Chris Myers (New Jersey)

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For other persons named Chris Myers, see Chris Myers (disambiguation).
Chris Myers (New Jersey)
Chris Myers (New Jersey)

Myers (left) with former Congressman Jim Saxton (right)
Councilman of Medford, New Jersey
Born December 2, 1965
Political party Republican
Spouse Tiffany Myers
Children Two (Son and daughter)
Residence Medford, New Jersey
Alma mater University of Colorado at Boulder (Bachelor's Degree); Cornell University (Master's Degree)
Profession U.S. Navy/Vice President of Lockheed Martin
Religion Episcopalian
Website http://www.chrismyersforcongress.com

Chris Myers (born December 2, 1965) is an American business executive and politician, currently serving as a councilman in Medford, New Jersey. He was the unsuccessful Republican nominee for New Jersey's 3rd congressional district, a seat which was open due to the retirement of incumbent Jim Saxton, in 2008.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Myers was raised in Medford Township in southern New Jersey, where he attended public schools and graduated from Shawnee High School. He graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a Bachelor's degree in political science and subsequently earned a Master’s degree in public administration from Cornell University. [1]

He currently resides in his hometown of Medford with his wife of 15 years, Tiffany, and his two young children.

[edit] Military experience

Myers, a decorated combat veteran of the Persian Gulf War, served as the communications officer, anti-air warfare officer, and operations officer on the Navy’s first forward deployed Aegis-equipped cruiser, USS Bunker Hill. In this position, Chris directed the actions of four aircraft carriers and hundreds of land and sea-based aircraft, as well as missile ships from U.S. and allied nations. After leaving USS Bunker Hill, he served as the joint air defense officer for the combined U.S. and NATO Staff of Commander, Second Fleet and Commander Striking Fleet Atlantic aboard the flagship USS Mount Whitney. In this capacity, Myers designed and coordinated Air Defense and Tomahawk plans for exercise and real world operations. His military decorations include a Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (with Combat V), several Navy Achievement Medals, Combat Action Ribbon and Liberation of Kuwait Medal. [1]

[edit] Professional career

Upon leaving the Navy, Myers joined Lockheed Martin and became a program manager in the Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Program Office at NE&SS-Surface Systems. He led the High Range Resolution Program, which consisted of a series of radar enhancements and at-sea tests to support Navy BMD efforts. He was promoted to "Director, Missile Defense and Radar Programs," overseeing Lockheed Martin’s radar business and role in BMD domestically and internationally.

Ultimately, he was promoted to "Vice President, Business Development." In this capacity, he is responsible for new business acquisition, technology research and development for MS2. Myers has also been also "Vice President, Advanced Programs," and "Vice President, Sea-based Missile Defense." Myers is currently spearheading the solar energy projects at Lockheed Martin [2].

[edit] Political career

Myers was elected to a four-year term on the Medford Township Council in 2001, and he was re-elected in 2005. After each election, the Township Council selects a mayor and deputy mayor from its members. Myers was selected as mayor in 2003 and again in 2008. As councilman and mayor, Myers' chief goals have been stabilization of property taxes and preservation of open space. Myers will be up for re-election in Medford in November 2009, along with fellow council members Joe Lynn and Dave Brown. The three will face Democratic challengers Sean Kennedy and Eric Spinner [3].

[edit] Positions on issues

Myers calls himself a "Jim Saxton Republican", "a conservative on taxes and spending, a supporter of the environment and a friend of working men and women." [4]

Myers is a vocal opponent the Affordable Housing Mandate bill in New Jersey. Myers opposes the bill as a result of its inclusion of a section that creates government imposition of fees on non-residential development in order to build an affordable housing fund. He argues that this concept will be bad for taxpayers and will also destroy the preservation of environmental open space [5]

Myers is pro-life. [6]

Myers supports expanding child health coverage through SCHIP. He had been an outspoken critic against President George W. Bush's veto of the expansion of SCHIP in 2008. [7].

[edit] 2008 Congressional campaign

Myers announced his bid for Congress in January 2008, receiving the endorsement and support of the retiring incumbent Jim Saxton. [8]

[edit] Primary

Other candidates for the Republican nomination included Ocean County Freeholder John P. Kelly and former Tabernacle Township Committeeman Justin Murphy. The campaign in the Republican primary included disputes over taxes. Myers criticized Kelly for having voted to raise Ocean County's spending and taxes. Kelly responded that Myers's attack was hypocritical in light of the 50% increase in Medford's spending during Myers's term on the township's committee.[9] Kelly also charged that Myers's lobbying for the defense industry created a conflict of interest. [10]

Myers won the primary with 49% of the vote to Kelly’s 26% and Murphy’s 25%.[11]

Kelly endorsed Myers after the primary, offering his "full support" and any help he could give.[12]

[edit] General election

Myers' Democratic opponent is State Senator John Adler, who ran unopposed for his party's nomination. The only independent candidate in the race is Edward Forchion, who will be running under the "Legalize Marijuana (G.R.I.P.)" Party slogan.[13] Much of Myers' campaign has focused on painting himself as a Washington and Trenton outsider and portraying his opponent as a career Trenton politician who favors higher taxes and more government spending.

On July 2, Myers announced he would be taking a leave of absence from his job as a Vice President at Lockheed Martin to focus on the remainder of his Congressional campaign.[14]

After being endorsed in January 2008 by the 3rd congressional district's retiring Congressman, Jim Saxton, several organizations have also given him their support, including Vets for Freedom,[15] National Vietnam and Gulf War Veterans Coalition,[16] Veterans for Victory,[17] the National Federation of Independent Businesses,[18] the National Rifle Association (receiving a grade of A-),[19] Wake Up America,[20] and Free and Strong America PAC[21].

Most newspapers favored Adler over Myers. The Press of Atlantic City,[22] Philadelphia Inquirer,[23] the Courier-Post,[24] The Burlington County Times,[25] and The New York Times,[26] all gave their endorsement to Adler, often citing his economic policies as their reason for endorsing him. Myers did, however, receive the endorsement of the Asbury Park Press on the basis that he is an outsider and not a career politician [27]

Myers faced a 10-1 funding gap against Adler, having spent a majority of his early warchest on an expensive primary battle against Kelly and Murphy.

[edit] Election results

On November 4, 2008, after polls closed, the 3rd district race was the last one to be called in New Jersey. With 100% of precincts reporting, Myers lost narrowly to Adler, with 48.4% to his 51.6%. [28] [29]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Home page, Chris Myers for Congress. Accessed August 14, 2008.
  2. ^ [1]
  3. ^ [2]
  4. ^ “Myers Enters Race for Congress”, “PolitickerNJ” January 10, 2008. Accessed Oct 6, 2008.
  5. ^ Myers savages Adler-backed affordable housing plan | Politicker
  6. ^ "Economy Sets Sparks Flying at Debate" The Jewish Exponent, Sept 25, 2008.Accessed October 3, 2008.
  7. ^ [3]
  8. ^ Levinsky, David. "Saxton backs mayor of Medford as successor", Burlington County Times, January 11, 2008. Accessed August 14, 2008.
  9. ^ Friedman, Matt (March 21, 2008). "Myers and Kelly fight over taxes". PolitickerNJ.com. http://www.politickernj.com/myers-and-kelly-fight-over-taxes. Retrieved on 2008-08-11. 
  10. ^ Kapochunas, Rachel (August 11, 2008). "Primary Fallout Shifts NJ Race Into Tossup Territory". Congressional Quarterly. http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000002936725&cpage=1. Retrieved on 2008-08-11. 
  11. ^ Kapochunas, Rachel. "Primary Fallout Shifts NJ Race Into Tossup Territory", Congressional Quarterly, August 11, 2008. Accessed August 14, 2008. "Myers won the primary with 49 percent and Kelly and Murphy each received 25 percent."
  12. ^ Spahr, Rob. "Ocean County Republicans welcome Myers", Press of Atlantic City, August 4, 2008. Accessed August 11, 2008.
  13. ^ U.S. Congress Candidates for New Jersey, Project Vote Smart. Accessed August 14, 2008.
  14. ^ Myers to Campaign for Congress Full-Time | Politicker NJ
  15. ^ [4]
  16. ^ [5]
  17. ^ [6]
  18. ^ [7]
  19. ^ [8]
  20. ^ [9]
  21. ^ [10]
  22. ^ “3rd Congressional District: Elect Adler”, “Press of Atlantic City” October 19, 2008. Accessed October 19, 2008.
  23. ^ “Editorial: N.J. Districts: House”, “Trading Markets” October 20, 2008. Accessed October 20, 2008.
  24. ^ “In 3rd District, Adler is the Choice”, “Courier Post” ]]” October 22, 2008. Accessed October 22, 2008.
  25. ^ [http://www.adlerforcongress.com/ “Burlington County Times Endorsement” Burlington County Times October 26, 2008. Accessed October 27, 2008.
  26. ^ “Editorial-For the House”, “New York Times” October 25, 2008. Accessed October 25, 2008.
  27. ^ [11]
  28. ^ http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/individual/#mapHNJ/H/03
  29. ^ [12]

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Myers_(New_Jersey)"
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