Bergen

BERGENFIELD - This was a decidedly Manny Pacquiao crowd here gathered for the Filipino Heritage Festival, where images of the world's pound-for-pound greatest prizefighter abounded.

Although not ostensibly a boxing contest, under the mid-summer hoopla in this precious voter stronghold of Bergen County could be identified two fierce political camps: one in the corner of Gov. Jon Corzine and organized by former Bergenfield Mayor Roberto Rivas and the other backing former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie and bucked up by the Rev. Gaudy Soriano, pastor of Faith Restoration Center Inc. of Jersey City.

Soriano is a big Christie fan going back to when the two men shared a stage at the funeral of the Glenn D. Cunningham, the mayor of Jersey City.

Soriano saw a third speaker, the Rev. Al Sharpton, gearing up to speak on that day, and promptly collared a Cunningman handler and asked that Christie be allowed to talk before Sharpton, lest the lawman's remarks get lost on the other side of the famously flamboyant preacher.

"I think people see him as an everyday man who is upset about the situaton we are facing in New Jersey," the reverend said today as he made the rounds with Christie from one vendor's booth to the next in a town dubbed Bergen's little Manila, home to 15,000 Filipino-Americans.

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Hillsdale – Responding to Governor Jon Corzine and the Democrat state legislature’s proposed FY2010 budget plan to eliminate the property tax rebate and the property tax deduction on middle class families, Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk and candidate for Assembly Bob Schroeder released the following statement:

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MERKT VOICES SUPPORT FOR BCRO CHAIR

YUDIN IS REBUILDING BERGEN COUNTY GOP, DESERVES STATE GOP SUPPORT

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"Mr. McNerney either has to stand up to his political boss – Joe Ferriero – and say no to such obvious abuses of taxpayer owned property and exercise the no politicking policy he instituted -- or admit that he lied to voters in 2002 when he said he would institute such a policy. He can’t have it both ways,” said Calabrese.

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Several months ago, there were suggestions that Genovese might get support -- mostly financial -- from a group of key Democratic insiders who wanted to use the 21st district State Senate campaign as a form of retaliation for Kean's U.S. Senate race against Robert Menendez last year. But Democrats now concede that Genovese has turned out to be a weak and largely unfocused candidate with little chance to score an upset in a legislative district where Menendez won 46% one year ago. Genovese's failure to mount an effective campaign has allowed Kean to spend money in other districts. Kean will likely be re-elected, probably by his usual margins, and seems well positioned to become the next Senate Minority Leader.

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The legislature needs to be put on a leash to curtail spending, and real solutions need to implemented to create a new school funding formula.

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O'TOOLE MAKES MOTION ON RESOLUTION CALLING FOR COOPERATION WITH U.S. ATTORNEY AND ETHICS REFORM

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There is a good chance that a pair of Senators with substantial baggage will be replaced by two women a generation younger. Camden County Democrats have picked Dana Redd, a 38-year-old Camden City Councilwoman to replace Wayne Bryant, while Teresa Ruiz, 32, the Essex County Democratic Vice Chairwoman, is a leading candidate for the seat currently held by Sharpe James.

Redd would become the third African American women in the Senate (joining Shirley Turner and Nia Gill), while Ruiz would become the first Latina in the Senate, and the second Latino to serve in the upper house. Camden and Essex counties have skillfully avoided the kind of diversity battles that seem to have plagued Bergen and Hudson counties.

Redd and Ruiz may provide fresh faces in a Senate that will see a huge turnover this year, but they would also have to deal with the perception that they are products of powerful political machines. Redd is a strong ally of the Camden County Democratic organization, and Ruiz is a close ally of Newark political leader Stephen Adubato, Sr.

Redd began her political career as the Chief of Staff to Camden County Freeholder Riletta Cream, whose husband, Arnold Cream, served as Camden County Sheriff after a legendary career as a professional boxer under the name Jersey Joe Walcott. In 1976, as a third grader, she presented flowers to Mother Theresa during a visit to Sacred Heart Church in Camden.

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GOVERNOR CORZINE FILES NOMINATIONS

TRENTON

– Governor Jon S. Corzine today submitted the following nominations to the State Senate. The nominations are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate. Read More >

GOVERNOR CORZINE FILES DIRECT APPOINTMENTS

TRENTON

– Governor Jon S. Corzine today announced the following direct appointments. Read More >