Republican Dirty Tricks in the Nomination
for United States Congress in District 2
By HARRY HURLEY
Political Columnist
Our electoral politics from the inside baseball level needs to be addressed immediately. It’s broken and the only way to effectuate positive change is for people of good faith to rally together and demand change.
The most recent cases in point involve the Cumberland County Republican Party in general and Chairman Michael Testa in particular.
Testa appears to be the architect of two very bad political tactics that should never be attempted, ever again.
The first dirty trick was played on Brian Fitzherbert. He attended the Cumberland County Republican Convention on March 20, 2018. After winning the Gloucester County Convention, Fitzherbert thought he was a surging candidate on a good roll and he was looking to continue his momentum.
However, to be eligible for consideration in Cumberland County, he needed to receive a nomination and a second by two people in attendance. Even though this is Fitzpatrick’s maiden voyage into electoral politics, he had lined-up four people to nominate and second him for consideration. He had an “Heir and a Spare.” Or, so he thought.
When the moment of truth arrived, all four sat on their hands. Fitzherbert had failed to receive the required “first and second.” What did Testa do in response? He removed Fitzherbert from their election ballot and Fitzherbert could not even be considered by the Cumberland County Committee members. He was in attendance and had to endure this indignity.
Various sources have stated to me that Testa orchestrated this dirty trick, but, I have been unable to prove that he did. My strong personal belief is that he is the architect. But, I never confirm what I can’t prove.
Here’s what I do know. Testa could have prevented this extreme injustice from occurring in the first place. Let’s compare Testa to the honorable and highly respected Ocean Township Republican Chairman George Gilmore and how he handled this same issue.
When all of the Republican candidates appeared at Republican Convention, Gilmore made certain that each candidate had a nominating person and a second lined-up in advance. Gilmore further stated at his Convention that regardless of having a nomination and a second, “that all of these candidates have supported us and deserve to be considered.”
Testa could have and should have stepped in and made certain that Fitzherbert received a nomination. Had Testa nominated Fitzherbert, just as he did for United States Senate candidate Bob Hugin, there would have been a line formed to second the Fitzherbert nomination.
Testa admitted to me that Fitzherbert had attended their various meetings and breakfast events. It’s inexplicable and wrong that Testa handled Fitzherbert in this unprofessional manner.
There was a very uncomfortable mood in the room when this dirty trick was going down. In case you’re curious, yes, Fitzherbert (after the meeting ended) asked the people who were supposed to nominate him why they didn’t? “They were really uncomfortable about it and said that they were sorry,” said Fitzherbert.
This is an example as to how dirty our electoral process has become, when insiders are willing to play it this sleazy. These kinds of tactics should never be rewarded.
Things have gotten even worse for Fitzherbert. His official campaign petition for eligibility was challenged in court. A judge has determined that he had only 193 valid voter signatures. In New Jersey’s 2nd Congressional District, you need to submit a minimum of 200.
Fitzherbert is presently appealing this decision, which has also been upheld by the New Jersey Secretary of State. If Fitzherbert loses his appeal, he’s off of the June 5, 2018 Primary Election ballot entirely.
Incredulously, Testa wasn’t done with his Cumberland County political antics. The next victim and political roadkill was former FBI Supervisory Special Agent Robert Turkavage.
At this same Cumberland County Convention, Turkavage upset “favorite son” and former New Jersey Assemblyman Sam Fiocchi by just one vote and won the formal Cumberland County endorsement. Fitzherbert stated to me on-air (on March 22, 2018) that “Chairman Testa displayed an unprofessional facial expression when he announced that Turkavage was the winner. Turk is a good man and he deserves better than that facial expression that everyone saw,” said Fitzherbert.
So, to believe Fitzherbert and others … and I do, Testa was not happy that Turkavage had won the Cumberland County Convention.
Almost no one involved in our region’s electoral political scene could believe what would happen next. Fiocchi appeared on “Hurley in the Morning” in a very classy appearance and he stated that “it was was wrong how Turkavage and Fitzherbert were treated,” during and after the Cumberland County Convention.
What took place next is one of the dirtiest tricks ever played in local memory. There was routine paper work required to be filed with the Cumberland County Clerk in order for Turkavage to receive his rightful Column A placement on the upcoming June 5, 2018 Primary Election ballot.
Turkavage is only guilty of being a rookie. He didn’t know that he was required to fill-out some deminimis form. However, Testa certainly did know. And, Testa purposely let the deadline pass so that Turkavage would not receive Column A.
This is disgusting at every decent and human level. I spoke with Testa about this. He said that if “you’re running for a seat in Congress, it’s your responsibility to know the rules.” I told him that may be true, but, Turkavage has never run before and he simply didn’t know about the paper work. I also advised Testa that he had a direct responsibility to support the winner of his Convention and that he failed to do his job.
Instead of being in Column A with all of the other regular endorsed Cumberland County Republicans, Turkavage is presently in Column F. He is currently appealing to try and regain his earned Column A standing.
Interesting to note, Testa is an attorney, yet, Turkavage was left to file his own appeal. It is my view that Testa is a case study into everything that is wrong and broken regarding our electoral system at the political party level.
Should Turkavage not be successful with his legal appeal; Here is what Testa has accomplished. Currently, there is no Column A candidate for the United States House of Representatives. It is blank. No one can recall any time in history when a County election ballot did not have a regular Republican endorsed candidate in the coveted Column A ballot placement for Congress.
Had the United States Senate seat not be on the ballot this year, Testa was prepared to allow the very top-of-the-ticket to be blank. It’s unprecedented.
Both of these bizarre examples that happened to Fitzherbert and Turkavage were completely preventable. Each dirty trick happened on purpose, not by accident. Making matters even worse.
Harry Hurley is the president of Harry Hurley Consulting and Communications, LLC. He hosts the daily talk radio program “Hurley in the Morning” 6-10 a.m., weekdays on Townsquare Media, WPG Talk Radio 104.1 FM & 1450 AM, where he also serves as the senior programming consultant. Harry was elected to both the Philadelphia (2014) and New Jersey (2015) Radio Broadcasting Hall of Fame. He has hosted various programs for local television and is the editor and publisher of his news and information website, www.harryhurley.com. Send comments to HarryHurley@aol.com
