: Cherry Hill.

But fundraising totals reported by the Press of Atlantic City on Wednesday suggest a race much closer than initially expected.

According to the report, Myers has raised $334,786.77 and has $288,000 on hand. Meanwhile, Kelly has raised approximately $306,000, and has $281,000 on hand.

Democrats eyeing a pickup opportunity in the 3rd District U.S. House race got some good news this week.

The Rothenberg Political Report, a nonpartisan Washington tip-sheet, has shifted the line in the race to the Democrats’ favor.

“With Ocean County, it might be difficult for (Democrat John) Adler ever to be comfortable, but the national environment continues to favor Democrats, and this seat is one of a long list of GOP headaches,” Rothenberg’s Nathan Gonzalez wrote. “Unless there is a fundamental political shift, this race is Toss-Up/Tilt Democratic.”

A team of unlikely Republican allies surfaced in Ocean and Burlington counties today as the U.S. Senate campaign of Murray Sabrin merged with the 3rd District Congressional candidacy of Justin Murphy of Burlington, and freeholder candidate Suzanne Penna of Ocean.

"We have been organizing for the better part of two days," said Sabrin campaign spokesman George Ajjan, who would not comment on the specifics of the Sabrin-Murphy-Penna alliance or on slates his candidate is pulling together in other districts.

(TOMS RIVER, April 9) – Third District Republican candidate for Congress, Freeholder Jack Kelly, today announced that he has proudly signed the Earmark Reform Pledge (which was put forward by taxpayer watchdog group – Citizens Against Government Waste) and encouraged his opponents to do the same.

While state Sen. John Adler, the unopposed third district Democratic congressional candidate, sits on $1.15 million dollars, his two prospective Republican opponents admit that their fundraising numbers will pale in comparison.

But that’s ok, the Republicans say.

A few weeks ago, Ocean County Freeholder Jack Kelly told PolitickerNJ.com that he had raised approximately $200,000 for his primary bid against Medford Mayor Mayor Chris Myers, who at that point had raised about $275,000. 

Kelly said that he should have his final numbers for the quarter ready by the end of the week.  But he insisted that Adler’s huge cash reserves are not intimidating.    

John Adler’s fundraising numbers are impressive: he’s brought in nearly $1.2 million so far as the Democratic candidate for an open congressional seat that has been held by the Republicans since 1882.  This kind of early fundraising success will help Adler grow his warchest exponentially as he competes in one of the nation’s premier House races – the fight for Jim Saxton’s seat.  Adler is expected to be unopposed in the Democratic primary.