Joe Pennacchio

Zimmer Shows No Morals and Pennacchio Shows His True Colors

For the first time, the full field of three Republican Senate candidates met tonight to debate.

The forum, held at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Madison campus, was moderated by Star-Ledger conservative columnist Paul Mulshine. Candidates Joe Pennacchio, Murray Sabrin and Dick Zimmer spent their time addressing the issues and laying out some stark differences in policy– for the most part, anyway.

A question from former Bergen County Freeholder candidate Deirdre Woodbyrne did spark a heated argument between the two longer standing candidates, Joe Pennacchio and Murray Sabrin.

Woodbyrne asked whether the candidates would pledge to stop making personal attacks on fellow Republicans. Sabrin responded that he would continue to campaign against what he saw as failed party leadership in Trenton.

Pennacchio said that he had issued his own similar clean campaign pledge months ago and kept to it.

“We made it public and we encouraged all candidates to sign that pledge,” he said. “Today none have. And it’s funny, because I was the proud recipient of some of Murray’s promises: distortions, name-calling, because he believes in practicing politics instead of delivering a principled message.”

Pennacchio: Solar energy is another piece of the plan

Pennacchio applauds MIT researchers.

State Senator Pennacchio calls for a reduction of ethanol requirements to relieve tension in the food commodity markets.

Pennacchio: We must bring stability to commodity markets.

A Mercer County Superior Court Judge has dismissed Joe Pennacchio’s complaint against former Senate candidate Andy Unanue that could have ended Dick Zimmer's fledgling Senate candidacy.

Pennacchio campaign manager Dan Gallic confirmed that the challenge was tossed out.

“I didn’t read the opinion. All I know is it was dismissed,” he said.

The Pennacchio campaign filed suit on the grounds that Unanue didn’t file to run as a Senate candidates “in good faith,” and said that he signed a form indicating that he was a resident of New Jersey when he actually lived in New York City.

Coming late to the U.S. Senate race, political veteran Dick Zimmer formally kicked off his candidacy at the state house today.

"Welcome to day six of the Zimmer for Congress campaign," he said.  

The announcement came on the tail of a stinging loss for Zimmer in his native Hunterdon County. Local Republicans there held a re-do vote last night to consider switching the party’s preference from rival Joe Pennacchio – who they had awarded the county line to in February – to Zimmer.

The U.S. Senate campaign of Republican Dick Zimmer has been engaging in “thuggery,” the campaign of Republican rival Joe Pennacchio said Thursday.

According to the Pennacchio side, when the campaign challenged the petitions turned in by former Republican candidate Andy Unanue last week, Dick Zimmer counsel Mark Sheridan accused Penniacchio campaign manager Mike Gallic of improperly practicing law without a license. Even after Gallic substituted the name of a registered lawyer on the complaint earlier this week, the Pennacchio aide says, Sheridan sent a letter through the Morris County Court detailing the charges against Galic – which, it just so happens, are punishable with jail time.

Pennacchio continues his call to achieve energy independence

Pennacchio looks at tar sands and coal gasification

Florham Park, NJ (April 17, 2008) – US Senate candidate and State Senator “Jersey Joe” Pennacchio continued with his call to achieve energy independence today.

Zimmer’s campaign delivers threats to Pennacchio staffer

Pennacchio campaign manager says we will not give in to thuggery

Florham Park, NJ (April 17, 2008) – On Monday, Pennacchio's top campaign staffer was threatened by comments attributed to Dick Zimmer's counsel Mark Sheridan.

Dick Zimmer’s campaign for the United States Senate suffered a setback last night when he lost a bid for the organization line in his home county.  Hunterdon County Republicans voted 34-40 to keep Joe Pennacchio as their endorsed candidate, rather than switch to Zimmer, who represented Hunterdon as an Assemblyman, State Senator and Congressman from 1981 to 1996.  Some insiders suggest that Zimmer’s defeat last night was more of a problem for longtime GOP County Chairman Henry Kuhl, who is expected to face a challenge for re-election in June against Mark Peck, the Mayor of Bloomsbury.