Keith Davis

Atlantic County Republican Chairman Keith Davis today filed a complaint against Sheriff Jim McGettigan at the Egg Harbor Township Municipal Court, charging that McGettigan accepted wheeled-in money from the Atlantic County Democratic Committee last year after the county passed an ordinance banning wheeling.

Davis said that, since McGettigan accepted $11,552 from the county party after it had taken over-the-limit donations from two labor groups after the ordinance’s November 2, 2007 effective date, McGettigan should have been barred from accepting any money from his own party.

“We had the toughest pay to play and anti-wheeling ordinance in the state of New Jersey,” Davis told PolitickerNJ.com while on his way to a press conference announcing the complaint. “It was adopted unanimously and in a bipartisan manner.”

McGettigan characterized the charge as desperate and pathetic. First of all, he said, the accusation is baseless – that the county law only applied to those who have the authority to make contacts. He can only approve contracts with the co-signatures of the county executive and county counsel. Moreover, he said, the Democrats plan to challenge the validity of the law, which was passed by a freeholder board that the Democrats narrowly controlled.

“This so-called legislation that was passed in Atlantic County will be challenged in court. We will prevail,” said McGettigan.

“Collecting two taxpayer-supported incomes while serving in public office --- as my opponent has been doing for several years --- is simply not acceptable.”

“McGettigan wanted to tack $106,650 to his $61,200 pension income for a taxpayer supported salary of $167, 850. His principal goal as Sheriff is clearly to boost his personal income to the highest level he can and bill the taxpayers for it.”

Atlantic County Republican Chairman Keith Davis today challenged Gov. Corzine to skip a fundraiser for Sheriff Jim McGettigan and the county freeholder candidates scheduled for Monday.

Since Corzine last week outlined a series of sweeping ethics reforms, Davis said it would make sense for him to stay away from Atlantic County.

“By withdrawing from the event, the Governor can make an unequivocal statement that he is committed to ending pay to play and the practice of wheeling campaign contributions and that he will refuse to lend his presence, the prestige of his office, or his assistance to those who violate existing financing laws,” said Davis in a press release.

MINNEAPOLIS - Atlantic County Republican Chairman Keith Davis today declared his support for GOP Minority Leader Alex DeCroce, who officially announced today that he plans to run again.

"It goes without saying that Alex is a strong leader who has created a brand identity for our party," said Davis. "He’s established a cohesiveness with (Senate Minority Leader) Kean in order to make inroads for our party.

"Now is not the time to be switching horses," he added of a possible challenge to DeCroce by Assembly Conference Leader Pete Biondi (R-Somerville). "I’m sorry, I don’t know Pete Biondi. I don’t recall him being very vocal during the budget crisis."

“I am delighted at our party nationally taking a strong stand against the abuse of the electoral system and urging efforts by state and local officials to root it out, eliminate it and take steps to assure it is not repeated.”

“Crafting legislation singling out one municipality for state control over land development is not only poor public policy but a case of selective ethics as well.”

State Sen. Kevin O'Toole (R-Essex): Politicker Photo

Republicans on Wednesday night at the Princeton Hyatt unanimously elected Essex County Republican Chairman Sen. Kevin O'Toole (R-Essex) as leader of the GOP county chair people.

The chairs also unanimously elected Warren County Chair Doug Steinhardt as vice chair; Atlantic Chairman Keith Davis as treasurer, and Camden Chair Rick DeMichele as secretary.

"Kevin brings an interesting perspective," said outgoing Chairman George Gilmore, the Ocean County GOP chairman. "He serves in the Legislature and the Senate, and is in a unique position to build the party with the State Committee.

"Bergen's going to be a key county to look at," Gilmore added. "It used to be Republican. It's a county we need to work, to improve the party in this election and beyond, but there are a lot of opportunities across the state."

State Sen. Kevin O'Toole reportedly has the votes to become the new Chairman of the GOP County Chairmen

Update: O'Toole, Davis and Steinhardt have reached an agreement, largely brokered by Gilmore. Davis and Steinhardt will support O'Toole for the chairmanship. Steinhardt will likely become vice-chair, while Davis will be treasurer of the group.

Ocean County Republican Chairman George Gilmore, who announced yesterday that he would not seek another term as the chair of Republican chairmen, today supported Essex County Republican Chairman/state Sen. Kevin O'Toole (R-Cedar Grove) for the post.

Gilmore said that O'Toole has the support of enough of the state's 21 county chairs to easily ascend to the position.

"Kevin absolutely has the votes," said Gilmore. "One of the things I wanted to see was that it was a smooth transition."

Gilmore's support and vote count makes O'Toole the obvious favorite, but it's possible that he won't go unchallenged. Gilmore's decision not to run took many county chairs by surprise, and a short list of four names quickly emerged: O'Toole, Somerset County Chairman Dale Florio, Warren County Chairman Doug Steinhardt and Atlantic County Chairman Keith Davis.

State Sen. Bill Baroni will chair the New Jersey Delegation to the 2008 Republican National Convention in Minneapolis
Republicans tonight elected State Sen. Bill Baroni to serve as Chairman of the New Jersey Delegation to the Republican National Convention. Baroni is the Chairman of John McCain’s New Jersey campaign. Atlantic County GOP Chairman Keith Davis and Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose were named to the Platform Committee.