Roughneen weathers signatures challenge, still on the ballot
By Max Pizarro, PolitickerNJ.com ReporterAn administrative law judge today ruled that Thomas Roughneen’s petitions are in good order, and told the 7th Congressional District candidate he could continue to compete in the Republican primary.
Emilio Dabul of South Plainfield had challenged 79 of Roughneen’s 273 petitions but did not attend court in Elizabeth today, according to Roughneen. Yesterday Dabul would not say if any of the candidates had asked him to challenge Roughneen’s petitions.
Whoever it was, Roughneen didn't appreciate it.
"This was a cowardly, anonymous, expensive and un-American effort to keep a 20-year Army and Iraq War veteran, with two brothers headed to Iraq for their second time, off the ballot," said Roughneen. "Someone desperately wants to keep voters from having the choice to elect the only red-blooded, real Republican candidate in this race on June 3rd."
Former Summit Councilwoman Kelly Hatfield and Scotch Plains Mayor Martin Marks said they had nothing to do with the petitions challenge.
"I expected it was going to happen sooner or later," Marks said of a negative ad against Sen. Leonard Lance (R-Hunterdon) coming from the Kate Whitman campaign, and the petitions challenge to Roughneen. "For the last three months it was pretty cordial. Not anymore, I guess."
Marks called the challenge to Roughneen’s signatures "silly stuff," and said he had never talked to either Dabul or the Hackettstown lawyer who represented Dabul in court today, David Greenbaum.
"I have too many other things in this campaign," said Marks. "I’m rushing home to get to a fund-raiser right now. I don’t have a former governor raising money for me."
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Check Tom's camp
This sounds like a cheap PR stunt.
Hold on there!
Wait just one cotton pickin' second there general! Didn't you become a Republican just a couple of months ago.......AFTER Mike Ferguson announced his retirement? No, Tom you are not the only "Red-blooded Republican" in the race. Leonard Lance, Kate Whitman, Kelly Hatfield, Marty Marks, Vic Sordillo, Michael Sing, and Chris Venis were Republicans long before you sir. You are at best an opportunist who saw an opening to run based upon your service in the military. Thank you and your family for their service to the nation, but that in an of itself DOES NOT qualify you to be a Congressman, let alone call yourself the only red blooded Republican the race.
Marty
"What do you wanna do?"
"I dunno, what do you wanna do?"
"I dunno."
"Wanna challenge Roughneen's petitions."
"Yeah, let's challenge Roughneen's petitions."
"Yeah, let's."
Response to Bitaryo and Summiteer
If you knew Tom or anyone in "Tom's Camp," you would know he wouldn't pull a "cheap PR stunt." The mere fact that you could accuse him of doing so is disgusting. But then again, mud-slinging in New Jersey campaigns (and on this site) tends to be the norm, so it doesn't surprise me in the least that you are accusing Tom of wasting valuable time that could have been spent talking about the issues rather than defending himself in court. And Summiteer, don't tell us what qualifies someone to be a Congressman. Tom, an opportunist? No sir. He just believes he can actually make a difference in this country. I would love to hear what "qualifies" someone to run for office. How about the fact that he is a taxpayer? Instead of attacking him for being willing to run to make people's lives better, you accuse him of being an opportunist. That in itself is sickening. I worked for years on Capitol Hill - I never asked any of the Senators or Representatives what "qualified" them to run for office. Perhaps that is a posting we should ask people. What do you think qualifies you to run for office? Money? Being an elected official? Family name? Your occupation? Your eye color? Marital status? What are the qualifications? Have you hit a nerve? You betcha. Give me a break. Tom Roughneen is well qualified to run for Congress.