POLITICS

Rodney Frelinghuysen's support for pro-gun law repels longtime donor

Signaling possible challenges ahead for U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen’s re-election, a deep-pocketed, longtime donor said Tuesday that he would rather support Mikie Sherrill, a Democratic candidate in the race for New Jersey's 11th Congressional District — and that he won’t be the last donor to jump ship.

Rodney Frelinghuysen

"It was a difficult decision," said Finn Wentworth, founder and partner of a major real estate and investment firm in Morristown, of forgoing his lifelong Republican allegiance and backing Sherrill, the progressive Democratic candidate.

"There were several votes along the way that I felt Rodney was alienating the community that I’m a member of," said Wentworth, a Morristown native, adding that he has known Frelinghuysen and his family for most of his life. "Between the health care vote and this most recent safety vote, it was totally not in our community’s interest. Therefore, I can’t support him in this cycle."

Wentworth, a campaign chairman for Morristown Medical Center, has been a reliable donor for the Republican congressman and supportive of him since his first run, in 1994.

He donated $5,400 earlier this year to Frelinghuysen for Congress, according to the Federal Election Commission. He has contributed $17,685 to Frelinghuysen's campaign since 2004, according to filings with the FEC.

Wentworth has contributed $218,450 to Republican candidates and super PACs across the state since 2002, according to the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission.

DISTRICT 11:Catherine Carrera recaps congressional candidates forum

EDITORIAL:Vote on concealed-carry makes Jersey less safe

He said Frelinghuysen’s affirmative vote for the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act last week and his vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act in May were not in line with the "socially moderate and fiscally conservative" Republicans of his community.

The Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act amends the federal criminal code to allow a licensed gun owner from one state to carry a concealed handgun into another state that allows concealed firearms. A gun owner under the bill is not subject to federal law against having a firearm in a school zone or in federally owned public spaces.

The bill was praised by the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action, the NRA's lobbying arm, as "the strongest piece of self-defense legislation."

Calls for comment to Frelinghuysen's Morristown office were not returned.

Frelinghuysen has held his seat in the deep-red 11th Congressional District for 22 years. But results from the governor’s race showed Morris County’s large Republican base turned out in low numbers, a red flag for Frelinghuysen, who’s up for reelection in 2018. He faces one Republican challenger in the primary, Martin Hewitt. Meanwhile, five Democratic candidates are facing off for their party's nomination in June. A sixth candidate, Passaic County Freeholder John Bartlett, has backed out of the race.

Wentworth said he knows other large donors of Frelinghuysen won't be giving him their money in this election.

“I see people who starkly were supportive to Rodney, unfailingly, who are not going to be supportive to him this cycle,” Wentworth said.

Mikie Sherrill is a Montclair resident and Democratic contender who has thrown her hat into the race to replace 12-term Republican Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District.

Wentworth is switching his support from red to blue with Sherrill, an ardent anti-Trump candidate and stark contrast to Frelinghuysen, who has a consistent record this year of voting positively for measures supported by President Donald Trump.

Sherrill, a former Navy helicopter pilot and federal prosecutor from Montclair, has been endorsed by former Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' gun control super PAC, which Wentworth supports.

“We need a change in leadership, and what we have now is not working for our community," Wentworth said.

Wentworth was co-chairman of Gov. Chris Christie's finance team in his 2016 presidential run and advised Christie on professional horse racing and gaming in the state. He was also president, chief operating officer and a board member of YankeeNets, the holding company of the New York Yankees, New Jersey Nets and New Jersey Devils. He helped start the Yankees Entertainment Sports Network, known as the YES Network.

Email: carrera@northjersey.com