Republican State Assembly candidate Lee Lucas told neighbors "if you want to act like niggers, go back to Paulsboro," according to a 2006 Greenwich Township police report detailing a neighbor dispute.
"Yeah, I said that," a police officer says Lucas told him. "It's my freedom of speech. I can say what I want while I'm on my property."
Newly-elected Gloucester County GOP Chairman Bill Fey and Assembly Majority Leader Alex DeCroce (R-Parsippany) have called on Lucas to drop out of the race amidst other allegations of racially insensitive remarks. Don't expect Lucas to leave the race anytime soon.
Sources say that Lucas was not invited to attend an event in Gloucester County on Monday that will feature GOP gubernatorial candidate Christopher Christie and Republican National Chairman Michael Steele. Steele, who is African American, will likely be asked if he supports Lucas, the winner of the June 2 Republican primary.
Police were called when Lucas was shouting at three neighbors he accused of cutting down a tree at his Gibbstown home.
"He came at me like a crazy man, stating something to the following ‘get the hell off my fence. I'm trying to provoke you. Get over here and hit me," neighbor Kyle Still told police. Still and another neighbor, Mark Salvatore, said they cut down branches from a tree at their homes that had been damaged in a storm. One of the branches may have feel on Lucas' property.
According to the report, Lucas "was reminded to act in a mannerly fashion. Mr. Lucas said they called him "googly eyes" and threatened to beat him up. Kyle admitted that they called him" googly eyes" but did not threaten him in any way, and that Mr. Lucas was the aggressor."
Lucas beat former Cumberland County Surrogate Arthur Marchand by 68 votes in GOP primary. He is running with Dr. Robert Villare in the politically competitive third district against incumbents John Burzichelli (D-Paulsboro) and Celeste Riley (D-Bridgeton).
Some of the blame goes to an establishment Republican, longtime GOP State Committeeman Ernest Tark of Salem County. Tark, who said he had no instructions from state Republicans, was the one who stopped Salem County Republicans from giving Marchand the organization line. Instead, only Villare had organizational support in Salem. Villare won 1,881 votes in Salem, followed by 1,525 for Lucas, 661 for Marchand, and 543 from Greenwich Township Mayor George Shivery. Marchand and Shivery had run as a team.
Republicans had touted District 3 as a place they could win Assembly seats this year. Now DeCroce is saying he won't put any financial resources into the race.
Garden State Equality fires new broadside at Dems Smarting over the state Senate's refusal to pass marriage equality and disillusioned at the moment with the Democratic Party majority, Garden State Equality’s 85-member Board of Directors unanimously decided against giving financial contributions to political parties and their affiliated committees. ...
“We will work harder and smarter to protect consumers, to preserve civil rights, to effectively regulate the alcoholic beverage industry, to ensure that the integrity of New Jersey’s casino gaming industry continues, to keep drives, passengers and pedestrians safe on our streets, to assist victims of crimes, and to remember always the importance of juvenile justice on issues affecting the state." -- Attorney General-designate Paula Dow, at her Senate confirmation hearing.
- PolitickerNJ.com, 02/08/10Press releases are submitted by PolitickerNJ users, not by staff. They do not represent the viewpoint of PolitickerNJ.com.
Wow oh Wow
Chris Christe better hope there's no picture of him shaking hands with this idiot!
Lucas is slime
There's no room for racists in the Republican Party. Get out already!
Oh my....
The NJ republican voters have spoken again; Lee Lucas and cc.... both won their respective republican primary.
Huge Misunderstanding ?
He wanted to say acting like a bunch of uighrs from China
Couldn't Lucas Think of Anything else to Say?
I commend Chairmen Fey and Minority Leader DeCroce for their strong stance against Lucas. Yes, the first amendment gives Lucas the right to say what he wants - for the most part. I also have a right and a choice for whom I associate with and support in the electorial process. I choose not to support candidates who show poor judgement in the face of adversity, or can only resort to racial slurs when under pressure. Therefore Lucas would not be a candidate that I would support. As an African American Republican, it is hard enough trying to get people of color to listen to why I believe in the GOP principles of governing without this kind of garbage to constantly explain away. But I keep trying. The problem for the GOP is more basic in nature. To be sure, idiotic remarks such as those made by Lucas are dispicable, but the perception of the party's exposure would be less if there was more evidence of a sincere effort by the state party to embrace the "big tent" mantra that it proports to want. Talk is cheap. We must not let the GOP be branded in total, by the actions of a few.
Resign NOW!
If this guy doesn't leave and quick Al Sharpton, Jesse and Reggie Jackson will be on his tail and how! Remember Don Imus, Bob Grant and the hits keep on coming! This will be a national story once Mike Steele comes here next week!
Why in God's name
would Politicker deploy resources to other states when there is such entertaining stuff to cover right here in New Jersey!
Many Thanks
to Ernest Tark, Loran Oglesby, all the Looneganites and the Salem County corn dogs for this mess. Oh yes if the former Salem County chairman Paul Reed knew how to run a meeting like a real chairman this wouldn't have happened.What a disgrace. Get this guy out now.
this is truly commical ...
"Now DeCroce is saying he won't put any financial resources into the race." As if DeCroce has any money to put into any race.
N word should not have been spelled out
This is an INSULT to use that word and a racial discrimination complaint will be filed with the National NAACP. This is the kind of thing the President needs to see. We have a serious problem and it stems from both parties. There will be accountability for this one including POLITICSNJ allowing this entire word to be used versus just the N word
Welcometothejungle
Im not sure that you have a case. No one on this cite endorsed the use of the word. It was a direct quote. I am truly disgusted with this yahoo and anyone that would support such a man, but attacking the cite seems a little much. If by President you mean Obama...in case you missed it Obama earned his nickname no drama Obama for a reason. A case against a webpage spelling out the N-word, is precisely the type of thing Obama tends to find frivolous and a waste of time. You have a point that the same sentiment and effect would have been conveyed had the cite not spelled it out, but the use of it didnt harm anyone, was not directed at anyone, was simply used as a direct quote to show the true colors of this candidate.
Highly offensive word understand the history behind
Sjblue, no one ever said they endorsed anything but you. You claim it is a direct quote, it is highly offensive especially in it’s entirety. This is a tactic used to divide the African Americans and bring them to the democratic side of voting, little do they know that they are being used by the same Dixiecrat Democrats that have teamed up with the Pushed aside Scorned Republican group that wants to destroy a new party from emerging. Obama is aware of this and yes he is about no drama. He knows NJ Politics Well. He had to deal with Hillary and the same old Dixiecrat Democrats and Right wing racist republicans. In the end, whose your Daddy now.
Im not sure what you are even saying
Really You are not making much sense. Im not saying its a direct quote. The police report did. I also dont think that this is a tactic to get African Americans to vote democratic. The vast majority of African Americans who turned out to vote in the 04 and 08 (and prior) presidential elections have voted democratic. African Americans have, prior to this article, rejected the GOP (of course not all-I frankly find defining voting groups by race rather than income to be a bit odd). For what it is worth, voting records indicate, that the majority of African Americans vote democratic. Your talk of a third party is confusing...as far as who my "daddy" is, I would just remind you that I have only spoken to you in a respectful manor, I only challenged your point not you. Thats ok, Im not competeing with you I only tried to find out what it was that you were talking about and present another view point.
Mistreatment of African Americans in New Jersey
There is a split in the Republican Party. This guy Lucus sounds like he is there to create a stir in the African American Vote. He is a perfect tool for the Democrats to use and he may be hired to do just that. Corzine needs the black vote and not all black people go Democrat. Racial Profiling and injustice in this state has been consistent and there has been nothing done. Corruption has no color. It is just wrong.
So the Democrats must court Barack Obama, to prove that their party does indeed offer higher opportunities for their black supporters. Otherwise, black Americans will realize that the government handouts the Democrats sponsor keep them on a virtual plantation–poor, dependent and with limited prospects. When this becomes clear, black voters may realize they have a choice–and exercise their right to choose a different and more rewarding future.
Its been a slow summer weekend
But mark my words if the Republican Party hasn't done SOMETHING by Monday to distance themselves from this guy this will be national news.
endorsement
I understand that newly elected YR president Audra Shay will be coming north to campaign for Lucas.
All time losers list?
Alex, Duffy, Wright are long term losers and are happy to stay that way as long as they control there greedy little piece of the universe.
God forbid that anyone might win and upset the control of the losers universe
I can't wait...
...to see how he does in Paulsboro.