Congressional Candidate Jason Castle Endorsed by Assemblyman, Ex-Giant
Support came at Teaneck campaign event
Photos
Former Marine and 5th District Congressional Candidate Jason Castle picked up endorsements from Assemblyman Gordon Johnson (D-37) and NFL Hall of Famer Harry Carson at a campaign event in Teaneck over the weekend.
“When I was originally considering running for Congress, Democrats, Independents and Republicans came up to me and said they were supporting me because we needed more good people and good leaders in Washington,” Carson said in a prepared statement. “That is what I have to say about Jason Castle: He is a good person and a good leader. He is authentic, genuine, and will fight to change Washington.
Carson announced last month he had decided not to run against Republican Rep. Scott Garrett for the newly drawn 5th Congressional District.
Johnson, of Englewood, also said he would back Castle.
“From the first moment I met with Jason, his passion and commitment were clear,” Johnson said in the statement. “There is still a long campaign ahead but he will have my help and support in this great endeavor.”
Castle, who is moving to Teaneck from Cliffside Park, never held elected office and has billed himself a moderate Democrat looking to bring change to Washington politics.
Teaneck Deputy Mayor Adam Gussen is also running, and sources told politickernj.com he was more likely to be backed by the Bergen County Democratic Committee, assuming no other Democrats enter the race.
Public relations executive and News12 host Jim McQueeny was expected to run, but abruptly dropped out last week.
The new Republican-leaning 5th district now stretches from the Teaneck-area into Sussex County.
JeffO
10:23 am on Thursday, March 8, 2012
I understand that nobody other than Gussen has filed to be placed on the Bergen County Democratic Committee ballot and the deadline for filing has passed. I'm not sure whether write-ins will be allowed at their nominating convention, but the fact that Gussen will be the only candidate printed on the ballot makes it difficult for the BCDC not to back him.
Even so, the politickern.com story Patch links to in this article states that "the organization is also leary of starting a firefight with state Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, (D-37), Teaneck, whose organization has butted heads with Gussen locally."
Now I'm not a part of Weinberg's organization (nor the BCDC), but I'm no fan of Gussen either, whose influence on Teaneck Council has been nothing less than toxic. However, I must say that Weinberg's early, high-profile endorsement of Rothman, who chose to desert 40% of his constituents (and 80% of Teaneck) so he could "continue to represent" the 60% who are already guaranteed excellent representation in Pascrell, has certainly come back to bite her.
Unfortunately, it’s the whole country that could end up suffering under another two years of a Tea Party-controlled Congress.
Ulises
6:56 pm on Thursday, March 8, 2012
Vote against Rothman in the primary. He could have beaten Garrett...
Jacob
11:10 am on Friday, March 9, 2012
I agree with Ulises. I also hear that some of the individual Teaneck Councilpeople are reconsidering their Rothman endorsements. Not a bad idea.
Miles Wilson Carter
3:26 pm on Friday, March 9, 2012
This guy's behind the same 30,000 plus 8 ball voter deficit that the cowardly lion Rothman ran away from. Get real people, enjoying the endorsement of sports figures is what got democrats in the poor shape they are in the 5th!
delgado
2:50 pm on Saturday, March 10, 2012
If this is the best in the world candidate, then why did he not follow the rules and submit the paperwork to run on time? Cant change the deadline now, that would be dirty inside political tricks.
Tommy P
5:00 pm on Saturday, March 10, 2012
Did you forget which state you were in?
Remember what happened Robert Torricelli was outed for his criminal activity? No charges and then we got the illegal swap which propelled Frank Lautenberg to the Senate. You know the guy for voted for Obamacare then not three months later told an ambulance to take him to NY, which would not have been allowed to take him there when Obamacare takes full effect.