Tom Wyka 
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Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 11:42:14 PM EDT
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Tom Wyka sends this update:Tonight at a special meeting held in response to our grassroots petition, the Citizens' Campaign Model Ordinance against Pay-to-Play was passed by the Parsippany Town Council.
Thanks to all who helped in this effort and who came tonight to show your support!
Contact us to find out how to take action in your hometown!
Tom The council passed the ordinance 3-1 with the council members up for re-election voting in support of the measure. The council member opposing said the problem should be solved in Trenton and he feels that town-to-town regulations would be "chaotic" as if each town has it's own DMV.
Tom kept us updated on what they were doing and support for their efforts as the process moved along. Congratulations to all of those involved on their success in passing the reform.
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Thu Aug 06, 2009 at 10:56:52 PM EDT
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On two consecutive days we've gotten press for the Parsippany Pay-to-Play reform effort...
Wednesday - "Parsippany Should Pass Pay to Play Ban"
The Morristown Town Council balked last year at approving an ordinance limiting pay-to-play for municipal elections. Supporters started a petition drive, got the ordinance on the ballot and voters, not surprisingly, approved it. We may see the same thing happen in Parsippany.
After being rebuffed by the council, a petition drive has garnered enough signatures to get an anti pay-to-play ordinance on the ballot this fall. The ordinance would limit contributions from vendors or "professional business'' entities to $300 for local candidates and to $500 for county political committees. Total contributions from professional firms would be capped at $2,500.
The council has refused to adopt the ordinance. Its reluctance is hard to understand. Why would the council not want to make a public condemnation of pay-to-play? That would be both good policy and good politics.
Now that the petition in Parsippany has enough signatures to get on the ballot, the council has another chance to do the right thing.
Thursday - "Christie's Corruption Fight" (and his own backyard)
Ah, but the difficult thing is bringing the changes about. You know there will be push back, perhaps even from his own party
For instance, its clean image notwithstanding, even Republican Morris County is not immune to the problems Christie wants to end. There are always,
it seems, a number of freeholders (there are currently two of them) who retain their municipal jobs, and thereby, put themself in potential conflict. There are also Morris County elected officials who hold full-time public jobs. And as for pay-to-play
- the practice of vendors and professionals getting government contracts by making campaign donations ... we just saw the all-Republican council in
Parsippany refuse to adopt an ordinance that seeks to control
it. The council, of course, is not alone. The freeholders have refused to ban the practice as well, arguing, oddly, that it does not exist in Morris County. The observer is left to wonder why something that does not exist can't be banned.
Sign up to support the cause as we move ahead...
www.BetterNJGov.org
Tom
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Mon Feb 09, 2009 at 11:37:26 PM EST
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To the Parsippany Troy-Hills Council:
Over the past few years - the subject of Pay-to-Play has been debated across our state. This corrupt process, where government contracts and jobs are doled out based on campaign contributions from job or contract recipients, is a major concern to all residents of our state, county, and town. The Daily Record noted recently that while necessary actions to ban this practice statewide have not materialized in the state legislature - there is nothing standing in the way at this time from taking action right in our own communities.
The enormous waste of taxpayer money that has actually occurred, and can potentially take place, because of these corrupt practices should be of great concern to every citizen and elected official. With this concern in mind - I would like to introduce to the Council a model ordinance, drafted by Citizen's Campaign, a non-partisan citizen empowerment group, for your consideration and adoption.
The Key components of this legislation are as follows ...
> Sets limits on contributions from professionals, such as attorneys, auditors, and engineers in the year prior to negotiations.
> Bans all political contributions by contractors from the beginning of negotiations through the performance of the contract.
> Limits contributions to $300 to town candidates and local political parties, $500 to county political parties, and limits professional firm to $2,500 in aggregate.
> Individuals who break the law, or try to circumvent it are banned from receiving no-bid contracts for 4 years.
Please keep in mind that my intention to put this ordinance in place is not to insinuate any past or present wrongdoing as Citizen's Campaign advocates a no-blame approach to adopting these measures. However, this is a tremendous opportunity to demonstrate to the citizens of Parsippany your dedication to preventing situations that violate the public trust. I look forward to discussing this ordinance with you at your convenience. Please feel free to call me to discuss your ideas or concerns at 973-xxx-xxxx. I look forward to working with you on this important issue.
Sincerely,
Tom Wyka
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Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 02:10:01 PM EST
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Before the Professor and Maryann got their due in the Gilligan's Island theme song, they were known collectively as "the rest." And that's about how some of NJ's House races, and the Senate race, must have felt this year.
With the Obama campaign sucking up so much of the oxygen (and money, and energy, and ultimately the very PA-bound volunteers themselves), most of what was left over was focused on the "hot" races in NJ-3, NJ-5, and NJ-7. Like so often in the past, if you weren't running in one of the hot races, then you found yourself with scant attention being paid to your campaign.
In the case of Senator Lautenberg, and our 7 Democratic House incumbents, no news was good news. New Jersey's voters delivered a solid double-digit win to its senior Senator, and sent the Magnificent 7 back to Washington with an average margin of victory of over 40%. But for Congressional Challengers in NJ-2, NJ-4, and NJ-11, it was a different story altogether.
We look at each of these races in more detail below the fold.
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Sat Nov 08, 2008 at 12:34:11 AM EST
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Tom Wyka offers his own campaign post-mortem, with a promise to stay involved, some plugs for others doing good work, and a nice bit of well-earned thanks to the people who powered his unsuccessful bid. Tom is a bright, passionate, eminently decent guy of whom we have not heard the last, thankfully. -JG
Unfortunately the Obama campaign did not have a lot of coat tails for NJ Congressional races overall. It reminds me of an interesting article I read by David Sirota a while ago (click here to read about the idea of "presidentialism"). There's a lesson here for us: we need to get people thinking about not just the White House, but also about Capitol Hill - all the way down to townhall - and carry a strong consistent message to all levels.
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Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 02:09:06 AM EST
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I posted late at night, when I was emotionally spent, a moment of weakness and confusion. My apologies.
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Mon Nov 03, 2008 at 04:47:36 PM EST
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Here's Tom Wyka's ad -- Hopeful
Tom Wyka always tells everyone that will listen, how he was inspired by the late Senator Paul Wellstone. A graduate of Camp Wellstone, Tom is following in the foot steps of many a great progressive democrats, wishing to run a people powered campaign, a campaign that values boots on the ground over Washington DC consultants and big time media buys. In spite of soliciting small donations from average voters, and not big donars, Wyka for Congress has raised enough money for TV and radio.
Heres the ad that has been playing in NJ-11 this week.
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Fri Oct 31, 2008 at 01:42:18 PM EDT
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This doesn't seem like an endorsement, it seems like a call for the Congressman to moderate his extreme views.
The Daily Record on the 11th
This is not a normal election year. American forces have been in Iraq for more than five years while the insurrection in Afghanistan deepens. The economy crashed a month ago, prompting an unprecedented $700 billion bailout of the banking industry. There are thousands of new voters, many of whom are talking about change. Tom Wyka, the Democratic candidate for Congress in the 11th District says one can not expect change if we return the same people to Washington.
So vote for Rodney for more of the same. :-)
Unless lightning strikes, Frelinghuysen will win his eighth term.
Do you mean not since 1932 kind of lightning?
We hope that he will recognize an opportunity -- if not a mandate -- for a new approach. We hope the congressman will use his seniority to stake out new and independent positions when the status quo has failed. We hope he will sharpen his appetite for "best-practice" approaches to long-standing problems (see Wyka and Tedholm above), regardless of which party suggests them.
Congressman Frelinghuysen has had an opportunity the last 2 years to "stake out new and independent positions". Congressman Frelinghuysen has had the opportunity over the last 2 years to "sharpen his appetite for "best-practice" approaches to long-standing problems". How many more chances do the voters of the 11th give the Congressman to disavow the failed policies of extreme neo conservatism?
On Sunday the 23rd in the debate at the Temple Beth AM, Congressman Frelinghuysen said he can't imagine a worse job killer than raising taxes. Progressive taxation with hi taxes for the richest, created jobs as we worked our way out of the Great Republican Depression, and won WW2.
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Fri Oct 31, 2008 at 12:06:40 PM EDT
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It's not at all surprising that The Daily Record would endorse Rodney Frelinghuysen for reelection in NJ-11, or predict a victory for the six-term Congressman over challenger Tom Wyka. What's surprising (and fun) is how much the paper of record in Morris County makes it sound like they don't want to, noting that Rodney:has been resolute in his support of the war in Iraq and generally loyal to President Bush. It's hard to know where belief ends and loyalty to party and president begins. If nothing else, the past eight years have shown that party unity doesn't always equal good or productive government. More often than not, it has led to, at best, stalled initiatives and, at worst, grievous mistakes. Bush loyalist. Party unity over good government. Stalled initiatives. Grievous mistakes. Nice.
And, his opponent? Wyka, of Parsippany, who is making his second try for Congress, has expanded his campaign this year beyond criticizing the war in Iraq. He backs public financing of elections and increased government involvement in health care, a key point in a nation where an estimated 47 million are without health insurance. Ok, so let's see: Opposed the Iraq War. Supports universal healthcare. Proposes "'best-practice' approaches to long-standing problems." Hmmm, what's an editorial board to do?
I know - call on Rodney, if reelected, to be more like Tom: Unless lightning strikes, Frelinghuysen will win his eighth term. We hope that he will recognize an opportunity -- if not a mandate -- for a new approach. We hope the congressman will use his seniority to stake out new and independent positions when the status quo has failed. We hope he will sharpen his appetite for "best-practice" approaches to long-standing problems (see Wyka and [Indy candidate Chandler] Tedholm above), regardless of which party suggests them. If lightning doesn't strike, we hope so too.
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Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 11:54:51 PM EDT
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I signed up at MyBO, and proceeded to create canvass events in my area, joined all the groups around my area.
I get at least 4-5 emails every day about recruiting people for PA, enough already. Obama is up in PA almost as much as in New Jersey.
I kept hearing about how Obama thought the down ticket races are so important, but come on enough is enough. Obama sent an email out to Obama supporters in NJ-11, asking them to vote for Frank Lautenberg, with no mention of Tom Wyka, whats up with that ?
Is Obama coat tails going to make up the split for Tom Wyka, or Dennis Shulman, could Linda Stender use 80 more canvassers ? What about Adler.. hes up in the polls, but gheesh.
SO My friends and I have run roll playing training sessions for people that have never canvassed before. But I had one lady in Livingston quit after an hour, and I paired her with an experienced canvasser. SIGH.
I see 4 Congressional races that in the right conditions, coat tails, that we could flip, and with Obama leading Tom Wyka in NJ-11, thats going to be important.
But PA is in good shape in the polls, when do I get my best peole back? Nov 5th?
Sigh.
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Wed Oct 29, 2008 at 12:36:43 PM EDT
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Rodney Frelinghuysen Videos ? Good luck finding much content generated by Rodney Frelinghuysen volunteers or his staff or campaign. A Google video search of "Rodney Frelinghuysen" yields one volunteer video, 2 C-span videos, and the 4th video is a clip from Sundays debate between Rodney Frelinghuysen and Tom Wyka filmed by Nick Lento, the 5th video is Congressman Frelinghuysen at the RNC, the next 5 videos are are all generated by Wyka volunteers.
SO the first page of hits has 4 Rodney Frelinghuysen videos and 6 Tom Wyka videos.
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Tue Oct 28, 2008 at 10:32:48 AM EDT
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Sunday Morning's candidate forum/"debate" at Temple Beth Am in Parsippany had a few moments of high drama.
As some of you may remember ( http://www.bluejersey.net/show... ) I was kind of displeased that people had to "sneak in" recording devices to capture Rodney in action in public forums.
So I decided to attend this event and sit as close as I could to Rodney and openly video the event, despite the stated "rules" to the contrary....
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Sun Oct 26, 2008 at 03:33:38 PM EDT
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Promoted by Jason Springer: Thanks for posting and covering the debate. This morning there was a debate at the Temple Beth Am in Parsippany, between the candidates vying for the NJ-11 Congressional seat, Democrat Tom Wyka, Republican Rodney Frelinghuysen and Independent Chandler Tedholm. I took 4 pages of notes and have reconstructed some it here.
Before the debate started, I walked over to the Congressman to shake hand..
Good luck Congressman, we're within single digits and closing :-)
The moderator took questions from the floor, which consisted of a majority of about 50 Wyka Supporters and about 12 Frelinghuysen supporters, with another 70 attendees not showing any affiliation.
On 2 occasions the same republican supporter interrupted, complaining about the selection of questions from the floor. Well my friend, you should have dug deep and got some friends to show up.
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Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 02:47:45 PM EDT
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As the Star Ledger so aptly points out VetsPAC, who has only endorsed 5 other non vets in the cycle, endorsed non vet Tom Wyka over Vietnam Vet Rodney Frelinghuysen.
Wyka did secure an endorsement this week from Washington, D.C.-based Veterans Alliance for Security and Democracy. Guy Stevens, a board member, said they were "very disappointed" with Frelinghuysen in votes on health care and education. He particularly noted Frelinghuysen voted against a new G.I. Bill.
Frelinghuysen explains why he voted against the New GI Bill for the 21st Century:
Frelinghuysen supported a second version of the new G.I. Bill, which he said offered "improved benefits" for spouses and children of soldiers.
But on May 11th 2006, Roll Call No. 144, 109th Congress, 2nd Session, Motion to recommit, Failed: 202-220, Rodney Frelinghuysen voted to cut benefits for orphans and widows. If Rodney Frelinghuysen and 9 other congresspeople had voted yes, this would have moved forward.
http://capwiz.com/dav/issues/v...
Tom Wyka supports the Bill of rights for Military Families, but as I cited above, Congressman Frelinghuysen voted to cut benefits for Widows and Orphans, but yet tries to reconcile is lack of support on this issue by saying he voted for a 2nd rate GI Bill because it offered "improved benefits" for spouses and children of soldiers. Congressman Frelinghuysen wants it both ways.
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Fri Oct 17, 2008 at 04:30:08 PM EDT
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Just got an email from Colonel Richard Klass of Vets PAC, the board has voted to endorse Tom Wyka over Rodney frelinghuysen.
http://www.vetpac.org/index.ph...
More to come.
Update:
VetsPAC has also endorsed Barack Obama and Senator Frank Lautenberg
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Thu Oct 16, 2008 at 06:46:20 PM EDT
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Thursday, October 23rd
7:30pm - 9:30pm
Darress Theater
615 Main Street
Boonton, New Jersey 07005
For more details & to buy tickets, visit:
http://www.actblue.com/page/to...
If you're feeling overwhelmed by election year politics don't miss this opportunity to laugh it all off and raise money to send Tom to the House of Representatives!
TomObamaRama will bring together some of your favorite progressive political comics in a hilarious night of election year comedy. Headliners Joey Novick (HBO, Showtime) brings his unique New Jersey home town brand of humor and Sam Greenfield (CNN, Huffington Post) brings the funny from across the Hudson River.
STARRING: Joey Novick & Sam Greenfield
HOSTED by Kevin O'Driscoll
WITH SPECIAL GUEST STAR: Alex Adams as Rudy Giuliani
SPECIAL INVITED GUESTS: Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Bono, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Leonardo DiCaprio and Pope Benedict XVI
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Thu Oct 16, 2008 at 11:24:00 AM EDT
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Heres chance for everyone to show some Wyka love next Wednesday, come on over to Livingston, bring your video camera because heres a rare chance to get Rodney on video.
Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 8pm
Livingston Senior/Community Center
204 Hillside Avenue, Livingston
Directions
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Tue Oct 14, 2008 at 10:14:27 AM EDT
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Maybe Rodney Frelinghuysen thinks bi-partisan means talking about working together. He and Tom Wyka squared off at a retirement center in a debate last night. Check out a few of his lines from the Daily Record coverage:"People who paid into the Social Security system depend on that system," Frelinghuysen said, adding that he wants both houses of Congress to work in a bipartisan way when addressing the crisis that funding for both entitlement programs might face a decade from now.
"I think there's a need for a bipartisan commission in both of these area," he said. Does this mean he's not going to be pushing those private accounts still unless the commission backs him up? According to the Washington Post:Rodney Frelinghuysen has voted with a majority of his Republican colleagues 87.8% of the time during the current Congress. This percentage does not include votes in which Frelinghuysen did not vote. He voted against SCHIP, against the government negotiating better prescription prices for medicare and against the ban on cruel, inhuman treatment of prisoners. Here's more on Mr. Bi-Partisan's voting record, while Rodney continues with the word of the day talking about the bailout:Frelinghuysen described the recently approved credit package in excess of $800 billion "the start of a very long process. Just because we gave power to (Treasury Secretary) Henry Paulson ... doesn't mean we're out of the woods."
The congressman again called for a bipartisan solution, saying that Congress should work toward for both reviving and stabilizing the economy while improving consumer confidence. I guess even the reporter picked up on the word game, but Rodney wasn't done:Frelinghuysen, during his summation, stuck to his bipartisan theme in promoting the need for the nation to become independent of foreign oil, and to emerge from the current economic stagnation.
"We don't need members of Congress to poison the atmosphere as we're trying to calm the atmosphere (for) true financial progress," he said. So to recap, we need to talk about very bi-partisan, while not voting in a bi-partisan manner except for when it comes to replacing him with that partisan Tom Wyka to actually fix the mess that Rodney has helped create.
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Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 12:44:30 AM EDT
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Be there or be a rhomboid. Promoted from the diaries - - Thurman Hart
Mark Alexander, Senoir Policy advisor to Barack Obama has just confirmed he will be speaking at the New Jersey for Democracy sponsored Wyka Lunch on Saturday Oct. 11th
Event location:
Mexicali Rose
10 Park St.
Montclair, New Jersey
Saturday, Oct. 11th,
Noon to 2pm
Appetizers & Juice bar
Featured speaker
Ron Rice Jr
West Ward Newark Councilman
Essex for Obama Chair
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