WINNERS

Chris Christie

The Newark teachers’ union embraced a contract that includes key drivers put in place by Education Commissioner Chris Cerf, including merit pay for teachers.

Mark Zuckerberg

The $100 million the Facebook maven donated to the City of Newark for schools helped secure bonuses for union teachers under the provisions of the new teachers’ contract that 60% of membership approved.

Chris Cerf

Stuck with the tag “acting” in front of his name for over a year, he looked like he might not get confirmed. This week, the Education Commissioner notched a win as the teachers’ union approved their collectively bargained contract.

M. Teresa Ruiz

Influential – along with Assemblyman Albert Coutinho (D-29) - in helping to put together the players who negotiated the Newark teachers’ contract, Ruiz has established herself as the bipartisan expert on New Jersey’s educational issues.

Cory Booker

If he ever does challenge Christie – which appears unlikely – he will certainly possess considerable evidence that Christie approves of the job he’s doing as mayor of Newark. Add today’s “indispensable partner” comment to the catalogue. The downside is Christie probably has a similar folder filled with Booker’s positive comments about Christie. Booker was a big backer of the succcessfully negotiated teachers' contract.

Barbara Buono

The most avid gubernatorial candidate has had to cope with Hurricane Sandy throwing off her campaign plans, and Booker’s continued mulling – but it appears less and less likely (see Al Doblin’s Bergen Record column this week, all but x-ing out Booker as an option) that Booker will oppose the Republican governor. That helps Buono.

LOSERS

Buzzy Dressel

The likeable labor leader wound up in handcuffs this week. The business manager from Local 164 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) was arrested in connection with an embezzlement scheme that defrauded the union and its Apprentice Program of $350,000, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced. Dressel is charged by Indictment with one count of conspiracy to embezzle from Local 164, two substantive counts of embezzlement from Local 164, one count of conspiracy to embezzle and four substantive embezzlement counts from the Joint Apprentice Training Fund (JATF) of Local 164.

John DeBouter

The president of Local 164 and Dressel’s alleged partner in crime, the same charges apply to DeBouter as Dressel. See above for details.

Francis Gartland

A federal court judge sentenced the former insurance broker for the Toms River Regional School District to more than 11 years behind bars for his role in a bribery scheme. Gartland, 71, was sentenced after admitting in April his role in a scheme to pay bribes and other benefits to the then-superintendent of schools to get and maintain a contract to provide insurance services for the district. He pleaded guilty to charges of mail fraud, conspiracy to defraud the IRS and perjury.

James J. Kearney Sr.

The former business manager of an ironworker’s local from Jersey City was sentenced today to six months in prison or a halfway house for unlawfully demanding and receiving a bribe. Kearney, 76, of Belleville, is the former business manager and an employee of Local 45 of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Ironworkers. He previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Jose L. Linares in Newark federal court to an Information charging him with unlawfully receiving a prohibited labor payment.

Brian P. Stack

Feds searched the community development agency at City Hall this week, stressing out the mayor/state senator of Union City, who told the press that he will fully cooperate with law enforcement authorities.

Tinton Falls

Flags are at half staff in Tinton Falls in honor of former Mayor Ann York McNamara, 83, who last night died peacefully surrounded by her family. Known to many as "Mayor Ann," Mrs. McNamara served as the Borough's chief for four terms from 1989 to 2005. She was devoted to public service and was influential in guiding Borough development and open space preservation.