Martin Marks

Marks Calls for Stronger Laws to Curb Illegal Immigration

WOODBRIDGE - They agree on low taxes and strong defense, but one distinguishing issue for Republicans in the 7th district congressional primary is the environment.

State Sen. Leonard Lance (R-Hunterdon) explains that “conservative” and “conservation” have the same derivation, and does not favor drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR)

Kate Whitman says Linda Stender has voted to raise taxes 94 timesWOODBRIDGE – The Republican congressional candidates vying to succeed Rep. Mike Ferguson last night mostly found common ground by calling for President George W. Bush’s tax cuts to be made permanent, and depicting likely Democratic nominee Assemblywoman Linda Stender as a big government liberal.

A forum sponsored by the Woodbridge Township Republican Organization and held at the Forge, featured Kate Whitman, State Sen. Leonard Lance (R-Hunterdon), Warren Township Mayor Victor Sordillo, Scotch Plains Mayor Martin Marks, former Summit Council President Kelly Hatfield, Bridgewater Town Councilman Michael Hsing, Iraq War veteran/ex-Prosecutor Thomas Roughneen, and Seton Hall University business professor A.D. Amar. Of the announced candidates, only former Hillsborough Deputy Mayor Chris Venis was absent.

In the crowded field of Republican primary candidates in the seventh congressional district, one fundraising firm is working for two contenders.

TurnKey Productions is raising money for two of the top GOP candidates to replace Mike Fergsuon. In one corner is T. Robin Visconi, who’s working for State Sen. Leonard Lance. Her partner at TurnKey, Maria Chappa, is signed on with Kate Whitman.

“There’s a firewall between them. Obviously they’re not talking about the campaigns with one another,” said Whitman campaign manager Anthony Attanassio.

But that’s not all. Lance and another candidate, P. Kelly Hatfield, share the same treasurer – Ron Gravino.

Marks to Congress: Veterans Are A Priority
VA Funding Must Be Restored

Heading off the critique that she's a dynastic candidate, Kate Whitman, daughter of former Gov. Christie Whitman, clarifies to the Union County delegates that she's "asking" for their votes in the 7th District.

Coming off a victory in his home county on Monday, State Sen. Leonard Lance (R-Hunterdon) rejoiced in a third place finish in Union County on Saturday.

Assemblyman Jon Bramnick, Assemblyman Eric Munoz, Sen. Thomas Kean, and U.S. Rep. Mike Ferguson soak in one of the speeches.

WESTFIELD - The word going into that first round of voting at the Union County Republican Convention on Saturday was that former Summit Councilwoman Kelly Hatfield and Scotch Plains Mayor Martin Marks would require a second showdown.

"This is going to a runoff between the top two candidates," said John DeSimone, commissioner for the county Board of Elections as he waded into the crowd of delegates. And that’s exactly how it went down at Westfield High School, where Hatfield eventually prevailed over Marks with 60% of the vote in the Union County GOP’s pre-primary battle for the line in the 7th District Congressional race.

Hatfield savors a Union County victory in Westfield on Saturday. 

WESTFIELD - Former Summit Councilwoman Kelly Hatfield vanquished Scotch Plains Mayor Martin Marks here today in a second ballot face-off after the pair of Union County Republicans dusted the rest of the eight-person field vying to be the Republican nominee for the 7th Congressional District.

"Union County people know me," said Dr. Hatfield, a microbiologist. "They know that I'll work hard to advocate for them."

The Union County Republican Committee awarded the victory to Hatfield with 196 votes. Marks received 134 votes. State Sen. Leonard Lance finished third with 65 votes.