Schneiderman ready to launch direct-to-voters congressional bid in NJ-5

With party convention season over in New Jersey’s 5th district, Republican Fred Schneiderman is moving on to the part of the campaign where candidates speak to Republican primary voters in search of votes.

The Cresskill businessman did not actively participate in the pre-primary intramurals, where the Bergen GOP gave their line to Nick De Gregorio and Passaic and Sussex Republicans are backing Frank Pallotta.

“This election will not be decided by political insiders making deals in backrooms,” Schneiderman said.  “It will be decided by the everyday unsung heroes in our community. As we enter the next phase of our operation, my team and I are excited to be taking our campaign directly to the people and fighting hard to earn every single vote.”

Instead, Schneiderman is planning to roll out TV, radio and digital ads starting next week in his bid to oust Rep. Josh Gottheimer (R-Wyckoff).

Schneiderman has hired former Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway and Jamestown Associates, which has produced TV ads for Trump and dozens of come-from-behind outsiders who have won Republican primaries for U.S. Senate, Congress and Governor across the country.

It’s still not clear how much Schneiderman has raised or the extent of his self-funding.  That will be clear by April 15 when the first-quarter 2022 fundraising reports are due.

But he has held a series of fundraisers, including one hosted by Conway and former New York Republican State Chairman Ed Cox.  Cox’ late father-in-law, former President Richard Nixon, lives in Saddle River and Park Ridge, which are both in NJ-5.

On Thursday, Schneiderman announced that he has hired Peter Finocchio, a former aide to Gov. Chris Christie who has worked on campaigns in New Jersey and Virginia,  as his campaign manager.

“I am very excited to welcome Peter Finocchio to my team,” Schneiderman said of the Wayne native, who started out as an intern to Assemblyman Scott Rumana (R-Wayne).   “When so many are leaving New Jersey because of our high taxes and cost of living, Peter has returned home and is bringing the red wave with him.”

Schneiderman is the president and CEO of FBS Properties, an investment platform for energy, real estate and private equity.