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The Somerset County GOP leadership… where are we going?

I have spent most of my adult life serving the people of Somerville and Somerset County as an elected official. While I am a proud Republican, I have always carried myself in what I believe to be a non-partisan manner when it comes to governance. However, to get elected, we need a healthy and functioning Republican Party, but currently our county party is broken.

Let’s cut out all the noise and address the issues. 4 years ago, this organization gave Tim Howes an overwhelming opportunity to recreate and bring our party forward. To push forward new ideas and ideals set forth by a Republican dominance that has crafted Somerset County into what it is today. What an awesome opportunity, but unfortunately it is in turmoil because we are more fractured now than ever. 

When we hire someone to do a job, whether in the public or private sector, we expect positive results. As an organization we are bound then to evaluate that performance. Here is how I see the current performance review: 

• We have not won a county wide election since Mr. Howes took the helm. As a former countywide candidate under Tim and his predecessor, I can tell you my campaigns were night and day. I received no guidance, support or adequate fundraising from Tim and the results are clear.

• Mr. Howes did not file required ELEC forms for years. As a self-avowed election law expert, this is basic compliance to willfully ignore, repeatedly. 

• By not filing these forms, the organization is now facing the potential for more than $100,000 in fines. I’m not sure what plans are in place to address these massive fines that were self inflicted, and that the organization may be responsible for.

• During this period of failed election law compliance, Mr. Howes also significantly delayed paying multiple vendor bills. Why?

• Mr Howes has been censured by the NJ State Supreme Court on 3 separate occasions for unethical behavior. 

• For those that have disagreed publicly with Mr. Howes, he has targeted those individual county committee seats, dedicated Republicans, and ran people against them for no other reason than they were questioning direction of the SCRO. We are supposed to campaign against democrats, not our own team. 

• Mr. Howes has claimed a part of my Somerville Mayoral victory, yet he did nothing for my local campaign. He did not attend any events, and worked against me by not sharing any fundraising efforts with the county committee. How do you not support the retaking of the Mayor’s office in our County seat?!?!?  

4 years ago a new slate of leadership was presented a great opportunity. It is now our responsibility to evaluate that performance, and determine if it has been successful, or not.

In my opinion, we must do better, and it is now time for change.

I am supporting Tracy DiFrancesco to be our next County Chairwoman. 

Tracy has exhibited real leadership and has a plan to turn the SCRO around. She took Watchung from Democrat control to full Republican control and has proven that she can raise the necessary funds to support a winning campaign effort. She has put forth a clear plan for the SCRO that brings all 21 towns into the fold, not being directed by a chosen few. To win countywide again it will take a leader that wants to raise the tide for all Republican committees at the municipal level. 

Finally, in addition to once again electing Republicans at the County level, we desperately need to fix our broken county organization in advance of electing Somerset County’s own Jack Ciattarelli as Governor next year.

Due to Chairman Howes’ lack of leadership Somerset County Republican Organization faces more fines than cash on hand

Today the New Jersey State Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) filed a Complaint against the Somerset County Republican Organization (SCRO) Chair Tim Howes asserting 11 separate violations of New Jersey Election Law for improper handling of financial donations. The attached Complaint indicates multiple failures to properly disclose donations.

“Three years of unfiled reports and excuses for his lack of management is nothing less than negligence, which is unacceptable and inexcusable. Instead of taking responsibility, Howes has staged a war in the upcoming Primary against our loyal County Committee Members, blaming them for raising objections to his failures as a chairman,” said Tracy DiFrancesco. “This latest denial of responsibility is only proving the utter disregard Tim exercises as Chairman of the Somerset County GOP and why the Organization can no longer function and win elections for Republicans,” DiFrancesco concluded.

According to the Q1 ELEC disclosure report (attached) SCRO currently has only $1,600 cash on hand as of April 15, 2024. Based on the violations issued, SCRO faces potentially eleven fines totaling over $107,000 for their lack of compliance – 65 times more than the organization has in their bank account.

Last year, more than 150 County Committee members from all over the county personally and publicly (via signed petition) called for the removal of Howes after 3 years of lost elections and disregard for legally required campaign compliance and disclosure reports, which resulted in SCRO being cited with a serious state election law violation.

New Jersey Globe

By David Wildstein

The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission has filed a three-count complaint against the Somerset County Republican Organization and its treasurer, Robert Damiano, alleging late reporting of campaign finance reports for the first quarter of 2022, and not reporting 48-hour fundraising reports before the primary and general election that year.

They have twenty days to ask for a hearing where they can respond to the ELEC complaint.  It’s unclear when that hearing will be held.

The GOP county chairman, Tim Howes, said that responsibility for the late report lies with his former treasurer, Robert Damiano.   Damiano resigned last year.

“We intend to seek full indemnification from Mr. Damiano for damage done to the organization and for any civil penalties,” Howe said.  He said a new treasurer has brought the organization up to date.

Howes is seeking re-election to a third term as county chairman this summer.  He faces a challenge from Watchung GOP Municipal Chair Tracy DiFrancesco, the daughter of former Gov. Donald DiFrancesco.

Damiano did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

DiFrancesco said that “three years of unfiled reports and excuses for his lack of management is nothing less than negligence, which is unacceptable and inexcusable.”

“Instead of taking responsibility, Howes has staged a war in the upcoming Primary against our loyal County Committee Members, blaming them for raising objections to his failures as a chairman,” she said. “This latest denial of responsibility is only proving the utter disregard Tim exercises as Chairman of the Somerset County GOP and why the Organization can no longer function and win elections for Republicans.”

New Jersey Globe

By David Wildstein

A group of Somerset County Republican party leaders, along with past and present elected officials, have endorsed Tracy DiFrancesco in her bid to unseat two-term county chairman Tim Howes.

DiFrancesco, the Watchung GOP municipal chair, announced late last month that she would mount a challenge to Howes when the county party organization reorganizes after the primary election.

Among the endorsers is former State Sen. Christopher Bateman (R-Branchburg), a big name in Somerset politics and a law partner of DiFrancesco’s father, former Gov. Donald DiFrancesco.

Public supporters of DiFrancesco include the GOP municipal chairs of Bernardsville, Branchburg, Franklin, Green Brook, Hillsborough, and Somerville, and Janice Fields, the Republican state committeewoman and a Bernards township committeewoman.  She also Somerville Mayor Brian Gallagher, a former freeholder, and Brittany Wheeler, an executive board member of the county GOP organization. 

Five former Somerset County freeholders — Pat Walsh, Mark Caliguire, John Kitchen, Pat Fittipaldo, and Mike Kerwin — and former Surrrogate Frank Bruno, are backing DiFrancesco, along with Mayors Anna Columbus (Branchburg), Jim Van Arsdale (Green Brook), Robert Brittiing (Hillsborough), Victor Sordillo (Warren), and Ron Jubin (Watchung).

Municipal Chairs & Vice Chairs endorsing DiFrancesco represent 307 of 540 total County Committee seats eligible to vote

Watchung, NJ – Today, in an unprecedented show of support, GOP leaders, Mayors, Committee People, Municipal Chairs and Vice Chairs throughout Somerset County have endorsed SCRO Vice Chair Tracy DiFrancesco for Chair of the Somerset County Republican Organization (SCRO) in the upcoming re-organization.

The Municipal leaders joining DiFrancesco in her vison to reestablish strength and integrity to the County party represent 307 seats out of the 540 County Committee seats eligible to vote in the June meeting to elect the next chair. These endorsements are the first show of support for new leadership since a petition was circulated last year with over 150 County Committee Members calling for the recall of incumbent SCRO Chair, Tim Howes.

Kip Bateman, Senator

Frank Bruno, Former Somerset County Surrogate

Pat Walsh, Former Somerset County Commissioner

Mark Caliguire, Former Somerset County Commissioner

John Kitchen, Former Somerset County Commissioner

Pat Fittipaldi, Former Somerset County Commissioner

Mike Kerwin, Former Somerset County Commissioner and Somerville Mayor

Brittany Wheeler, SCRO Executive Board Member

Janice M. Fields, Somerset County Republican State Committeewoman & Bernards Township Deputy Mayor

John Carpenter, Vice Chair- Bernards Township Republican Municipal Committee

Greg Canose, Chair- Bernardsville Republican Municipal Committee

Anna Columbus, Branchburg Mayor

Martin C. Herrman, Chair- Branchburg Republican Municipal Committee

Cathy Callahan, Branchburg Executive Committeewoman

Christopher Kelly, Former Franklin Township Mayor

Michele Cortese Petersen, Chair- Franklin Township Republican Municipal Committee

Robert L. LaCorte, Former Chair- Franklin Township Republican Municipal Committee

Jim Van Arsdale, Green Brook Mayor 

Theentire Green Brook Republican Municipal Committee

Robert Britting, Hillsborough Mayor

John Ciccarelli, Hillsborough Deputy Mayor

Shawn Lipani, Hillsborough Township Committeeman

Catherine Payne, Hillsborough Township Committeewoman

Kenneth C. Scherer, Former Somerset County Commissioner & Chair of the Hillsborough Republican Municipal Committee

Brian Gallagher, Somerville Mayor and former Somerset County Commissioner

Anthony Attanasio, Chair- Somerville Republican Municipal Committee

Victor Sordillo, Warren Mayor

Lisa Lontai, Warren Deputy Mayor

George Lazo, Warren Township Committeeman

Shaun Fine, Warren Township Committeeman

Vanessa Kian, Warren Township Committeewoman

Ron Jubin, Watchung Mayor

The entire Watchung Borough Committee

D.J. Hunsinger, Vice Chair- Watchung Republican Municipal Committee The entire Watchung Republican Municipal Committee

New Jersey Globe

By David Wildstein

Watchung Republican leader will challenge Tim Howes in June

Watchung Republican Municipal Chairman Tracy DiFrancesco will run for Somerset County GOP Chairman when the party reorganizes in June, setting up a showdown with the incumbent, Timothy Howes.

“I am running to restore the trust, transparency, and leadership of the organization in order for us to win elections again,” said DiFrancesco, the county GOP vice chair. “We can and must do better.”

Last year, over 150 Republican county committee members signed a letter calling for Howes’ ouster, and municipal chairs in Hillsborough, Somerville, and Branchburg asked him to resign. He refused.

DiFrancesco points to four consecutive losses since Howes took over in 2020 – the GOP almost won a county commissioner seat in 2021 – and to late filings with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission.

“Our candidate recruitment has been negatively impacted, and fundraising practically paralyzed, as potential candidates and donors are uneasy being associated with the organization under the current leadership,” she said. “Not surprisingly, as a result, the organization has lost every election under his leadership, the worst election record in county history. Bottom line is we cannot move forward if we re-elect the current chair. It is time for change.”

DiFrancesco, 52, has been around politics for most of her life. Her father, Donald DiFrancesco, served as governor of New Jersey from 2001 to 2002 after 26 years in the legislature, including a decade as Senate President.

She pledged to “get back to Republicans winning again.”

“Otherwise, we will continue to slide in the wrong direction, which will greatly impact our local I promise to restore faith in our organization with 100% transparency and strong leadership,” said DiFrancesco. “We must also prioritize fundraising so we can run strong campaigns and assist our local candidates.”

In her announcement, she invoked two legendary former Somerset County GOP chairs, Luke Gray and Jack Penn; like DiFrancesco, they both started as leaders of the Watchung Republican Party before leading the county organization at a time when Somerset was one of the state’s dominant GOP counties.

“These are not just promises. I have a record to prove it,” DiFrancesco stated.  “I turned a Democrat-controlled governing body into an all-Republican one. I did it the old-fashioned way — I raised ten times more money than my predecessors and built a grass-roots organization that turned the town red.”

Howes, 63, became county chairman in 2020 after Al Gaburro retired. He was re-elected to a second term in 2022 with 91% of the vote against Jeffrey Grant, a former Tea Party leader and State Senate candidate.

Somerset County has shifted dramatically toward Democrats over the last seven years. Steve Peter won a county clerk race in 2017 in a 407-vote upset victory over GOP incumbent Brett Radi. Democrats won two county commissioner seats in 2018, one in 2019 to take control, and two more in 2020. Democrats won the sheriff race in 2018 and the surrogate post in 2020.

The county has 26,366 more Democrats than Republicans; in 2009, the GOP registration edge was 879. The only two state legislators from Somerset County are Democrats, and Somerset has gone Democratic in the last four presidential elections.

In better times, Gray ran a formidable political machine out of his floral shop on Route 22 in Watchung for thirty years before he died in 1984. He only lost control once, in 1964, when President Lyndon Johnson had coattails.

In 1965, Gov. Dick Hughes carried Somerset, and a Democratic challenger came within 400 votes of beating a GOP state senator. But Republican Jack Ewing, the CEO of Abercombie & Fitch, beat Democratic Freeholder Grace Gurasic by more than 4,000 votes to end the Democratic majority on the Freeholder board after just one year.

After that, only two Democrats scored countywide victories until Peter’s upset victory in 2017.

In 1973, a 26-year-old North Plainfield Councilman, Frank Nero, won a freeholder seat in the Watergate-related Democratic landslide. Nero didn’t seek re-election in 1976 – he lost a race for Congress against Rep. Millicent Fenwick (R-Bernardsville) — but Democrat Michael Ceponis kept the seat in Democratic hands. Ceponis won again in 1979 but lost in 1982 when Christine Todd Whitman beat him.