Brian Fitzherbert Suspends Campaign

WASHINGTON – Brian Fitzherbert announces he will suspended his campaign for New Jersey’s 2nd Congressional District:   
“On Nov. 7, 2017, when U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-2nd) announced that he would not seek re-election for the 2018 midterms, it took me about a week to determine that I was going to enter the race in the attempt to succeed him. I wasn’t politically active, but that doesn’t mean I hadn’t been watching. For years.
“For 24 years, LoBiondo has done everything in his power to help South Jersey, develop the FAA Tech Center, and do what he thought was best for the residents. It would be big shoes to fill to take up his mantle in the 2nd District. This race was a federal campaign, and the winner would go to Washington to represent South Jersey; not everyone understood what that meant.
“With my background in Defense & Aerospace, I believe my resume could be leveraged by those in South Jersey to bring much needed jobs in manufacturing to balance out the tourism industry. It would be a magnet that could keep younger New Jerseyans in the district instead of the exodus we’ve seen in recent years.
“In the first three months of the Republican Primary, the process was cordial and included other candidates that were nothing short of the very definition of what it means to be a gentleman. Robert Turkavage and Sam Fiocchi, in particular, are men of impeccable character. Another candidate, John Zarych, who withdrew from the race at the Atlantic County Convention, showed respect to a newcomer like me that was much appreciated. But after the convention season was over, one Republican candidate fired the first shot.
“While it’s not God’s plan for me in 2018 to represent the constituents of the 2nd District, it sheds great light on his creation of America; only in this great nation could someone like me have the opportunity to run for federal office at the age of 28.
“My parents raised me to be independent and self-made. Those were some of the values that were instilled along with my Conservative principles.
“Those values are what drove me to work my way through college as a member of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union employed by ShopRite and Kroger.
“The values that led me to be recruited by a $14 billion company like Textron and work my way up in the company to a role where most of my peers are 15 years older than me. Being a Senior Project Manager responsible for $30 million programs building drones and ground control stations supporting the United States Army is never a dull moment.
“The values that led me to purchase my own home in Somers Point at the age of 23 and be Michael Monihan’s youngest buyer.
“The values that Textron recognized when they paid for my tuition for my graduate studies at Johns Hopkins University.
“My mission at work has always been to support the Warfighter with products in the Defense and Aerospace industry to carry out their missions in theater. My goal in the 2nd District is to serve as South Jersey’s vehicle and voice in Washington because I’m someone that understands not just the local issues, but the national issues across our great county. And understands South Jersey without hesitation.
“As I mentioned in my announcement of my campaign, South Jersey has always been the place I called home; even as I’ve lived all across the United States in Ohio, Texas, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Kansas, and Massachusetts.
“Growing up, the Jersey Shore was the best place to go in the summers, Storybook Land was my jam, hitting up Cape May was always a treat, and to be frank, Texas has nothing on the Cowtown Rodeo. I can’t wait to share those times with my own family one day.
“There are so many people that I’ve met in the last few months; I let you down. I should have been prepared for nasty opponents that will do anything in their quest for power. To throw everything at the wall to see what stuck is a childish ploy. Even from a candidate in my own party.
“The challenge to the voters that signed my petition was unfortunate. The judge then ruled to invalidate enough signatures to drop me below the required 200 threshold, disregarding voter intent. Among other invalidations, apparently young conservatives that have grown (along with their signature) since they registered and thus have “a different signature” was enough for the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). Or voters that signed a second candidate’s petition whom they connected more with over the primary.
“I took exception to the ALJ decision with the NJ Secretary of State, who rubberstamped the ruling. I then spoke with a half dozen attorneys in the attempt to appeal the decision of the Secretary of State with the Superior Court of New Jersey.
“After many discussions and deliberations, the conclusion became that there was no viable option to secure my position on the ballot again. With that realization, I have determined that it’s best that I suspend my campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2nd District of New Jersey. The fact that legally I’m seven signatures short of being on the ballot is on me. Lesson learned.
“I’m humbled by Chairman Jim Philbin and the Gloucester County GOP. They endorsed me and I will NEVER forget the support and loyalty they showed me during the ballot issue process. They were approached to drop me and endorse another candidate but they refused. “Brian is our candidate,” they charged. Those in Gloucester GOP are the very example of what it means to be a Republican.
“I wish Robert Turkavage, Sam Fiocchi and Seth Grossman all the luck in the final month of the Republican Primary.
“The sheer number of people asking to “write-in” my name on June 5 through social media is beyond humbling. All of those in South Jersey that have contacted the campaign showing support for my candidacy is like rocket fuel to stay engaged. Words can’t describe it.
“I continue to stand strong in my principles; I’m pro-life because a heartbeat ends a life just as it begins a life. The #2ndAmendment is my gun permit and it’s in the Constitution to protect the other 26. I’ll continue to support the WarFighter in theater and do everything I can when they come home as Veterans. I’ll remain a proud foot soldier for Donald Trump and his efforts to #MAGA.
“As I’ve mentioned numerous times on the campaign trail, under President Trump, the Republican Party is reborn. The war to protect the U.S. Constitution rages on. And LoBiondo will not be the last Republican Congressman in South Jersey. I’ll be back.”