Local

Wayne Yahm

Law enforcement officer Wayne Yahm of Franklin Borough announced today that he will be a candidate for the Republican nomination for Sussex County Sheriff next year. 

A captain with the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office with 28 years on the job, Yahm was the Democratic candidate for Sheriff in 2007. Subsequent to his loss, he changed his party affiliation. Today he told PolitickerNJ.com that he's confident the GOP will remain neutral in the 2010 primary.

“In an ideal world, law enforcement should be free of politics, and candidates for those positions in public office should be judged on their records, service, and management experience," Yahm said in a release. "Following my last campaign, I met with many county Republicans who showed me very clearly that my thinking was much more in line with the Republican Party.  And it’s been validated over the last ten months as I’ve seen massive new spending and a proposed government run health care system in Washington.”

John Farmer, one of the Hall of Famers of New Jersey journalism, will retire from his post as the Star-Ledger's Editorial Page editor tomorrow.  The veteran reporter and columnist, who took over editorial responsibilities for the state's largest newspaper when Fran Dauth left last year, will be replaced by columnist Tom Moran.  Today is Farmer's last day.

With the defeat of Gov. Jon Corzine, some Democrats facing unemployment may have found the promised land: Rutgers University.  Sources say that Rutgers may be filling a few key slots with soon-to-be ex-Corzine administration officials over the next few months.

(In tribute to my dad on Veterans Day, I repeat one of my favorite columns. Thank a veteran today.)

"What did you do in the war, Dad?"

That was the question that Miss Connor, my 4th grade teacher at PS 277 in Brooklyn ,wanted each kid in our class to ask their dad. We had an entire sheet of questions that Miss Conner handed out---you know, printed on mimeograph paper that had that rich chemical smell.

Newark Mayor Cory Booker, the front runner for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 2013, will headline a fundraiser next month for Senate Judiciary Chairman Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge).  The chairman of Sarlo's fundraising event is his boss, literally: North Jersey developer Joseph Sanzari.

An employee of the hedge fund run by State Investment Council Chairman Orin Kramer has been charged with stealing more than $1.3 million from the firm, according to a Bloomberg report.

Ezra Levy, a trader at the Kramer-run firm Boston Provident, allegedly transferred $726,000 of the company’s money to his own bank account and generated $600,000 in profit by buying shares of an energy company at inflated prices.

According to a statement released by the firm that is cited in the Bloomberg story, Levy was terminated as soon as Boston Provident learned of the alleged conduct, and the firm contacted the U.S. Attorney’s Office.  Kramer will pay the losses incurred from the alleged crime.

Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver (D-East Orange)

Her early critics quietly grumble that she's a political neophyte - the preferred Essex County term of art for someone who rises too quickly in politics.

But Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver (D-East Orange), a veteran of East Orange local politics, said she is more than ready to assume the lead role in the lower house come Nov. 23rd, when both the Assemby and the senate are scheduled to vote on leadership. 

Her rapid ascent coincides with the fast dimming political career of lame duck Gov. Jon Corzine.

"He genuinely wanted to effectuate glaring social issues of interest to a broad cross section to advocay groups, but did not understand the complexity of navigating the shark and barracuda filled waters of New Jersey politics," said Oliver when asked to reflect on Corzine's legacy.  

Poised with a sufficient number of caucus votes to become the Assembly's first African American woman speaker as succesor to Speaker Joe Roberts (D-Camden), Oliver said she received a phone call yesterday from Gov.-elect Chris Christie but was unavailable. She said she intends to return his call today.

Senate President Richard Codey (D-Roseland)

Senate President Richard Codey (D-Roseland) will make his own appointment to a 2010 congressional redistricting commission and leave a second seat for his presumptive successor to fill with his own choice.

The former governor's game plan comes in the face of state Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney's (D-West Deptford) control of the lionshare of Democratic caucus votes and Codey's likely imminent defeat come Jan. 12th when the senate reorganizes.

"I intend to make one of those appointments and leave a second appointment for Steve," former Gov. Codey told PolitickerNJ.com.

The Inside Edge yesterday reported that Codey could appoint two congressional redistricting members to the six-member commission before the end of his current term, according to the law.

Former U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie, left, will become the 55th Governor of New Jersey in January, after defeating incumbent Jon Corzine, right, by more than 100,000 votes.  Democrats lost just one Assembly seat, but the GOP picked up eight Freeholder seats across the state.  Christie is the first Republican to win statewide in twelve years, and his plurality was the second best for a GOP challenger against a Democratic incumbent in state history. Corzine, who spent over $130 million of his own money running for office over the last nine years, won just 45% of the vote.  Christopher Daggett, a former state environmental protection commissioner who qualified for matching funds, spent over $1.5 million, and won the endorsement of the state's largest newspaper, received a pitiful 6% of the vote.

PolitickerNJ.com's Winners & Losers: CLICK HERE

The tsunami gubernatorial candidate named Christie swept into office many Republican candidates around the state. In my hometown of Flemington, the two Republican Councilmembers-Elect are Michelle Oberst and Marc Haine. Now, prior to the election I did not know either Mr. Haine or Ms. Oberst that well at all.