Open Letter to Republican Committee Members from Bill Spadea |
Dear Republican Committee Member,
I've made the case over the past few weeks through personal visits, phone calls, mail pieces, and events as to why I'm the strongest and most capable candidate to champion the Governor's agenda in Trenton and keep this seat in Republican hands. I did my best to ensure you had ample opportunity to learn about my qualifications, commitment to our party, ability to raise money, and communicate our message effectively. My last note to you before the convention is about something altogether different.
I want to address the responsibility that County Committee Members are charged with at the convention. The event which you will participate in tomorrow night was created by a statute - charging you as Republican Committee Members with a heavy responsibility. Your duty, representing our party, is to enforce the will of the people who elected Assemblyman Pete Biondi by selecting a replacement. There is a clear expectation that the process should be open, fair and honest. Based on the events of the past few weeks, it's clear that the process has been anything but that.
As you now know, a back room deal was cut to deliver the people's seat to a Hunterdon County insider, beholden to the lobbyists, while we mourned the passing of Pete Biondi. The first pick of the two county chairs wasn't even eligible to serve, and quickly withdrew from contention. Following that, with no vetting process, no discussion, and no regard for the legal role of the county committee, they surfaced another candidate, lacking in experience, simply to ensure that the deal stayed intact and their personal interests remained protected. How did it come to pass that two county chairs would be so arrogant as to think they should make a decision for all of you? The manipulation and the intimidation which followed - much of which is now public knowledge - is an embarrassment to our party and an indictment on this process.
When a party is controlled by insiders more interested in their own power than in winning elections and getting ideas into public policy, we all lose. When the interests of two county chairs are put above the interests of the governor and his agenda, we all lose.
The fact that the Governor has remained silent on this convention clearly shows that these two county chairs do not speak on his behalf. These chairs are so desperate to hold on to control that they have even rewritten the rules to eliminate the possibility of a second ballot at tomorrow's convention. That's right; upon failing to secure a majority for their hand-picked candidate, they conveniently changed the rules to try to give her a first round chance with a plurality. Their arrogance would sooner deliver a less qualified candidate beholden to their interests, even at the expense of the Governor's agenda, than cede control of the process to the voters. It's wrong, disgraceful and will be damaging to our party as we head into a tough election cycle in 2012.
Tomorrow night your choice is simple. You'll be able to answer the question as to which direction our party should go. Do you stand for an open, inclusive process where qualified candidates are encouraged to participate and run? Or will your vote be a rubber stamp on the back room deal and the nonsense that has taken place over the past two months? The choice is yours and New Jersey's 'Title 19' provides you the legal opportunity to make it.
Tomorrow night you will have the chance to ensure that the Republican Party stands for a fair, open process in order to champion our ideas by putting up the strongest possible candidate to win in November. Your decision will have a major impact on the direction of our Party, and the ability for us to reform this state and support Governor Christie's strong actions in Trenton. The rest of New Jersey eagerly anticipates your decision, and I look forward to earning your vote tomorrow night.
Sincerely,
Bill Spadea
|
