Martin Marks and Harris Pappas Submit Petitions for General Election 2019

Will Run as Independent Conservatives for Assembly in the 21^st Legislative District

Martin Marks of Cranford and Harris Pappas of Springfield today submitted their nominating petitions to run as Independent Conservatives for the NJ General Assembly in the General Election to be held Nov. 5, 2019.  Marks, a dentist is the former Mayor of Scotch Plains where he served on the Township Council for twelve years from 1997-2008.  Pappas, an independent mortgage broker served on the Springfield Township Committee from 1992-94 and held several senior level purchasing positions in both state and county governments in New Jersey over several decades.  The 21^st District Assembly seats have been held for many years by Republicans Jon Bramnick and Nancy Munoz.

Based upon the razor thin margin by which they won just two years ago, and the fact that neither of their respective home towns of Westfield and Summit can any longer be considered Republican strongholds, Bramnick, Munoz, and the New Jersey Republican establishment are justifiably concerned about losing these seats with Marks and Pappas in the race.  “Since announcing our independent candidacies in March, we have received numerous overtures of support from many individuals, including Republicans, Democrats and Independents who are all disgusted with the constant fighting in Trenton.  At the same time we have been urged by those in the Republican establishment who support the status quo to not follow through with our candidacies,” Marks said.  “It all culminated with a meeting at Union County Republican Headquarters on April 30.  At that meeting were Bramnick and Munoz in addition to NJGOP Chairman Doug Steinhardt, NJGOP Executive Director Theresa Winegar, Republican National Committeeman William Palatucci, and District 21 Senator Tom Kean, Jr.  Harry and I would have agreed to suspend our candidacies had Bramnick and Munoz agreed to hold a press conference stating their support for the entire Republican Ticket in both this year’s General Election and the General Election of 2020 led by President Trump.  They flatly refused.”

Pappas added, “One of the main premises of our campaign is that Jon Bramnick has been unnecessarily aggressive in attacking a sitting Republican President instead of focusing his energy as Assembly Minority Leader on the destructive tax policies of the most liberal Governor New Jersey has ever dealt with.  Additionally, we believe Bramnick and Munoz have taken for granted and been dismissive of those Republicans in the 21^st Legislative District who identify as conservative and Trump supporters.  In light of this, we don’t believe asking Bramnick and Munoz to voice support for the entire GOP ticket in both the 2019 and 2020 General Elections was asking too much.  Now that our petitions have been submitted we intend to proceed with our campaign and raise the funds necessary to be successful in November.”

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