Toms River, July 23, 2018 – Congressman Tom MacArthur (R-Toms River) publicly called on Democrat Andy Kim to apologize for his Superstorm Sandy-related attack ad that knowingly and intentionally misleads Sandy victims and exploits their tragedy for political gain.

Kim’s new video deceptively uses disaster footage of Sandy’s aftermath across Ocean County – including the iconic Jet Star roller coaster in Seaside Heights – while simultaneously using a narrator to claim that “[MacArthur’s] company refused to pay claims to churches, schools and homeowners who lost their property after hurricanes.”

The problem with Kim’s attack?  Congressman MacArthur retired from his former company, York Risk Services, in 2010, two years BEFORE Hurricane Sandy struck in October 2012.  Moreover, since these are a copy cat attacks of the same issue against MacArthur in 2014, Kim and DCCC handlers clearly knew the attack was a lie and did it anyway.

Despite Kim’s bogus attacks, MacArthur has always delivered for Ocean County and been on the front lines in the arduous recovery from Sandy.

• Tom was lauded in the New York Times for exposing fraud and corruption at FEMA.
• Along with his wife, Debbie, Tom created the St. Peters Sandy Relief Fund to help local Ocean County families recover their lives after the storm.
• Legislation introduced by Tom to make sure the National Flood Program is extended to Nov 30, the end of hurricane season, is being voted on in the House next week. He is working with House leadership and both parties to ensure the long-term reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program, including provisions he wrote to limit cost increases, increase mitigation benefits and hold FEMA accountable.
• MacArthur authored legislation, which passed the House, to reign in FEMA’s ability to recoup money from disaster victims.
• Congressman MacArthur has handled dozens of cases to assist families recovering after the storm.

Lavallette Councilwoman Anita Zalom, whose home was destroyed by Superstorm Sandy said, “Congressman MacArthur has had our back every step of the way during our time rebuilding the shore. I had several issues with federal agencies and Tom stepped in and helped me, as he has many Sandy victims. This attack from Andy Kim will fall on deaf ears in Ocean County, because we know Tom and we know he cares about us.”

Berkeley Councilman Jim Byrnes, who had to rebuild his home after Sandy took particular issue with this ad saying, “Andy Kim is an absolute fraud. As a disabled veteran who represents an area hit hard by Sandy, which Andy Kim couldn’t find on a map, I am disgusted by this ad. Before he was even running for office, Tom put his money where his mouth is to help our community recover. He has been to my neighborhood and he is always there when we call. Andy Kim might want to go back to the drawing board, because his attempt to politicize Sandy is desperate and flat-out wrong.”

MacArthur also called out Kim for his cheap attempt to deceive voters.  “This is yet another attempt to deceive voters by tax-cheat, Andy Kim. He was nowhere to be found as our community rebuilt in the aftermath of Sandy. Not only did we open our home in Ocean County for a local family to live in while theirs was rebuilt, but my wife and I put significant personal resources behind local recovery efforts,” said Congressman Tom MacArthur.

“Once elected in 2014, I worked tirelessly to expose fraud and corruption at FEMA, which happened during Andy’s time in the Obama Administration. If this tax-cheat wants to have a conversation about my efforts to help our region recover from Sandy, I’d like to invite him to stop hiding behind a keyboard and the safety of his choreographed events, and meet me for a beer in Lavallette next week and find out what locals think of him exploiting their tragedy with a deceptive ad,” concluded MacArthur.