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Ask Republicans about candidate recruitment in the 3rd Congressional District, where freshman U.S. Rep. John Adler (D-Cherry Hill) is expected to face a tough challenge to keep his seat, and you'll hear a long list of potential candidates. 

Ask Democrats the same question in freshman U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance's (R-Clinton) 7th Congressional District, and you hear just a couple names.

One of them is Summit Mayor Jordan Glatt, who is considered a formidable potential candidate owing to his personal wealth and the fact that he's the first Democratic mayor in the history of his town, a Republican stronghold.  But he's not interested.   

"Quite honestly, I feel that Leonard Lance is doing a very good job.  I know it's probably going to irk my Democratic colleagues, but he's a good man," he said.  "I would have to have some passion about the person I'm running against."

Outgoing Edison Mayor Jun Choi is not interested either.

"I just got married and we're going to start a family, so personally it's not a good time," he said.  "I'm flattered that people would consider me." 

Fanwood Mayor colleen Mahr, however, did not rule out a run.

"I will say I thoroughly enjoy government and politics, and I plan on staying around," she said.

Political consultant Pat Politano - who works campaigns in Union County - said that there will be a major recruitment effort starting shortly.

"There will be efforts to find a candidate, but the reality is that democrats across the state knew we were in a tough election year and nobody has focused on that," he said, stressing the importance of unseating a congressman from a rival party in his first term.

Jersey City Councilman Mariano Vega - charged in July by the feds with allegedly taking $30,000 in bribes from a federal informant - has listed some of his campaign contributions on official reports as coming from an "FBI operative," the Jersey Journal reports.

Vega sent an amended campaign finance report to the Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) on October 28 in which he lists $10,000 as coming from someone whose occupation is listed as "FBI operative." 

Vega was council president at the time of the indictment.  He has since stepped down from his leadership post, but maintains his innocence and refuses to resign from the council altogether.

Former NFL star Jon Runyan says he's considering a challenge to U.S. Rep. John Adler (D-Cherry Hill) next year.

Former Philadelphia Eagles star Jon Runyan confirmed today that he’s interested in running for Congress in the 3rd Congressional District.

“I am seriously considering becoming a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in New Jersey's 3rd Congressional District.  Our great country is headed in the wrong direction, and it’s clearer every day that career politicians are incapable of solving the problems we face,” he said in a statement issued this afternoon.  “I am grateful for the tremendous support and encouragement I have received while talking to people throughout South Jersey about running for Congress and I look forward to having more to say on this subject in the weeks ahead.”

The statement was sent out by Burlington County Republican consultant Chris Russell.

The effort by Republicans to recruit the former tackle to run against freshman incumbent John Adler (D-Cherry Hill) was first reported by PolitickerNJ.com yesterday.

Assembly Anthony Chiappone (D-Bayonne) wants his committee assignments back.

Chiappone, charged with allegedly cashing legislative aides' checks for personal and campaign use, was stripped of his membership in three committees by Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden) immediately after he was indicted by the state Attorney General's Office.

But Chiappone insists he's innocent, and news of his indictment did not doom his reelection in a district where Democrats outnumber Republicans eight-to-one.  Chiappone and running mate Charles Mainor - a police detective who was narrowly the top vote getter - got nearly three times the vote totals of their two Republican opponents. 

"Naturally I'd like to have [the committee assignments] back," said Chiappone.  "What the people basically said is what I've been asking them: give me the benefit of the doubt, give me the presumption of innocence."

Gov.-elect Christopher Christie today announced a ten-person transition leadership team that includes legislators from both parties.  Former Attorney General David Samson had previously been designated as chairman of the transition panel.

The transition team includes: State Sens. Joseph Kyrillos (R-Middletown) and Sandra Bolden Cunningham (D-Jersey City),  Ocean County GOP Chairman George Gilmore, Christie campaign strategist Michael DuHaime, Woodbridge Mayor and former State Treasurer John McCormac, Montclair State University President Susan Cole, Southern New Jersey Chamber of Commerce President Debra DiLorenzo, former New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority Chairman Jon Hanson, and former PSE&G President Alfred Koeppe,

McCormac, a Democrat, did not endorse Christie during his campaign to unseat incumbent Jon Corzine, but did not actively campaign for Corzine.

“There is no doubt we have our work cut out for us, but I am confident that the team we have put together to lead my transition will set the tone for the rest of the Christie Administration,” Christie said in a statement released today.

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.”

Newark West Ward Councilman Ronald C. Rice, left, with state Senate President/former Governor Richard Codey (D-Roseland)

NEWARK - Over 100 people packed the Spot on Tuesday night for a fundraiser in support of West Ward Councilman Ronald C. Rice, who's up for re-election next year as a member of the Booker Team.

So far, Rice has no challengers to the seat he has held since he landed in office three and a half years ago and there was considerable buzz in the room and all up and down the bar about his moving up politically in the not too distant future.

"This is the last time you'll be running for the West Ward council seat," Assemblyman Tom Giblin (D-Montclair) told the Essex County rising star.

But Rice proclaimed that whatever happens next year or beyond, he intends to protect his "little brother" on the council, South Ward Councilman Oscar James, Jr.

Up for re-election next year, veteran Paterson Mayor Jose "Joey" Torres expects imminent contact with Republican Gov.-elect Chris Christie.

"Whether he initiates it or we do, at the end of the day we have to work together," Torres said. "If we shun each other, it will only get worse. We're going to have to have bipartisan support to get over the major hurdles of a financial crisis. The people have spoken.

"I've never looked for handouts, but have sought state aid to respond to definite needs in Paterson," added the mayor. "There is no pork barrel here."

Mayor for the past seven plus years, Torres is seeking a third term in 2010 and faces an emergent field of challengers, including Council President Jeffrey Jones and, potentially, At-Large Councilman Rigo Rodriguez and Ward 6 Councilman Andre Sayegh.

VERONA - Already state Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean, Jr.'s (R-Westfield) appointee to the congressional redistricting commission and more than a forward observer in the legislative redistricting process, state Sen. Kevin O'Toole (R-Cedar Grove) catapulted into a place where he can now speak candidly in the ears of power, both of the incoming governor and the incoming senate president, with Gov.-elect Chris Christie's victory last week and Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney's (D-West Deptford) imminent ascendency on Nov. 23rd.

It has been a slow turn-about and rapid ascent for a politician who on more than one occasion clung to what appeared to be the last shreds of his political career.

"When (James) Treffinger went down, it looked bleak," admittted the former chief of staff to the fallen Essex County executive. "2001 redistricting was bleak."

Elected to local government office in Cedar Grove at 25, the pugnacious political animal spent a career toiling as the dedicated minority in the engine room of the Democratic Party behemoth here in Essex, learning for the sake of survival how to nurture close ties to the other side even as he proudly hanged framed portraits of Ronald Reagan and Sean Hannity in his law office. 

He'd show up at an event in the North Ward, the guest of North Ward Democratic leader Steve Adubato. He had his friends there. There were high fives, for example, from Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo. But those Democrats not among Adubato's inner circle looked on O'Toole as an interloper, a castaway from the other party treading into enemy territory.

Getty Images Photo

Former NFL star Jon Runyan is a possible candidate for Congress against Jon Adler next year.

Now that the gubernatorial election is over, Republicans in Burlington, Ocean and Camden Counties are starting to focus on recruiting someone to take on freshman U.S. Rep. John Adler (D-Cherry Hill) next year. 

There is a deep bench of potential candidates, but some Republicans have one in mind who could clear the field: Philadelphia Eagles legend Jon Runyan, a Mount Laurel resident.

Sources tell PolitickerNJ.com that Assemblywoman Dawn Addiego (R-Evesham) - who knows Runyan because their children attend school together - has talked to him about running.  Runyan, who is not currently active in the NFL but has not retired, has not ruled out a run.  It is unclear, however, how serious the prospect is.

Reached for comment by PolitickerNJ.com, Addiego said "I don't think I'm at liberty to discuss that right now."

The leading contender of the more conventional candidates to take on Adler is state Sen. Christopher Connors (R-Lacey Twp.).  A little further down the shortlist is Assemblyman Scott Rudder (R-Medford), Assemblyman Brian Rumpf (R-Little Egg Harbor), Toms River Councilman Moe Hill and former Assemblywoman Virginia "Ginny" Haines.  One source said Lumberton Committeeman Patrick Delany has expressed interest.