Assemblyman Bill Payne on Tuesday targeted North Ward tough guy Steve Adubato, who backs Payne’s opponent in the district 29 senate race.

Speaking at a Newark fundraiser thrown for him by his brother, U.S. Rep. Donald Payne, the state Senate candidate dismissed M. Teresa Ruiz as a detail confined to the sprawling political canvas of Adubato -- and presented himself by contrast as a Civil Rights folk hero, who fought his way into Newark politics as an African American in tempestuous times, and who knew Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“I can’t be bought, I can’t be intimidated,” said the candidate, flanked by his brother, his nephews, Assemblyman Craig Stanley, Councilman Donald Payne, Jr., and by State Sen. Ronald Rice. “Steve Adubato’s the elephant in the room. Everybody knows he’s behind this, and it’s frustrating to me. I have a record that says I’ve been able to produce for my district. You don’t punish people who have served you well. Because Bill Payne will not kowtow to Steve Adubato is the only way I’m not being supported.”

It’s among the most defining relics of Byron Baer’s life: a 1961 mug shot taken in Jackson, Mississippi, just before his 45-day stint at Parchman Penitentiary.   In the black-and-white photo, a 31-year-old Baer, who had just been arrested for being a Freedom Rider, stares at the camera defiantly, with his head cocked slightly to one side.   

Baer had never even seen the picture until he was visited last month by a fellow Freedom Rider who he had taken under his wing back in 1961.  But even in his last days, on painkillers and gradually slipping away, he was visibly pleased to see it, his family said.     

Like that former freedom rider, today dozens of people – politicians and others -- came out to a Hackensack funeral home to show respect to the local politician who, in one way or another, touched them.  They had many stories about them, but there was a common thread to all of them: Baer stood up for the public, and most of all the downtrodden. 

Republican State Senate candidate Bill Baroni has become the first candidate to reach the maximum number of 800 contributions under the Clean Elections pilot program.  By receiving 800 contributions of $10 each, Baroni will receive over $500,000 in public funds to run his 14th district campaign.    His Democratic opponent, Seema Singh, has also qualified, reaching the 400-contribution threshold several weeks ago.