JIM KEADY CHALLENGES JOSHUA WELLE TO MAY 14TH DEBATE IN OCEAN COUNTY
 

SPRING LAKE, N.J., (May 3, 2018) — 
CD-4 Democratic candidate Jim Keady has challenged his primary opponent Joshua Welle to appear at a candidate debate scheduled for May 14th. The original Lakewood debate was scheduled for March 7th but cancelled due to snow, and then rescheduled April 16th, but cancelled last minute by the Welle campaign. Representatives for the Keady campaign were present on April 16th to greet voters and inform them of the change of plans. Most recently, a reserved date of May 14th proved to be unacceptable to the Welle campaign, ultimately depriving voters in Ocean county of the chance to see the candidates side-by-side and make decisions for themselves. 

Both Keady and Welle have appeared at debates and candidate forums hosted by various clubs, caucuses, and organizations in Monmouth County, sometimes to standing-room-only crowds. Only one debate has been held in Ocean County, hosted by the Jackson Democrats. The Keady campaign believes that the people of Ocean County’s CD4 deserve to be able to see and hear their candidates in person, so they are planning to keep the May 14 date for a debate/candidate forum. “Ocean County voters deserve the opportunity to see the difference between the two candidates and make an informed decision. If Joshua won’t appear on May 14th, I have to ask, ‘What is he afraid of?’” 

Jennifer Fluharty, a Keady campaign team leader, agrees. “Having organized and moderated multiple constituent­-led town halls since the 2016 election, I know firsthand that the voters in this district are hungry for elected officials­ or those who would aspire to office­ to answer tough questions on the issues. We have had over 25 years of ‘No Show’ Smith abandoning us, hiding from criticism, and presuming that he’ll have our support anyway. It’s disappointing to see a Democratic candidate chasing Smith down that same path.“  

There are approximately 132,000 Democrats and 222,000 unaffiliated voters eligible to vote in the June 5th primary in CD4. The winner of that primary will face off with Congressman Chris Smith in the November general election.  

ABOUT JERSEY SHORE DEMOCRATS 

Jersey Shore Democrats was organized in 2013 and is an outgrowth of Marianne Clemente’s role as Regional Chapter Leader for the Jersey Shore Chapter of Organizing for America, the Obama grassroots organization.  It is an organization dedicated to the election of “good” Democrats and in support of democratic values.  Clemente states that we need organizations like this now, more than ever, with the attacks on our Democracy and the groundswell of support from newly energized voters who are disgusted with the current administration.