The political media and the leaders in the New Jersey Republican Party have endorsed three-time loser Tom Kean Jr as the GOP’s inevitable Primary Election winner in CD-7, thus awarding him the opportunity to face Rep Tom Malinowski in the November election. And that’s precisely what’s wrong with the State GOP – it’s allegiance to political insiders and legacy figures – most of whom continually lose to Democrats, says CD-7 Republican Primary Election candidate John P. Flora, the mayor of Fredon Township in Sussex County.

Flora says the party – and the state’s middle class – would be better served if the political bosses got out of the way and allowed more open competition in Primary Elections.

“Competition makes us better at just about everything we do,” says Flora. “As Republicans we believe in competition in the free market; we oppose Democrat initiatives that allow government to tilt the playing field and pick winners and losers – because it usually ends disastrously. Republicans preach the value of competition – except when it comes to politics.

“Then, suddenly competition is a bad word. The party bosses try to clear the field for the favorite sons. They want to declare the race is over before it has begun. That’s bad for the party and bad for citizens,” says Flora, a former school board president.

Battling the Line
In New Jersey, county political organizations assign hand-picked candidates the Party Line, which gives a boost to candidates favored by party bosses. In practical terms, Primary Election voters are pushed to vote for the Line candidates, believing that they have been properly vetted and are the best candidates to represent the party.

The reality is that the Party Line is not a consensus of the party’s rank and file; it’s the choice of a handful of political bosses picking the nominees who serves their best interest.
Flora says Primary Election voters should not be fooled into thinking the Line candidates are the best choice for the party or the only choice. Too often the Party Line candidates are disappointing losers in General Elections.

“Primary voters should not be afraid to support candidates running off the line;” says Flora. “Often those are the best candidates who have the commitment to fight for the people they are trying to represent.”

QUESTIONING INCUMBENTS
Flora questions Tom Kean’s record of 20 years in government and his effectiveness in Trenton. He notes that when Kean was first elected to the legislature in 2001 the average property tax bill was $4,651; in 2021 the average property tax bill is $9,284.

“I would like to know what Tom Kean’s did in Trenton to make New Jersey more affordable? What did he fight for and win?” asked Flora. “What does be plan to do when and if he gets to Congress?”

Flora says party bosses make a big mistake by shielding insiders like Kean from the scrutiny of a rigorous Primary campaign. “We know the Democrats will attack Tom Kean’s record in the General Election. Isn’t it better for the Republican Party and the voters to see how well Kean and other long-time incumbents stand up to the scrutiny in Primary Election before we send them into battle in the fall campaign?”

Flora says that GOP bosses’ habit of clearing the field for their chosen candidates results in Republicans fielding untested candidates who are not battle hardened.

The result is a state legislature that has been perpetually controlled by Democrats and a dramatic loss in House seats in 2018.

Primary voters need to know they have a choice; Go to http://johnflora.com/