Dennis Shulman for U.S. Congress: Sensible Leadership for New Jersey’s 5th District

September 29th, 2008

Questions That Deserve an Answer, Part 1: The Shulman Campaign will press Scott Garrett for an answer to a critical question each day between now and the election

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept 29, 2008

Contact: Jeff Hauser, 201-767-8162, jeff@shulmanforcongress.com

Haworth, NJ - The Shulman for Congress campaign today called upon Scott Garrett to answer the many lingering questions concerning his “tree and shrub” farm and his many other ethical concerns.

Today’s question:

“We believe that Scott Garrett should open up the land that he claims is a farm to reporters and members of the public for a tour, as Governor Christie Todd Whitman did in 1993,” said Jeff Hauser, campaign manager for Dennis Shulman, the Democratic nominee in New Jersey’s Fifth Congressional District.  “The law is quite explicit - Garrett must have five contiguous acres of land under an active woodlot management program.  If Garrett actually has five contiguous acres being actively farmed, he should have no problem proving that to the public.”

BACKGROUND:

• Shulman for Congress recently launched an ad across the district assailing Garrett’s property tax shenanigans surrounding land he has hidden from his federally-mandated asset disclosure.
• The ad and backup material can be found at www.GarrettShrubs.com.
• The Bergen Record has noted that “a similar attack of being a fake farmer cost Ellen Karcher, a Democratic state senator from Monmouth County, her seat in 2007.” http://www.northjersey.com/politics/Fake_farmer_TV_ad_could_hurt_Garrett_.html
• “Land must consist of at least 5 contiguous (adjoining) acres being farmed and/or under a woodlot management plan. Land under and adjoining the farmhouse is not counted in the 5 acre minimum area needed to qualify.” http://www.state.nj.us/agriculture/FarmlandAssessmentGuide.pdf

###

Dennis Shulman was recently profiled by The New Yorker and Time as momentum for his campaign continues to grow, and recent polling in the district validates the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s decision to upgrade NJ-5 as an “Emerging Race” and to buy advertising time in the district.  Only 31% of likely voters in NJ-5 plan to re-elect Garrett and, by a 68-17% margin, the district seeks change from George Bush’s policies.

Dr. Dennis Shulman has gained international recognition for his 30 years of work as a psychologist, educator, and author.  An ordained rabbi for five years and blind since childhood, he has lived in New Jersey’s Fifth District for more than 25 years with his wife, Dr. Pamela Tropper, an obstetrician. They have two adult daughters.

Additional background on Dr. Dennis Shulman and his challenge to Scott Garrett:

• “Rabbi With the Compelling Back Story Is Not to Be Ruled Out,” Peter Applebome, The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/nyregion/14towns.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion&oref=slogin

• “A Rabbi in Congress?,” Adam Goodman, Time, http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1824434,00.html
• “On the Trail: First Timer,” Jeffrey Toobin, The New Yorker, http://www.newyorker.com/talk/2008/07/28/080728ta_talk_toobin

• Press Releases