14

Herald & Lantern 21 July '82

7 Can’t Support Him’

From Page 1) first selected as a candidate almost 15 ye;irs w;is when politics “really was conducted in the backroom." Bdt according to Mr Fox who supported conservative U.S. Senate candidate Jeffery Bell ia last month s primary - decisions are now being made at the top of the party, hierarchy and passed down to the grassroots, rather than being made at the bottom and traveling to the top, He contended that‘if the hierarchy was listening .to the grassr(M)ts the foundation of •he party organization the county leaders would have known that Jersey Cape voters wouldn't go along with the leadership decision to support the iViore

ficially endorse a candidate. Referring to Mr. Fox as “Sheriff ModWjeam’’ — a nickname Mr. Matalucci said hd« been tagged to the sheriff because “when'the moon is full, he goes off like a firecracker — the county leader charged that Mr Fox is blasting the Organization because the committee people didn’t see fit last year to select him as their choice for State Assembly. He also said the sheriff’s attacks directed at him personally were made because Mr. F'ox would like to be the county leader. "HE WANTS TO be an assemblyman, congressman, senator and probably even president." Matalucci said. (The sheriff made an unsuccessful bid for Congress in

“I’ve never known a more open-door policy.... I think it’s a personal thing between them”

moderate Millicent- Fenwick for U.S. Senate • MV CONDEMNATION isn't with the party It's with the way they select their candidates.'' Fox said, acknowledging he’s been at odds with the leadership over this issue on numerous occasions. Continuing, the sheriff charged that •■less than six people control the Organization." addiqg they choose who they want to endorse rather' than going to the grassroots and finding out if this is the choice of the people Mr Matalucci brushed aside these chargcsr asserting that while he’s been leader the past nine years, selection of candidates has always been done the ^“democratic way" — as, he says, is required in Title 19 of state election laws. He explained that process calls for voters in the primary to select local district committeemen and women who in turn choose a local leader to serve as one of the 16 members of the Cape May County Regular Republican Organization This body then selects a leader, who also serves as the chairman of the county's GOP Executive Committee -a body made up of the 168 county committeemen and woman. "This is the democratic way." the leader said "EVERY YEAR we have a Candidate’s Night where all the candidates can come out and speak before the Executive Committee The committeemen and women all have a chance to.listen and decide for themselves who they want to support." the leader said, noting, however, that under Title 19. Committee members can't of

1980 against incumbent Democrat William Hughes of Ocean City.) According to the county GOP leader, if anyone is "out of step" it’s the sheriff. Mr. Matalucci said Fox is "irrational" and "lets his heart run away with his head." Furthermore, Matalucci said, Mr. Fox has broken all of the Organization bylaws — a set of regulations he said Fox helped put together in 1977. Such violations, Matalucci continued, could lead to Fox being ousted from the Organization. He has been reprimanded on several occasions, Matalucci said of Fox AMONG THE RULES the sheriff has allegedly broken is one stipulating that once the Organization endorses a candidate, all members are to support that individual. As an example, Matalucci said that Mr. Fox wrote a letter to the Organization professing his support of Paterson mayor Pat Kramer in last year’s gubernatorial primary, but then went on to campaign for candidate Bo Sullivan. "He’s lied to the Organization many times, Mr. Matalucci said According to the leadei, Mr. Fox has also broken other rules, such as holding his own fund-raisers and Hot campaigning for other candidates on the GOP ticket. "HE HAS LOST a lot of respect from the committeemen and women.” Matalucci said, inferring that F’ox may find it difficult mustering Organization support in the future. "I for one can't support him." Matalucci said. ' The county leader's view was supported

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by Ocean City leader John Esposito who said July 10 that some of his committee people were so { upset with the sheriff’s remarks that recently they called for his removal from tie Organization. "We're not top happy," Mr. Esposito said of the sneriff’s allegations that district committee people don’t see that the grassroots organization is consulted. Esposito said his people resent the charges because in Ocean City the grassroots is consulted, everyone has input into decisions. and "backroom politics" is not practiced. NOTING THAT IT was the hard work of the Ocean City Organization that made it possible for the sheriff to squeak by and be reelected last fall, Mr. Esposito said he thinks Mr. Fox "owes an apology to Ocean City." "I’m disappointed in him,” the city leader added. "I don't like seeing this happen ... I think he’s hurting himself." Mr. Matalucci — who has been at the helm of the county Organization nine years, and was recently selected unanimously by the State's 21 county leaders to serve as their chairman — describes himself as a "county leader" not a "boss." "MY PHILOSOPHY IS good government ... Don’t forget the people. Be a chairman for the people," he said. Concerning patronage, Mr. Matalucci inditated there’s “Very little" in Cape MajK County. He said, however, that patronage is part of the political system and that good government needs people working side-by-side who have a similar philosophy. "Most county positions are Civil Service," he added. * *';% ^ According to tlft county leader, if the sheriff is concern^ about patronage, he should look at his own “country club," the

ments can be made by the county freeholders," he said. "Personally I’d like to see the first and second levels of all departments be appointed.” the freeholder added, noting this would elminate much of the bureaucratic opposition that arises when an elected body chooses to administer a change in policy direction. "My philosophy is that good business is good politics." he said According to Mr. Matalucci, the role of a political organizatin is to win in November — a task he feels is going to be "tough sledding” for the GOP this year because of the current mood of people throughout the state and nation. "In my o|linion, a conservative couldn't win in New Jersey this year," he said, noting that’s why he believes the more moderate Mrs. Fenwick is a stronger candidate than Mr. Bell. “IF YOU WANT to win in New Jersey you have to be conservative, moderate and liberal," the leader asserted. "All Fox is hollering is conservative, conservative ... The hell with moderates and liberals." Although attacking leadership methods he feels will eventually weaken the party. SherifFFox had acknowledged that as a leader;*Cape May County has one of the best. ^No leader is worth his salt if he can’t get the decisions he wants from his organization," he said. Others agree. Middle Township GOP leader Thomas Bevis praised Mr. Matalucci as a "good chairman." He indicated the grassroots organizatin does have input into all decisions, and that since the 1960s, the Organization has followed the same procedure for selecting candidates. COUNTY CLERK Angela Pulvino - a candidate herself this year and a member of the Ocean City Organization — claims

“If you want to win in New Jersey, you have to be conservative, moderate and liberal. All Fox is

hollering is conservative.

County Jail. He charged that Mr. Fox rules his own “dynasty" which includes some 100 positions that he fills and replaces at his own whim. Matalucci also said the sheriff has never given any positions to the GOP Organization. FREEHOLDER Gerald Thornton echoed the county leader’s thoughts on patronage. "By law only about 10 appoint-

conservative...” that Mr. Matalucci "has helped so many people in so many ways and never asked for anything in return." ' / "Can you ever make the right decision and please everyone?" she asked. "You couldn’t find anyone more dedicated or politically astute in the state." Freeholder Thornton said, noting that "Phil and I have had our differences "

Drivers

(From Page 1) driving in a "headless, willful or wanton disregard of others." with stiffer fines and jail terms. The ultimate purpose of the law is to make safe roads for all, notes the mayor throughout the county and state.

Paris to Cape-

(From Page 1) generously with donations of gifts, including T-shirts from Middle Township schools, hats from Murphy-Mart, doughnuts and cold drinks from Mr. Donut and McDonalds, and a cake from the Court House Bakery. In a speech during a reception following the concert. Dr Theodore Johnson, Supt. of Middle Township Schools, commented, "one of the languages of the world is music. It is a universal language." Doris Ward of Goshen is a freelance /^hoto^>opher. writer. - f A

The sheriff's brother-in-law. Lower Township GOP leader Maurice Catdrcio, supported the county chairman, too. "I've never known a more open-door policy," Catarcio said of the nine years Matalucci has led the party. "I think it's a personal thing between them (Fox and Matalucci),” he added AND HOW DOES Mr. Matalucci feel about himself as leader? "I do a good job at this," he said, em phasizing he has no political ambitions to run for office. (He twice lost bids to become a county freeholder.) Stressing 'the importance of an Organization, the county leader contends that "We are a small county, but strong when we stick together." According to Matalucci, Cape May County is "respected by the state" because it consistently comes in year after year with a large plurality of votes for GOP candidates. "That's what organization is all about," Mr Matalucci said.

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