Green New Deal gets ZERO votes in the U.S. Senate

Does this make Congressman Bill Pascrell an idiot?

Perhaps it does.  And what does it say about the Pascrell lobbying empire?

It took the Democrats no time to shit the bed… to make President Donald Trump appear mild-mannered in comparison.  But shit it they have.  The signature proposal of the Democrats’ most well-known personality from 2018 got shut-out in the U.S. Senate.  

And what does this mean to all those A.O.C. wannabees like Darcy Draeger and Lisa Bhimani in LD25, Deana Lykins in LD24, Stacey Gunderman and Lisa Mandelblatt in LD21, and Laura Fortgang in LD26?  Bed-shitters one and all?

Here is an existential explanation of what the Green New Deal is, given by the redoubtable Senator Mike Lee. 

GOP Chair Scanlan slams Democrats on Murphy ties

Late this afternoon, New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein covered an exchange between Sussex County Chairs Jerry Scanlan and Leslie Huhn of the Republican and Democrat county committees, respectively.  Responding to Huhn’s earlier announcement that Trenton lawyer-lobbyist Deana Lykins and ethically challenged attorney Dan Smith had been recruited by Governor Murphy to target Sussex County natives Parker Space and Hal Wirths, the GOP’s Scanlan delivered with both barrels:

Sussex County Republican chairman Jerry Scanlan wonders why his Democratic counterpart, Leslie Huhn, isn’t taking on Gov. Phil Murphy and the issues involving his former aide, Al Alvarez.

“As a woman, Chair Huhn should question why has it has become unsafe for women to volunteer on Democrat campaigns – and why, when they do come forward, a cover-up ensues and victims are treated so poorly,” Scanlan said.

Scanlan says that if Democrats want to do something about “job creation, transportation issues, high property taxes and the opioid epidemic,” they should put those questions to Gov. Phil Murphy.

Scanlan’s comments came after Sussex Democratic chair Leslie Hahn announced her slate of Assembly candidates opposing incumbents Parker Space (R-Wantage) and Hal Wirths (R-Wantage).

Hahn’s candidates in the 24th district are former Senate Democratic staffer Deana Lykins and former municipal court judge Dan Smith. 

“They need to ask Governor Murphy and the Trenton Democrats why they slashed school funding in LD24, placing pressure on local school boards to raise property taxes,” said Scanlan.

“They need to ask Governor Murphy and the Trenton Democrats why they added almost $2 billion in new state taxes – part of which to cover the cost for their Sanctuary State scam and more benefits for illegals.  Now they are looking to raise taxes again and have even passed a bill placing a tax on rain water.”

“Until she has answers to these questions, Chair Huhn should agree with us that there is a need for more Republican legislators, not less,” said Scanlan.  “Nobody wants to see Murphy’s one-party state become even more unbalanced.”

Huhn issued her endorsement “on behalf of the Sussex, Warren, and Morris County Democratic Organizations”.  Word has it that local Republicans could not be more delighted.

Democrat Wisniewski attacked Sussex senior's religion

On Wednesday, Assemblyman John Wisniewski joined Democrat candidates Kate Matteson and Gina Trish at the former Camp Nordland in Andover Township, New Jersey.  This is the same John Wisniewski who, as chairman of the State Democrat Party, attacked the religious beliefs of a Sussex County senior citizen and Tea Party activist.

At the time, Wisniewski held three offices (Assemblyman, Deputy Speaker, and State Democrat Chairman) and it was as the holder of these high offices that he stooped to attack the religious beliefs of a citizen activist.  According to the Bergen Record (May 24, 2010), Wisniewski even directed the Democrat State Committee to set up a website devoted to attacking citizen activists who disagreed with the Democrat Party.

At the time, Wisniewski was defending the reputation of United States Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), currently under federal indictment and awaiting trial on corruption charges.  The Sussex senior was part of a recall effort aimed at Senator Menendez. 

Wisniewski accused the Sussex senior of racism and attacked her religious beliefs regarding evolution.  Her faith led her in the direction of creationism, just as Wisniewski's faith leads him in the direction of transubstantiation.  Both are difficult concepts for some scientists to come to terms with -- and yet are articles of faith for many believers. 

The Star-Ledger, Bergen Record, Herald-News, Gannett newspapers, and blogs like Blue Jersey extensively reported on Wisniewski's actions.  Now back to the venue chosen for Wednesday night's gathering.

We recently had correspondence from a reader who drew our attention to the fact that it was a member of the local political establishment back in the 1930's, Newton lawyer William Dolan, who handled the land transaction that granted that American Nazi group control of the land that became Camp Nordland.  Mr. Dolan was then the sitting State Senator of Sussex County, a Democrat, at a time when each county had one state senator. 

According to a scholar at the University of Michigan, " New Jersey Congressman J. Parnell Thomas, Republican of Sussex, noted that New Jersey State Senator William Dolan, a Democrat, had aided the Bund in buying Nordland and that the Democratic Township Committee of Andover had granted Nordland a liquor license." 

According to historian and author Warren Grover, Camp Nordland in Andover Township was incorporated in March 1937.  Fritz Kuhn, the American Fuehrer himself, was one of the eight trustees of Camp Nordland.  When the camp formally opened in July, State Senator Dolan was introduced by the American Nazi Bund's New Jersey Bundesleiter, and he greeted the "swastika waving" crowds. 

Dolan was a political enemy of Franklin's Alfred "Bike" Littell, who went on to take his place as State Senator and to serve as Senate President.  Littell, whose education at Princeton University had been interrupted for service in an artillery regiment in World War I, went to war with the American Nazis.   Alfred Littell was the father of Senator Bob Littell, father-in-law of NJ Republican Party Chairwoman Virginia Littell, and the grandfather of Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose.

Wikipedia notes:  "Camp Nordland was a 204-acre resort facility located in Andover Township, New Jersey. From 1937 to 1941, this site was owned and operated by the German American Bund, which sympathized with and propagandized for Nazi Germany in the United States. This resort camp was opened by the Bund on 18 July 1937.  In the years before the Second World War, the Bund held events at the facility to encourage pro-German, pro-Nazi values—many of these events attracting over 10,000 visitors. On 18 August 1940, it was the site of a joint rally with the Ku Klux Klan...  While much of its history and notoriety has faded over the last 70 years, many local residents of Sussex County still refer to the area as the 'bund camp.'"

Here is a short video that provides something of a history lesson for Assemblyman Wisniewski and the Democrats:

The writer Sinclair Lewis published a satirical novel in 1935 called, It Can't Happen Here, two years before it did happen here -- right here, in Andover Township, New Jersey.  It is high time for the Township to acknowledge that history -- as a warning against an ideology that sent so many millions to their deaths.

That's one heck of a venue for Assemblyman Wisniewski and the Democrats' to choose.  Especially given their party's history in establishing the camp.

Maybe the Assemblyman can propose a resolution to memorialize what happened in New Jersey and the attempt here to normalize Nazism?  Lest we forget...

Assemblyman Wisniewski to speak at former Nazi camp

Assemblyman John Wisniewski will be joining Democrat candidates Kate Matteson and Gina Trish tonight (at 6:30) at the former Camp Nordland in Andover Township, New Jersey.  The event will be held in one of the buildings that housed the National Socialist Bund in the 1930's and 40's. 

We recently had correspondence from a reader who drew our attention to the fact that it was a member of the local political establishment back in the 1930's, Newton lawyer William Dolan, who handled the land transaction that granted that American Nazi group control of the land that became Camp Nordland.  Mr. Dolan was then the sitting State Senator of Sussex County, a Democrat, at a time when each county had one state senator. 

According to a scholar at the University of Michigan, " New Jersey Congressman J. Parnell Thomas, Republican of Sussex, noted that New Jersey State Senator William Dolan, a Democrat, had aided the Bund in buying Nordland and that the Democratic Township Committee of Andover had granted Nordland a liquor license." 

According to historian and author Warren Grover, Camp Nordland in Andover Township was incorporated in March 1937.  Fritz Kuhn, the American Fuehrer himself, was one of the eight trustees of Camp Nordland.  When the camp formally opened in July, State Senator Dolan was introduced by the American Nazi Bund's New Jersey Bundesleiter, and he greeted the "swastika waving" crowds.  

Dolan was a political enemy of Franklin's Alfred "Bike" Littell, who went on to take his place as State Senator and to serve as Senate President.  Littell, whose education at Princeton University had been interrupted for service in an artillery regiment in World War I, went to war with the American Nazis.   Alfred Littell was the father of Senator Bob Littell, father-in-law of NJ Republican Party Chairwoman Virginia Littell, and the grandfather of Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose.

Wikipedia notes:  "Camp Nordland was a 204-acre resort facility located in Andover Township, New Jersey. From 1937 to 1941, this site was owned and operated by the German American Bund, which sympathized with and propagandized for Nazi Germany in the United States. This resort camp was opened by the Bund on 18 July 1937.  In the years before the Second World War, the Bund held events at the facility to encourage pro-German, pro-Nazi values—many of these events attracting over 10,000 visitors. On 18 August 1940, it was the site of a joint rally with the Ku Klux Klan...  While much of its history and notoriety has faded over the last 70 years, many local residents of Sussex County still refer to the area as the 'bund camp.'"

Here is a short video that provides something of a history lesson for Assemblyman Wisniewski and the Democrats:

The writer Sinclair Lewis published a satirical novel in 1935 called, It Can't Happen Here, two years before it did happen here -- right here, in Andover Township, New Jersey.  It is high time for the Township to acknowledge that history -- as a warning against an ideology that sent so many millions to their deaths.

That's one heck of a venue for Assemblyman Wisniewski and the Democrats' to choose.  Especially given their party's history in establishing the camp.

We thought the Assemblyman was smarter than that.

NJEA should withdraw backing from Jihadist and cop-killer supporters

From our friends at Sussex County Watchdog

We all remember the Women's March organization and who was very loud about supporting it:

...And then it turned out that the leadership of the Women's March was calling for "jihad" against the elected government of the United States of America.

...And then the Women's March posted a birthday greeting on its Facebook page praising a terrorist who murdered a New Jersey State Trooper.  That terrorist cop-killer is on the FBI's "most wanted list" -- with a $2 million reward.

Even the New York Times gets it.

In an August 1st piece titled -- "When Progressives Embrace Hate" -- NY Times Editor Bari Weiss points out that the Women's March is connected to some very unsavory people but that groups like the NJEA (the state teachers' union) and those candidates they support don't seem to care.  Weiss wrote:

"The leaders of the Women’s March, arguably the most prominent feminists in the country, have some chilling ideas and associations. Far from erecting the big tent so many had hoped for, the movement they lead has embraced decidedly illiberal causes and cultivated a radical tenor that seems determined to alienate all but the most woke.

Start with Ms. Sarsour, by far the most visible of the quartet of organizers. It turns out that this 'homegirl in a hijab,' as one of many articles about her put it, has a history of disturbing views, as advertised by . . . Linda Sarsour.

There are comments on her Twitter feed of the anti-Zionist sort: 'Nothing is creepier than Zionism,' she wrote in 2012. And, oddly, given her status as a major feminist organizer, there are more than a few that seem to make common cause with anti-feminists, like this from 2015: 'You’ll know when you’re living under Shariah law if suddenly all your loans and credit cards become interest-free. Sound nice, doesn’t it?'  She has dismissed the anti-Islamist feminist Ayaan Hirsi Ali in the most crude and cruel terms, insisting she is 'not a real woman' and confessing that she wishes she could take away Ms. Ali’s vagina — this about a woman who suffered genital mutilation as a girl in Somalia."

Which brings us to Jennifer Hamilton, Kate Matteson and Gina Trish.  They are running for office in Sussex County.  Matteson and Trish have expressed personal support for the Women's March organization and have failed to retract or even comment on the organization's "illiberal" and "radical" (according to the New York Times) leadership or the group's praise of a terrorist cop-killer.  Now, all three have embraced the same NJEA group that organized for these "illiberal" radicals and that also refuses to comment on the group's praise of a terrorist cop-killer or its leadership's call for "jihad".

The NJEA, along with Jennifer Hamilton, Kate Matteson and Gina Trish have failed to call out Linda Sarsour, the co-chair of the Women's March, and a self-proclaimed advocate of "jihad" against the democratically elected American government.

Yes, the co-chair of the Women's March actually called for "jihad" against the government of the United States of America.  And Democrats have remained politically-correct silent about it.  Instead, Democrat leaders have praised the Women's March and continue to do so -- lending their support to its leadership while American troops are in the field, engaged in a fight against jihadists.  Why have the Democrats and their candidates refused to comment on these threats of "jihad"?

Last month, Linda Sarsour -- a prominent Democrat Party activist and co-chair of the Women's March -- called for a "jihad" against the American government.  You can catch her act here:

Here's what she said:

"During a speech to the Islamic Society of North America convention in Chicago last weekend, Sarsour, a delegate to the 2016 Democratic National Convention who is an anti-Israel and pro-Sharia activist, made the startling call and also urged against 'assimilation.' 

'I hope that we when we stand up to those who oppress our communities that Allah accepts from us that as a form of jihad,' she said. 'That we are struggling against tyrants and rulers not only abroad in the Middle East or in the other side of the world, but here in these United States of America, where you have fascists and white supremacists and Islamophobes reigning in the White House.'

'Our number one and top priority is to protect and defend our community, it is not to assimilate and please any other people and authority,' she said.

'Our obligation is to our young people, is to our women, to make sure our women are protected in our community. Our top priority and even higher than all those other priorities is to please Allah and only Allah,' she said."

Sarsour started off her call for "jihad" by praising Siraj Wahaj, who she described as her "favorite person in the room."  Wahaj is a controversial New York imam who has attracted the attention of American authorities for years.  Federal prosecutors included him on a 3½-page list of people they said "may be alleged as co-conspirators" in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, though he was never charged, the Associated Press reported.

Since the election of Donald Trump as President, some Democrats appear to have gone completely loopy.  We believe that dissent is an American right, but "dissent" isn't "jihad".  When did the democratic concept of a "loyal opposition" morph into "jihad" -- a "holy war" to be waged by all means necessary?  And why are Democrats and their candidates too afraid to talk about it?

And here is another thing that they are afraid to comment on.   It was reported extensively in the media last month that the Women's March "honored" cop-killer Joanne Chesimard (aka Assata Shakur). 

Referring to the notorious cop-killer, who murdered a New Jersey State Trooper in cold blood, as a "revolutionary" whose words "inspire us to keep resisting", the far-left Women' March organization issued a statement "celebrating" Ms. Chesimard's birthday.

The Star-Ledger reported on this:

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2017/07/womens_march_wishes_nj_cop_killer_a_happy_birthday.html

So did the Save Jersey blog:

Joanne Chesimard, the Black Liberation Army member hiding in Cuba after murdering New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster on the New Jersey Turnpike in 1973, has long eluded American justice and vexed New Jersey public officials as well as the public at large.

Donald Trump made headlines in June by spiking the Obama-era Cuba deal and citing the case of Chesimard (a/k/a Assata Shakur) as one of the reasons.

Eyebrows were therefore raised on Sunday when the far-left Women’s March’s social media accounts CELEBRATED the notorious cop-killing fugitive’s birthday:

 “I think you guys accidentally left out the part where she shot a police officer in the face, escaped from prison, then fled to Cuba in this post,” responded one Facebook user.

We know where Republicans like Assemblymen Parker Space stand on cop-killer Joanne Chesimard (aka Assata Shakur).  They want her extradited back to the United States to face trial for the murder of a police officer.  They backed that up by sponsoring a legislative resolution (AR-111) to urge Congress and the Administration to make that happen.

Why haven't we heard from Jennifer Hamilton, Kate Matteson and Gina Trish or the NJEA about this?  Why have they remained silent?

Why don't some Democrats appear to mind associating with radicals calling for "jihad" and cop-killers?  Do they consider these legitimate forms of "dissent"?  We are very interested in hearing what Jennifer Hamilton, Kate Matteson and Gina Trish have to say about a group, that the NJEA strongly supports, honoring a cop-killer.

Oroho got highest number of GOP votes in state

It was supposed to be the most watched race in the state.  NJ101.5's Bill Spadea and Save Jersey's Matt Rooney had Steve Oroho in their crosshairs.  Liberals like Democrat Senator Ray "Lord of Ass" Lesniak and Republican Jennifer Beck had lots of bad to say about him. 

The Koch Brothers and the petroleum lobby used their astro-turf group to engineer the now notorious screw card; that child of David "Wally Edge" Wildstein, the ObserverNJ, ran a hit piece by NJELEC's own James Comey, Jeff Brindle; an AFP operative had a state employee try to shake down a candidate; and DOT employees got in on the action, tearing down some political campaign signs while leaving those up of candidates they supported.  But at the polls, the wheels came off -- and they couldn't quite put the clown car back together again. 

On election day, June 6th, Senator Steve Oroho (LD24) got more votes than any Republican Senator or Senate candidate in New Jersey.  Senator Oroho picked-up 10,773 votes in the Republican primary -- the most votes won by any Senate Republican in the 40 legislative districts in New Jersey, according to the elections division of the Secretary of State's office.

The closest to Senator Oroho was Senator Mike Doherty (LD23) who got 10,742 and Senator Joe Pennacchio (LD26) with 10,357.  But unlike Senator Oroho, both had no opposition.

In comparison, Republican luminaries like Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean Jr. and NJ101.5's favorite, Senator Jennifer Beck, picked-up 7,678 and 5,081 votes, respectively.

LD01  6,269

LD02  5,879

LD03  4,133

LD04  3,697

LD05  2,524

LD06  3,985

LD07  5,794

LD08  6,541

LD09  9,221

LD10  8,856

LD11  5,081

LD12  4,263 (faced opposition)

LD13  5,939

LD14  3,475 (faced opposition)

LD15  2,228

LD16  8,364

LD17  2,060

LD18  2,560

LD19  1,834

LD20  678

LD21  7,678

LD22  2,306

LD23  10,742

LD24  10,773 (faced opposition)

LD25  8,740

LD26  10,357

LD27  4,609

LD28  (no GOP candidate)

LD29  498

LD30  8,434

LD31  663

LD32  913

LD33  907

LD34  1,029

LD35  978

LD36  1,861

LD37  1,052 (faced opposition)

LD38  4,094

LD39  6,132

LD40  7,698 (faced opposition)

Among Republican Assembly members, Parker Space got the most in the state, with 11,097 votes.  Space was bracketed with Hal Wirths, who picked-up 9,797 votes -- the fourth highest in the state.  Oroho, Space, and Wirths ran as a team.

Did Phoebus work with Herald to damage opponent?

A text message from a New Jersey Herald reporter who is associated with the Tea Party movement, to Republican Assemblyperson Gail Phoebus, suggests that a Phoebus enemy was being targeted after being defeated in the June 2015 Republican primary.  The text suggests deep collusion between the Herald or its reporter and the Assemblyperson and her campaign.  It is dated weeks after the primary, which suggests that the damage it was meant to do was of a personal nature.

In correspondence before the 2015 primary, this reporter expressed his concern that his pronounced bias had caused some to question his credibility.  He wrote that he feared that "people will come to see me as a shill for the campaign."

------ SMS ------

From: XXXXXXX

Received: Aug 1, 2015 1:21 PM

Do you know anything about a sexual harassment lawsuit or some such thing being filed against XXXXXX XXXXXXX several years ago back when he was principal of XXXXXX XXXXXXXX High School?... XXXX had mentioned something about it to me a while back, said she believes it was settled. I'd sure love to get my hands on it, though.

Recent Herald coverage, suggests that the Herald has an agenda that is informed by malice and determined to harm.  As the above suggests, this is only the latest in a history of inappropriate proximity. 

Subject to a vote of the contributors, we will be releasing a series of unredacted correspondence between politicians and Herald staff to Quincy's corporate offices and to the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) in the near future.

Chair Currie proves Dems have a sense of humor

It was a moment of mock seriousness when Democrat State Committee Chair John Currie commented on an aside made by Republican Assemblyman Parker Space to his Democrat opponent at a debate Tuesday night.  Trying his best to maintain self-control, Currie said that the "episode was no laughing matter."

We all thought he was about to lose it but you have to hand it to the gentleman, he has self-control.  Tight-lipped and buttock-clenched he continued:  "Elected officials have a solemn duty to work on behalf of their constituents to promote a safer, more prosperous New Jersey.  Assemblyman Space’s statements from last night suggest that he is neither capable of nor interested in fulfilling those responsibilities."

And then we all started laughing, rolling around on the floor, crying even.  There wasn't a dry pair of underpants in the room. 

Who did they get to write that?  Maybe it was the lobbyist who signs all Currie's checks -- Democrat State Committee Treasurer Kelly Stewart Maer.  Remember her, Mr. Chairman?  Did you keep track of all those critters she lobbied for during the past twenty or so years?  Those are not mere words, those are actions.

Your Treasurer -- the person who signs off on every expenditure made by your committee -- is a master of the over-the-top hyperbole  you are engaging in now. Need we remind you that in 2003 (when she was a lobbyist shilling for the corporate man) she actually accused Senator Loretta Weinberg of pandering to pedophiles.  We shit you not Mr. Chairman.  That's the hammer your Treasurer laid down on Senator Loretta -- and mightily pissed she was too. 

Now we don't want to be telling you your job, Mr. Chairman, but you used the words "solemn duty."  Are you kidding?  You have Democrats in the Legislature who think it's their "solemn duty" to have their love-interests employed at taxpayers' expense.  Need we go there?

But hey, if you really and truly are concerned about elected officials who appear unwilling or disinterested in fulfilling their "solemn duty" to "promote a safer, more prosperous New Jersey" then we want you to call this number...

(856) 251-9801

You recognize that number?  Yep, it belongs to your good buddy Senate President Steve Sweeney.  Now brother Sweeney has bottled up an important piece of legislation designed to crack down on this...

You, Chairman Currie, you should call Senate President Sweeney and ask him... no, Mr. Chairman you should INSIST that Senate President Sweeney allow that legislation to come to the floor for a vote when the Senate is in session after the election.

See, Mr. Chairman, until you can GUARANTEE that violent attacks like this will not happen to New Jersey families people will want the right to protect themselves from violence, bodily harm, and death.  And with police response times falling in poorer and working class areas, it is especially important that people are allowed to defend themselves.  After all, the Democrat Party can hardly ask people to suffer violence and death just so a few rich lobbyists can make a fashion statement.

Democrat "Fiscal Experts" want to crush the poor

While legislators and candidates across New Jersey are debating the merits of lowering other taxes in order to compensate residents for a projected increase in the gasoline tax, two Democrats in Northwest New Jersey have come up with a new tax to impose on residents.  The details change depending on when you hear them talk about it or read what they say about it, but it is essentially a "renters tax" which would work like the property tax but instead of being imposed on real property, it would be imposed on families and individuals as a kind of luxury tax.  That is, the "luxury" of having a roof over your head.

In theory, it would mark up the cost of living for some of the most economically marginal in New Jersey -- and could force many out onto the streets.  Apparently, property owners who rent units would not be required to reduce their rates to compensate for the windfall they would receive under this plan.  Nevertheless, the Democrats -- Michael Grace and Jacky Stapel -- have received kudos for their effort and an endorsement from the Morris County Daily Record for at least coming up with a novel idea.

The Democrats' renters tax is supposed to reduce property taxes -- like the income tax was supposed to do when it was imposed four decades ago.  But of course, all these many years later and New Jersey still has the highest property taxes in America AND an income tax that is prohibitively high for many.  Can this new tax hope to do more than make the lives of the economically marginal worse?

According to his ballotpedia.org webpage, Michael Grace worked on Wall Street for 25 years as a licensed trader and investment banker.  According to the website, Grace was the "Vice President and Executive Committee member of Deutsche Bank's NDB Group Division."  Deutsche Bank was one of the banking giants fingered in the global economic crash of 2008.  Wikipedia notes:

Deutsche Bank was one of the major drivers of the collateralized debt obligation (CDO) market during the housing credit bubble from 2004–2008, creating ~$32,000,000,000 worth. The 2011 US Senate Permanent Select Committee on Investigations report on Wall Street and the Financial Crisis analyzed Deutsche Bank as a 'case study' of investment banking involvement in the mortgage bubble, CDO market, credit crunch, and recession. It concluded that even as the market was collapsing in 2007, and its top global CDO trader was deriding the CDO market and betting against some of the mortgage bonds in its CDOs, Deutsche bank continued to churn out bad CDO products to investors.[37]

After the crash, Michael Grace appears to have gone back to school.  Ballotpedia reports that he earned his Associate degree from Sussex County Community College in 2012 and his B.A. in Political Theory and International Relations from Columbia University in December 2014.

Jacky Stapel has a somewhat murky background.  She calls herself a "diplomat" and her biography at Project Vote Smart doesn't provide details on her education background or her current occupation, but does list the following:

·        Senior Sales Executive, Electrospec, Incorporated, 2012-2013

·        Campaign Manager, Williams4Assembly, 2013

·        Sales Executive, Lantek Corporation, 2006-2012

·        Life Insurance/Fixed Annuity Sales, Allstate, 2002-2006

And it lists that she has been a member of the Sussex County Democratic Committee since 2002.

On a whim, we decided to search their names on the New Jersey Court's public records database -- ACMS -- and we were a bit surprised to find a number of open judgments on these "fiscal experts".

The address of the creditor is the same as the address used by candidate Michael Grace and by the Grace-Stapel campaign.

Campaign
942 Maple Avenue
Newton, NJ 07860
Phone: 973-647-9899

All the judgments are from the past five years and the amounts are not insignificant:

Running mate Jacky Stapel appears to have two open judgments:

One appears to be a contract dispute, possibly landlord/tenant:

The other appears to be a services dispute:

Of course, these records are generated and maintained by the Judiciary of the State of New Jersey -- the State's first branch of government (the Executive being a close second, with the Legislature -- the "representatives of the people" -- a distant third).  While we have every hope that these records are correct, the unelected judiciary is a notoriously corrupt and venial bunch.  On top of this, they are not particularly competent, preferring to hire political hacks and lovers of various flavors instead of actual employees who do a job worthy of the taxpayers who pay them.

If we got something wrong or if any candidate mentioned here would like to give an alternative opinion -- or correct, refute, or expand upon anything written here -- we invite them to and will be happy to print what they send us.  We enjoy a conversation.