Where's Bill Baroni???

He definately has more of an impact that at least the bottom ten or twenty on this list.

If Cresitello makes this list and Baroni doesn't what does that say about the people of politics NJ.

Maybe it's a good thing he didn't make this list, most of these people are nothing but major hacks.

Now that PNJ has become the outlet for all things Kushner and Sommer, I suppose this list is more like an invitation list rather than anything meaningful.

nobody talking about President Jerry Healy

Among other things, Rothman doesn't have Senatorial courtesy.

Didn't this site recently run a piece on Pascrell being the most influential congressman since Menendez's departure from the House. The guy's on two top committees and he controls a piece of the action in Passaic. Where's Pallone's machine for doling out jobs and contracts (that was one of the criteria above)?

Also Lance should be lower. He's got the title but when and where has he used it? He's definately less powerful than anyone who can control a county (even partially) or even some large municipalities.

How can any serious list no include the likes of the Mayor of Bayonne or Trenton? How can this list ignore Cliffside Park Mayor Gerry Calabrese? He's the longest serving elected official in the state and possibly the nation. Calabrese is not only mayor, bit leader of the East Bergen mayors and a former freeholder and county chairman. The fact Englewood Mayor Michael Wildes is not here or several other Bergen mayors tells you how inflated the power of Ferriero truly is... Sarlo on this list is ridiculous. The town is like three election districts. He's not even the most important mayor in the district, much less being placed on this list only beacuse he wants to be majority leader is a bit absurd. There are many long-term elected officials that were not even considered for the list and there absence is conspicious. These lists are really becoming a joke and those who author them should move to Delaware. Finally, how is Pallone so powerful? Who really believes this? He has no county or regional base and will be threatened with political extinction if the state loses a congressional seat. The list is truly sad.

This site has become a joke.

This list - and this site - has become a vehicle for Bob Sommer to try and worm his way back into the good graces of state Democrats. Pretty transparent. Nobody's buying it.    

I have to laugh at all the "jockeying" going on in the comments section here.

Folks, this "list" is just a subjective collection of opinions. Period.

If you wanted a REAL list of the most powerful entities in NJ you would have to include the names and agendas of all of the campaign "contributors" who buy and sell most of the "big 50" like the rest of us buy potatoes (in "honor" of Dan Quayle ;-).

It may sound idealistic and downright dumb to many of y'all; but I truly do believe in the idea/principle that all political power stems from the people. What can I tell ya, I still believe in all that stuff about law and order and freedom and democracy.

To the extent that the aforementioned people are aware, informed, motivate and active; they have the power to virtually change the whole political landscape on any given election day.

It's called democracy....and, yes, if we don't use it; we lose it.

From Frederick Douglass

If there is no struggle there is no progress......Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.

Whats all this Baroni talk about. He's a nice enough legislator that gets good press but as far as this list is concerned there is no way he deserves to be on it.

He's a Republican legislator in a Democrat county. He doesn't control any patronage jobs, he isn't in a leadership position, and in fact isn't liked by a lot of his fellow Republicans in the legislature -- which is not such a bad thing.

Like I said, Baroni is a good guy, a reformer type and an attractive statewide candidate but its not like this guy is building a political machine in D14. And being in the minority party its not like he's the "go-to" guy when you need some legislation moved.

Baroni should certainly be on that list.

Any list that has anyone in Hudson ahead of Sacco is flawed for reasons that don't need explaining to anybody active in the county.

County Executive Dennis Levinson should be re-evaluated.  His landslide and classy victory over Democratic challenger and Sheriff Jim McGettigan effectively changed the tone of Atlantic County politics, defeated the powerful Camden County political machine, and left McGettigan very vulnerable for re-election.  Levinson should climb your power rankings.

Look to Levinson as a top candidate for NJ's first Lieutenant Governor in 2010. 

Laus Deo,
Jesse O. Kurtz
Managing Editor for The Atlantic City Scoop
http://cityofatlantic.wordpress.com
Jesseokurtz@gmail.com