RNC Delegate Bill Palatucci Looks Forward to Tampa

Bill Palatucci, 54, of Westfield, is attending the Republican National Convention later this month to support presidential candidate Mitt Romney, whom he believes has the experience "to address the country's fiscal crisis by downsizing government, reforming the tax code and reducing the federal deficit."

An attorney, Palatucci was named the new Republican National Committeeman for New Jersey in July 2010 when he replaced David Norcross, who had been filling that spot for three decades. Palatucci is also Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Public Affairs at Community Education Centers in West Caldwell, which provides educational services and treatment for prisoners leaving halfway houses and rejoining the population.

Formerly, Palatucci served as the executive director of Tom Kean for Governor '85, Bush-Quayle '88 & '92, senior advisor to Bush-Cheney 2000 and Deputy Executive Director of NJ Reagan-Bush '84. In addition, he was the NJGOP State Finance Chairman from 2001 to 2005. 

What does Palatucci think Romney supporters can do to help the former Massachusetts governor and his running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, win the election this November? 

"Since New Jersey is such a 'blue' state, we need to raise as much money to help Mitt Romney win as many swing states as possible," Palatucci wrote in an email to Patch. 

A close friend, advisor and former law partner of Gov. Chris Christie, Palatucci said he hopes "to have a great time in Tampa listening to Gov. Christie's speech with my wife, Laura, and daughter Alex."

The Republican National Convention will be held in Tampa, Fla. from Aug. 27 to Aug. 30. The Democratic National Convention will be held a week later beginning Sept. 3 in Charlotte, NC.