Christie Applauds City/County Camden Cooperation

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie today welcomed progress made among the City of Camden, Camden County and the State’s Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to further the goal of regionalizing police services in the county. The MOU, reached after months of work between the Christie Administration, Camden County and the City of Camden, signals real progress in a cooperative effort to adopt a new model to more efficiently and effectively keep communities and families safe. 
 
“Today marks a critically important milestone on the path to making regionalization of police services a reality and innovating the way government works in order to fulfill our number one priority as elected leaders – keeping communities and families safe. I have no doubt that the work being done today in the City of Camden and Camden County will serve as a model for the rest of the state in how to more effectively protect the public,” said Governor

“I want to thank Mayor Dana Redd, Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli, and the many local elected officials for the time and energy devoted to this effort, and for having the courage to take on this challenge in a candid and unafraid manner that will truly modernize law enforcement in order to best meet the public safety needs of today. By putting the people they serve first, Camden will show that local governments can lead through difficult economic times and work together to ensure our residents are safe,” concluded Governor Christie.
 
The MOU furthers the common goal of assisting financially distressed municipalities that continue to deal with difficult budgetary pressures, increasing costs and tough choices by providing an avenue for cost savings, while maintaining a high level of public safety and confidence. Regionalization of services is intended to combine and maximize the deployment of public safety resources by eliminating overlap and duplication while reducing costs.
 
Participation will be open to every municipality in the county on a voluntary basis.
 

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Young Republicans To Meet Wednesday

A general meeting is of the South Jersey Young Republicans is set for Wednesday, July 27 at 8:30pm at the CCGOP headquarters on  900 Haddonfield Rd, Cherry Hill.
On the agenda: By laws and election of officers.
Please come out for the vote and bring potential members.
The Camden County GOP welcomes your support.

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Do You Remember Leo's Yum Yum?

Oh, how I remember the Yum Yum.
Mmmmm . . . so cool and refreshing on these hot, hot late summer days.
If you don't know what Yum Yum is, you don't know what you're missing.
But if you're from Camden, NJ you probably do remember Leo's Famous Yum Yum.
Founded by Italian immigrant, John (Giovanni) Leo, Leo's Famous Yum Yum began in 1936 on Third Street in South Camden (then known as Little Italy or Little South Philly).
According to Phil Cohen (as reported on Phil's excellent web site about Camden's earlier days):"Leo's Famous Yum-Yum was sold to street vendors in metal Twenty-quart cans packed in wooden barrels surrounded by ice and salt. Yum-Yum was delivered on a daily basis to the various vendors. The dessert lasted in ice for about fourteen hours. By the 1950's, Leo's Famous Yum-Yum had become the leading frozen dessert treat not only in Camden, New Jersey (120,000 population at the time) but in all of South Jersey."
Yes, I remember those wooden barrels.
I remember them because I carted one of those wooden barrels through the streets of Camden selling Yum Yum out of a little red wagon. How I remember digging deep into the can as the day wore on. And how we all loved counting our pennies, nickels, dimes and (sometimes) quarters as we sold the Yum Yum on side streets amidst Camden's row homes.
We used to keep burlap over the barrel with the can inside to help keep the yum yum cold.
Well, I'm happy to report that Leo's Yum Yum is still available and it still tastes much as we all remember it.
The third generation of the Leo family is now making the Yum Yum in nearby Marlton, NJ.
Here's how Leo's web site describes the Yum Yum: "It's like a sherbet but it isn't. It is kind of like real Italian gelato, but not really. It is a product that has a taste and a history all it's own."
Here's how I describe it: It's not slushy like water ice. It's drier. And, it doesn't have all the syrup that water ice has. It's smoother than water ice. But it's not creamy like gelato. The texture can even be a bit clumpy or flaky. But it's icy cold and genuinely tasty: a unique delight that you are bound to enjoy.
And of course, I recommend the lemon Yum Yum. That's the original, true flavor.
You can buy Leo's Famous Yum Yum at The Candy Buffet on the corner of Kings Highway and Haddon Avenue in Haddonfield. or at Leo's at 7 Tomlinson Mill Road in Medford.

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Video: Campbell's Announces Significant Layoffs

Campbell's Soup Co. Announces Layoffs: MyFoxPHILLY.com

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Christie's Innovative Schools Plan Makes News

Governor Christie Joins Camden Mayor Dana Redd to Discuss Public-Private Partnership to Turn Around Chronically Failing Schools. June 9, 2011

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Christie Announces Innovative Schools Initiative

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie joined Camden Mayor Dana Redd today to announce an innovative education project aimed at turning around chronically failing schools. The public-private partnership is designed to expand the education options available for children and parents who are trapped in some of New Jersey’s school districts with the largest achievement gaps. This pilot program will authorize public “Transformation Schools” operated by school management organizations and is limited in scope to specifically target students with the greatest need in order to ensure every child in New Jersey has access to the same quality education. In New Jersey,100,000 New Jersey children are trapped in nearly 200 chronically failing schools.

“While we pursue a comprehensive reform agenda to deliver positive results to every student in New Jersey, we simply cannot continue asking parents and children in failing schools to wait for relief," said Governor Christie. "This pilot program will provide an innovative alternative for those children who need it most, bolstering our efforts to ensure opportunity for every child in our state. Perhaps most importantly, through the knowledge that change is on the way, this program will begin to restore hope in communities where failing schools deny children hope and opportunity. I thank Mayor Redd for her leadership and commitment to addressing the tough challenges facing this city, and local leaders for getting behind this needed program."

This pilot program will be established by legislation that will allow for a board of education to apply to the Department of Education to create a public-private partnership. These Transformation Schools will be operated by a school management organization and will be subject to the same educational standards as any other public schools and be accountable to the Department of Education.

“For far too long, our urban youth have struggled to break through the achievement barriers found in the chronically failing schools in urban communities like Camden,” said Mayor Dana Redd. “This Transformation Schools initiative will give these students and their parents renewed hope, access to quality educational opportunities and the ability to reach their potential for a productive and successful future.”

As of December 2010, school management organizations operated in 31 states, in over 700 schools across the country, including elementary, middle, and high schools, and educating over 350,000 students. Under President Barack Obama, funding for School Improvement Grants (SIGs) has increased and is awarded based on the requirement that states direct the funds to the lowest performing schools and adopt one of four intervention models to turn around the low performing schools, including utilizing school management organizations

The Transformation Schools Pilot Program:
· Limited to School Districts with Persistently Failing Schools. Districts where students face a chronic achievement gap will be able to apply to the Department of Education to create Transformation Schools.

· Participation in the Pilot Program is Voluntary. Eligible school districts can choose whether or not to apply and the Department of Education will be permitted to authorize up to five Transformation Schools.

· Eligible Board of Education Must Demonstrate to the Commissioner of Education Clear Measures for Success. Whether the application is to build a new school or to convert a persistently failing school, the same standards apply.

o The Board of Education supports the application. If the board does not support the application, it will not be considered by the Department of Education;

o School management organization has experience operating and managing schools, has been successful in doing so, and is financially healthy and sound;

o All construction costs will be borne by the school management organization.

· School District Spending. For each student enrolled in the Transformation School, the school district will pay the school management organization no more than 90% of the district’s per-pupil expenditure (the same amount as the Charter School rate).

· Enrollment:

o Converting Failing School. If a failing school is converted, all students who were enrolled in the failing school will automatically be enrolled in the Transformation School unless they opt out. If the Transformation School is larger than the failing school it replaced, enrollment for the additional openings will be open to all students in the district based on a random selection process.

o New School. Enrollment will be open to all district students based on a random selection process that will not discriminate on the basis of intellectual capacity, aptitude, proficiency in the English language, or any other basis that would be illegal if used by a school district.

Under the proposed legislation, Transformation Schools would be authorized for five years, with the ability to apply to the Commissioner of Education for re-authorization. At the end of the first five years, the Commissioner of Education will be required to submit a comprehensive report to the Governor and Legislature concerning the effectiveness of the Transformation Schools and making recommendations as to whether the pilot program should be expanded.

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Camco Freeholder Director Owes Thousands In Taxes

Camden County Democrat Freeholder Lou Cappelli owes nearly $30,000 in back taxes on two properties according to this morning's Courier-Post.
Here's an excerpt from the front-page story in the Courier:

Cappelli, the board's freeholder-director, "owes back taxes totaling over $21,000, an amount comparable to his current freeholder salary," Tom Booth, chairman of the Camden County GOP, said in a statement.
Cappelli, who is seeking re-election this year, and his estranged wife, Jacqueline, owe $29,804 on two properties in Collingswood, according to a legal notice published by the borough late last year.
The notice said the Cappelli properties -- a home in the 500 block of West Browning Road and an office site in the 800 block of Haddon Avenue -- would be part of a Dec. 17 sale of municipal tax liens.

Click here to read more.

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Guadagno Highlights NJ Business Investment, Growth

New Jersey Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno visited Camden today to highlight business relocation and expansion in the city. The Lt. Governor met with local business leaders and mayor Dana Redd.
One of the highlights of her visit was a tour of the Catapult Learning headquarters at the Ferry Terminal Building on Aquarium Drive. Catapult moved its headquarters from Philadelphia to the Camden waterfront last year. Instrumental in the relocation was the company’s execution of a state Business Employment Incentive Program (BEIP) grant of $1.16 million over 10 years. The grant, which was based on the creation of 80 new jobs in New Jersey, helped Catapult offset the cost of relocating from Philadelphia.

Catapult Learning, formerly known as Sylvan Education Solutions, is a national leader in providing educational services to public, charter, private and religious school students. Catapult employs 3,000 teachers and staff throughout the United States and provides support to nearly 1,500 schools.

Another highlight was the Lt. Governor’s tour of the headquarters of the Campbell Soup Company which has been in Camden for almost 150 years. Campbell Soup Company recently invested more than $90 million to build a 80,000-square-foot employee center. The new campus will serve as the cornerstone for further development of the city’s Gateway District and potentially lead to a new office park that will attract other businesses to the city. Campbell Soup Company is the largest private taxpayer and employer in Camden with about 1,200 jobs in its world headquarters at Campbell Place and a total of 2,083 employees statewide.
In relocating to New Jersey, Catapult officials cited the pro-business stance of the Christie-Guadagno Administration. They are not alone. Three other companies moved last year from Pennsylvania to New Jersey. They were:

· Telamon Corporation, which moved from Levittown, Pennsylvania to South Brunswick, thanks to a BEIP grant of $102,079 over 10 years. The firm provides a variety of services to the telecommunications industry. As a result of the state’s assistance, the company expects to create more than 30 new jobs within the next two years and leverage public/private investment of more than $1.4 million.

· SSM Industries, which relocated from Philadelphia to West Deptford with help from a BEIP grant of $609,000 over 10 years. The move brought 70 jobs and $2.15 million in capital investment to West Deptford. SSM Industries is a metal fabricator and installer that supplies HVAC units to universities, laboratories, and hospitals.

· A.J. Drexel Plasma Institute, which recently signed a 10-year lease for 20,000 square feet of wet labs on the fifth floor of the Waterfront Technology Center at Camden. The wet labs were constructed through the state’s Economic Development Authority with the goal of attracting more biotechnology and life sciences businesses to the area, which is already happening.

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Christie Inches Toward County Police Consolidation

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie today issued the following statement:
“We are in full support of Mayor Redd in her short-term response to policing in the City of Camden and her leadership in seeking long-term answers to meet public safety demands for her city and Camden County. Fiscal realities are forcing change, and as we witnessed in Camden, not everyone is willing to accept that reality. So it’s time for all of us to assert leadership and work together on a new approach to combine and maximize public safety resources, eliminate redundancies and inefficiencies, and provide a long-term solution to create a new and strong public safety network.”

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Remembering Carmella "Millie" Belmonte Cirucci

Yesterday we laid Aunt Millie to rest.
Surely everyone has an "Aunt Millie" somewhere -- or an Aunt Peg or Aunt Helen or Aunt somebody or other.
But our Aunt Millie was one-of-a-kind.
And, to the best of our knowledge she was the last surviving aunt among all the many aunts and uncles that populated my father's side of the family.
I could tell plenty of stories about Aunt Millie.
But here's the way her son (my cousin, Richard) told it yesterday at Millie's funeral mass:


When Carmella “Millie” Belmonte married Enrico “Henry” Cirucci, they honeymooned for three nights in New York City, in a hotel room that cost six dollars a night.

Their lives had a mirror quality to them, since Millie had seven sisters and two brothers, and Henry had seven brothers and two sisters. Both were incredibly close with their siblings. While Henry was a soldier in World War II, Millie lived with Henry’s brother Danny and his wife, Dolly in Camden.

When Henry returned from the war, they lived at 842 S. Third St. and later at 1304 Dayton Street, both in Camden. It was a time when all of their siblings lived close to each other.

Around 1956, Millie & Henry made a decision that was considered crazy -- they moved to the country; to a town called Audubon, four-and-a-half miles down the White Horse Pike from Camden. Despite the “great distance,” the family stayed close and visitors filled the home often- much to Millie’s delight. She was a warm, wonderful person who loved company and enjoyed entertaining. Her passion was cooking… her hobby was setting the table… and both were done frequently and with great joy.

Guests would begin by collecting in her tiny kitchen, then migrate to the dining room- while reserving the kitchen space as “the kids table”. There was always an abundance of food, a warm jug of red wine from the steps of the attic, and plenty of laughter.

Summertime, the crowd would shift out to the yard, where the grill was hot and the screen house was packed.

And on Christmas Eve, there was only one place you would find Millie’s family -- in her basement. No this wasn’t a punishment- it was an EVENT. The room was about 45 feet long by 15 feet wide… with a “paisan kitchen” on one end and a bar at the other. A table that seated 20 comfortably ran the length of the room. The decor was courtesy of a “Two Guys” closeout, with a mismatched tile floor, year round twinkle lights and knotty pine wallpaper. Let’s just say, if you’re one of the many to have had a meal down there, you know it was a room you’ll never come across again. And you know how lucky you were to have had the experience.

Raising her two children, Richard and Carole, was Millie’s greatest accomplishment. Both have wonderful childhood memories. While the home was full of love, she was no pushover. Mildred would not hesitate to offer a firm hand (otherwise known as a “shellackin”) if her children got out of line. Carole, the athlete of the family, was more adept at running around the dining room table to avoid a beating. At some point, Millie would offer up a hand bite… the official Italian mother sign for “game over.”

Millie was overjoyed when Richard and his wife Valerie gave her two beautiful grandchildren- Colleen and Rick. Once, after an evening of watching baby Ricky, she met Rich and Val at the door and said: “Take this baby back! He started crying, turned blue and passed out. This child nearly KILLED ME!”

At first, the family thought she was exaggerating, but soon after, Ricky did demonstrate his little baby drama for others. Fortunately, he eventually grew out of it. Unfortunately, his first performance was a solo show for Millie- an experience she never forgot.

Millie spent her summers at the shore, even though she hated the sun and never got her hair wet. She and her sister, Ceil, considered themselves the official family caterers of Ocean City. By 7 am every morning, there was a menu displayed outside of 3629 West Avenue, identifying the day’s meal plan. And the family was regularly pulled off the beach because Millie had crespelle soup and hot turkey dinner waiting back at the house- at 3:30 pm… on a weekend… in August!

If you asked Millie, she considered her career to be that of a wife, mother, grandmother and homemaker. But she also worked in a wig factory, at Campbells Soup and RCA. However, her greatest professional expression came when she worked as a seamstress at Julie’s bridal shop in Audubon in the 1980’s and early ‘90s. She was so talented, she even redesigned her own wedding gown so that her grand daughter, Colleen, could wear it proudly 50 years later.

Still later, she embraced her role as great-grandmother to her five beautiful great-grandchildren- Jordan, Justin, Katie, Anna & Michael. They all called her “Gram” and their pictures covered most of the surfaces of her apartment.

Millie could party with the best of them -- she was famous for performing the “Millie Walk Dance” -- a move she broke out at every family event. When her health began to turn, we worried that she might not make it to see Christmas, 2010. Yet she made it to the Feast of the Seven Fishes at Carole‘s on Christmas Eve, drove down to the shore with Richard later that night, had brunch at Colleen’s on Christmas morning, played the Wii with Jordan, had dinner with Rich, Val and friends, was driven back to Voorhees Assisted Living on the tail of a big snowstorm. The next day, Carole called her to see if she had a chance to catch up on her rest after such a busy couple of days and Millie said, “Were going to have to talk about this for next year -- I think it’s terrible – all of you leaving me alone at the holidays”. Even in the face of failing health, all she wanted to do was be with her family.

When she couldn’t go to them, her family would, and did come to visit her at Voorhees Assisted Living. It brought her great joy to have company, and even in her last weeks and months, she insisted that everyone eat when they stopped by. That included the staff, who filled her days with happiness and compassionate care when others weren’t around.

It was a blessed life indeed.

Millie passed away on Thursday, March 3rd - quietly, peacefully and without pain.

She often said that her life was very satisfying.

The memories we all have are priceless.

And I speak on her behalf when I say that both she, and we, are all incredibly grateful that you all played a part in this happy life. Thank you.

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Cheesecake Factory Remains A Huge Favorite

Some people call it a "diner on steroids."
But if you've ever really dined at The Cheesecake Factory, you know it ain't no diner. It's a zippy, up-to-the-minute, full service restaurant and hoppin bar that's ready to serve you just about anything you crave. And, ohhhh -- that cheesecake!
Of course, it's a branded chain. But lest you think that every Cheesecake Factory is totally the same, you're wrong. Yes, they all maintain high standards. They all attract large crowds. They all provide great service. And they all serve real, honest-to-goodness tasty food. But beyond the delightful architectural whimsy of every Cheesecake Factory, you'll find real people who make the whole operation tick. And it's the staff people who make every Cheesecake Factory unique.
We particularly like the staff at The Cheesecake Factory at Garden State Park in Cherry Hill (NJ).
Under the able direction of genial General Manager Kevin Johnson, this operation hums like a finely-tuned instrument. Though it's a very busy place, the wait staff has time for each and every customer and every member of the staff seems to go out of his or her way to satisfy. As you return, the staff not only remembers you but they remember your preferences and desires.
And often, Kevin himself will circulate to greet the many diners and find out if your satisfied.
One final note: Many people seem to think that the only reason to go to the Cheesecake Factory (beyond the cheesecake, of course) is gargantuan portions. Well, you can have the giant portions if you want. They're still on the menu. But there are also many smaller plates, half portions and special offerings that won't overwhelm you. You'll be surprised at all the options. And the restaurant is always ready to meet your special requests.
Great food. Reasonable prices. Endless choices. Terrific staff. You can't beat it!

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Get Outa The Cold And Into The Mall

We wanted to walk.
We wanted to people-watch.
We wanted to see beautiful things and connect with the world.
We wanted to taste, savor, gaze and (maybe) shop.
So we headed on over to the Cherry Hill Mall.
The floors were gleaming. The skylights above welcomed the sun and the blue skies. And in the stores, seasonal merchandise was significantly reduced while spring and summer items (many also reduced, ahead of season) gave us a taste of the warmer seasons to come.
We saw so many young families and children and neighbors and a fair share of fashionistas as well.
And we felt absolutely invigorated.
The Mall is teeming and more new stores are on the way. In fact, we hear rumors that a major, ultra designer clothier will soon open in the wing adjoining Nordstrom. And don't be surprised if this year and next bring even more new restaurants along that tempting new bistro row that fronts the Mall.
Get out from under your snuggie. C'mon -- head on over to the Mall.
Rejoin the human race!

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Ex NJ Judicial Biggy Gets Job At Pol-Linked Firm

Over at Politics Patrol, Bob Ingle has the scoop on the future of former New Jersey Supreme Court Justice John Wallace -- the man who Governor Chris Christie failed to renominate.
Hey, don't feel sorry for Wallace.
He just landed a job with a major South Jersey law firm -- one that's extremely well-connected politically.
Here's how Ingle tells it:

John Wallace Jr., the man Gov. Christie refused to re-nominate for the state Supreme Court, has found a job with a politically connected law firm. He will work with Brown & Connery in Westmont. A partner in that firm, William Tambussi, made $50,200 in campaign donations in 2009, including $7,200 to a PAC called The Leaders Fund which is tied to the Boss George Norcross Democratic organization. The firm’s clients include the DRPA, the Delaware River & Bay Authority, South Jersey Port Corporation, municipal governments, school districts and county agencies across South Jersey.

So, now that the final chapter of the Wallace saga seems to have been written, why are the Democrats who control the NJ State Senate still dragging their feet on the nomination of his successor - Anne Patterson? Why?
Patterson was nominated many months ago but the Senate won't even hold hearings on her nomination.
What are the Democrats trying to prove with this senseless, stubborn maneuver?
Wallace has moved on.
Why can't the Democrats in the Senate do the same?
Click here to read more from Bob Ingle.

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Camco Roads Pre-Salted; Burlco, No

I've just come off the roads here in the South Jersey region and I can report that the major roads in Camden County  (NJ) have already been pre-slated as the snow begins to fall throughout the area.
I crossed over into Burlington County and found quite a different situation.
As far as I can tell, the major roads in Burlington County have not been pre-salted.
So, take precautions as you move about Burlington County.
And congratulations to the Camden County road crews for getting out ahead of the storm.
Click here to find out more about Camden County's pre-treatment efforts.

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Camden: Today's Problems Decades In Making

Kevin Riordan's recent column in the Philadelphia Inquirer is somewhat critical of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie but that's [almost] okay since Riordan also illuminates Camden's troubled history and some of the real reasons for its decline. And Kevin should know since he's done a great job of covering Camden, its people and its problems for decades. Here's part of what he says:

It seems the private sector will put money into Camden only if that investment is subsidized by the rest of us.
Even the biggest companies, whose bottom lines were enriched by the sweat of city residents for generations, want special assistance. They simply have to have loans or grants or PILOTs (payments in lieu of taxes).
It's acceptable to expect, even demand, a basket of public goodies (known as "incentives") before moving to Camden. Or not moving out.
Meanwhile, ordinary people have left by the thousands. From a peak of 125,000 in 1950, Camden's population had fallen nearly a third by 1990.
By that point the city had, for all practical purposes, been insolvent for 20 years.

Click here to read the entire column.

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LEAP, Rutgers, Knight Launch ELRA In Camden

 Dr. Richard L. McCormick, President of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey speaks as Rutgers Camden Chancellor Dr. Wendell Pritchett and LEAP Founder Dr. Gloria Bonilla-Santiago listen.

 The site of the new Early Learning Research Academy.

 LEAP Founder Dr. Gloria Bonilla-Santiago

 Dr. Wendell Pritchett, Chancellor of Rutgers Camden speaks at the event.

It was a glorious morning in our hometown of Camden, NJ this morning and we were happy to be on hand for the groundbreaking of the new John S. and James L. Knight Early Learning Research Academy on the campus of Rutgers University.
We attended this gala event at the invitation of Dr. Gloria Bonilla-Santiago, the Rutgers Board of Governors Distingtuished Service Professor and the driving force behind the LEAP Academy University Charter School. The school was created in 1997 as one of 13 inaugural public charter schools in the state of New Jersey.  Originally a K–5 charter school serving 324 students, LEAP has since expanded to serve 780 students grades K–12 and also houses a 90-student preschool program. 
LEAP’s story actually began in 1993, when Dr. Gloria Bonilla-Santiago and the Rutgers Center for Strategic Urban Community Leadership developed the concept of an independently governed, public charter school that could improve education and opportunities for the children and families of Camden City. 
In its time LEAP Academy has graduated four senior classes and every year since the first in 2005, LEAP graduates have achieved 100% college acceptance.  The school has earned praise from the state, receiving both the New Jersey Public Charter School ExemplarySchool Award and the 2002-2003 Pioneer Award from NJ Dept. of Education.  
This new facility will mark a move by LEAP, Rutgers and the Knight Foundation into the realm of preschool and early learning. It's a very exciting development and it bodes well for Camden and the entire region.
BTW: We understand that $30 million in state funds are available to eligible charter schools and LEAP would certainly seem to be a worthwhile beneficiary of such funding. New Jersey's Acting Education Commissioner, Rochelle Hendricks was at today's groundbreaking and she spoke highly of LEAP. We also know that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is a major booster of charter schools.
We direct the Governor and the Commissioner's attention to LEAP. Here's one program that certainly seems worthy of additional funding.

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A Special Message From Jon Runyan

We did it! Last night we made history and sent a message to the political establishment. I want to thank the voters and all of the dedicated volunteers who made this victory possible.
Over the course of the campaign, I met thousands of families and individuals who are fed up with higher taxes, bigger government and out-of-control spending by politicians in Washington. As I said last night, I will give everything I have to help get this country back on track and put people back to work. I'll do it through hard work and common sense - something very much needed in Congress.
Our campaign ran one of the most aggressive Get Out the Vote operations in the country - making 280,523 phone calls since October 19th. I will never forget the effort that was behind me winning this race and I will never let you down.
It is going to be an honor to represent you in Congress.
Thanks for your time and support,

Jon Runyan

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Democrat Boondoggle Robs County, Hurts Economy

Losing jobs is nothing new to Camden County. 
It is all to familiar occurrence.
Businesses leave Camden County because taxes are just too high.  But how awful and disheartening is it when our county Freeholders deliberately causes a thriving business to go under?
The Pennsauken Mart, a South Jersey landmark since 1955, was home to over 150 businesses and and a reliable lifeline for the small business entrepreneur. 
The 35 acres in Pennsauken may not mean much to the Camden County Freeholders, but when they tore down “The Mart” in 2007 to make way for the developers they took away businesses and pay checks from our residents.
Our current Board of Freeholders had the brilliant idea to replace the Mart with what was to be an arena and conference center.  When that failed the project became Renaissance Walk, an upscale apartment complex with about 612 high-end residences; where rents were planned to go as high as $2,000 a month.
We're still waiting for the apartments -- waiting, waiting . . . .
Blame does not fix a problem – but new leadership and direction will. 
That is why the team of George Zallie and Scot DeCristofaro will work to give Camden County residents a real comprehensive all-inclusive chance for the future – and not destroy the dreams of the past.
With unemployment running at 11 percent, the people of Camden County need jobs. 
We cannot bring back the Pennsauken Mart, but we can – with your help on November 2 – work to improve the economic outlook and build a better future for Camden County.

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Is This A Good Omen, Or What?

GOP congressional candidate Dale Glading is nearly blinded by the Light From Above this morning at Camden County Republican headquarters in Cherry Hill. 

Oh yes, there's a rainbow on his shoulder, and
I take that as a Very Good Sign indeed!

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Runyan, Glading Energize Camco GOP Crowd

 Camden County GOP Freeholder candidate Scot DeCristofaro (center, smiling) stands alongside his children as fellow freeholder candidate George Zallie (right) looks on this morning in Cherry Hill

 No doubt about it: Enthusiasm is high and this slogan takes the cake!

 Congressional candidate Jon Runyan fires up the crowd.

A large crowd of energized campaign workers, tea partiers and ordinary citizens turned out this morning in Cherry Hill as the Camden County GOP mobilized troops for the final 72 hours of the 2010 campaign.
Lawn signs were flying out the door.
Voter contact lists were being picked up by neighborhood leaders.
And phone banks were already well-staffed and operating at peak when congressional candidates Jon Runyan and Dale Glading and county row office candidates George Zallie, Scot DeCristofaro and Chris Leone-Zwillinger stopped by to greet supporters and offer thanks and encouragement.
I continue to be impressed with the numbers, the enthusiasm and the dedication that I see in the volunteers who are turning out to make democracy work for the conservative cause -- even in Camden County!
It's nothing short of astounding.
As I chatted with people at the headquarters this morning I ran into Gene Cohen, a senior citizen from Cherry Hill who told me he's never been involved in a campaign before.
Gene said he got involved because of the Tea Party. "When they said 'we've got to take our country back' I knew I had to get involved," Gene commented. He explained that the notion that we might have to take our own country back and, in effect, return it to the people, convinced him that he had to do something. So, Gene began working the Runyan phone bank side-by-side with tea partiers and other volunteers. "It's never too late," he said.
It was at that point that Gene and I commiserated over a quote from Ronald Reagan: "If not us, who? If not now, when?"
Yes, we are the people and this is the time.
Gene story is being reported over and over again all over the country.
What's happening right now is truly historic. And the whole world will hear our story in just a few short days.
Avanti!

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