Chris Myers

Mt. Laurel, NJ – Democratic congressional candidate John Adler today called on the White House and Congress to take immediate steps to protect and replenish the vanishing nest eggs of millions of Americans. Adler's initiative would extend to 75 the age at which Americans are forced to withdraw and pay taxes on their 401-K plans - the money they count on to carry them through retirement but which is rapidly evaporating because of the failed Bush economy.

In a TV showdown to succeed U.S. Rep. Jim Saxton (R-Burlington) in the 3rd District, state Sen. John Adler (D-Camden) and Republican Mayor Chris Myers of Medford appeared this past weekend on NJN’s On the Record in a debate moderated by Jim Hooker.

They promptly went at it in the half hour-long forum, pointedly calling each other “sir” rather than loosening up on a first name basis - Myers continually trying to depict Adler as a tax-hiking creature of Trenton, and Adler countering with his own “W”branding of Myers.

Running neck-in-neck with the Democrat in most polls in a classically Republican district, the Myers campaign rejoiced over news headlines that started rolling in late last month about an apparent slush fund that state lawmakers, including Adler, regularly accessed during the course of the Codey administration.

Myers specifically criticized his rival over an earmark the senator sent to Cherry Hill, where Adler’s wife serves as a local elected official.

The senator conceded that many legislative districts received earmarks, but pointed out that in his case they were for items like police scanners, anti-AIDS initiatives, and, yes, a bathroom overhaul in Cherry Hill.

A poll released today by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) shows state Sen. John Adler (D-Camden) leading Medford Mayor Chris Myers by four points in their race to represent the 3rd Congressional District.

According to the DCCC, the Grove Insight survey of 400 likely voters was conducted on October 2-3 and shows Adler leading his Republican rival, 38 percent to 34 percent, with 29 percent undecided. The poll has a 4.9 percent margin of error.

"This poll demonstrates that the more voters know about Chris Myers' record of raising property taxes the less they like him," said DCCC regional press secretary Carrie James. "John Adler embodies the strong middle class values of South Jersey, and that's why his message is clearly resonating with voters."

State Sen. John Adler raised about $550,000 for his 3rd District congressional race last quarter, according to a press release issued by his campaign.

That brings Adler’s total raised so far to $2.4 million, and he has $1.2 million on hand (early in the summer, Adler had $1.4 million on hand).

In the release, the Adler campaign tried to rub in their fundraising advantage in to Myers, noting that in September they received $9,000 from residents of Medford, where Myers is the mayor.

"The people who know Chris Myers best, the residents of Medford, are clearly fed up with Mayor Myers' tax-and-spend policies and are showing their displeasure by contributing their hard-earned money to John Adler,” said Adler Campaign Manager Mark Warren.

Third District Republican congressional candidate Chris Myers raised $369,224 last quarter and has $287,832 on hand, according to Campaign Manager Chris Russell.

That sum does not account for the likely large cash infusion that came from President George W. Bush’s visit to New Jersey last month to raise money for him and fellow Republican House candidate Leonard Lance. Although the fundraiser took place last quarter, the campaign did not receive its share of the proceeds until after September 30th.

Myers' total raised so far is just shy of the million dollar mark, at $995,773 – much of which he had to spend in his contentious primary against Ocean County Freeholder Jack Kelly.

Democratic rival John Adler’s campaign has not released their fundraising totals yet, but as of last quarter he had the largest war chest of any open seat challenger in the country, with $1.46 million on hand.

Adler Should Disclose Law Firm's

Contracts with Slush Fund Recipients

Myers said taxpayers deserve to know every conceivable connection that Adler, his family and friends have to slush fund dollars

Former Massachusetts governor and presidential candidate Mitt Romney will hold a press conference with 3rd District Republican Congressional candidate Chris Myers tomorrow night.

The event will take place in downtown Medford at 5:30p.m., where Myers is the mayor. 
Romney is also holding a fundraiser for 7th District Congressional candidate Leonard Lance tomorrow.

Adler Refuses to Release Ethics Committee
Response During NJN “On the Record” Segment

Myers publicly challenges Adler during on-air debate, Adler does not respond

Trying to get disentangled from a corruption trial narrative that has put Democrats on the run these last two weeks, state Sen. John Adler (D-Camden) trained his sights on the Republican-engineered Burlington County Bridge Commission scandal, and urged his GOP rival in the 3rd District Congressional race to demand a return of $2.7 million in taxpayer dollars pilfered during that more local example of government gone bad.

“When it comes to rooting out corruption in Burlington County, (Medford Mayor) Chris Myers is nowhere to be found," said Mark Warren, Adler's campaign manager. "His silence is deafening."

The Adler campaign charged that Myers has kept his mouth shut on the issue despite the conviction of a lobbyist who was found guilty of over-billing the commission by $2.7 million. The convicted lobbyist, Robert Stears, headed a Trenton lobbying firm in which Tom Wilson, chair of the state Republican Party, was also a partner.

Adler Should Make Public His 2006 Response to
Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards

Myers wonders whether response is consistent with what Adler has now admitted