billspadea - Endorsements

January 7, 2012

AN OPEN LETTER TO REPUBLICAN COUNTY COMMITTEE MEMBERS

IN THE 16TH L.D.

Dear County Committee Member:

I enthusiastically endorse Bill Spadea for the for the open General Assembly seat in the 16th legislative district held by the late Pete Biondi and urge the Republican County Committee members from Mercer, Somerset, Hunterdon and Middlesex counties who represent the 16th legislative district to vote for him in their special convention on January 19th.

I have known and worked with Bill for a number of years. He is a solid Republican and conservative who has done yeoman service for the party for many years. He has organized and supported campaign training workshops throughout the state and has help Republican candidates organize effective and winning campaigns though his leadership of "Building the New Majority". He has run for Congress in the 12th CD against Rush Holt and has chaired the College Republicans' national organization. He is a businessman, father, and long-time resident of the new 16th LD, who represents the mainstream of the Republican Party and is exactly the kind of person we need to run for office, if we ever hope to win control of either house of the legislature. He is a former Marine reservist and community activist who serves on the Zoning Board, is a Little league coach and chairs the annual Veterans Day event in Princeton. Bill will be an independent Republican voice, who will put your interests first and not those of the party hacks and lobbyists, who are always just of out of sight trying to manipulate the process for their own purposes.

Regardless of their personal endorsements, I urge the county chairmen of the respective counties to work together to ensure that the process for selecting Pete Biondi's successor does his memory justice by being fair, open and transparent and guarantees every candidate who wishes to be considered for this office a level playing field and an opportunity to present his or her best case for being elected. I urge every county committee member to demand no less of their chairs, because the way these candidates are treated will, in the end, be a measure of how you will be treated by these same leaders now and in the future.

The most important job a county committee member has is to select candidates for office and the most solemn of those responsibilities is to select an interim officeholder after an incumbent dies or resigns. You are choosing someone who will take office immediately without a general election and that person is likely to be your candidate in the special election that will follow in November. If you cannot do this simply task right, just what can rank and file Republicans or the general public really expect from you? Regardless of who you support right now, you should allow the process to play itself out and give every candidate a chance to be heard. To do less is an abrogation of your responsibilities and makes your role as county committee member meaningless.

While I was county chairman, I ran many nominating conventions. Ask around and you will find that none of them attempted to load the dice in favor of one candidate or another. If I could do this for presidential, gubernatorial, congressional, state legislative and county candidates, is it too much to expect that it be done to ensure that Pete Biondi's successor is the right person to represent the 16th? Do not let this opportunity to do the right thing slip though your fingers in the hopes of ensuring party unity by keeping the party's elite happy.

As it is often said, elections have consequences. The consequences of a poor selection process and or a poor selection will only serve to weaken out party and do a grave disservice to Republicans and voters, in general. A fair and open process that selects the best candidate to go the General Assembly will, on the other hand, improve our party's image, make it easier to recruit good people to run for public office and help move our state government in the right direction.

In the end, I believe that you will agree with me that Bill Spadea is the best choice in terms of experience, commitment and service to our party and the one who can get elected in the general elections to follow with his commitment to cutting taxes, reducing spending and supporting Governor Christie's reform agenda.

Sincerely,

Roy Wesley

Former Congressional Candidate LD 12, Mike Halfacre

"Bill Spadea is the only candidate with the experience, background of service, and ability to carry us to victory in November."

January 12, 2012

Fair Haven, NJ

To LD-16 Committee Members and Fellow Republicans:

As the mayor in my hometown and someone who has known the rough and tumble style of New Jersey politics first-hand, I can tell you that it is without any reservation that I publicly state my 100% support for Bill Spadea. I've known Bill for several years. He's a thoughtful, energetic, enthusiastic leader who is ready, willing and able to stand up for our republican principles of lowering taxes, growing private sector jobs, cutting spending, and holding government accountable to the voters.

2012 is going to be a tough year for our party in New Jersey. The Democrats will stop at nothing to take away another seat in the legislature to further inhibit the Governor's agenda. If we're ever going to win back the majority, the battle starts with the special election in 2012. Bill Spadea is the only candidate with the experience, background of service, and ability to carry us to victory in November.

We need a leader who is willing to sacrifice the many long hours, nights, and weekends to personally deliver our message to the voters. Bill's actions over the past 7 years prove that he's got the will to do just that. He has worked tirelessly supporting and training republican candidates to serve in municipal, county, state, and federal office.

We need a leader who is willing to take our principles into areas that are considered safe for the Democrats in order to convince middle of the road voters that the GOP message is the best for the future of our state and economy. Bill has spent years staying consistent with our principles while winning friends across the aisle. The influx of new Democrats in Princeton and South Brunswick make this a key point when deciding how best to keep the 16th Republican.

Finally, we need a leader who has a plan. As you've heard from numerous county committee folks throughout the past couple weeks, Bill has a detailed and specific legislative plan that will address the key issues in support of Governor Christie - lowering taxes; cutting spending; reforming school funding and furthering changes in state pension and benefits plan to bring down our massive debt.

He's the right guy at the right time and I'm proud to stand with him.

Sincerely,

Mike Halfacre

Mayor, Fair Haven, NJ

Former Congressional Candidate NJ-12

NJ Family First, Len Deo

January 15, 2012

"It is with great excitement and confidence that I endorse

Bill Spadea for Assembly," Len Deo of NJ Family First

I have had the opportunity to work alongside Bill Spadea over the past several years. The common factors that brought us together was our concern for the direction that our state was heading in. Out of control spending, property taxes growing at an unparalleled rate and the state borrowing more and more just to meet operating expenses. NOT A GOOD PICTURE, especially for our kids and grandkids!

I have always known Bill to be a no-nonsense individual, that is driven by fixing what is broken. It was clear to me that the motivation Bill has had to engage in the political arena with his former organization "Building the New Majority" was a spirited effort, which sought to raise up individuals who understood that it is not just about economic issues, although they are important but it also is about family values and keeping the free enterprise system, free. His commitment and perseverance is responsible for encouraging good government by many men and women all throughout our state. I realize we still have a much to be accomplished towards that end. Most notably, Bill's leadership and ability to work as a unifier, during the 2009 Gubernatorial Election process, working together Bill was instrumental in helping to raise resources for a massive coalition effort to move NJ in a new direction. He is a man who gets the job done.

As we enter into 2012, it is clear that many in our state legislature have misdirected priorities. What's number 1? Not jobs, not the economy, not reducing property taxes. No, it's to redefine marriage. We need a leader like Bill Spadea who will be a voice for conservative family values, which includes the protection of marriage, life, religious liberties and a strong moral compass when it comes to fiscal stewardship. It is with great excitement and confidence that I endorse Bill Spadea for Assembly in the 16th Legislative District in NJ. I firmly believe that the state of our state will be stronger and better equipped to face the difficult decisions that we will face in the future.

Len Deo
NJ Family First

Janet Lee Gasper, Flemington, NJ

January 17, 2012

"With great sincerity, I believe the Hunterdon County Committee Members need to know that Bill Spadea is the best Candidate running for the NJ Assembly seat in LD-16"

Dear Hunterdon County Committee Members:

Back in 2004 as I was getting out of my car to go into the Baptistown Corner Store, I noticed a couple of people walking toward me from the direction of Frenchtown.  I soon learned it was Bill Spadea and his wife Jodi. As we spoke, they explained that Bill was running for Congress against Rush Holt. They had just started to walk the entire 12th Congressional District. Bill's goal was to walk all 200 miles in order to meet the people of the 12th District. Talking to Bill and his wife, I was impressed with how passionate and sincere they both were. They invited me to attend an event that Bill would be speaking at in Kingwood Twp. later that evening. I agreed to attend. As I listened, I was extremely impressed so I decided to help this genuine man walk the 200 mile journey. And I did most of the way. We knew it would be a long walk, but Bill was determined to make a difference and meet the people in our district as he ran against Rush Holt.  As I got to know Bill, and his wife Jodi, they became dear friends. Bill ran a great election in a very difficult district; yet he was never discouraged. He would say, "Don't worry, Janet, we will make a difference and stay involved by helping grow our Republican Party."

Bill kept his word and started Building the New Majority. He organized seminars to train good candidates.  The past Hunterdon County Club Director, Ingrid Kiely, and I attended a 3 day seminar led by Bill to learn how to grow the Grass Roots. It was a great experience. Bill has continued to train candidates.  As a matter of fact, Bill's opponent, Donna Simon, attended Bill's seminar with me 2 years ago to learn to campaign when she decided to run for the Readington Twp. Committee.

Bill has trained hundreds of candidates and encouraged many others to run for office because he wanted to make a difference. Now with the new 16th district drawn to include Princeton and Flemington, I am again able to help one of the most honest, caring, and sincere people I know run for office.

Politics is a great passion of mine, and has been since I was a young girl. I am driven by the hope of making our country better.  I have helped candidates on behalf of the Hunterdon County Republican Committee with great pride. Volunteering my time for the candidates I believe will make a difference, as a member of the RNC's Presidents' Club, as a Hunterdon County Republican Committee Member in Raritan Twp.'s 14th District, and currently as a member of the Raritan Twp. & Clinton Twp. Republican Clubs.

With great sincerity, I believe the Hunterdon County Committee Members need to know that Bill Spadea is the best Candidate running for NJ Assembly seat in LD-16. We need an experienced person to fill this seat who is HONEST, and strong enough to stand his ground on our Republican principles, and conservative values. Bill is a Patriot, a former US Marine, and a Proud American. I'm asking you to do the right thing for our district, and vote for Bill Spadea!

Janet Lee Gasper
Flemington, NJ