The race for Congress in New Jersey’s 7th district has its first announced candidate: Tom Philips, a 41-year-old human resources executive from Scotch Plains will seek the Republican nomination to oppose freshman Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-Rocky Hill).
He is running as an unabashed supporter of President Donald Trump on a platform based on “common sense.”
“Politics is not science or math. Politics is psychological and emotional. 90% of races are decided the moment the candidates are put on the ballot,” Phillips said. “Good candidates win, bad candidates lose, and it comes down to who the voter can relate to.
Phillips is the director of human resources and administration at Jet Set Sports, a Bedminster company that provides “unparalleled hospitality experiences at the Olympic Games,” according to its website.
The company is run by Sead Dizdarevic, who was described by the Seattle Times as an Olympic insider with “a monopoly to sell tickets and hotel packages at steep markups.”
Still, Phillips isn’t big on congressional travel.
“Isn’t it a bit silly that congress needs to take multi-million dollar junkets overseas to get ‘up to speed’ on things,” Phillips said in a social media posting. “When I need to know what’s going on in Eastern Europe or Asia, I prefer a free Skype call, saves $$$ and jet lag. Common sense.”
The fledgling candidate’s resume includes stints working as finance manager of the Staten Island Yankees and as controller for the now-defunct Newark Bears.
He is an adjunct professor at New York University.
Phillips attended the NJGOP Summit in Atlantic City last weekend, where he tweeted that seminars on running campaigns will help him in his bid to oust Malinowski.
“Micro-targeting is good. Common sense is good. Run as an authentic candidate,” Phillips said. “Check, check, check. Off to more one on one meetings. Glad the two master’s degrees in marketing are going to off finally pay off.”
He is still in the early stages of his campaign – he has a golf outing fundraiser planned for May – but says on his campaign website that America has had enough.
“Enough of broken campaign promises, petty squabbling over insignificant issues, and lackluster leadership from our elected officials,” Phillips said. “We have real problems, and we deserve real solutions.
Phillips says he’s running because Congress needs “fewer career public servants, lawyers, and millionaires deciding what’s best for our families.”
“We need more people in government that can actually relate to regular Americans,” said Phillips. “And we need to make that happen.”
RELATED ARTICLES
-
June 26, 2018 -
August 7, 2018 -
October 2, 2018