South Jersey Democrats Desperately Defending High Property Taxes

Republican challengers across South Jersey have managed to stick to one unifying message: High property taxes are the fault of decades of Democrat control in the legislature and local government.

Staying on message has been paying off. Democrats are answering the attack across South Jersey. They’re busy twisting and bending the truth to make themselves look good.

One example is in Barrington where the Democrats sent a mailer claiming one of the incumbents, Shawn Ludwig, has served on Council since 2009.

Seems like a legit mailing EXCEPT Councilman Ludwig was not sworn in until January 2012 after being appointed to fill a vacancy. Don’t take my word for it, here’s a screenshot of the resolution from Barrington’s website:

In Gloucester County in their efforts to defend incumbent Commissioner Bob “Weekend at Bernies” Damminger the Democrats sent a mailer claiming “Homeowners pay $1,203 less per year in property taxes than the state average.”

That mailer was obviously sent in response to Republican Commissioner candidates Nick DeSilvio and Chris Konawel talking point that Gloucester County is ranked 28th of 3,143 counties in the nation in order of median property taxes. For the record, if you look at property taxes by percentage of median income Gloucester County ranks 24th of 3,143 counties. Check for yourself at tax-rates.org.

Add to that the fact that a member of the supposedly non-partisan Gloucester County Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee, immediate past chair Lisa Carney, has taken to defending the high property taxes in Gloucester County on social media.

And, let’s not forget that Gloucester County Republicans had to drop a cease and desist letter in LD3 demanding that networks stop airing a Democrat commercial due to its misrepresentation of Assembly candidate Beth Sawyer. The Republican’s lawyer was clear, “The advertisement’s claims are provably false.”

To defend against a unified message, South Jersey Democrats have resorted to outright lies, trying to put a positive spin on high property taxes and “claims that are provably false,” which I believe is attorney speak for lying.

Democrats are responding and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand that if they are responding they are concerned. Experience backs that statement up – I’m a veteran of many South Jersey campaigns, won some, lost some, the one thing that has been consistent is the Democrats ignore candidates they aren’t concerned about.

I don’t like making election predictions, I remember predicting a big win in 2008 and I did it on TV, then we lost. That was not fun. 13 years later, I am expecting some very good news on Election night, news so good I might have my first drink in six years, it’ll be a good reason to fall off my own self-imposed no booze wagon.