Thursday Night Event Followed by Elect Sen. Joe Kyrillos Rally 10/16
October 3, 2012 - On Thursday night, October 4th, New Jersey State Senator Joe Kyrillos (R-Monmouth) will square off against the incumbent U.S. Senator for New Jersey, Bob Menendez (D-Union) in the race for the U.S. Senate. The debate is being held at Montclair University starting at 8 p.m., but Kyrillos supporters are encouraged to be at Montclair University at 1 Normal Avenue in Montclair by 6:30 p.m.

"There is supposed to be a large turnout by Menendez supporters hoping to crash the rally, but folks who want real change in Washington DC on behalf of all New Jerseyans may want to head up there early and show support for Mr. Kyrillos," said Jim Donofrio, executive director of the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) who is supporting Joe Kyrillos in the November 6th Senate election.

According to Donofrio, Sen. Menendez has taken a hostile view towards recreational fishermen in the state of New Jersey during his time in office. "He hasn't just ignored sportsmen, Mr. Menendez has gone out of his way to go against us, to do damage to our way of life," Donofrio said.

RFA points to the most recent example on September 22nd in which Sen. Menendez joined just six other U.S. Senators in opposing the Democrat-led Sportsmen's Act of 2012, a non-controversial piece of legislation aimed at protecting and enhancing recreational hunting, fishing and shooting opportunities in the United States. Both New York's Senators voted in favor of the bill, so too did the Senators from Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, North Carolina, even Florida and California.

"RFA has a very simple, straightforward and reasonable response for Sen. Menendez's actions in the Senate; the incumbent from Union County, NJ hates recreational fishermen and hunters, and will continue to go out of his way to cast a vote against hunters and anglers for as long as he remains in Washington DC," Donofrio said.

Appointed to his Senate seat by then Governor Jon Corzine - right before Mr. Corzine bankrupted New Jersey and then went on to lose $1 billion of investors' savings at MF Global - Sen. Menendez has been completely 'missing in action' in terms of issues of importance to coastal New Jersey residents.

The Atlantic City Press says "U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez's re-election bid is made easier by having President Barack Obama at the top of the ballot," while the Jersey Journal reports on the prevalence of Obama/Menendez signs around Jersey City as saying the first-term incumbent "appears to be capitalizing on Obama's popularity here in New Jersey, where polls have the president leading Romney by double digits. In Hudson County, Obama won in 2008 with over 70 percent of the vote."

Donofrio charges that the incumbent Menendez is spending far too much of his time in Washington pandering to partisan politicking with the Administration, and almost no time at all taking care of constituents' needs back home in New Jersey. "He's not taking this debate seriously, much the same way he's treated the Senate seat," he added.

If you would like to take part in the pre-debate festivities by joining the staff and fellow Kyrillos activists from around the state on Thursday at Montclair University, call the Kyrillos campaign at 732-221-1086, or click here to RSVP.

Also, RFA hopes you can make plans to attend the upcoming rally to elect state senator Joe Kyrillos to the U.S. Senate in November. The rally will be held at Viking Yachts on Tuesday, October 16th at 2:30 p.m. and will feature a few special guests in addition to New Jersey's next U.S. Senator!

"RFA-NJ members, anglers and business owners need to get the word out to their friends and co-workers that November's election is a big one for New Jersey, one of the biggest in a generation," said Donofrio. "It's time to break the Corzine connection once and for all and give some representation back to our coastal citizens."

"As anglers and coastal stewards, I know you are frustrated by the lack of attention your community has received from Senator Bob Menendez. It seems that Senator Menendez visits New Jersey's coastal communities once every six years--as he campaigns for reelection. In the past, once the election is over, so too is your representation in the United States Senate," Kyrillos said in a letter to New Jersey anglers sent earlier this year.

"I am running for the U.S. Senate to give people like you a voice in Washington," Kyrillos said.

If you would like to attend the rally to elect Joe Kyrillos to the U.S. Senate in New Jersey to be held on Tuesday, October 16th at 2:30, contact the RFA via email at news@joinrfa.org. Or, you can call 888-564-6732.