WEBBER FOR ASSEMBLY

WEBBER FOR ASSEMBLY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 30, 2007                         CONTACT:  (908) 267-1613 

 IN CASE YOU MISSED IT . . .  

 DAILY RECORD ENDORSES WEBBER!  

 “Webber in the 26th, GOP voters should give him a  chance,”  The Daily Record, May 30, 2007

  Jay Webber showed up in Morris County politics four years ago, launching a series of attacks from the right on state Sen. Robert Martin, a moderate, or depending on your view, liberal Republican from Morris Plains. Webber was only 31, but he was articulate beyond his years and he scared the dickens out of Martin, who campaigned hard to keep his seat.

  Now, Webber is seeking an open state Assembly seat in the same 26th District covering eastern Morris -- Parsippany is the district's biggest town --and three towns in Passaic County. Others in the race are incumbent Alex DeCroce and Larry Casha. DeCroce, a veteran lawmaker and the Assembly Minority leader, seems assured of winning renomination in the June 5 Republican primary.

  This race really is a contest between Webber, of Morris Plains and Casha, 52, of Kinnelon. Both are lawyers. Casha has been a councilman in Kinnelon; Webber has never held elected office. 

Republicans should support Webber.

 We disagree with some of Webber's ideologically conservative views on social issues but at the same time, we like the fact that Webber has been out front in proposing that state lawmakers do not get health benefits. He also wants to rein in double dipping and outlandish pension benefits.     

Casha shares these views as well, but Webber brings more emotion to the debate. That may turn some voters off, but we like a candidate with passion. Casha, who was once a legislative aide to Martin, has veered right in this campaign, at times, trying to match Webber's conservative ideology. It seems a bit contrived and just doesn't work. (Webber says Casha's past dual jobs of councilman and legislative aide make him a "double dipper,"which is true, although this is far from an egregious example of it).

 Martin has many critics from the right, but the fact remains, he easily won primaries in the district. We wish Casha would have adopted some of Martin's positions on such issues as the Highlands Act and civil unions. That would have appealed to Republican moderates, of which there are many.

 Now with the race between two candidates espousing similar views, the choice is as difficult for us, as it must be for Republican primary voters. 

  If you believe, as we do, that state government needs to be overhauled inside out, why not give a young man like Webber a chance to see what he can do?

There is, admittedly, a bit of irrelevancy about all this. Democrats now control the lower house by a margin of 50 to 30, and their majority probably isn't going to change much next year.

 It's debatable what any Republican from Morris will be able to accomplish. But that's no reason not to send your best people, and in a close call, we think Republicans in the 26th District should back DeCroce and Webber. 

Paid for by Webber for Assembly