I Know Leigh-Ann Bellew

By James C. Granelli

But first, please understand that I thought long and hard about writing this commentary. After all, Bellew is running in a primary in another district than my own and I have my hands full rebuilding our home after Sandy. I would have loved some peace and quiet right now; instead of what I expect will be coming; harsh criticism from some Tea Party people who will attack me as a faux Conservative. I could have simply sat this out. But then, people that know me; know most of all that I am indeed a Conservative and I would feel ill at ease for not doing the right thing. I will let my resume and references speak for themselves should those attacks come.

 

So, to borrow a quote from Tom Selleck on the TV show Blue Bloods “doing the right thing may be hard, but it’s not complicated,” hence my thoughts here. I do this not to attack someone. Rather, it is because I sincerely feel that based on my personal experience; Leigh Ann Bellew is not right for a NJ Senate seat. I simply believe that she does not have the proper demeanor, nor is she qualified to hold the position.

 

My comments are not really about who is the better Conservative. It’s about qualifications for the job. You see, I became Leigh Ann’s second campaign manager in her 2006 Congressional Campaign after her initial campaign manager could not fulfill his duties.

 

However, as to those Conservative credentials, I do know that Bellew took donations from former Governor Whitman’s PAC in 2006, and we know that Governor Whitman was quite liberal. If one professes to be a Conservative, then one must act like one, even when taking donations. You have to “walk the talk” right from the start of one’s political career.

 

But what concerns me more are issues relating to her resume. Leigh Ann Bellew never expressed to me that she was an attorney or an educator. She was simply a stay at home mom running her first race. I do applaud anyone who home schools their children or teaches in Sunday school. I have friends that do so. However, to call one self an educator in such a situation is a very big stretch of the truth.

 

The attorney thing Bellew talks about? It’s certainly news to me. I think I would have known about it.

 

More disconcerting is that I also found Bellew to be very fickle on a day to day basis and unforgiving of people working for her. People in this county know me to be hard nosed when it comes to campaigns and politics, but you have to be demanding to get the best out of candidates and given situations. Those same people also know I work my heart out for candidates. I give the best and expect the best. Anybody else I have worked for would tell you the same.

 

So, it was a shock that when I and others tried to help her, she was never happy and was always “biting the hand that was trying to feed her.” Bellew complained about the people helping her, as well as those not helping her; always with an angry and bitter tone. This becomes a problem because you have to work with people in the Legislature, not run over them.

 

Perhaps this is why Bellew also had trouble raising a substantial amount of campaign donations. If candidates can’t raise funds in a General Election, they are a goner and present a substantial risk of losing a Republican seat to a Democrat.

 

Finally, I found Bellew unable to handle hard criticism and volleys from the other side. One particular incident stood out at a rally in Asbury Park that we attended. Heckles from union members sent her into the corner crying. Simply put, she couldn’t handle the heat of the campaign. Because of these continuing problems, I left the campaign.

 

Think of it this way, if Leigh Ann Bellew can’t handle the heat of the campaign, how is Bellew going to handle Trenton Democrats?

Posted: May 6th, 2013 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: 13th Legislative District, 2013 Election, LD 13, Legislature, Leigh-Ann Bellew, Monmouth GOP | Tags: James C. Granelli, Jim Granelli, Leigh-Ann Bellew | 2 Comments »

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