Lonegan Challenging Eck’s Petitions
Steve Lonegan
Steve Lonegan, the GOP front runner in the August 13 Special U.S. Senate Primary has filed a challenge to the candidacy of his only opponent, Dr. Alieta Eck based allegedly invalid signatures.
Calling Eck a “prospective candidate,” the Lonegan campaign alleged that Eck herself claimed to witness signatures that she did not in fact witness.
Lonegan’s attorney, F. Michael Daily, said in the challenge that “numerous books contain signatures purportedly witnessed by Alieta Eck and investigation has disclosed that contrary to her affirmations she did not witness such signatures.”
Daily, who has been retained by the Lonegan for Senate campaign, also alleged in the objections that other witnesses, some of whom also claimed to have gathered hundreds of signatures, are similarly invalid.
Dr. Alieta Eck
Dowd’s objections also noted that a number of the signers are either registered Democrats or non-voters, both of whom are ineligible to sign a nominating petition for a Republican candidate. They also claim that signatures of Alieta Eck and other subscribing witnesses were not properly made before a notary or properly notarized.
“If the allegations are true and from our investigation it appears that they are,” Lonegan spokesman Rick Shaftan said, “it indicates fraud on the part of the candidate by knowingly signing a statement that she had witnessed the signatures on the petitions when that is not the case.”
“Dr. Eck should withdraw her candidacy immediately and join forces with Mayor Lonegan in our battle to stop the Obama Agenda by electing the first Republican Senator in our state in more than 40 years,” Shaftan added.
Eck filed petitions with 2285 signatures when declaring her candidacy with New Jersey Division of Elections on Monday, June 10. 1000 valid signatures are required to get on the primary ballot.
Murray Sabrin, a former Lonegan ally who supports Eck in the Special Senate Primary, said Lonegan is only hurting himself by trying to get Eck off the ballot.
“Lonegan is a control freak and a bully who is afraid of competition,”Sabrin said, “this move is going to cost him a lot of support, both in the primary and in the Special Election, if he gets there.
“Governor Christie chose these dates for the primary and the special election so that both Democrats and Republicans would have choices. Lonegan is trying to eliminate the Republicans’ choice.
“Dr. Eck has a compelling message. Lonegan is cowardly for trying to silence her.”
Sabrin, a finance professor at Ramapo College, ran for governor as a Libertarian in 2005 and in the GOP primary for U.S. Senate in 2008.
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Both GOP Candidates Favor Marriage Equality
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Eck Clarifies Her Position On Abortion, Says She Can’t Imagine Lonegan Getting Elected, Will Run For Senate In 2014
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Healthcare Solutions From Dr. Alieta Eck
What were they thinking?
Plumsted Comitteeman Running For Senate In Both Primaries
[…] Our friend and frequent guest contributor Art Gallagher of MMM is reporting tonight that Steve Lonegan’s U.S. Senate campaign is challenging the petitions filed by his sole rival for …. […]
I can’t believe Eck, a physician would produce an invalid petition. However if she did, better luck next time Doc.
What sent me rolling on the floor with laughter was Shaftan’s comments jumping the shark and going right to overt fraud. Someone pull the plug on this arrogance and pseudo outrage, please.
Murray Sabrin got his feelings hurt when Steve Lonegan did not support him in 2010 when he ran for U.S. Senate. But Sabrin made serious mistakes in approaching people for support–and in talking about foreign policy and other issues. I also got my feelings hurt when Lonegan did not support my campaign for Governor against Christie. But this is not about Sabrin, or me, or our personal feelings. Steve Lonegan is the only conservative in NJ right now with the money, organization, and smarts to win a state-wide election. If Lonegan wins, every conservative in the country wins. Let’s make it happen!
Mark, you must know that if you swear to have witnessed a signature (and you attest to that fact by signing the petition) and you did not actually witness it, you are committing fraud in the eyes of the law.
By the way, Lonegan’s lawyer, Mike Daily was in my Atlantic City High School class of 1967. We both learned politics from the folks who ran the old Boardwalk Empire under Nucky Johnson. I strongly doubt that Mike Daily would bring a case like this without first having the evidence to win.
There is growing evidence that there was a Democrat-backed effort to collect signatures for Eck to force Steve into a primary…. starting with the fact that the consulting firm that ran the petition drive lists on its staff list the leaders of both “Republicans for Corzine” (Rocco Riccio) and “Democrats for Christie” (Nicole Sanders). http://www.khartconsulting.com/our-team/
Drinking much tonight Phil? look at my voting affiliation.. I have been a Republican since 2010 and I am a Republican County elected official.
Why don’t you question me directly before you look like a fool.
OK – let’s start with three direct questions:
1. Who hired KHart to collect signatures?
2. Who witnessed the signatures you “helped collect”?
3. Why did KHart staffer Robert Petronglo tweet @CoryBooker that he wanted to work on his campaign, then delete that Tweet?
Thanks. I don’t drink.
Interesting. Instead of investigating the validity of signatures on petitions submitted by any or all of the Democrats (who are infamous for election fraud), Lonegan targeted his GOP primary opponent – a political neophyte who, on her best day, would have less than a snowball’s chance in hell of defeating him in August.
It’s a petty, venal, classless tactic obviously meant to force Dr. Eck to spend limited funds on her legal defense while simultaneously sending a less-than-subtle message (courtesy of Rick Shaftan): “Dr. Eck should withdraw her candidacy immediately and join forces with Mayor Lonegan.”
Though a tactic long practiced by dockside bullies and Cosa Nostra types, it’s the stock in trade of Steve Lonegan – one that has rightfully earned him the enmity of growing numbers of conservatives.
If Shaftan thinks this Alinskyite stunt will woo supporters and influence independent voters, it’s time for him to put down the crack pipe and give some serious thought to the proposition that what goes around really does come around.
After the August primary, Lonegan will get a megadose of his own political poison from the folks who worship at the altar of Saul Alinsky. The Booker campaign will methodically unpack ALL of Lonegan’s embarrassing baggage and, in the course of a multi-million dollar media blitz, will transform him from a petty political hack who talks a good conservative ball game into a racist, homophobic, woman-hating, immigrant-bashing, money-grubbing Beast from the Pit of Hell.
On election day in October, many thousands of Democrat voters (both living and dead) – along with an overwhelming number of independent voters – will cast their ballots for the guy who rescued a woman from a burning building while his Republican opponent finally figures out that, yes, karma really can be a bitch.
Shaftan do you have any life?
Do tell me how do know KHart was hired to collect signatures? The fact of the matter is KHart is not signed on to any US Senate campaign at this time.
Are you just mad KHart kicked your butt in your state committee seat run?
Shaftan has gone over the edge after drinking too much Kool Aid.
On Memorial Day of all days, he chose to attack Bob Dole; a genuine WW II hero. Now, one might disagree with Bob’s politics; but to attack him on Memorial Day shows how bereft of class Shaftan is.
Birds of a feather, Shaftan & Lonegan.
Joe Centonzi says it best though.
Jim Granelli
Triangulated correctly, this could be good publicity for Dr. Eck. Mean ole Steven Lonegan picking on a woman who is new to politics.
That’s what we want, fresh faces, not tired old retreads like Lonegan. Go back to making commercials Steve, you were good at that.
Jim Granelli
100% Jim
Shaftan, Kerpen, and the Lonegan campaign can probably expect to be sued by Sabrin and Kelly Hart for the statements made here and in another publication.
Coming on top of the $2.7 million Lonegan (AFP) is being sued for in Brennan v. Lonegan. This doesn’t look too good for team Lonegan. Too far this time boys.
Seth get your facts straight. I ran for the US Senate in 2008, not 2010, after I supported Lonegan in 2005.
Phil, get yor facts straight. Kelly was not hired by the campaign. Period.
The only person who works for a Democrat is Rick Shaftan, who is paid tens of thousands of dollars by Hudson County machine Democrats. source: NJELEC.
Phil, stop making wild accusations unless you want to be a party to a libel suit against the Lonegan campaign.
Lonegan’s operating style has a lot in common with Rick Shaftan’s other political client: Liberal Hudson County Democrat Machine Boss Nick Sacco.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlW46LWAg_k
I don’t think KHart was hired by the campaign. I do think they may have been hired by Democrats.
Ms. Sanders said she would answer direct questions but has not done so.
How do you explain this, Mr. Sabrin? https://twitter.com/kerpen/status/345726760169639936
And I am not affiliated with Mayor Lonegan’s campaign. Just an avid supporter after working with him at AFP for many years.
[…] 17,000 of our readers concerning the need to run a statesmanlike campaign, we get the news of your filing against Dr. Eck’s […]
I’d be happy with either one as Senator.
Like others, however, I cannot understand one move.
Why would Steve Lonegan waste so much of his needed resources in a party splitting fight? Every penny and every political friend will be needed to try to win an almost impossible Republican seat.
Lonegan = Sacco
On Thursday, Dr. Alieta Eck received a call from Steve Lonegan’s campaign. The caller demanded that she meet with Lonegan to discuss getting out of the race or else.
On Friday, the Lonegan campaign filed suit to try to force Dr. Eck off the ballot. Lonegan campaign manager Rick Shaftan was quoted in MoreMonmouthMusings: “Dr. Eck should withdraw her candidacy immediately and join forces with Mayor Lonegan.”
Where do they get off talking to a woman like that? Lonegan’s Shaftan learned it from his other politician he works for – liberal Hudson County Machine Democrat Nick Sacco:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8bYqQ5KBgE
Is this the kind of politics YOU support?
My longtime affiliation with Mayor Sacco, which has been for more than twenty years, was no problem for Murray Sabrin when I worked for him in 1997 and 2000.
Rick Shafton investigated for voter fraud. Helps elect Democrats. Steve should watch out who he hires…
http://www.getnj.com/onlygameintown/messages1104/12574.shtml
“I don’t think KHart was hired by the campaign. I do think they may have been hired by Democrats.”
Phil, you changed your story. You earlier said:
“starting with the fact that the consulting firm that ran the petition drive”
That’s what you wrote.
Fact? No, false. You lied.
Now you “think” Khart “may have been hired by Democrats”? Stop thinking. Your brain hurts.
That’s the best you can come up with? Another fake charge that went nowhere.
Sounds to me like the same thing your saying about other people. Shafton helps Dems get elected! LOSER!!!
The only two people who can prevent Steve Lonegan from winning this seat are Rick Shaftan and Steve Lonegan.
Oh this is simply laughable. Mr. Kerpen, if you are going to publicly accuse my team of being hired by democrats – please, sir, find proof in that first, I actually DARE YOU to try it. Rob tweeting to Cory Booker has nothing to do with my firm. And he knows as well as the rest of my team, if they want to work with a democrat, they are not doing it through K Hart Consulting, they are doing it on their own. America baby! So get a grip. We were NOT hired by Dr. Eck, or her campaign to gather signature either. We are not working for any U.S. Senate candidate, so unless you produce a contract proving otherwise, you’d be better served to move it along. That being said, you are now coming at my firm but I have yet to hear you say anything about Lonegan’s lying right hand, left hand handyman, Shaftan.
The one who boasts about Nick Sacco any chance he gets.
“Rick Shaftan said at 9:56 am on June 15th, 2013: My longtime affiliation with Mayor Sacco, which has been for more than twenty years, was no problem for Murray Sabrin when I worked for him in 1997 and 2000.”
Found this little tid bit also, ya know, in case you don’t want to research it yourself. Lonegan = Sacco
On Thursday, Dr. Alieta Eck received a call from Steve Lonegan’s campaign. The caller demanded that she meet with Lonegan to discuss getting out of the race or else.
On Friday, the Lonegan campaign filed suit to try to force Dr. Eck off the ballot. Lonegan campaign manager Rick Shaftan was quoted in MoreMonmouthMusings: “Dr. Eck should withdraw her candidacy immediately and join forces with Mayor Lonegan.”
Where do they get off talking to a woman like that? Lonegan’s Shaftan learned it from his other politician he works for – liberal Hudson County Machine Democrat Nick Sacco:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8bYqQ5KBgE
Yes, the same Senator, Mayor, Superintendent and whatever other job he’s sucking $300,000 of tax payer money from. I’ll spare you the corruption…. for now, which actually goes way beyond Hudson county. Do your research sir and stop lying about my team and my firm. Also, Murray Sabrin doesn’t work for K Hart, so why on earth would you ask him to respond on our behalf? Seriously, you guys are truly out of your minds. Stop it, it’s embarrassing.
On a side note: Hey Rick, you claim to be the definition of conservatism… Get your signs picked up in Sussex County before some of the local Republican mayors cite you for not following the sign ordinance.
Campaign strategy for Lonegan to win:
1) He changes him name
2) An asteroid hits Newark and wipes out Booker the night before the election
3) Christie changes the date of the election to an undisclosed date and only allows Lonegan to vote
Ms. Hart:
Thanks for answering one of the three questions I posed to Ms. Sanders above.
I must say I find the answer — that your “lead consultant” wanting to work for Corey Booker has nothing to do with your firm — less than compelling. But I appreciate you answering it nonetheless.
Could you also please kindly answer the other two questions?
1. Who hired KHart to collect signatures?
2. Who witnessed the signatures Ms. Sanders “helped collect”?
Thank you.
Phil, let me tell you what is “less than compelling”… the fact that your Mr. Conservative Steve Lonegan’s “lead consultant” works for liberal Hudson County Machine Democrat Nick Sacco. Does that mean that Lonegan is as corrupt as Sacco or what?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlW46LWAg_k
Happy too and then I have a few for you:
(1) Nobody hired Khart to collect signatures.
(2) No idea.
Now here are your questions:
(1) Why were you fired from AFP?
(2) Why was Mr. Lonegan fired as State Director of AFP in New Jersey?
(3) Did Lonegan’s removal as AFP state director have anything to do with taking money from vendors?
Waiting for your answers.
1. I wasn’t fired. I had an opportunity to build my own organization at American Commitment and did. We raised $12M last year. We will be active in New Jersey this year.
2. Steve wasn’t fired.
3. No.
You want us to believe Ms. Sanders and the rest of your team ran 10+ petitioners entirely on a volunteer basis. That you promoted the effort on the company Facebook and Twitter and Ms. Sanders used her company email address to coordinate the work – all gratis. And that you would never, never work for Democrats even though you have this guy (http://www.tollroadsnews.com/node/3114) and this guy (https://twitter.com/kerpen/status/345737246382641152) on staff.
I’ll let readers judge for themselves.
All of this sniping and political slap-fighting is irrelevant. Here is what is relevant: “On Thursday, Dr. Alieta Eck received a call from Steve Lonegan’s campaign. The caller demanded that she meet with Lonegan to discuss getting out of the race or else.”
Given what is already known about Steve Lonegan and his “management” style, I have no reason to doubt the veracity of this claim, nor am I surprised that he filed the challenge to Dr. Eck’s signatures on Friday – the day reserved by political weasels for dumping documents and initiating actions intended to escape the immediate attention of the news media.
Fortunately, Lonegan’s reprehensible gambit to drive his opponent out of the primary race hasn’t escaped the attention of movement conservatives, who have been busy spreading the word via e-mail and Facebook; next week, the mainstream news outlets in New Jersey will be discussing this unfortunate development and it doesn’t take the acumen of a seasoned political scientist to understand that the coverage and subsequent analysis will not reflect well on the Lonegan campaign – especially if Dr. Eck is ultimately vindicated. To be sure, Steve Lonegan will win the primary, regardless of the disposition of this challenge – but it will come at a lethal political cost.
For most conservatives, the measure of a candidate’s worth is found not only in the agenda he embraces and enunciates (anyone can talk the talk) but also in the man himself: his character and his integrity (does he walk the walk?).
In the case of Steve Lonegan, his own history will come full circle in this election cycle. The electorate will take the full measure of the man who would be U.S. Senator – and in the measuring, they will find him profoundly wanting.
I ran 70 plus people last year, on a VOLUNTEER basis.
@ Joe Centonzi…
BULLS EYE, again.
Jim Granelli
Come on Phil, AFP dumped you after you screwed up royally and wasted their money in the last election cycle.
Steve Lonegan was fired as State Director and moved down to “Senior Fellow” after he screwed up and wasted AFP’s money.
So, are you sure about that? I have a confidential memo that claims he did.
You are a 3-time liar in my book Phil baby, so what you believe or don’t believe is of no concern to me. Instead of blowing wind, present some proof of payment. You can’t. So keep lying.
Does Lonegan work for Democrats because he has Shaftan who, by his own admission, worked for a Hudson County Democrat boss for 20 years?
Actually, why don’t you ask Lonegan how many contracts he took from Democrat Mayors and then get back to us.
The TRUTH this time Phil.
Yeah, I think we’ll leave it up to the judges to decide.
Great job Art! Some big names posting today. Keep up the great work.
You Go Girl!
There always was a sceevy side of Steve Lonegan. And that Shaftan guy? Seems like he’s even worse.
Signed,
Silence Dogood, Redux
Hey Art – at least divergent and diverse groups are actually talking to each other on your blog!
Could be a start to try and get people working for one common cause – defeating the ultra liberal democrats come this NOVEMBER!
Reality.
http://americansforprosperity.org/newsroom/041212-americans-prosperity-foundation-commends-phil-kerpen-wishes-him-well/
Hey Phil, am I upsetting your gravy train?
“Phil Kerpen of American Commitment, a tax-exempt group that spent more than $3 million last year on advertisements criticizing Democratic candidates for Senate.”
Was your plan to use New Jersey’s Senate race to raise money for Lonegan and take a cut? Without Lonegan, what, no cut?
Hey, shouldn’t independent expenditures be INDEPENDENT? Why are you coordinating with Lonegan?
And is this why they dumped you Phil?
“The network of political groups headed by conservative industrialists David and Charles Koch spent millions of undisclosed dollars in last year’s elections. Now, after failing to help Republicans win the White House or the Senate, the Koch brothers are re-examining the network, its goals and strategies.
The Koch brothers rank among the most influential money men in conservative circles. Twice a year, they convene other wealthy conservatives to strategize and pledge money. They’ve also built a network of cause-oriented organizations over the years, ranging from the libertarian think tank Cato Institute to the not-quite-political organization Americans for Prosperity.
But last fall, despite a carefully coordinated campaign to thwart Obama’s re-election bid through advertising, organizing rallies and outreach, their efforts failed.
And they could be drawn into an investigation in California that threatens to pierce the veil of secrecy of donors behind $11 million in secret contributions. The $11 million went to an obscure California-based political committee, the Small Business Action Committee PAC, which was advertising on two ballot questions there. It caught the attention of the state Fair Political Practices Commission.
“We are bound by our statute, the Political Reform Act, to require disclosure in campaigns, and that is exactly what we’re doing,” says Ann Ravel, the commission’s chairwoman.
It turned out the money had moved quickly along a chain of tax-exempt, so-called social-welfare groups from Virginia to Arizona to California. One group was the Center to Protect Patient Rights, which is run by a political strategist, Sean Noble, with long-standing ties to the Kochs.
Pass-throughs like this are common among politically active social welfare groups, and under IRS rules, social welfare groups keep their donors secret. But California law is tougher than federal law. Disclosure of campaign contributions means saying where the money originated; anything less is considered money laundering.”
You claim I resigned from AFP in APRIL 2012 because of poor electoral results in NOVEMBER 2012. Incoherent.
Any claim of unlawful coordination or inurement is baseless.
But it is a fact that from September to November 2012 your Lead Consultant was working for the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, Elizabeth Warren, and Barack Obama.
Actually, my claims are far from ‘false’, Kerp.. as of right now, in this entire thread you are coordinating and are OBVIOUS mouthpiece of the the Lonegan campaign. Surprising that Shaftan isn’t doing it himself… but I guess being the self proclaimed big shot he is, he’s got you, his little minion doing his dirty work. Researching us. Stalking us… throwing out all these BS claims. Oh yeah, doin’ it Shaftan/Sacco style… Bravo, pal! Why else would you be on here? You have a certain love for Monmouth County? You all of a sudden stumbled upon More Monmouth Musings? You’re not even in New Jersey? Hmmmm… You keeping up to date with all the people Lonegan and his boy Shaftan are putting up to to cause a huge split in the party, then screws them too? Do tell me what your fascination with me and my team are, Sir? You want to take me down? You’re going to have to do a lot better than this!
Oops wait… I forgot this part:
Not my claim, but AFP’s claim on NPR.
And while we are on AFP. My “lead consultant” almost sounds like the Koch brother who used to pay you. Yes, the pro-prostitution, pro-illegal drugs, pro-gay marriage Koch who campaigned AGAINST Ronald Reagan in 1980. Let’s ask Lonegan about HIM — issue by issue, shall we?
By the way Phil, it goes to show how stupid you are that you are attacking me when I play no official role in the Eck campaign. I volunteered a little and that was it. The people running Eck’s campaign are crazy Nora Craig (hugs and kisses) and now I hear Steve Kush. Kush is like Shaftan and works for Hudson County Democrats so they should get along real well. When not working for Democrats, Kush was a low level loser on the Christie campaign who just got indefinitely suspended from his job as a GOP county committee executive director in New Mexico (I was the ED Sussex County, NEW JERSEY). Why did they suspend Kush? Because he made a lewd comment about a 19 year old girl. Google it, Phil.
What I don’t think you understand Phil is that Shaftan got you to attack me NOT because of anything I’m doing for Eck — but because I kicked his butt in the Sussex County State Committee race TWO TO ONE. He is mad and wants pay backs. He suckered you into working on the wrong election. That was over on June 4th and I won.
Wow! If Phil wasn’t fired from AFP he should have been… From what I read above he can’t even get 10 people to volunteer…
If that’s the case, I’m wondering where Steve got the funds to pay all those people to get 7000 signatures. Should be an interesting elec report!
You never know, Phil just might lose his tax status…
From what I hear happened in court today, Phil and Rick have a lot of egg on their face in regard to KHart. Couldn’t a happened to two nicer guys. Now they better get on with the smear job of Eck since they seem to like smearing conservative ladies, so they can win the primary.
[…] Law Judge Edward J. Delanoy, Jr rejected the Steve Lonegan for Senate’s challenge to Dr. Alieta Eck’s nominating petitions for the August 13, 2013 Special Republican Senate […]
[…] typical Lonegan blunt-object fashion, he recently took a gratuitous swipe at his long-shot primary opponent, Dr. Alieta Eck, by challenging the validity of her nominating […]
[…] Somerset and Union) and the National Republian Congressional Committee. She hopes to avoid having to defend her nominating petitions come April. She also hopes to be unopposed for the GOP nomination. Eck said she is being […]