I wish I could say you have one of your very own dogs in the hunt to support in the widely watched Governors race in New Jersey. So far, as of this morning , I’m still a candidate and I’m a Kossack too. You have a bigger tent then you thought. I started out yesterday very much looking forward to the satisfaction of turning in the necessary signature petitions to qualify me for a ballot spot this November, and then leisurely driving back home after the Trenton work was done.
Earlier in the day I was nonsensically thinking that pushing for a Drive Your Classic Car to Work Day would be a positive idea to promote, given what’s happened to GM this week. The e-mail below the fold tells a different story....
Hello Chris Heitman,
E-mailing like you requested with the particulars. I’m the gentleman who talked to you outside the NBC studios last night around 11 PM stating that I was in Trenton earlier that day filing my signature petitions to qualify me to be on the ballot for the position of Governor of NJ. I was passing your station on the way to another cleaning account. (I’m a janitor kossacks, I’ve mentioned that many a time) We talked three or four minutes and I was very pleased.
I showed up around 3 PM at the election office in Trenton with 829 hard earned signatures which I personally collected (29 over the requirement). I was dumbfounded when they hinted that 829 might be a tempting number for a potentially sleazy candidate to challenge- especially since I used a different three word (or less) slogan for each county and they were impressed. Unfortunately one of my RIVALS might be impressed as well they think (and now I think. I wasn't to sure before.) Sinatra songs like "Stormy Weather," "They All Laughed" "Love and Marriage" "High Hopes" etc.
At 3:25 PM, thinking of their opinion, I asked if I still had time to add to my total? I ran like a maniac up and down the streets of Trenton and amazingly got 25 more signatures before the 4 PM deadline... pleading with the people to write legibly. I probably scared a dozen others, and add to that the usual feckless few afraid to sign anything. (Anything!)
I told you I will go back to Trenton personally with a movie camera if somebody has the nerve to challenge these 854 signatures- this of all years when voters are disgusted with- "politics as usual," while every last one of "us" candidates talks about change. This is why I kind of doubt anyone will challenge them......unless they know something I don’t from gathering their signatures, (by proxy probably). I got all mine myself, and I owe it to the poor souls I bothered at yard sales, car shows, motorcycle rallies, and mall food courts not to be a wimp the first day of the campaign. And I know first hand how difficult it is to fill in the information perfectly legibly when a voters table in the food court is filled with food, or they’re holding a child, or they are running late on an errand.
Again I think the ladies at the election office are over stating the situation. This is not Chicago’s 2nd ward, or some minor political office that will be under the radar. This is a significant election. One of two big races in the entire country.
Again I want to be there in that Trenton office tomorrow if anyone challenges because I want to remind that candidate, or rep. from one of the 2 parties, that the citizens who signed their petitions probably would not look kindly on them if they knew how that politician, or stand in, is trying to stifle a discussion of the issues that we (the candidates) will be all be huffing and puffing about (soon enogh). Unless these people signed their petitions. Then I get it- but my people in Hoboken will not be happy (campers).
Seriously though, I know full well that the Independents will not be invited to any debates, and we’ll all get 1% of the total votes in the end, that's all, so it better not be a rep. from my registered party, the Republican party- Christy is not that stupid, the flunkies might be though. If so I will make a spectacle of myself when I re-register as a Democrat, for old times sake- like I was registered my first 25 years. If it’s a Democrat party rep. worried that some poor Independent candidate might siphon off a few votes that’s even friggin worse considering the Democrats have a huge lead in registered voters.
The whole idea of challenging me or that other candidate who filed with just over 800 is so stupid- I doubt anyone will do it. But I have to be ready. I will be calling the election board at 9 AM to request they keep me apprised of any dramatic developments. NOTICE WHAT TIME I MAILED THIS TO YOU (Chris). I had a long day and even longer night cleaning offices. Got home after 2 AM. Thanks