Josh Welle Speaks Before Friendly Crowd In 4th District

HAMILTON, NJ — Fourth District Congress candidate Josh Welle held one of his six town halls Monday night, speaking before a friendly crowd of nearly all Democrats in Hamilton, NJ, which is at the far western corner of the district he is trying to represent.

Welle, a Democrat, is campaigning very hard to try and unseat Congressman Chris Smith, the Republican who has represented New Jersey's fourth district for an incredible nineteen terms, since 1981. The 4th district includes nearly all of Monmouth County, from Middletown and Holmdel on south, into Colts Neck, Freehold, Jackson, Plumstead and Point Pleasant in Ocean County and a small sliver of Mercer County (Hamilton and Robbinsville).

About a hundred people turned up at Diamond's of Hamilton to hear Welle speak (their original space at the Mercer County library was too small). Many of them said they were Democrats, who had never voted for Smith in the decades he's been in office, so it was a friendly audience. The crowd often cheered when Welle spoke. He took written questions submitted by the audience.

He also took plenty of shots at Smith, in particular for not standing up enough to President Trump.

"We now have a president who has avoided military service; who doesn't understand the Constitution, who attacks every tangible (part) of our great democracy," a visibly passionate Welle said to applause. "And I'm not going to sit on the bench."

Welle called for universal healthcare, an assault weapons ban and said he would protect a woman's right to an abortion. A woman's right to choose is "an inalienable right," Welle said last night. He also called for decriminalizing marijuana and criticized the tax breaks Trump gave last fall to major U.S. corporations.

"We have a president that espouses the worst about people. He invites hatred every day in our communities," he later said. "I think Chris Smith is deeply, deeply out of touch. Where is Chris Smith on bringing great jobs to Central Jersey? Where was Chris Smith when the SALT deduction was passed, which hurt hard-working middle-class families?"

Welle talked about bringing more tech jobs and trade schools to Central Jersey.

"I don't think Chris Smith, who came into office when Atari was the most futuristic thing, is the face for that new future," he said, to laughter.

Welle is a veteran of the U.S. Navy who served several tours in Afghanistan, so his remarks on both Trump's and Smith's lack of military experience were meant to sting.

"Chris Smith has never worn the uniform," Welle said. "More vets are coming out for Josh Welle than they've ever come out before for a Democrat. All my roommates at the U.S. Navy Academy were Republican and my one roommate voted for this president. He also donated $500 to my campaign."

Welle was born in Trenton, raised in Wall Twp. and bought a house in Rumson a few months before he announced his candidacy for Congress. Democrats across the country are extremely hopeful the 2018 midterms this fall will usher in a blue wave of Democrats, in a possibly backlash against Trump. Welle is attempting to flip the traditionally conservative 4th district to elect a Democrat with a strong military background.

"We are gonna win because we're seeing forces at play like we've never seen before," he predicted last night.

One woman in the crowd said she liked that Welle was out talking with voters, as opposed to Smith, who has not held a public town hall in 25 years.

"I think he takes the district for granted," said Hamilton Square resident Nicolina Contardo, 63, of Smith. "And I don't think he challenges the leadership enough. He is allowing a lot of stuff to go on, like that terrible family separation Trump did. He (Smith) didn't do anything to prevent that. I think people want a change."

She said she has always voted Democrat. She held up a mailing Smith sends out to his constituents, informing them about what he has been working on while on the Hill.

"This is a monologue, it's not a dialogue. At least Josh is out here actually talking to us," she said. "At least he'll face us. Chris won't even meet with us. I think he's been here for so long he takes us for granted."

The Welle campaign has asked Smith to partake in three public debates with him. So far, there has been no response from Rep. Smith.

Here is one of the questions Welle was asked last night, and his answer:

Q. How do you feel with football players not standing for the National Anthem?

Welle: "I think that freedom of speech is so fundamental in the United States ... If a person wants to kneel for the National Anthem, that's exactly what veterans and people in the military are protecting. If it's in the name of freedom, then I support it."

All photos and reporting done by Carly Baldwin/Patch. Top: The Democratic candidate Josh Welle is introduced by his wife, Angela Welle.