Episodes 178 And 179

If you missed the 178th and 179th episodes of the radio show live on WVLT Cruisin' 92.1 it is now on our website. Episode 178 call-in guests were Assemblymen John DiMaio, Antwan McClellan and Erik Simonsen. Former Assemblyman Sam Fiocchi was in the studio. Episode 179 we had state Senator-Elect Ed Durr in the studio. For those who prefer to listen live and live outside our broadcast area you can listen on TuneIn or at wvlt.com Saturday mornings from 8:00-10:00.

As always, you can listen to any of our past shows on the Radio Shows page.

PRESS RELEASE: ABC NJ Donates Vehicle To Mt. Laurel Township Fire Department

Photo: Provided

The folks at Associated Builders and Contractors New Jersey chapter (ABC NJ) donated a car to be used as a training tool to the Mt. Laurel Fire Department. ABC NJ’s press release on the matter follows:

Members of the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) NJ Chapter were honored to deliver a rescue training vehicle to Battalion Chief Chris Santone and his crew at the Mt. Laurel Township Fire Department. ABC NJ donated this key training tool in thanks for their dedication and support for the town in which the ABC NJ Chapter headquarters resides.

Training is essential to building a rescue team ready for challenging real-life emergencies. This vehicle, which was older and beyond the realm of repairing, will be used specifically in extrication training—safe techniques for removing people from dangerous situations.

Thanks goes to nearby Triple J Recycling & Storage on Sherwood Avenue for storing the car while not in use.

Sam Fiocchi, President of ABC NJ commented, “Supporting the community in which we work is of great importance to ABC NJ. We are indebted to our Fire Department for all they do and are grateful for this opportunity to contribute.” Battalion Chief Chris Santone expressed appreciation right back to the association, “The Mt. Laurel Fire Department depends on community involvement. This donation will help bolster our team’s understanding and skills in emergencies.  Thank you for your generous donation to the Mt. Laurel Fire Department.”

About Associated Builders and Contractors: ABC is a national association representing 11,000 merit shop construction and construction-related firms in 69 Chapters across the United States. Our membership represents all specialties within the U.S. construction industry and consists primarily of firms that perform work in the industrial and commercial sectors of the industry. ABC NJ is the industry's liaison to federal, state, and local governments and the public at large. For more information, please visit our website at www.abcnjc.org.

2021 Action: Ciattarelli Rolls Out Endorsements In Singh’s Backyard

Jack Ciattarelli

Republicans are starting to pick sides in the 2021 gubernatorial primary and the field hasn’t even been set. As for me, I will remain solidly on the fence until the field is set.

There are two announced candidates, former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli and former beauty pageant winner Hirsh Singh. Other potential candidates are Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick, NJGOP Chairman and former Lopatcong Mayor Doug Steinhardt and retired landscaper/washed-up out-of-work actor/keyboard warrior Joe Rudy Rullo.

Ciattarelli, Singh and Rullo all ran four years ago when former Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno won the primary. I was a Ciattarelli supporter in that primary and am still impressed at the amount of mileage Guadagno got out of showing up at all the county party rubber chicken dinners before the primary season kicked off.

Ciattarelli obviously decided he isn’t letting that happen to him again because the guy has been everywhere, fundraisers, happy hours, county party breakfasts.

Singh, the other announced candidate, didn’t learn the same lesson. While he’s been seen at a few rallies he mostly stuck with social media and filing lawsuits, though he did recently turn up at the Camden County GOP fourth quarter meeting and holiday party. Maybe his strategy is changing.

But, back to Ciattarelli. The guy has been busy! On December 1 he rolled out a list of “Nearly 90 Republican leaders” across Somerset County who have endorsed his candidacy for Governor. Admittedly, I ignored it because Somerset is Ciattarelli’s home county.

Then, on December 4 I received a Jack4NJ email with the subject “Introduce Myself.” It was from Mike Friedman who served as the lone Republican on Voorhees Township Committee from 2011-2019. Admittedly, I ignored that too, because I already know Mike and didn’t feel the need to be introduced. I probably should have read the email because Friedman informed readers he has “…stepped up to serve as the Camden County Coordinator for the 2021 Jack Ciattarelli for Governor campaign.” That’s a pretty solid endorsement out of Camden County.

Yesterday and the day before, Jack Ciattarelli got my attention! His campaign walked into Hirsh Singh’s Atlantic County backyard and scored some big endorsements. Ciattarelli’s first stop was in western Atlantic County where he scored key endorsements in Hammonton. I know some of the folks in Hammonton, they were very supportive of former Assemblyman Sam Fiocchi in his 2018 bid for Congress. Experience has taught me the Hammonton folks will work hard for who they endorse.

Scoring the Hammonton endorsements wasn’t enough. Ciattarelli then headed east the next day and rolled out endorsements from the “Republican Club of Atlantic City, as well Atlantic City Councilman Jesse Kurtz.”

Atlantic is Singh’s home county and he allowed the only other announced candidate in the race to walk into his county and score big endorsements. Perhaps he should have learned form Jack and made sure to protect his home turf first, just like Ciattarelli did in Somerset.

The field is still taking shape but it looks like 2021 could get exciting, so stay tuned. And, eventually I will learn how to spell Ciattarelli without going to his campaign website to copy and paste it.

Update: New Jersey Globe reports Bramnick will not run for Governor.