Doria follows LeFante from Bayonne to Trenton
By Wally EdgeJoseph Doria becomes the first former Assembly Speaker to serve in the Governor's cabinet since Joseph LeFante, also a resident of Bayonne, became Brendan Byrne's Commissioner of Community Affairs in 1978. LeFante became Speaker in 1976 and helped Byrne shepherd the state income tax through the Assembly.
When Dominick Daniels retired from Congress after eighteen years, LeFante ran for his seat and won -- albeit by an unusually narrow margin over an unknown and unfinanced Republican who criticized LeFante's support of the income tax.
After newly-elected Jersey City Mayor Thomas F.X. Smith took control of the Hudson County Democratic Organization following his 1977 election, he pledged to return the House seat to Jersey City and suported Frank Guarini, a former State Senator and Hudson County Democratic Chairman. LeFante accepted his fate and retired; he left Congress a few weeks early when Byrne gave him the consolation prize at DCA. LeFante sought the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination in 1982, but lost the primary to Frank Lautenberg.
Contributors
Wally Edge
Michael Doherty. a West Point graduate and one of the state's most conservative legislators, will take his seat in the State Senate today. A ... >
Bob Torricelli
Everybody needs to start a new job with a list of priorities and Chris Christie is no exception. There might be a thousand things that need to get ... >
Michael Patrick Carroll
Political discourse in America contains much in the way of intellect or intellectual honesty. One considers the Federalist Papers with wistful awe: ... >
Jeff Michaels
As pundits and party leaders look to next year’s Congressional elections in NJ, it appears that freshman Democrat John Adler is the most vulnerable ... >
Richard LaRossa
When will NJ Republicans start acting like Republicans rather than Democrats. Time to stand up for your principles, assuming they have any left. >
Alan Steinberg
As in any transition, speculation is rampant as to whom Governor-elect Chris Christie will appoint as Chief of Staff, State Treasurer, and Attorney ... >
Dr. Joseph Marbach
Now that the dust has finally settled after the grueling campaign for governor, there are a number of lessons that we can draw from this ... >
Carla Katz
When he was growing up, Chris Christie's folks must have taught him that when he went to a new playground, he should pick a fight with the ... >
Joey Novick
Yes, I know, I know.
Since it’s Thanksgiving week, I decided that no one could really be a Putz of the Week this week. So, I decided ... >
Murray Sabrin
New Jersey voters repudiated Governor Jon Corzine's policies of the past four years on November 3rd. Republican Chris Christie and Independent ... >
Poll
Hot Topics
Most Active Stories
- Dem leadership teams come together after emerging from caucus meetings
- Milgram charges GOP consultant over robocall impersonating Rumana staffer
- Gallery packed with Garden State Equality activists as Doherty assumes oath of office
- Christie says Cryan should get out of chairman mode
- Wisniewski to make formal play for state party chair when Cryan makes departure official
- Goldstein leads 250 marriage equality activists for march on the Statehouse
- Pou won't rule out bid for Democratic State Party chair
- Senate Democrats back Sweeney for senate president, says Sarlo
- Stack: HCDO leaders need to put organization in order before trying to take out Cunningham
- Runyan, now a Charger, announces NJ-3 congressional bid
- Runyan, now a Charger, announces NJ-3 congressional bid
- Christie says Cryan should get out of chairman mode
- Milgram charges GOP consultant over robocall impersonating Rumana staffer
- Caruso says he had nothing to do with robocall
- Gallery packed with Garden State Equality activists as Doherty assumes oath of office
- Pou won't rule out bid for Democratic State Party chair
- Lesniak: bring gay marraige up for a vote
- Dem leadership teams come together after emerging from caucus meetings
- Spicuzzo nomination passes committee
- Qpac poll: voters support public worker wage freezes, layoffs
- Quinnipiac: Christie leads 50%-40%
- Quinnipiac poll has Christie ahead by 4 points as Corzine gets closer
- Christie, in West New York, takes questions
- Gore makes his case for Corzine
- Potential LG rivals Allen and Weinberg ally for county committee reform legislation
- Final debate schedule
- Torricelli on making perfection the enemy of good
- Autistic man seeks Assembly seat in 37th
- Jeb Bush attends Christie fundraiser
- Correction: Weiner departure was not his own idea
Recent Posts From Inside Edge
Quote of the Day
“A lot of blood on the floor.” - Senate President Dick Codey (D-Roseland), emerging from the caucus room after losing his leadership position to Senate Majority Leader Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford)
Recent Press Releases
- Nov 25 2009
Syndicate
