Dems may have an issue in GOP Somerset
By Wally EdgeCorruption has never really been an election issue in genteel Somerset County, where Democrats haven’t won a countywide race since Michael Ceponis won a Freeholder race 28 years ago. But now, allegations of mismanagement and wasteful spending by the GOP-controlled Somerset County Park Commission – which led to a subpoena from the state Attorney General’s office – could give Democrat Melanie Marano a great campaign issue in a low turnout year. Marano, a Green Brook Township Committeewoman, faces Green Brook Mayor Patricia Walsh for the Freeholder seat being vacated by Denise Coyle, who is running for the State Assembly.
Contributors
Wally Edge
The New Jersey Public Broadcasting Authority will hold a special meeting on Thursday to appoint retiring NJN news anchor Kent Manahan as the Acting ... >
Bob Torricelli
There's nothing more difficult to see than the history before your eyes. It sometimes takes generations to understand the significance of ... >
Michael Patrick Carroll
OK, he didn't say precisely that, but when the Chairman of the Budget Committee informs us that governmental spending is the key to prosperity, ... >
Debbie Holtz
Score one for the Governor’s public relations team. For the last few weeks, they have been working overtime to fuel speculation Corzine was being ... >
Steve Lonegan
The sub prime mortgage melt down and its ensuing financial “crisis” has tested the mettle of all of us who believe in and support the free ... >
Dr. Joseph Marbach
I am pleased to report the results from the first national poll conducted by Environmental Studies Program in the College of Arts and Sciences at ... >
Rob Tornoe
To view a larger version of this cartoon, click here. >
Michael P. Riccards
The media, which loves headlines and knows little history, is trying to sell President Elect Obama as another Franklin Delano Roosevelt. But that ... >
Joey Novick
When I was eleven, way back in 1965, my family was invited for Thanksgiving to my cousins’ cousins, a Jewish-Italian family who lived in the ... >
Juan Melli
Last week's fight between Henry Waxman and John Dingell for chairmanship of the powerful House Energy and Commerce committee also featured a less ... >
Carla Katz
A couple of weeks ago, my mother, Angelina Katz, did her second debate on behalf of Barack Obama. A debate? My mother? If you knew her, you’d be ... >
Patricia Quattrocchi
A rained out MusicFest this past September has provided Union County with $275,000 in insurance monies. The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders ... >
Murray Sabrin
As New Jerseyans get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving the nation's economic outlook is indeed bleak, and there doesn't seem much to be ... >
Hot Topics
| Politicker INTERACTIVE | |
 |
Lawmaker Profile Follow the funding of your representatives |
 |
270 to Win See how Obama got to the magic number |
Most Active Stories
- Correction: Weiner departure was not his own idea
- Torricelli on COAH
- Two N.J. super delegates go to Obama; Norcross backs Obama; key Clinton supporters endorse Obama
- At energy policy meeting, Rose fights with cabinet and walks away
- Sixteen Democrats are on Norcross' short list for Andrews House seat
- Jackson will be Corzine's new Chief of Staff
- Roughneen in court today on signature challenge
- Obama bundler says he lost $25 billion of N.J. pension funds
- New Jersey's Most Powerful Law Firms
- Jersey City councilman makes it rain in Washington
Recent Posts From Inside Edge
Quote of the Day
"Joe Ferriero never influenced me not to speak to Loretta. I would never be influenced in that kind of way." -- State Sen. Paul Sarlo, on his relationship with State Sen. Loretta Weinberg.
Recent Press Releases
- Dec 1 2008
In the News
Read the expanded Wake Up Call, our summary of today’s news media coverage.
Today’s Must Reads:
Why can't we find a role for Christie in Washington? ― MIKE KELLY
Christie Gives Notice, and G.O.P. Gains Hope ― DAVID KOCIENIEWSKI
Christie's legcy― THE BERGEN RECORD
Corzine for Treasury? Don't Bet on It.― WASHINGTON POST
Immigrants still in New Jersey― THE BERGEN RECORD
Now it's the Dems' chance to be dumb― PAUL MULSHINE
Syndicate
Um...No
I don't think Somerset is going Democrat with the current alignment of things, but it may be a bit closer than usual.
With a Name Like Florio, it's Got to be Corrupt
What more needs to be said than boss Florio has been in control for so long that he doesn't even notice the stench around him? Maybe he's been lobbying for the tobacco companies for too long?
Last year
Last year Louise Wilson missed picking off an open seat by less than 2,000 votes. If it's any closer this year than it was last year, there will be a Democrat on the freeholder board.
No Dems for the foreseeable future.....
In the worse year since Watergate for R's (2006), the D's still couldn't get it done in Somerset County. Unless the county borders are redrawn, there will be no D's in the county government for the foreseeable future. It's too hard to make people care about the county-level, so people vote their party. Registered R's still easily outnumber D's and that all it takes.
Dodged a bullet
Somerset Republicans dodge a bullet at the filing deadline. Louise Wilson, the mayor of Montgomery and the opponent last year who gave them a run for their money, decided to run for reelection instead of freeholder. Instead they got Marano, who comes from a pretty small town and has only been on the committee a few years. They call he lanslide Marano because she won by two votes the first time she ran, and not many more last year. Wilson comes from a very big town and has an impressive record. She might have won this year given all this park commission business. Marano on the other hand hasn't done all that much as a committeewoman. When Wilson became mayor of Montgomery she really built the party up down there, but Marano apparently hasn't done the same, since no other Democrat has even come close in Green Brook, and she barely wins. In my opinion, Wilson was an A candidate. Marano's a C-. Making matters worse for Marano is that she can't even count on her home town, since Pat Walsh has been mayor of Green Brook for over a decade and wins in landslides each time she runs. But Green Brook isn't very big anyway.
The Courier-Journal News
wrote the following when Marano entered the race in March. I found it interesting, since it likely sets up an endorsement for the general election. "We're not in the business of endorsing candidates for 2007 just yet. But we can say this much already: Somerset County Democrats have found themselves a contender for freeholder who has experience in storming a Republican stronghold. We're talking about Green Brook Committeewoman Melonie Marano. Now in her second three year committee term, Marano was the first Democrat elected to the board in Green Brook since 1987. And the county freeholders have been in GOP hands even longer than that." Demosthenes, I don't know enough about Green Brook politics to say whether you're right or not. But "landslide Marano" or not, to get elected to a town council that had not voted Democratic for a decade and a a half is pretty impressive. If the Parks scandal has legs, and if she campaigns energetically (and I believe both to be true), then we might well see an upset in Somerset Count.
I'm from Montgomery......
.....Wilson is popular because she is a full-time mayor/committee members (i.e., she's unemployed). The Dem party in town is only made up of 6-8 people.....not big deal, but they all work hard during election time. Wilson didn't run for Freeholder or mayor because she knew a big tax increase was needed in this year's budget since she blew our surplus over the past 3 years. Also, Montgomery is a SMALL town in Somerset County.....Franklin, Hillsborough, Bridgewater, and Somerset Hills (combo of Bernards, Bernardsville, Far Hills, Gladstone/Peapack all vote in a block) are all much bigger.