Carlos Cedeño

A judge has authorized the state to deduct nearly $90,000 from their state aid after finding that the Elizabeth Board of Education used the funds to produce TV ads and literature that resembles campaign advertising.  It seems that the ads prominently featured school board member Carlos Cedeno while he was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Elizabeth City Councilman.  The issue was a parcel of land the Board of Education wanted to buy for a new school, using Abbott funds.  Cedeno used the cable TV spot to allege that a political rival wanted to sell the same land to one of his campaign contributors for 10% of market value.  Cedeno lost the primary.  One of Cedeno's allies is Donald Goncalves, a former Union County Freeholder and one of the highest profile Democrats to endorse Republican Christopher Christie for governor.  Goncalves, who is employed by the Elizabeth Board of Education, has made no secret of his desire to parlay his endorsement into a state job should Christie win the election.

Look for Elizabeth Democrats to claim the Assembly seat currently held by Neil Cohen, possibly sending the first minority legislator from this heavily Democratic Union County district. Possible candidates include: Union County Freeholder Chairman Angel Estrada, City Councilmen Frank Cuesta, Many Grova, Nelson Gonzalez, Carlos Cedeño, and William Gallman; City Councilwoman Patricia Perkins-Auguste; and Annette Quijano, an Assistant Counsel to Goveror Jon Corzine.