http://www.politickernj.com en http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/34864/weekend-tv Reporters Roundtable with Michael Aron Gannett’s Michael Symons, The Star-Ledger’s Claire Heininger, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jonathan Tamari and PolitickerNJ.com’s Matt Friedman (me) talk about the Chris Christie’s victory. Airs: Tonight at 7:00, Sunday at 10am on NJN On the Record Michael Aron talks about Chris Christie with three Republican analysts: Alan Steinberg, Jeff Michaels and Gregg Edwards. Airs: Sunday at 9am and 11am, Monday at 6:30am Power & Politics Republican State Chairman/Assembyman Jay Webber (R-Morris Plains) on Christie's Win, state Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck) on Corzine's loss , Ben Dworkin of Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics with analysis,  Bill Dressell of the League of Municipalities about his hopes that Christie will address unfunded mandates, and Dr. Bart Rossi on the Body Language of the Candidates. Airs: Saturday and Sunday at 10am and 3pm on News 12 New Jersey New Jersey Now Political Consultant Rick Thigpen and FDU pollster Peter Woolley analyze the election results; Assemblymen John McKeon and Jon Bramnick discuss Governor-elect Chris Christie working with a Democratic Majority in the Legislature as well as the approval of the open space bond question. Brenda Flanagan hosts. Airs: Sunday at 12pm on My9. Frank Pallone The 6th District Congressman will be talking health care and the swine flu vaccine on three programs this weekend: CBS News with Michael Levi, C-Span with Peter Slen and America’s News with Shannon Beam on Fox News. Airs: check your listings Weekend TV Local Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:44:00 -0500 Matt Friedman 34864 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickernj.com/editor/34863/giblin-offers-reward-lawn-signs Assemblyman Thomas Giblin (D-Montclair) says he will donate a dime to charity for every campaign lawn sign brought to his Clifton office.  "Some of these signs sit around for months following an election," said Giblin, a former Democratic State Chairman. "We can clean-up our streets and help the less fortunate at the same time."  Giblin says the money will go to Eva's Village, a Paterson-based social services agency. "Not only do these things become an eyesore, but the metal hangers they're on start rusting and the laminated cardboard winds up in the streets and jamming up the sewers," Giblin said. "It poses a real hazard to the environment." http://www.politickernj.com/editor/34863/giblin-offers-reward-lawn-signs#comments Thomas Giblin Local Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:20:00 -0500 editor 34863 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickernj.com/joey-novick/34857/flemingtoon-11609-all-dialogue-mostly-guaranteed-almost-verbatim-crack-political-c Tuesday, November 3rd was not a particularly good day for Democrats across the state, or in Hunterdon County. Although Democrats in Hunterdon are generally used to fielding candidates who face a tough campaign season against a more well-funded Republican opponent, combined with an over-whelming 3-1 voter registration advantage----there are many ‘true believers".  Local Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:22:00 -0500 Joey_Novick 34857 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickernj.com/alan-steinberg/34855/christie-versus-njea Within 24 hours after the election of Chris Christie as Governor, the battle was joined between the Governor-elect and the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA).  This could become the Ali-Frazier of New Jersey issue battles. http://www.politickernj.com/alan-steinberg/34855/christie-versus-njea#comments Chris Christie NJEA Op/Ed Governor Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:25:00 -0500 Alan Steinberg 34855 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/34852/next-gop-target-mcnerney It was literally minutes after Bergen County Republicans won two freeholder seats that they started eyeing another prize. "Now for the big one: county executive," said one Republican operative who often works in Bergen County from the Chris Christie Election Night victory party in Parsippany. Two days after winning two freeholder seats in Bergen County - a prayed for shot in the arm for a county party that has spent the last several years on the brink of irrelevance- the talk in Bergen County Republican circles is who the party will run for the top office in 2010. "A number of people have expressed interest.  I'm hearing a lot of it informally. No one has officially come to me," said Bergen County Republican Chairman Bob Yudin, whose party could stand to receive a cash infusion now that donors see that they can win elections. So far, three names pop up: County Clerk Kathleen Donovan, who ran in the 2006 Republican primary for the office but was defeated on the right by Todd Caliguire, who went on to lose the general election; Fair Lawn Councilman Edward Trawinski, who yesterday just won a second consecutive (and third overall) term in that heavily Democratic town; and former Hackensack Mayor Jack Zisa.  Since the Republicans appear to have some momentum, other potential candidates are expected to come forward.  And with a GOP governor, Bergen Republicans will have an easier time raising money. "It's a different ball game now that we've demonstrated we can win a couple county seats," said state Sen. Gerald Cardinale (R-Demarest), who has taken an active role in behind-the-scenes party politics. Assemblyman David Russo (R-Ridgewood), long rumored to be interested in the post, told PolitickerNJ.com that he will not run. http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/34852/next-gop-target-mcnerney#comments Dennis McNerney Edward Trawinski jack zisa John Driscoll Kathleen Donovan Matt McHale Robert Hermansen Robert Yudin Local Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:18:00 -0500 Matt Friedman 34852 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickernj.com/max/34846/belly-gop-beast-dougherty-defines-his-turf-convincing-morristown-win MORRISTOWN - The happiest Democrat in Morris County. That would be Tim Dougherty, who on Tuesday night won the Morristown mayor's race with 64.62% of the vote on a night when every municipality went for home county gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie by large margins with the exception of Dover, Victory Gardens and Morristown. Doherty took pride in the fact that he won without going negative on his opponent, local businessman Jimmy Gervasio.  "I told (campaign strategist Barrett) Tommy I'm not putting out one piece of negative literature," said the mayor-elect. "Why? I figured somebdy's gotta start doing it that way. Voters want to hear about what you're going to do." In the primary, Dougherty built a coalition among African Americans, progressives, Latinos and downtown business people to crush veteran Morristown political animal Mayor Donald Cresitello. Chris Christie Jimmy Gervasio JON CORZINE Tim Dougherty Governor Local Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:19:00 -0500 Max Pizarro 34846 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/34843/woodbyrne-heres-how-we-won Bergen County Republicans Rob Hermansen and John Driscoll won two freeholder seats with a micro-targeted, internet heavy ad campaign that focused on a positive message, according to Hermansen’s campaign manager. Ramsey Republican activist Deirdre Woodbyrne, who ran Hermansen’s campaign but not Driscoll’s, said that her candidate smartly focused on things like a front page newspaper “popper,” Facebook ads and YouTube videos more than more traditional mediums like television, radio and mailers. “Where Christie lost, we won. We didn’t have any money for TV ads. We didn’t have any money for radio ads.  We used the internet and we used the positive message,” she said. Woodbyrne said the campaign got especially positive feedback from a YouTube ad they put up featuring footage of the all-Democratic Bergen County freeholder board unable to explain what a $100,000 project they were about to vote on entailed.  They voted for it anyway, drawing a rebuke at the meeting from Hermansen that was featured at the end of the video.   http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/34843/woodbyrne-heres-how-we-won#comments Bob Yudin Deirdre Woodbyrne Local Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:43:00 -0500 Matt Friedman 34843 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickernj.com/max/34842/pascrell-tuesday-nights-outcome One of the more aggressive critics of Gov.-elect Chris Christie early in the campaign, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-Paterson) today said he plans to reach out to Christie and establish working relations with him for the sake of New Jersey. "I wish Chris Christie well," said Pascrell. "It's going to be a tough four years overcoming the last eight years of national inaction." The former mayor of Paterson and veteran 8th District congressman last year mused on a potential bid for the governship in the event that Corzine did not seek re-election.  Asked if he intends to run for governor in 2013, Pascrell said, "No, it's too early to talk about that now." Pascrell said he has not talked to defeated Gov. Jon Corzine since the governor's loss to Christie on Tuesday. "The governor was unable to overcome some unfavorable perceptions many voters had of him," said the congressman. "Most of the Democrats running for (the legislature) didn't run with the governor, and I think it's clear he was also unable to overcome that. He was not able to articulate what he accomplished. This governor accomplished a lot of things. The state budget is the same as it was four years ago. He was trying to do his part with the caps."  http://www.politickernj.com/max/34842/pascrell-tuesday-nights-outcome#comments President Barack Obama Bil Pascrell Chris Christie House JON CORZINE Governor Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:37:00 -0500 Max Pizarro 34842 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickernj.com/max/34841/amid-rumors-departure-christie-cabinet-decroce-reeelcted-minority-leader The Assembly Republican caucus this morning reelected Assembly Mniority Leader Alex DeCroce (R-Parsippany) to a fourth consecutive term.  Support was unanimous. After threatening, Assembly Conference Leader Pete Biondi (R-Hillsborough) ended up not challenging DeCroce, who is rumored to be a short list candidate for the cabinet of Gov.-elect Chris Christie. Assemblyman Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield) this morning received his caucus's backing to be conference leader and Assemblyman Dave Rible (R-Wall) moved up to become whip. http://www.politickernj.com/max/34841/amid-rumors-departure-christie-cabinet-decroce-reeelcted-minority-leader#comments Alex DeCroce Chris Christie Dave Rible Jon Bramnick Governor Local Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:26:00 -0500 Max Pizarro 34841 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickernj.com/max/34839/gusciora-blasts-bosses-not-focusing-more-intently-corzine-re-election Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Princeton) today blamed party bosses for deal-making when they should have been focused on re-electing Gov. Jon Corzine. "Party leaders undermined the governor by having a party leadership fight," said Gusciora. "They reinforced the message that if Corzine won, the reins of power would be handed over to special interests." Asked on Election Day morning about the intra-party deal cultivated by South Jersey Democratic Party leader George Norcross III and Newark North Ward Democratic Party boss Steve Adubato, Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts (D-Camden) dismissed its larger-scale impact on voter production. "It's inside baseball and affected very few people beyond Trenton," said Roberts of a North-South deal that would oust Senate President Richard Codey (D-Roseland) in exchange for Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney (D-West Deptford), and launch Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver (D-East Orange) into the lower house leadership chair being vacated by Roberts. http://www.politickernj.com/max/34839/gusciora-blasts-bosses-not-focusing-more-intently-corzine-re-election#comments Chris Christie Joe Roberts JON CORZINE Reed Gusciora Richard Codey Steve Sweeney Governor Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:56:00 -0500 Max Pizarro 34839 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/34837/joe-donohue-moves-elec Former Star-Ledger Statehouse reporter Joe Donohue is joining the Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC). Donohue, who took a buyout from the Ledger last year and moved on to become an Assistant Treasurer for the New Jersey Department of the Treasury, will serve as a Deputy Director with responsibilities in communications, legislative outreach, and development of “white papers” on campaign finance trends, according to a press release from the commission. “Joe Donohue brings to this position a wealth of experience in campaign finance issues and a reputation for fairness that will greatly assist the Commission’s efforts to protect the integrity of the State’s election finance system and to encourage a more engaged electorate,” said Brindle.,” said ELEC Executive Director Jeffrey Brindle. http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/34837/joe-donohue-moves-elec#comments jeffrey brindle Joe Donohue Local Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:11:00 -0500 Matt Friedman 34837 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickernj.com/max/34834/gop-leaders-rejoice-christies-ability-unify-while-dems-still-skeptical Leaders of a once fractured minority party - over the last years seemingly constantly at the verge of splitting farther apart - see unity in Gov.-elect Chris Christie. During the campaign, Christie regularly invoked the example of former Gov. Tom Kean, a moderate, then publicly embraced movement conservative Steve Lonegan in the closing days of the general election campaign to solidify his Republican base. Kean's son, state Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean, Jr. (R-Westfield) said he believes Christie's leadership abilities are expansive enough to include both the conservative wing and moderate wing of the GOP, in addition to independents and Democrats. Not unlike his own father's skills in that regard. http://www.politickernj.com/max/34834/gop-leaders-rejoice-christies-ability-unify-while-dems-still-skeptical#comments Chris Christie Mike Doherty Reed Gusciora Tom Kean Governor Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:26:00 -0500 Max Pizarro 34834 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickernj.com/joey-novick/34830/hands-across-new-jersey It’s time to end the partisan bickering.   It’s time to end the partisan bickering process that has and continues to cloud problem solving for our great state, north and south.  It’s time to return to true leadership. The time has come to end the partisanship that divides us not only politically but as a state, and replace it with unity and strength of purpose and direction. Local Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:19:00 -0500 Joey_Novick 34830 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickernj.com/wallye/34828/will-norcross-go-senate Dana Redd's victory in the Camden mayoral race was as easy as everyone expected, which means Democrats will need to fill her fifth district State Senate seat.  Possible candidates include Assemblymen-elect Donald Norcross and Angel Fuentes, outgoing Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts, Camden City Councilwoman Dana Burley, and Camden City Councilman Whip Wilson.  Redd will need to step down no later than January 1, when she takes office as mayor; a special election convention would be held 7-35 days after her resignation.  If it's Norcross or Fuentes, a second special election convention would need to be held to fill their Assembly seats. http://www.politickernj.com/wallye/34828/will-norcross-go-senate#comments Angel Fuentes Dana Burley Dana Redd Donald Norcross Joseph Roberts Whip Wilson Local Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:16:00 -0500 Wally Edge 34828 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickernj.com/max/34823/patersons-gubernatorial-numbers-reflect-little-difference-2005 Paterson - New Jersey's third largest city and now on the brink of a mayoral election next year - delivered the same voter turnout for Gov. Jon Corzine that he received four years ago in his first bid for governor. These results are unofficial and don't include provisionals: Corzine received 16,038 votes in the Silk City, to Republican candidate (now Gov.-elect) Chris Christie's 2,040. Those numbers almost mirror Corzine's 2005 performance against Mercer buisnessman Doug Forrester: 17,000 to 1,600 votes. http://www.politickernj.com/max/34823/patersons-gubernatorial-numbers-reflect-little-difference-2005#comments Andre Sayegh Chris Christie Jeff Jones JOEY TORRES JON CORZINE Julio Tavarez Rigo Rodriguez Governor Local Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:45:00 -0500 Max Pizarro 34823 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/34822/despite-victories-passaic-gop-feud-lingers Ask leaders of the two Republican factions in Passaic County how they swept the county office elections last night and you get two different interpretations. Passaic County Republican Chairman Scott Rumana (R-Wayne), who's also an assemblyman, attributed the win to the dominant Democratic Party losing touch with the county's residents.  "You have citizens in Passaic County who have been disenfranchised by the Democratic Party," he said.  "We've been pulling in people who were not part of the party for many years, and that's really been a big, big help in this process." In a stunning upset, Republicans beat three Democrats - including the incumbent freeholder director, Tahesha Way - and won the county clerk seat Rumana said that his party's "team building" approach to leadership also played a role. But Mike Mecca, who is chairman of the splinter group GOP Strong - which challenged Rumana for his chairmanship and supported assembly primary candidates against him - said that Kristin Corrado, county clerk candidate that GOP Strong recruited to defeat the PCRRO's candidate in the June primary -- led the Republican ticket to victory. http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/34822/despite-victories-passaic-gop-feud-lingers#comments Kristin Corrado Michael Mecca Scott Rumana Local Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:43:00 -0500 Matt Friedman 34822 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/34821/democrats-not-ready-concede-4th-district-seat Although Democrat Bill Collins trailed by 1,021 votes as of last night, Democrats say that there may be enough uncounted mail-in ballots out there for him defeat Republican Domenick DiCicco in the 4th Legislative District. Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee (DACC) Executive Director Mike Muller said that mail-in ballots counted since last night have given Collins another 440 votes.  "There are reports of 1,000 more that are still out there," he said.  "The one thing we don't want to do is assume [a loss]," said Muller.  "There was such an effort vote-by-mail-wise that in that district alone there were something like 6,500 or 7,000 who applied for vote by mail applications, that we want to make sure we have a good, accurate count of everything that came in." Incumbent Paul Moriarty (D-Washington Twp.) was the district's top vote getter. http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/34821/democrats-not-ready-concede-4th-district-seat#comments Domenick DiCicco Michael Muller Paul Moriarty william collins Local Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:38:00 -0500 Matt Friedman 34821 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/34820/bad-night-democrats-pull-huge-win-1st-district If there was one bright spot for New Jersey Democrats last night, it was in District 1. In this southernmost district in the state, incumbents Nelson Albano (D-Vineland) and Matt Milam (D-Vineland) held on against Republicans Michael Donohue and John McCann by a relatively comfortable margin. The two were thought to be the most vulnerable Democratic incumbents this year, since they represent a traditionally Republican district that is dominated by Cape May County - where Christopher Christie did especially well.  Perhaps considered most damning for their chances was the absence of state Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-Dennis), whose coattails helped get Albano elected in 2005 and Milam in 2007, from the ballot.  But Van Drew was anything but absent from the campaign.  He played a crucial role in it, folding his two running mates into his independent brand and campaigning as if he were on the ballot himself.  "Do I feel like I was on the ballot in a way?  Yes, because I have a commitment to them and the people in this district that we'll stand up and continue to do what is right regardless of party politics," he said, adding that the candidates still had to win on their own merits "regardless of how much help they had." http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/34820/bad-night-democrats-pull-huge-win-1st-district#comments David Von Savage Jeff Van Drew John McCann Matthew Milam Michael Donohue Nelson Albano Local Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:32:00 -0500 Matt Friedman 34820 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickernj.com/max/34819/currie-time-re-engage-suburbs The stunner of the night in North Jersey for Democrats was the loss of their county ticket, the Kazmark-Way-Gomez-Stampone team that suffered the downside of a squeaker to the Corrado-Marratoa-O'Connell-Ciambrone team. Democratic Party Chairman John Currie takes solace in the fact that incumbent Gov. Jon Corzine defeated Chris Christie here by a vote of 51 to 44% - solace that was shattered by evening's end when Corzine lost statewide. But of most pressing concern to veteran county man Currie was the win by Republican clerk candidate Kristin Corrado over Democrat Keith Kazmark, 51.91% to 48.09% and the fall of three freeholder candidates, including incumbent rising star (and potential LG candidate) Freeholder Director Tahesha Way. With provisionals not yet in, Way is losing to Ciambrone by 1400 votes. http://www.politickernj.com/max/34819/currie-time-re-engage-suburbs#comments Chris Christie John Currie JON CORZINE Governor Local Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:54:00 -0500 Max Pizarro 34819 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickernj.com/editor/34818/weinberg-backs-sweeney-senate-president State Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck), who will return to the Senate next year after losing her bid for Lt. Governor, has committed to supporting State Sen. Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford) for Senate President, Democratic source say.  Weinberg becomes the 15th Democratic Senator out of 23 to back Sweeney in his bid to unseat the incumbent, Richard Codey (D-Roseland).  http://www.politickernj.com/editor/34818/weinberg-backs-sweeney-senate-president#comments Loretta Weinberg Richard Codey Stephen Sweeney Local Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:28:00 -0500 editor 34818 at http://politicker.com