Tom Roughneen

There are five short weeks to go before the registered Republicans of New Jersey's 7th Congressional District will cast their votes in the primary race. Up until now, at every opportunity to gather, the candidates repeat the same canned speeches and tell us about all the money they have raised. Well I am not of the opinion that successful fundraising is a fair measure of a candidate.

Media coverage has been limited to a few short comments about each candidate and even fewer direct quotes from the candidates themselves. This is an election to the U.S. House of Representatives. Access to candidates should not be limited to websites and stump speeches. Shouldn't we have an opportunity to ask a few direct questions? What do these candidates know about local concerns and national issues? How are we to decide between the remaining six candidates?

It has been two weeks since the Somerset County Republican Convention. It was frustrating night, and with a son deploying to Iraq in early May, it all seems very petty. What about the issues? Today, two of the frontrunners are on TV, criticizing each other about fundraising. Do they know how expensive it is to live in NJ?

I must tell you that my first impression of the night of the convention was that the blind support for the other candidates did not give the others a chance to even be heard. It appeared that voters knew what they were going to do and that explains why it took so long for me to write again. The regular, working people don't seem to be voting for the issues as they should be. Even today, voters complain about taxes, but they allowed expensive school budgets to pass yesterday and every year. It is the same with candidates. People complain, nothing changes. And then they vote for the most familiar name.

In determining who among the crowded field of seventh district Republican congressional candidates is the frontrunner, the question may be what counts more: money or county lines.

From the moment state Sen. Leonard Lance entered the race, the conventional wisdom has been that he leads the pack. And, without so much as acknowledging that he is the frontrunner, Lance has done much to reinforce that status, winning the party line in his native Hunterdon County, along with Somerset County.

The combination of those two counties accounts for about 70% of the district’s Republican primary vote, and Lance’s win in Somerset is particularly compelling because it’s home turf for his chief rival, Kate Whitman, along with several other lower-profile candidates.

Whitman has managed to win the line in Middlesex County – which comprises the smallest portion of the district and an even smaller portion of its Republican primary vote.

Senate Minority Leader Ton Kean, Jr. (R-Union), and Sen. Leonard Lance (R-Hunterdon).

State Sen. Leonard Lance won the Somerset County Republican convention tonight, an important victory in his quest for the Republican nomination to succeed Rep. Mike Ferguson in the seventh congressional district.

Lance beat Whitman nearly 2-1, winning 136 votes to her 74 in the second round of balloting.

Hundreds of Somerset Republican County Committee members packed the Elks Lodge in Bridgewater tonight to participate in the event, where they also voted on Senate and freeholder candidates. But the seventh district congressional race was the real contest of the night.

“There were six candidates from Somerset County and I was able to prevail,” said Lance. “I think it shows that the Republican Party in Somerset County recognizes that I will be the agent of change in Washington.”

I have heard it said that God’s greatest blessing is a mother’s love. That said, I will try to be objective in describing my son and his quest to be elected to Congress representing New Jersey’s 7th district.

Congressional candidate Kate Whitman won the organization line in Middlesex CountyKate Whitman won the endorsement of the Middlesex County Republican Party at its convention in Woodbridge this morning.

After some confusion that required a re-vote, Whitman won the first round of balloting, earning the 50% plus one requirement with 48 out of 85 votes cast. Former Summit Councilwoman P. Kelly Hatfield was the runner up, with 17 votes. State Sen. Leonard Lance came in next with 14 votes, followed by Scotch Plains Mayor Marty Marks with five votes and Iraq war vet Tom Roughneen with one.

That gives Whitman the line in this county, which between the three towns of Edison, South Plainfield and Woodbridge makes up the smallest portion of the four-county district.

But despite the county’s size, supporters said that it would give Whitman crucial momentum going into the Somerset County convention next Thursday – the last of the four counties left to award its endorsement.

Tom RoughneenIt’s not uncommon for a unsuccessful congressional candidates to find future electoral success. Thomas Kean, Sr. lost a GOP House primary in 1974 and became Governor seven years later; his son, State Senate Minority Leader Thomas Kean, Jr., lost a 2000 congressional primary and won an Assembly seat a year later.

So here’s a prediction: keep an eye on Thomas Roughnen, the young former prosecutor and Iraq war veteran who is seeking the GOP nomination for Congress in the seventh district. Republican leaders who watch him on the campaign trail say they are impressed; they say he’s smart, well-spoken and charismatic.

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.

Joe Pennacchio won the Hunterdon GOP line by 7 votesState Sen. Joseph Pennacchio defeated businesswoman Anne Evans Estabrook to win the endorsement of the Hunterdon County Republican organization tonight. Pennacchio won 42-35, with Ramapo College Professor Murray Sabrin finishing third with 12 votes.

"I am proud to have the support of Hunterdon County's Republicans," Pennacchio said in a statement. "I know
that they stand with me on the most important issues facing New Jersey and
the nation."