By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog
We always hear about how the Republican Party generally “lacks diversity” and, in many ways, this is true. But you and I know that we’re still the Party of Lincoln, Save Jerseyans, and this year in New Jersey, the group of men and women running for seats in the U.S. House of Representatives is very diverse in every sense of the word.
It was on full display at Wednesday evening’s birthday-themed NJ GOP fundraiser in East Brunswick (though it continues to go largely unreported by the mainstream media crowd).
You already know the incumbents, and we’ve written quite a bit about our friends Tom MacArthur, Garry Cobb and Alieta Eck here at Save Jersey.
Some others with whom you might be less familiar?
Anthony Wilkinson (CD6) is a graduate of Yale Law, a former high school teacher and current adjunct professor. He serves as an Educational Consultant to the Seton Hall University Academy for Urban Transformation and is also a Volunteer Teacher at the Monmouth Worship Center in Marlboro, NJ. Wilkinson, who is running against Democrat incumbent Frank Pallone, has centered his campaign on fiscal and social conservatism.
Dr. Dierdre Paul (CD9) is a graduate of Teachers College at Columbia University and has an extensive background in education, with over 20 years teaching experience. Prior to her current bid for U.S. Congress, Dr. Paul ran for NJ Assembly back 2013. Dr. Paul left the Democrat party in 2013 has since embraced fiscal conservatism.
Jude-Anthony Tiscornia, running in CD8, is a practicing attorney who earned a B.A. in History and Political Science from Rutgers University and, later, a law degree from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Yolanda Dentley (CD10) has spent 25 years teaching, and later serving as an administrator, in urban school districts. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Upsala College and a Masters Degree in Educational Administration from Kean University.
There’s obviously a LOT more to tell about these folks, Save Jerseyans, but I encourage you to take the time to learn more on your own and, if you’re in the district, offer to knock some doors/make a few calls on their behalf.
They’re putting their butts on the line in TOUGH districts. New Jersey’s gerrymandered districts make pick-ups an uphill climb in any cycle, it’s true. This year, however, we’re facing a Democrat Party that’s hemorrhaging support even here in New Jersey.
Like most conservatives, I’m loathe to drone on and on about diversity as if it is a good unto itself; I was raised to work for a point in time when everyone in America, including candidates for office, “will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” But the messenger matters as much as the message in politics, Save Jerseyans, and its important to make inroads in every community if we want the party to grow and the country to prosper. The first step? Recruit quality ambassadors.
Extreme Obama fatigue translates to a major historic opportunity to build up the party’s grassroots through these campaigns; let’s not waste it!
Don’t care about “diversity.” I wnat fiscal conservatives who want to cut spending, cut taxes and restore economic prosperity. They can be white, black, brown, purple, green or whatever.
@Joe I stand by what I wrote… is it the most important thing? No! Agreed. But this is politics, and the messenger matters almost as much as the message in terms of winning elections. That’s the truth of it. We need to make inroads into these communities or the GOP is toast.
But the problem is that we never deliver the message. Republicans NEVER explain WHY putting money back in the hands of consumers is what produces jobs. They’re just afraid of the left whining, “Look, they want to take your food stamps away!” We need people to deliver the message regardless of who they are.
@Joe Some of these folks are great. Garry Cobb, for instance, is running in my district against Don Norcross. Very conservative and passionate. Regularly speaks out about what liberal policies have done to our urban communities. Write him a check, Joe!
where is pic of Gary Cobb? He is most dynamic candidate the republicans have in any race in the state. He gave a great speech at Christie’s b’day. probably best one of all the speakers. Had the crowd cheering.
@Bob He’s featured prominently in the post; Facebook cut off the photo.
have a lot of respect for Dr. Eck!!
It’s great that our congressional candidate roster is doing well, but to really be effective, we need to hit em at all levels. Where are the local State Senate/State House candidates? I don’t mean “The Save Jersey Blog needs to report on this!!” – you guys do a fantastic job reporting everything. I mean where are the actual candidates? We had a number of races last year that NJGOP just did not bother trying to win – things like Secaucus Mayor, councilmen in Kearny, and so on. No advertising, no rallies, no signs, no hint of even basic retail politicking. Sure, NJ has about 650 or so communities to worry about, but it’s insane to think the GOP can’t be bothered getting people vetted in ANY of them.
I wonder how much of that ‘$600,000″ will go to help these candidates.