Volunteers Do 'Patriotic Work' at GOP Headquarters in Lacey

Campaign season is upon us as Election Day is soon approaching.

As you walk into the office space next to Fusciello’s, volunteers sit at tables with their ears attached to phones. Their goal? To “restore America,” Sen. Joseph Kyrillos said.

Kyrillos made a stop at the GOP headquarters based on Lacey Township along with Mayor Mark Dykoff and Committeeman Gary Quinn.

“This is an important area for me. I’m counting on Lacey,” Kyrillos said.

The volunteers make thousands of phone calls to engage with voters, talk about today’s issues and encourage a vote for Republicans.

“We got a lot of great people here doing important patriotic work,” Kyrillos said, thanking the volunteers. 

The major issues are jobs and the economy, Kyrillos said.

“We got to restore America,” he said. “We got to get economic growth back to the country.”

Kyrillos has been working with the state senate as well as Gov. Chris Christie “little by little to turn things around,” he said.

Those in leadership positions need to create more confidence and certainty in the job market and economy with less regulation, lower taxes, and the appreciation for small businesses, he said.

Doug Weigle, a volunteer, has made more than 5,000 phone calls to discuss those issues and more.

“I volunteer because I believe the country needs to go in a different direction,” he said. “I believe this is the most important election of my lifetime.”

The overall statistics such as the unemployment rate is important for people to consider when casting their vote, he said.

“The country is at a crossroads and if we don’t take enough interest to change it, it will not be the same America that I grew up in,” he said.

Kyrillos isn’t the only government official to visit the GOP election headquarters in Lacey. Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno and Congressman Jon Runyan have also stopped by, Dykoff said.

“This shows the candidates are working as well,” Dykoff said.

Dykoff and Quinn are supporting Kyrillos because they don’t feel that Sen. Robert Menendez has given Ocean County the attention it deserves, Dykoff said.

“Kyrillos recognizes Ocean County as an important area,” he said.

Dykoff and Quinn proceeded to knock on doors to talk to Lacey Township residents.

“That’s how you really talk to people,” he said. “We’re available.”

Marie Krieger of Lacey Township stuffs bags for Dykoff and Quinn each morning for approximately three hours. She also provides lunch and coffee to the volunteers.

“I keep the volunteers happy. We’re all one big team here,” she said. “I’ve been doing this for years. I volunteer a lot.”

Krieger has stuffed more than 3,500 bags and will complete 6,000 by Election Day, she said.

“I volunteer to get the message across. If you’re not happy with the way things are going, get out and do something about it,” she said. “Hopefully this election will be good for us.”