TOMS RIVER, NJ – New Jersey Congressman Andy Kim is running for U.S. Senate in a bid to challenge incumbent Senator Robert Menendez. Menendez has been indicted once again on federal corruption and bribery charges. This week, federal prosecutors charged Menendez with being a foreign agent.
Kim, a radical-left-leaning Congressman prides himself on his progressive platform and track record, but last week, declined to condemn anti-gay statements made by his District Director Ben Giovine’s political running mate, Rhetta Jackson-Fair.
Fair had published homophobic rants on social media saying God does not condone homosexuality and that homosexuals should not be treated as normal. One Democrat committeeman, Paul C. Williams not only condemned the hateful rhetoric of Jackson-Fair, he also condemned an alleged report that she was seen recently in the company of a convicted sex offender who raped a 12-year-old child.
Kim’s office has declined to comment on the matter. Giovine said he did not agree with his running mate’s comments on social media.
Giovine is running for mayor of Toms River in an unprecedented move by a top congressional staffer. Giovine said he had Kim’s approval to run for office, by federal law, needed to proceed in a partisan political campaign while working in the capacity of a congressional employee.
Giovine also declined to comment on a recent drunk driving arrest while he was serving as a board member on the Toms River School Board. At the time, Giovine, according to other school board members, had no job, was in foreclosure on his home and was close to filing personal bankruptcy.
His opponent Dan Rodrick said today that Giovine should not be elected mayor, not only over his connection to Fair, his personal financial mismanagement or his DUI, but because as a school board member, Giovine rased taxes each year.
Rodrick also said Giovine, who has been living in a Washington, D.C. bubble is out of touch with Toms River residents who oppose large apartment buildings in downtown.
“Ben Giovine wants to turn Toms River into a city. He said he wants more apartments, and said he agrees with the current downtown redevelopment plan that allows buildings up to 12 stories tall in our already congested downtown center,” Rodrick says.