http://www.politickernj.com en http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/35053/hayden-files-ferriero-motion Former Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joe Ferriero’s attorney has filed to have his conviction overturned. Defense lawyer Joseph Hayden, said he filed about a dozen arguments in federal court, chief among Ferriero’s conviction for conspiracy to defraud Bergenfield of co-defendant Dennis Oury’s honest services.  Oury, who was Bergen County Democratic Counsel, was the Bergenfield Borough Attorney. “The principle motions involve a challenge to the honest services theory of prosecution, which is presently being scrutinized by a case pending before the United States Supreme Court dealing with honest services,” said Hayden. “We believe the Supreme Court case will be decided favorably to the defense, and this will result in overturning Mr. Ferriero’s conviction.” The conspiracy count was the most serious of Ferriero's three count conviction.  He was also convicted on two mail fraud counts and acquitted of five other mail fraud counts.   Dennis Oury Joe Ferriero Joseph Hayden Local Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:03:00 -0500 Matt Friedman 35053 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/35052/velez-gentry-would-take-christie-administration-position-if-offered Former Republican assembly candidate Stepfanie Velez-Gentry made national headlines for her unusual occupation, but she would be willing to put that job aside if offered one by the incoming Chris Christie administration. “I would absolutely be interested,” she said.  “I want to help make changes in the community, and if something was offered to help make changes I would take it.” Velez-Gentry, 29, runs Nookie Parties, LCC – a company where traveling salespeople host parties to sell sex toys and other adult novelties – or, as PolitickerNJ.com described it when it was first reported in the Inside Edge, a “naughty Tupper Wear party.”   Rather than generate controversy, however, Velez-Gentry’s business won her favorable press for her entreupeunerial spirit.  The Associated Press picked up the story, as did the New York Daily News, and it ricocheted to several other media outlets and blogs.  Howard Stern even talked her up on his radio show.  Velez-Gentry said she even got a $50 campaign donation from a woman with a similar business in Utah. She was later endorsed by the Gloucester County Times, which said that, beyond the “snickering” about her job, she had “much to offer.”  http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/35052/velez-gentry-would-take-christie-administration-position-if-offered#comments Stepfanie Velez-Gentry Governor Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:13:00 -0500 Matt Friedman 35052 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/35051/christie-names-19-subcommittee-chairs Gov.-Elect Chris Christie today named the 19 issue subcommittee chairs for his transition team. The 19 chairs include the 10 members of Christie’s transition team that have already been announced, but whose specified roles have now been made public.  Newcomers include state Sen. Marcia Karrow (R-Raritan), who was defeated by Michael Doherty (R-WashintonTwp.) in the June GOP primary; former U.S. Rep. Mike Ferguson (R-Warren), who has a lobbying firm in Washington, DC; and former State Supreme Court justice and Attoney General Peter Verniero. Below is the full list, taken from the transition team's press release: Chris Christie Governor Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:09:00 -0500 Matt Friedman 35051 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/35050/bergen-county-prepares-unusual-republican-freeholders Incoming Bergen County Republican freeholders Rob Hermansen and John Driscoll will be outnumbered by Democrats 5-2 on the board, but they plan to propose some bold initiatives as soon as they are sworn in - ideas that will probably be met by a tough crowd. Driscoll and Hermansen want to enact their campaign pledge of cutting each freeholders' pay by 25%, end pay-to-play by limiting political donations from contractors doing business with the county to $300 and limit county officials - both elected and appointed - to just one pension. Hermansen said that he would "reach across" to the Democrats "to see if we can get things done."  But that may not be easy, since three of the five remaining Democrats on the board have public jobs in addition to their roles as freeholders. "This is the part where I'm going to come off a little harsh -- that's not my issue," he said.  "My issue is the taxpayer. And if the freeholders themselves are truly up there to take care of the taxpayer, then guess what?  They're going to start doing it." Hermansen admits that, while it will be hard enough to institute a county-wide pay-to-play ban, the prolific practice of wheeling contractor donations to freeholder campaigns through PACs -- the most recent cast reported by The Record's Charles Stile and John Reitmeyer - can only be addressed on a state level. Although pushing those reforms is bound to be contentious, the grace period between the campaign and swearing in continue.  For no, the Democratic incumbents and incoming Republicans all express a hope and willingness for bipartisanship. "They're just two or three things. There are going to be a lot of things over the years we're going to work on," said Driscoll, who said another priority of his is to bring controversial Bergen County Technical School District Superintendent Robert Aloia in front of the board to answer questions about his travel and expenses. "I have the feeling at the end of the day you're going to be pleasantly surprised when we start working together." Democratic Freeholder David Ganz, for his part, said he had a pleasant conversation with Hermansen last night at Freeholder Director James Carroll's party at the League of Munipalities convention. "The vitriol from the campaign appears to be gone.  It thought personally it showed a lot class," he said. http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/35050/bergen-county-prepares-unusual-republican-freeholders#comments David Ganz John Driscoll Robert Hermansen Local Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:12:00 -0500 Matt Friedman 35050 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickernj.com/joey-novick/35046/how-tweet-it Ronald C. Rice tweeted not so sweetly about soon-to-be Senate President Stephen Sweeney. Well, we were able to obtain the rest of the tweets---in fact, there was an entire conversation tweeted between the future Senate President and the current Newark Councilman…. Columnist Local Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:03:00 -0500 Joey_Novick 35046 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/35043/fifis-formally-announces-burlco-dem-leadership-bid It’s on. Chris Fifis, the Lumberton Democratic Chairman who is the favorite of South Jersey Democratic leaders to become chairman of the Burlington County Democrats, put out a statement officially acknowledging his candidacy for the chairmanship in response to Assemblyman Herb Conaway’s (D-Delanco) decision to run for the post. “I remain as committed to strengthening the Burlington County Democratic Party as I was when I took the fight to the entrenched GOP in 2004,” said Fifis, who that year ran unsuccessfully for freeholder and ran for assembly in 2007. The party, currently headed by Acting Chairwoman Alice Furia, will elect a new leader in June.  The former chairman, Rick Perr --  who just last year was considered a rising star in Democratic circles after presiding over a pickup of two freeholder seats and the county clerk's office – resigned under an ethical cloud after revelations surfaced about his involvement in a PAC that raised money for arrested Hoboken mayor Peter Cammarano.   The GOP has a 3-2 majority on the freeholder board, and this year they successfully defended two seats left open by retiring Republicans.  http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/35043/fifis-formally-announces-burlco-dem-leadership-bid#comments Alice Furia Chris Fifis Herb Conaway Rick Perr Local Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:07:00 -0500 Matt Friedman 35043 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickernj.com/max/35042/hornik-maintains-marlboro-majority-midst-christies-monmouth-tsunami While his fellow party members took a frontline beating from Chris Christie on Election Day in Monmouth County, Mayor Jon Hornik quietly won two out of three council seats in Marlboro to preserve his majority in western Monmouth's largest, most voter-concentrated town. "Gov. Jon Corzine lost Marlboro by over 30%, but I think Marlboro voters were smart enough to acknowledge what we're doing, said the 39-year old Democrat. "Notwithstanding the Christie tsunami, they believe Marlboro is moving in the right direction. We've cut operating expenses by 15%, and we've reduced total payments by 11% through furloughs, layoffs, attrition and retirement. Government is running well and lean. By year's end, we hope to dissolve our water authority, a completely unnecessary layer of government with 14 people working there set up for political patronage at a total annual cost of $5 million. We're really treating government like a business and we've acted more like a Republican than a Democratic administration. "I have not spoken to him but I am fully behind Chris Christie right now, Hornik added. "I hope he stands firm and makes the tough decisions. You can't worry about getting elected in four years, that's a sure way to failure. He needs to 100% deliver on COAH (the Council on Affordable Housing, which Christie in the campaign promised to reform), a big factor for my residents. Christie has to undo COAH, it does not work." http://www.politickernj.com/max/35042/hornik-maintains-marlboro-majority-midst-christies-monmouth-tsunami#comments Chris Christie JENNIFER BECK Jon Hornik Sean Byrnes Governor Local Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:02:00 -0500 Max Pizarro 35042 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/35039/watson-coleman-drops-speaker-bid Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver (D-East Orange) told The Star-Ledger today that Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Trenton) has dropped her campaign to become assembly speaker. Oliver, who is expected to ascend to the speakership as part of a deal between north and south Jersey Democrats to install state Sen. Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford) as senate president, claimed the votes for the position in September.  Watson Coleman, however, continued to campaign for it until this week. If she is voted to lead the lower legislative house, Oliver will replace retiring Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden).     Bonnie Watson Coleman Dick Codey George Norcross Joseph Roberts Sheila Oliver Stephen Sweeney Local Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:49:00 -0500 Matt Friedman 35039 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/35037/conaway-seek-burlco-dem-chairmanship Assemblyman Herb Conaway Jr. (D-Delanco) wants to be the next chairman of the Burlington County Democratic Committee, setting up a potential contest to lead the troubled organization.   “What made me decide to run was that we have a need for a county party that functions.  We have a lot of important races coming up in the near term, and quite frankly we’ve had under the old regime dysfunctional leadership that’s led to problems getting things done,” said Conaway in a phone interview from the League of Municipalities convention in Atlantic City.   Conaway, a medical doctor, practices internal medicine at Cooper University Hospital.  He has served in the assembly since 1998, and ran unsuccessfully for Congress against former U.S. Rep. Jim Saxton (R-Mount Holly) in 2004.   Facing pressure from South Jersey Democrats, former Chairman Rick Perr resigned in August over his involvement in a PAC that raised money for former Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammarano, who was arrested on corruption charges in July.  Since then, Alice Furia, long-time party activist and vice-chair, has headed up the party. Furia will remain as chairwoman until June, when the county committee will elect a new leader.  http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/35037/conaway-seek-burlco-dem-chairmanship#comments Alice Furia Chris Fifis Herb Conaway Jeff Meyer Rick Perr Local Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:18:00 -0500 Matt Friedman 35037 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickernj.com/murraysabrin/35035/will-chris-christie-punt-or-do-right-thing New Jersey voters repudiated Governor Jon Corzine's policies of the past four years on November 3rd.  Republican Chris Christie and Independent Chris Daggett received nearly 55% of the votes cast. The anti-Corzine voters played it safe on Election Day, pulling the lever for Christie instead of Daggett who had a "plan" to lower property taxes by widening the sales tax. The Christie campaign effectively demolished Daggett's candidacy in the last two weeks of October with a series of commercials, and his support plunged like a rock in the days leading up to November 3rd. To bolster New Jersey's economy in 2010 governor-elect Christie will have to rein in the overspending, onerous taxes, and unnecessary regulations that have made New Jersey one of the least business friendly states in the nation.   In short, Christie has to restructure New Jersey's state government and overhaul the state budget so entrepreneurs know they will not have to shoulder the burden as individuals and as business owners/managers to pay for the state's irresponsible spending. Christie must order his transition team to draw up a plan to decentralize.  In other words, some state government functions have to be streamlined, some have to be abolished and some have to be returned to counties, municipalities, communities, families and individuals. This is the list Christie's transition team has to develop immediately.  If Christie has less than a total commitment to a much leaner state government, a less costly state government, and ending unfunded state mandates on municipalities, he will have lost the opportunity to turn New Jersey's economy around. http://www.politickernj.com/murraysabrin/35035/will-chris-christie-punt-or-do-right-thing#comments Christopher Christie Op/Ed Governor Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:51:00 -0500 Murray Sabrin 35035 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/35030/poll-finds-new-jereyans-narrowly-support-gay-marriage New Jersey residents narrowly support legalizing same-sex marriage but do not consider it a high priority, according to a Rutgers-Eagleton poll released this morning. By a 46% to 42% margin, New Jersey residents think same sex couples should have the right to marry, while 12% are unsure.  If the legislature were to pass legislation legalizing gay marriage, 52% said they would accept it, while 40% said they would support a constitutional amendment banning it.   In California last year, residents voted in favor of Proposition 8, which amended the state constitution to recognize marriage as between only a man and a woman, overturning a California State Supreme Court ruling that same-sex couples have right to marry.  And earlier this month, Maine residents voted to repeal the state’s gay marriage statute.   But pollster David Redlawsk said New Jerseyans appear more likely to accept legalization of same sex marriage.   “While this tests opinion outside the intensity of a campaign to ban gay marriage, as occurred in California, there is more of a ‘live and let live’ attitude in New Jersey than in many other states that have dealt with this issue,” he said. http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/35030/poll-finds-new-jereyans-narrowly-support-gay-marriage#comments David Relawsk Local Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:52:00 -0500 Matt Friedman 35030 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickernj.com/joey-novick/35028/roundin-nj-news Pardner, you’re a busy person. You need a news  round-up you can just nibble on, and then get on with your day. So here goes, NJ buckeroos: Local Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:53:00 -0500 Joey_Novick 35028 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/35025/weinberg-sweeney-honor-your-committment-marriage-equality State Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck) wants Senate Majority Leader Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford) to “honor the commitment he made to me” on the marriage equality bill she sponsors.   Weinberg issued a statement this evening in response to Sweeney’s comment at the League of Municipalities today that “the main issue right now is the economy” and the senate should consider the gay marriage bill at an unspecified later time. “As the prime sponsor of the Marriage Equality Act, I am urging our current Majority Leader to honor the commitment he made to me to move this important civil rights bill forward. We have the ability in the legislature to talk about this bill and address the economic crisis at the same time,” said Weinberg. “I received commitments from the Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee as well as from Majority Leader Sweeney that they would allow this bill to move forward. It will be a disappointment to so many in the grassroots of our party as well as to me personally if this commitment is not honored.” Update, 9:42pm -- Citing a miscommunication with Sweeney, Weinberg offered this revised statement: “I think there has been a miscommunication between Steve Sweeney and myself.  I look forward to talking to him personally.  It really is up to Senate President Dick Codey to make a decision about pushing this bill forward, and the Judiciary Committee Chair [state Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge) has informed me that he will post the bill.”   http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/35025/weinberg-sweeney-honor-your-committment-marriage-equality#comments Loretta Weinberg Stephen Sweeney Local Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:38:00 -0500 Matt Friedman 35025 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickernj.com/max/35023/sweeney-economy-issue-now-not-marriage-equality ATANTIC CITY - Ready to be the next Senate President, state Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney (D-West Deptford) just told a crowd of mayors, council people and govenrment types that now is not the time to drive marriage equality through the legislature. "It's an important social issue," Sweeney tells NJN Chief Political Correspondent Michael Aron in response to a question. "If we learned anything in this last election it's that the main issue right now is the economy," Sweeney adds. He says the legislature should consider marriage equality at another time.   http://www.politickernj.com/max/35023/sweeney-economy-issue-now-not-marriage-equality#comments Joe Roberts Michael Aron Steve Sweeney Governor Local Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:10:00 -0500 Max Pizarro 35023 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/35021/exploring-congressional-bid-runyan-meets-gilmore Ocean County Republican Chairman George Gilmore met with ex-Eagles tackle Jon Runyan yesterday, who told him that he is "strongly leaning" toward running. But Gilmore, who said he had a "nice conversation" with Runyan, is not sold on him as the candidate to take on freshman U.S. Rep. John Adler (D-Cherry Hill).  "This is nowhere near being over at this point," said Gilmore.  "As a professional football player there's some name recognition. On the other hand, we don't know much about his background.  He's never held elected office, never run for office.  We don't know how he would handle a situation and a campaign," said Gilmore.  Gilmore is upfront about who his favorite potential candidate is: state Sen. Chris Connors (R-Lacey Twp), who already represents roughly half the congressional district in the legislature.  Connors could not be reached for comment, but he told the Asbury Park Press yesterday that he is "not likely" to run.  If Runyan decides to run, he will likely to have the full support of the Republicans from Burlington County, which makes up a roughly equal portion of the congressional district as Ocean County.  But even if Connors is out of the picture, Gilmore thinks a number of other candidates deserve consideration, including Toms River Councilman Maurice Hill and former Virginia "Ginny" Haines, a former assemblywoman and state lottery commissioner.    "I don't want those comments to be taken as being opposed to Runyan, because I'm not," said Gilmore.  "He's a candidate that brings certain attributes and we have other candidates that bring other attributes."  Gilmore does not believe that the process is already spiraling towards a primary like in 2008, when the eventual nominee, Christopher Myers, had to spend half a million dollars that Republicans think could have been better spent against Adler in the general election. But what if the two county parties are unable to agree on a candidate? http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/35021/exploring-congressional-bid-runyan-meets-gilmore#comments Bill Layton Christopher Connors Christopher Myers George Gilmore House John Adler jon runyna Moe Hill Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:05:00 -0500 Matt Friedman 35021 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickernj.com/max/35022/sweeney-subs-sitting-senate-president-record-taping ATLANTIC CITY - NJN Chief Political Correspondent Michael Aron has a panel on a stage here in one of the break-out-rooms of the Atlantic City Convention Center. It's a familar group of legislative leaders, but in place of Senate President Richard Codey (D-Roseland) sits Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney (D-West Deptford). The Sweeney for Codey swap for this public television show taping anticipates Monday's senate Democratic caucus vore when Sweeney figures to defeat Codey. So it's Sweeney and outgoing Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts (D-Camden) versus Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean (R-Westfield) and Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce (R-Parsippany) on an Aron-anchored On the Record episode to air this coming Sunday at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. It's just starting. http://www.politickernj.com/max/35022/sweeney-subs-sitting-senate-president-record-taping#comments Alex DeCroce Joe Roberts Michael Aron Steve Sweeney Tom Kean Governor Local Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:51:00 -0500 Max Pizarro 35022 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickernj.com/max/35018/between-two-tuesdays-ago-and-next-monday-welcome-atlantic-city ATLANTIC CITY - The legislative leadership transmogrifications are evident at the Atlantic City Convention Center, even if the good government intentions are nowhere visible outside whatever sessions convene behind closed doors. A lot of people are talking about Senate President Richard Codey's party last night. "An Irish wake," is how Sierra Club Executive Director Jeff Tittel describes the event. More than a few people note that Codey appeared unflappable - even merry. "Personable is not personal," explains another insider. "You have to understand the Irish. Whatever he's feeling inside, however personal he's taking this, will not take away from his ability to be personable." http://www.politickernj.com/max/35018/between-two-tuesdays-ago-and-next-monday-welcome-atlantic-city#comments Alex DeCroce Dave Rible Jeff Tittel John Amodeo Jon Bramnick Manny Segura Richard Codey Sheila Oliver Steve Sweeney Tom Kean Governor Local Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:56:00 -0500 Max Pizarro 35018 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickernj.com/max/35017/mccormac-assume-more-specified-christie-transition-team-role-tomorrow ATLANTIC CITY - The members of Christie's transition team will break into specified groups tomorrow, according to team facilitator and counsel Brian Nelson of Shrewsbury. "We're going to have a smaller number of groups to examine the issues than Gov. Corzine had four years ago," Nelson told PolitickerNJ.com.  Proving Gov. Jon Corzine's loss in his hometown doesn't diminish his standing with defeated Democratic governors, Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac huddled in a tight-knit circle of party stalwarts that included former Gov. Jim Florio here in the Atlantic City Convention Center at the 94th annual League of Muncipalities Conference. Corzine suffered a bellweather gut-wrencher in Woodbridge two weeks ago, ultimately going down to Gov.-elect Chris Christie, 11,475 to 9,391. Christie surfaced in Woodbridge two days later and triumphantly pounded pavement with the Democratic mayor. Then McCormac surfaced a few days after that as a member of Christie's transition team. McCormac, state treasurer in the administration of Gov. Richard Codey, will have a transition role in economic development. http://www.politickernj.com/max/35017/mccormac-assume-more-specified-christie-transition-team-role-tomorrow#comments Chris Christie John McCormac JON CORZINE Governor Local Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:07:00 -0500 Max Pizarro 35017 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickernj.com/max/35016/segura-would-serve-maximum-two-terms-mayor ATLANTIC CITY - Trenton Councilman Manny Segura hasn't made a formal annoucement regarding next year's mayor's race, but if he runs and wins he says he would only serve for two terms - max. "Longevity is a killer in this line of work," said the councilman, down here for the 94th annual League of Muncipalities Conference. His observation comes on the tail-end of Mayor Doug Palmer's two-decade tour of duty as Trenton's chief executive. "I've got three priorities," Segura added. "Safety, safety and safety." A graduate of Perth Amboy High School, Segura was a minor league baseball prospect when he first started organizing politically, first for Robert Menendez and later Joe Vas. http://www.politickernj.com/max/35016/segura-would-serve-maximum-two-terms-mayor#comments Doug Palmer Manny Segura Local Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:57:00 -0500 Max Pizarro 35016 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/35014/christie-texas-today-rga-conference Governor-elect Chris Christie is in Texas today for the Republican Governors Association’s annual conference. Christie will attend the conference’s plenary session outside of Austin at 4:30 this afternoon before heading to a 6pm press availability with RGA Chair Haley Barbour -- the governor of Mississippi --  and Virginia Governor-Elect Bob McDonnell.  After that, he and McDonnell will attend a “victory barbeque.”   The RGA invested heavily in New Jersey, which is one of only two states that had a gubernatorial election this year. Bob McDonnell Chris Christie Haley Barbour Governor Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:20:00 -0500 Matt Friedman 35014 at http://politicker.com