By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog
We’ve got a battle on our hands in NJ-03, Save Jerseyans.
The two most recent public polls, flawed or not, suggest a close contest. We just found out that Hilldawg is scheduled to headline a fundraiser for the Democrat, Aimee Belgard. And the DCCC is sinking millions into advertising that can’t even be categorized as “negative”; it’s plain slanderous. The district has a slight GOP tilt but, given Barack Obama’s two consecutive victories there and the fact that this is an open seat, the Democrat campaign establish is clearly calculating that the risk is worth their investment.
I believe they’re going to regret it, truly and sincerely, but let’s not leave anything to chance. Okay? The stakes are too damn high.
Tom is fighting and so are his friends and allies throughout the district. I explained why the latest TV ad is B.S. but don’t take my word for it: today, Team MacArthur is pushing back against the DCCC’s ‘Fire’ TV ad with an impressive letter, signed by 41 local NJ-03 firefighters from Ocean and Burlington counties, directed to John Teefy, the Phoenix, Arizona firefighter appearing the ad.
“As brother firefighters, we empathize with your anger over the disputed claims involving your fellow firefighters in Phoenix,” the signatories explain. “However, you need to understand that at the time of Tom MacArthur’s retirement from York Risk Services, Inc., there was absolutely no connection between York and the Phoenix firefighter claims, as you allege in the advertisement. In short, the charge you make in the ad is not true. It disparages a good man with false information.”
The full text of the letter is here and below…
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September 23, 2014Dear Brother Teefy,
We write this letter not only as concerned private citizens, but also as fellow firefighters who live in New Jersey’s Third Congressional District. It has come to our attention that you are prominently featured in a political advertisement, paid for by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) that is currently airing on cable television systems in our area. The ad and its content are generating a significant amount of media attention locally, and is a source of great controversy.
In the advertisement, titled “Fire”, you claim that your “brother and sister firefighters had to take Tom MacArthur’s company to court over all of these denied claims”, which references a lawsuit filed by Phoenix firefighters regarding insurance claims handled by a firm named Avizent, and later by York Risk Services, Inc. after York purchased Avizent in December of 2011. Regrettably, whoever provided you with information that Tom MacArthur had anything whatsoever to do with these claims has intentionally and seriously misled you with regard to the facts. Moreover, in our opinion, the DCCC is exploiting you, and your Phoenix brothers and sisters, in a shameful attempt to score political points at Mr. MacArthur’s expense.
The fact of the matter is that Tom MacArthur ceased running day-to-day operations at York Risk Services, Inc. in April of 2009, and retired from the company completely on December 28, 2010. To be clear, Tom MacArthur’s retirement date was nearly a full year before York Risk Services, Inc. acquired Avizent and thus became involved in the Phoenix Firefighter claims.
As brother firefighters, we empathize with your anger over the disputed claims involving your fellow firefighters in Phoenix. However, you need to understand that at the time of Tom MacArthur’s retirement from York Risk Services, Inc., there was absolutely no connection between York and the Phoenix firefighter claims, as you allege in the advertisement. In short, the charge you make in the ad is not true. It disparages a good man with false information.
It is our genuine hope that you will consider these facts and stand up for truth and integrity – qualities that are extremely important to all of us as firefighters – and request that the DCCC cease airing the advertisement in which you appear. It is undoubtedly the right thing to do.
Thank you for your service and consideration,
Chris Aldrich, Ocean CountyRon Brown, Ocean County
Matt Ambrosio, Ocean County
Ken Anderson, Ocean County
Riley Applegate, Ocean County
Kyle Asbrand, Burlington County
Dennis Barcalow, Ocean County
Ray Brandmahl, Ocean County
Todd Camburn, Ocean County
Bill Conley, Burlington County
Rob Corliss, Ocean County
Paul Dasti, Ocean County
John Dennis, Ocean County
Jeff Dever, Burlington County
Stan Ferriolo, Ocean County
Thomas Fischer, Burlington County
Baron Giberson, Ocean County
George Gruning, Ocean County
James Heaney, Ocean County
Ray Hlubik, Burlington County
Joseph Joyce, Burlington County
Brian Kubiel, Ocean County
Greg Lebak, Burlington County
Nicholas McGavin, Ocean County
Martin Murphy, Burlington County
Dave Nicola, Ocean County
Anthony O’Hare, Ocean County
Michael Phillips, Ocean County
Rick Pumphrey, Ocean County
C.J. Ricciuti, Burlington County
John Serpica, Ocean County
Ron Siconolfi, Burlington County
Harry Smith, Burlington County
Gerry Spence, Burlington County
James Sperber, Ocean County
Dennis Tredy, Ocean County
Keith Wideman, Ocean County
Rick Widmer, Ocean County
Barry Wieck, Ocean County
Jordan Wilson, Ocean County
Brian Wojcik, Ocean County
Wow how much LOWER can she go