Matt Friedman's blog

Hours after he was signed by the San Diego Chargers for the rest of the football season, former Eagles tackle Jon Runyan today announced that this will be his last season in the NFL and that he will run for Congress next year.

"Yesterday, I received an offer to pursue my professional dream of winning a Super Bowl, and have decided to sign with the San Diego Chargers for the remainder of this season through the playoffs.  Win or lose, these will be my final games as an NFL player,” said Runyan in a statement.  “Last night, I personally informed the Republican County Chairmen in NJ's 3rd Congressional District that after the season is over I plan to officially retire from football and pursue a campaign for the United States Congress.  I want to thank all of the people who have been encouraging me to run next year and let them know that I look forward to a successful end to my career on the field, and a spirited campaign against Congressman Adler in 2010."

Runyan, who played for Philadelphia until 2008, plans to run as a Republican in the 3rd District, which U.S. Rep. John Adler (D-Cherry Hill) last year became the first Democrat to represent since the late 19th century.  

Runyan, who already appears to be backed by the Burlington County GOP, will have a primary competition against at least one Republican: former Tabernacle Township Committeeman Justin Murphy, an anti-machine candidate who had a surprisingly strong third place showing in last year's primary. 

It remains to be seen whether the formidable Ocean County Republican Organization, led by Chairman George Gilmore, will back Runyan or field their own candidate. 

Both Gilmore and Burlington County GOP Chairman Bill Layton said they will take pains to avoid a primary.  Also weighing in will be the Republican Party from Camden County, which has one town -- Cherry Hill -- in the district.  

Former Eagles tackle Jon Runyan, a prospective congressional candidate against U.S. Rep. John Adler (D-Cherry Hill) next year, is in San Diego today trying to finalize a contract  with the Chargers, ESPN.com reports.

Runyan, 35, said that he was “very serious” about running in the 3rd Congressional District earlier this month. 

Burlington County Republican spokesman Chris Russell confirmed that Runyan is in San Diego with the team, but said he remains interested in running for Congress in 2010.  

“It’s true.  He’s out there.  Pending how things go today, he’s going to make a statement tonight,” said Russell.  “He’s still interested in pursuing the 2010 nomination.”

The Mount Laurel resident became the instant favorite of Burlington County Republicans, but the two other Republican county chairs in the congressional district are not yet sold on him.

Update, 9:40pm: The Chargers have signed Runyan.   

JERSEY CITY -- Governor-Elect Chris Christie said that Assembly Majority Leader-Elect Joseph Cryan (D-Union), the head of the state Democratic Party, “stuck out like a sore thumb” at a press conference with other incoming legislative leaders yesterday.

While most of the other leaders said they were not willing to “waver” on core Democratic principles, they took a more conciliatory tone towards Christie.  Cryan, however, had the toughest rhetoric, reminding Christie that every incumbent legislator was reelected and 47 out of 48 assembly seats remained Democratic.  

“I would suggest to Mr. Cryan to get out of Democratic State Committee chairman mode, and that he get into the mode of governing,” said Christie.

Christie said that he did not hear the same tone from incoming Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford), Assembly Speaker-Elect Sheila Oliver (D-East Orange), Senate Majority Leader-Elect Barbara Buono (D-Metuchen) or state Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge), the incoming chair of the appropriations committee.

“And I was listening very carefully,” said Christie.  “So listen, I know this is a tough conversion for Joe. He presided over a losing statewide election.  So it’s difficult for him to get out of that mode and to admit what happened.”

Former assembly candidate Joseph Caruso said he had nothing to do with the robocall political consultant Kevin Collins was charged with yesterday.

“I had no clue about this until after it happened, and even when I found out about it I thought [Assemblyman Scott] Rumana did it… It hurt my reputation, not his.” said Caruso, who with running mate Anthony Rottino fought an unsuccessful primary against Rumana (R-Wayne) and Assemblyman David Russo (R-Ridgewood) in June.

Caruso said that he kept Collins “at arm’s length” during the campaign, but threw him some work as a favor.  

“People were telling me the guy was hard up, was going to lose his house – ‘Could you give him something?’ It’s the last time I’m going to be nice to somebody,” he said.

New Jersey voters overwhelmingly support a wage freeze and layoffs of public workers to balance the state budget, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released this morning.

By a margin of 75% to 21%, voters support wage freezes.  A smaller number, but still an overwhelming majority, support layoffs: 61% to 33%.  

"If Governor-elect Christopher Christie wants to consider a wage freeze, New Jersey voters, even Democrats and union households, say send out for ice," said poll director Maurice Carroll. “And if he's thinking about swinging the ax, voters will help sharpen it.

When given the choice between rising taxes and program cuts, voters chose the cuts 63% to 23%.  

Governor-Elect Chris Christie has a net positive favorability rating of 36% to 25%, while the approval rating for outgoing Gov. Jon Corzine is the lowest ever in a Quinnipiac poll, at 31% approve to 59% disapprove. 

A veteran New Jersey political consultant who has run into controversy before was charged today with impersonation and violation of the Fair Campaign Practices Act.

Kevin Collins, 39, allegedly was responsible for automated phone calls in support of District 40 Republican primary challengers Joe Caruso and Anthony Rottino.  In the call, a woman who identifies herself as “Ann” lobs several charges at incumbents Scott Rumana (R-Wayne) and Dave Russo (R-Ridgewood)

Collins, who lives in Brooklyn but used to live in Wood-Ridge, allegedly gave the robocall services company the cell phone number of Ann O’Rourke, Rumana’s chief of staff, so that the call looked like it originated from her.  

“This is a case of identity theft and misrepresentation,” said Attorney General Anne Milgram. “The defendant used the victim's cell phone number and first name to make people believe she was responsible for the robocalls.”

Over 12,000 residents of the 40th district got the call on primary day, June 2.  According to the Attoney General's Office, it did not identify who paid for it and made several inaccurate claim about the incumbents. 

TRENTON -- After a day in which everything ended up as planned, Democrats formalized their new leadership lineup and showed it off at a press conference this afternoon.

“It will be a tough act to follow Dick Codey in this role,” said Senate Majority Leader Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford), who will formally take the role of senate president in January.

Codey (D-Roseland) who tried to fend off Sweeney until the end, told The Ledger that there was “blood on the floor” in the caucus meeting where Democrats elected Sweeney.  Sweeney did not return fire.

“He was more than a gentleman.  He’s a very class individual and he’s shown that all the way through,” said Sweeney. 

Sweeney said it was “unfair” to describe him as “punishing” allies of Codey by bumping the soon-to-be former senate president’s supporters out of committee chairmanships in favor of his own backers.

“It is now my turn to be senate president after eight years. It’s about other people having opportunities,” he said.

TRENTON -- State Sen. Kip Bateman (R-Branchburg) had harsh words for Gov. Jon Corzine today over the withdrawal of a Somerset County nominee to the Highlands Council.

“He can’t leave soon enough, in my opinion,” said Bateman.  

Bedminster Mayor Robert F. Holtaway, a Republican from Bateman’s legislative district, showed up to today’s Judiciary Committee meeting expecting to face the committee.  But upon arriving for the meeting, the members were notified that Corzine had pulled the nomination.

Holtaway was nominated in June, but the nomination was tabled.  

State Sen. Bill Baroni (R-Hamilton) was also angry.

“To have a nomination made, to go through the process, to fill out the questionnaire, to be on the agenda.  To come down here and in lame duck to have the governor of New Jersey withdraw a nomination without so much as notice to the nominee… This is not a good way to go out,” he said.

TRENTON -- Some prominent members of the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO) would like to see state Sen. Sandra Cunningham (D-Jersey City) kicked off the organization line, but state Sen. Brian Stack (D-Union City) is not one of them.

“I’ve always had a good relationship with Sandy. I know how it is when the rest of the county comes into your senatorial district and interferes,” said Stack just before the Senate Judiciary Meeting convened this morning.

Cunningham drew the wrath of Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise for blocking his appointment to the Port Authority, and her appointment to Republican Gov.-elect Chris Christie’s transition team further ruffled some Democratic feathers. 

But Stack – who has forged an uneasy peace with other HCDO leaders after taking them on in an intra-party fight two years ago – said that the organization needs to restructure before it challenges senators.

“I think the HCDO is still basically what I called it in 2007, which is a paper tiger.  A paper organization that only goes to the people when there’s an election and really provides no type of incentive or outreach to minorities – to Hispanics, African Americans, all other minorities in the county,” he said.  “And I think you’re seeing the results of that. When you have 39% turnout for Jon Corzine, I think it’s really just an organization of a few people.”

TRENTON -- The Assembly Democrats today selected Sheila Oliver (D-East Orange) as their new speaker and Joseph Cryan (D-Union) as the new majority leader.

Oliver replaces retiring Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden), while Cryan, who currently chairs the state Democratic Party, replaces Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Trenton), who until last week was still running an against-the-odds campaign to become the next speaker.

The vote formalized a deal that was struck in September between Essex County and South Jersey Democrats, agreeing to install Oliver – who just won her fourth term in office – in exchange for support to elevate Senate Majority Leader Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford) to the Senate Presidency over incumbent Richard Codey (D-Roseland).  The lesser leadership positions will be decided later on.  

“She’s not going away,” said Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo (D-Hamilton) about Watson-Coleman, a fellow Mercer County Democrat, after he emerged from the caucus room.  “Being.. senior in her status in the assembly, she’s going to work with the new speaker on issues to help the party, to help New Jerseyans.”