One race that has become unusually negative is the contest for Democratic State Committee in Warren County, where incumbents Christopher Maier and Mary Ann Moore face challenges from Damiano Fracasso, a former Freeholder candidate, and Hackettstown Board of Education member Mary Beth Maciag.
Read a sampling of some e-mail exchanges from the race:
From: "Damiano M. Fracasso, Esq." Sent: Sunday, May 31, 2009 11:43:23 PM
Subject: 2009 Democratic State Committee Election Nomination
Dear Philipsburg Counsel President David DeGerlomo & Lopatcong County Committeewoman Ms. Elizabeth Gittins
I see that the two of you put your reputations and full unconditional support behind my incumbent opponent Christopher Maier.
Like many Warren County Democratic Voters, Activists and Donors, I am curious to know whether you will withdraw your enthusiastic endorsement for our 2 term Democratic State Committee Representative after you are made aware of the following items of information:
Christopher Maier and his "Land of Make Believe" business franchise (which he inherited from his father) have donated almost $12,000.00 ($11,925.00 to be exact) to REPUBLICAN candidates and the REPUBLICAN party since the New Jersey Law Enforcement Commission began maintaining records. Attached are 9 official legal documents which support this assertion for your review and comment;
Christopher Maier objected to former County Chairman Roger Hines' nomination to the Warren County Tax Board, but now touts his endorsement. Please note that Mr. Maier did not attend the Executive Committee meeting where the nomination was made (which Mary Beth and I voted for), but voiced his objection at a meeting months later which he only attended to have his petition signed;
Christopher Maier's attendance at the actual Democratic State Committee meetings is almost non – existent. In fact, when he failed to attend the September, 2007 meeting, it was Mary Beth Maciag, Chairman Sedita and myself who had to do his (as well as his running mate's) job for him. Ultimately, we convinced State Chairman Joe Cryan to fund our centrally located County Committee Headquarters in Washington Borough. After we got the funding and Mary Beth and I voted to open the Headquarters – Chris Maier VOTED AGAINST IT. Needless to say that when Mary Beth and I were cleaning, painting and decorating the new headquarters, Mr. Maier was nowhere to be found;
Christopher Maier has not run for any elected office in the last 10 years. To the contrary, I have run for elected office as a proud Democrat 4 of the last 5 years. The only reason I did not run last year was the time and financial commitment I made to our Congressional Candidate Dennis Shulman. Similarly, my running mate Mary Beth Maciag has run in council and school board (upon which she now sits) elections for the past 5 years;
Unlike myself and my running mate Mary Beth Maciag, Mr. Maier is not endorsed by either of our Freeholder Candidates this year;
When Gary and Alina Grewal had a cross burned on their lawn literally 7 miles away from Mr. Maier's home because they were Democrats, Mr. Maier refused to help them, or even participate in the community organized unity march which I proudly attended and marched in; and During his current elected term, Mr. Maier has not brought a single penny to the Warren County Democratic Committee treasury from the State Party, nor has he been able to use his position to secure the presence of any out of county elected Democratic official to headline any of our fundraisers.
Your prompt response is greatly appreciated.. Your vote on Tuesday, June 2, 2009 for Damiano M. Fracasso and Mary Beth Maciag for Democratic State Committee Representatives for Warren County is also appreciated.
On Mon, Jun 1, 2009 at 8:28 AM, Thomas Palmieri wrote:
Damiano,This email of yours serves no purpose but to lose the respect you have among Dems. When you came to the North Warren Dems meeting in April, you gave a very convincing presentation. I was a supporter of Chris at that time. You made me seriously consider voting for you. I had talked to a couple of your supporters who I highly respect. They gave me ideas why you could do a better job then Chris.They were convincing. I expressed my fearsabout you. Sadly, this email of yours shows me yourpassion willget in the way of good judgement by you. You have contributed tremendously to the Dems in Warren County. Unfortunately, this aspect of your personnality of attacking opponents, damagesthe good you have done. I want you and everybody in this email to know, this email of mine is something I do with greatsadness. ForI am "attacking" a fellow Dem. You have great potential.But your potential cannot over come this strong aspect of your personnality. I will be supporting Chris Maier. He has contributed to this party intime and money, over the years. Is Chris 100% perfect, NO. We all have feet of clay. But Chris will give his all to the party when asked. I look forward to working with Chris.Tom PalmieriPres. of North Warren Dem. Club
Jun 1, 2009 12:50:17 PM, dmfesq@fracassolaw.com wrote:
You are certainly entitled to your own opinion. Your unwarranted personal attacks are not appreciated and they do not deter me in any way from getting my message out to voters. Democratic Voters and Democratic Candidates in Warren County do not deserve another 4 years of Chris Maier's absenteeism. They deserve to know the truth. Sadly, there is no polite way to inform them that Mr. Maier donated almost $12,000 to Republicans and does not attend meetings. Quite frankly, I must disagree with you that not attending meetings (on the State of County Level) or bringing absolutely no money back from the State Party for candidates or even getting the Governor to attend one of our functions in the last 4 years is "giving it your all." If that's what Chris considers to be his "all" then you must agree with me in your heart that it is time for a change this Tuesday.
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By the way – what did Chris do to help you when Trenton wrongfully removed you from your well deserved position at the MVC? Perhaps if you had a State Committee Representative who actually had some clout in Trenton (dare I say by actually attending meetings and making his presence known) the outcome may have been different. Perhaps if you had a State Committee Representative who is not afraid to stand up for what is right, speak truth to power and do what it takes in order to get things done – things may have been different for you as well. I am sorry that they are not, but if I am elected on Tuesday I will work just as hard for you as I will for everyone else in order to make this party better and stronger for all its members – even Chris.
DAMIAN
On Jun 1, 2009, John wrote:
WoW TomThat is some email. I cant belive you are ostracizing some one for having a passion as part of their process, that is going to lead to their dowfall. This sounds like the plot of a 1950's B movie.Sounds like some of those documented bullets in that email really ruffled your complacency.Since when is presenting documented fact an attack?ANSWER- When one dosen't want to admit to them. Me thinks the lady doth protest too much.Tom, you need a new Passion spin.I don"t think Damian is going to turn inot a passioned up hop head. Damian is edgy and has a big mouth, but its and educated edge and an educated big mouth and thats whats scary isn't it.Its passion that made this country and passion to change of the Obama campaign that pulled us out of years of misery.And I also take issue with your "we all have feet of clay" pronouncment. Who are you to judge. Who are you to judge. That is an insult to all the people who work their butts off for this party. plus you addressed it to all the people to whom you sent that email!Careful playing Daddy Insight.
From: Ann Dougherty
Please either confine the e-mail fighting between yourselves or kindly remove my name from this list. I don't need to read approx 20 e-mails of this type. Campaign e-mails and pointing out differences between parties are fine. Petty childishness is not.
Ann
