RFA Officially Endorses Joe Kyrillos in U.S. Senate Race for New Jersey
OutdoorHub 02.13.12
The Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) today has officially endorsed New Jersey State Senator Joseph Kyrillos (R-Monmouth) for U.S. Senate this November. Sen. Kyrillos of Middletown represents New Jersey’s 13th legislative district which includes parts of coastal Monmouth County. RFA said that as a coastal representative, Sen. Kyrillos will make an outstanding U.S. Senator when representing New Jersey at the federal level.
“Sen. Kyrillos has reached out to the fishing community over the past 8 months, visiting the most important ports in New Jersey and sitting down with members of our coastal districts, and he has really taken the time to understand our concerns,” said RFA executive director Jim Donofrio. “Sen. Kyrillos is a man of great integrity and is well-liked and respected by members of both parties in Trenton, which is precisely the quality of character that’s sorely needed in Washington DC right now.”
“Jim Donofrio is a widely respected advocate for sport fishermen nationwide and I am thrilled to have his support and the endorsement of the Recreational Fishing Alliance,” said Senator Kyrillos. “The coast of New Jersey is one of our state’s most valuable resources and my agenda in Washington will absolutely include a tireless effort to ensure proper fishery management so that the rights of saltwater anglers are protected.”
“The marine, boat and tackle industry is not just an important economic engine across the country, but a vital one for the state of New Jersey,” said Senator Kyrillos. “During these unstable economic times, it is critical that we fight for every single job and we can do that right here in New Jersey by safeguarding the rights of saltwater anglers.”
In addition to his personal meetings with coastal constituents going back to the summer of 2011 when he began his exploratory campaign for U.S. Senate, Kyrillos recently visited the Atlantic City Boat Show where he spent much of the day meeting with various boat dealers, manufacturers and representatives of the recreational fishing community.
Kyrillos was elected to the New Jersey Assembly at the age of 27, where he served two terms before being voted to the state Senate in 1991. As a Republican lawmaker who chaired Governor Christie’s 2009 gubernatorial campaign, Kyrillos said he’d vote to repeal the federal health-care legislation and cut spending in his bid to unseat incumbent Hoboken Democrat Robert Mendendez who was originally appointed to the U.S. Senate in 2006 to fill the seat vacated by Jon Corzine. Kyrillos has also committed to helping reform the federal fisheries law to help keep fishermen fishing in the years ahead, something which RFA said the incumbent has refused.
“Sen. Menendez has had a closed door policy when it comes to dealing with federal fisheries and our coastal fishermen, he has refused to even acknowledge our coastal communities and what our traditions mean to this nation,” said Donofrio. “Quite frankly, I think of only one instance where Mr. Menendez has travelled south of the Raritan River during his time in office, and that was simply as a response to the criticism that’s he’s been a complete no-show.”
Donofrio said RFA members should be out in force at the November elections, given the state of coastal fisheries access from a flawed federal fisheries law and agenda-driven administration. “This is not about party politics, we support candidates on both sides of the aisle, but the fact is that fishermen have been totally barred from our present U.S. Senate office and that’s going to change this November,” he said.
“If you fish in saltwater in New Jersey or are concerned about coastal issues, you need to support Joe Kyrillos for U.S. Senate in the upcoming election,” said Donofrio.
Senator Kyrillos said, “As New Jersey’s representative in the United States Senate, I will continue to work with the Recreational Fishing Alliance to ensure the sustainability of our federal fisheries and advocate on behalf of our coastal fishermen.”
