County GOP boosted challengers with $25,000
UPPER TOWNSHIP, NEW JERSEY — The power of the county party endorsement translated in two ways for the successful challengers in the Republican Primary for Upper Township Committee.
They out-raised the incumbents almost 3-1, thanks largely to a $25,000 boost from the Cape May County Regular Republican Organization, and won the race by a wide margin.
The challengers, cousins Zachary and Samuel Palombo, son and nephew of former longtime mayor Rich Palombo, also outspent the incumbents, Mayor Jay Newman and Deputy Mayor Kimberly Hayes.
According to the 20-day post-election reports filed with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) and the ELEC website, the Palombos raised $37,362 and spent $31,088 en route to winning the primary June 4.
The reports filed for the Newman-Hayes team showed they raised $10,522 and spent $17,871. According to the ELEC website, where they filed their reports, Newman and Hayes had total contributions of $13,325, mostly from a $10,000 contribution from Hayes. It also shows expenditures totaling $24,778 with just over $21,000 of that going for billboards, lawn signs and printing and mailing expenses.
In addition to Hayes, the major contributors included Mario Diliberto of Doylestown, Pa., $2,500; and $275 each from Anthony Monzo of Cape May, Joseph Monzo of Cape May Court House and Lyndsy Newcomb of Cape May Court House.
In addition to the county Republican organization, major contributors to the Palombos included Committeeman Curtis Corson Jr. of Ocean View, $2,528 (including $2,028 for an election night event); Kevin Rutherford of Collingswood, $2,000; Joseph LaRosa of Ocean View, $1,000; and $500 each from Aldo Palombo, Daniel Palombo and Richard Palombo, all of Marco Island, Fla.; $300 each from Wendy A. Dougherty of Strathmere, Mark. R. Gill of Ocean View, and Archer and Greiner, a professional corporation of Voorhees. Larry Truli of Marmora donated $200.
Aldo Palombo is the candidates’ grandfather and a former mayor of North Wildwood.
The bulk of the Palombos’ spending was $16,144 for media consulting to Jamestown Associates of Philadelphia and $9,000 for network TV to Target Enterprises of Sherman Oaks, Calif.
The race among the four candidates was for the Republican nomination for two seats on Upper Township Committee.
Zachary Palombo earned the most votes with 1,417 and Samuel Palombo had 1,408 to secure the GOP nomination in the November election. No Democrats had filed petitions to challenge as of the deadline. That means the Palombos should be a lock for the seats.
Newman was third with 970 votes and Hayes fourth with 885.
– By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff