With the retirement of longtime Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen, the good people of Morris, Essex, Sussex and Passaic Counties will elect a new representative this November.  It also means that our Republican Party has a choice to make, as well.

Do we nominate a career politician in an age when most people don’t trust their government or the people serving, or do we seize this opportunity to do something bold and energize our party heading into the general election?

Without question we must do the latter, which is why I am announcing my candidacy for Congress today and intend work very hard to earn your support in the June primary.

Allow me to introduce myself.

I was born at Trenton Hospital and raised by my mother with the loving support of my grandmother. Growing up with modest means, my mother instilled in me the importance of education and the idea that anyone in America – regardless of their race, color, creed or gender – can achieve their dreams so long as they work hard, serve their community, and never give up despite what may sometimes appear to be insurmountable odds.

I have lived those values as an adult.

I was the first person in my family to attend college and earned my undergraduate degree in Business Administration, with honors, from Virginia Union and my Juris Doctorate from Howard University School of Law.  In addition, I received a Masters of Law from Georgetown University School of Law, specializing in Securities & Financial Regulation, and my FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) Series 7, 24, 63, 65, 79, 86 and 87 licenses.  Currently, I am employed as a Director at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in the Global Wealth & Investment Management Chief Investment Office in New York City.

Being blessed by this country with an opportunity to pursue my dreams, it was especially important to me that I give back.  So, I joined the United State Army Reserves and hold the rank of Major and currently serve as Headquarters Commander of the U.S. Army Reserve Legal Command in Gaithersburg, Maryland.  Prior to that, I served as the Brigade Judge Advocate at the 77th Sustainment Brigade at Fort Dix, NJ and as a member of the General Officer Support Team at the Pentagon.

Growing up, my father was essentially absent from my life.  But through his absence, I learned the value of being a strong and present father to my two children.  My wife Michele and I are blessed to be raising Taylor and Jordan in North Jersey, where they attend great schools, in a safe community, and have the world at their fingertips.  Michele and I have been active community volunteers in several organizations whose missions include helping single Mom’s break the cycle of poverty, combating homelessness, raising money for breast cancer awareness, and hosting a “boot camp” to introduce young children to concepts of investing and fiscal responsibility.

As a candidate for Congress, I will run a campaign of ideas that always puts New Jersey first.

• Ensuring our brave men and women in the military have the tools they need to protect us and themselves at home and abroad.
• Work with the President and Members of Congress in both parties to fund key infrastructure like the Gateway Tunnel.
• Protecting our schools and neighborhoods and getting guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill, while protecting our 2nd Amendment rights.
• Reducing out-of-control taxes that burden families and repel jobs, while ensuring New Jersey gets its fair share for what we send to Washington.
• Securing our borders and ending illegal immigration, and pushing for tough, but fair immigration reforms that totally overhaul the current failed system.

I look forward to speaking with you more in the days and weeks to come.  Thank you for taking the time to read my letter and please feel free to contact me at gheeforcongress@gmail.com with any questions.

Antony Ghee  is a Republican Candidate for Congress in the 11th District.