The Home News Tribune has urged the ouster of the most incumbent legislators this year: six.  The HNT called for the defeat of Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro), Wayne DeAngelo (D-Hamilton), Joseph Egan (D-New Brunswick), Upendra Chivukula (D-Franklin), Patrick Diegnan (D-South Plainfield), and John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville).  Only Peter Barnes (D-Edison) survived the wrath of the editorial board.  But the HNT also endorsed three incumbent Democrats for re-election to the Middlesex County Board of Freeholders. 

The Courier-News wants five incumbents, all Democrats, to be defeated: Linda Stender (D-Fanwood), Gerald Green (D-Plainfield), Egan, Chivukula, and Diegnan.  They endorsed three GOP incumbents, Peter Biondi (R-Hillsborough), Denise Coyle (R-Bernards), and John DiMaio (R-Hackettstown) and Barnes.

The Courier-Post wants four Democratic legislators gone: five-term Assemblymen Herbert Conaway (D-Delanco) and Jack Connors (D-Pennsauken); and two special election winners -- State Sen. James Beach (D-Voorhees), who went to the Senate after John Adler became a Congressman; and Assemblywoman Celeste Riley (D-Bridgeton), who won a special election convention earlier this year after Douglas Fisher resigned to become state Secretary of Agriculture.   The Gloucester County Times also advocated the defeat of Riley, and the Burlington County Times said Coway should go.

The Record endorsed Republican challengers running against Frederick Scalera (D-Nutley), Joan Voss (D-Fort Lee), and Connie Wagner (D-Paramus); they endorsed ten incumbents for re-election - seven Democrats and three Republicans.  The Record also called for the ouster of Democratic Freeholders in Bergen and Passaic counties.

The Press of Atlantic City endorsed a Republican challenger against freshman Assemblyman Matthew Milam (D-Vineland).  The newspaper backed five incumbents - one Democrat and four Republicans.

In the third district, which has been largely ignored by state Republicans after their preferred candidates were defeated in the GOP primary, two daily newspapers have endorsed Republican challenger Dr. Robert Villare for State Assembly over the newly-elected incumbent, Celeste Riley (D-Bridgeton).

The Gloucester County Times and the Courier-Post today endorsed Villare, a surgeon, over Riley, who won a special election convention earlier this year after Douglas Fisher resigned his Assembly seat to become state Secretary of Agriculture.

Both newspapers are backing a Democrat, five-term incumbent John Burzichelli, for re-election.

The GCT says that Villare "would be an asset to the Legislature as it copes with coming real-world health care changes in Washington."

"Unabashedly conservative, Villare's views are unlikely to dominate the Assembly, no matter how the statewide results go next Tuesday. But anti-tax, anti-big-spending policies aren't given sufficient voice in Trenton, and their loudest advocates often can't be taken seriously," the editorial said.  "In contrast, Villare's measured comments, for example, against excessive state school aid for urban ‘Abbott' districts could influence this debate going forward"

Burzichelli, the GCT said, has "some difficulty moving good ideas through both houses," and as Mayor of Paulsboro, he is a dual officeholder.  But "at least Burzichelli thinks about this stuff coherently, which is more than can be said for some of his Trenton colleagues" and says he is too competent a lawmaker to remove him" because he holds two elective offices.

"Riley shows genuine interest in solving socio-economic problems that are pronounced in her part of the district, and would provide good constituent service. But Villare is the more dynamic newcomer and deserves a shot," the editorial said.  "The other Republican in the race, Lee Lucas of Gibbstown, has been disowned by his own party's leadership. He wears this as a badge of courage, but GOP leaders are right to reject his extreme survival-of-the-fittest views. Voters should, too."

The Courier-Post is less worried about Burzichelli's ability to move legislation through the Senate, now that his running mate, State Sen. Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford) is poised to become the new Senate President.

BURZICHELLI & RILEY DECRY DECISION TO ALLOW DELAWARE RIVER DREDGING TO PROCEED

Back Corzine’s call to ready for legal action

(3rd LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT) – Assembly Deputy Speaker John Burzichelli and Assemblywoman Celeste Riley on Monday decried the Army Corps of Engineers’ decision to allow a dredging project to the Delaware River to proceed.

Burzichelli and Riley (both D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland) said they were disappointed the decision came before New Jersey has completed its environmental review. They backed Gov. Jon S. Corzine’s decision to direct the Attorney General to prepare legal action to stop the project.

GUSCIORA / CRUZ-PEREZ / MORIARTY / RILEY BILL TARGET SIMULATED GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS

(TRENTON) – Assembly members Reed Gusciora, Nilsa Cruz-Perez, Paul Moriarty and Celeste Riley are sponsoring legislation to make it illegal for businesses to advertise using a simulated government document.

The bill (A-3931) would make using such documents – whether through the mail or the Internet – a violation of the Consumer Fraud Act.

“Marketing companies that use these simulated forms are preying on the vulnerability of the average citizen during a global recession,” said Gusciora (D-Mercer). “This is not just unconscionable, but should be illegal. Many New Jerseyans who thought they were getting help from the government are instead being faced with the harsh reality that they were duped.”

ALBANO, MILAM, RILEY & WAGNER AIM TO HELP ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENTS

(TRENTON) – Assembly members Nelson T. Albano, Matthew W. Milam, Celeste Riley and Connie Wagner are looking to protect assisted living residents from being discharged against their will because they pay with Medicaid.

“It’s appalling – yet also apparently reality - that assisted living facilities would break the trust they have with elderly patients who believed investing what they had left of their life-savings would bring them quality care for years to come,” said Albano (D-Cumberland/Atlantic/Cape May). “We can and must do more to ensure peace of mind for elderly residents who otherwise face the threat of being tossed onto the street destitute.”

The race for Governor is a toss-up and Democrats are favored to retain control of the State Assembly, according to a new PolitickerNJ.com Battleground 2009 analysis of state and county campaigns.  This breakdown will include key municipal races in future weeks.

SWEENEY-BURZICHELLI-RILEY BILL TO ESTABLISH PILOT COUNTY-WIDE TAX ASSESSMENT PROGRAM IN GLOUCESTER SIGNED INTO LAW

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney, Assembly Deputy Speaker John Burzichelli and Assemblywoman Celeste Riley which will create a pilot program in Gloucester County to merge municipal property tax assessors into a countywide office was signed into law yesterday by Governor Corzine.

“New Jersey’s property taxes are too high, and the root of the problem is bloated, inefficient government,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Thorofare. “We can find better ways to provide the same level of services in a more cost-effective manner through shared services and regionalization. In Gloucester County, we’ve already saved millions for county taxpayers through service sharing, and a countywide tax assessment pilot is the next step.”

SWEENEY-RILEY BILL TO GIVE VOTERS CHANCE TO APPROVE OPEN SPACE BONDING SIGNED INTO LAW

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney and Assemblywoman Celeste Riley which will allow voters in November a chance to approve up to $400 million in open space preservation funding was signed into law today by Governor Corzine.

“New Jersey voters have made open space preservation a priority for the last four decades, approving every ballot question put before them, in good economic times and bad,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem. “In New Jersey – the most densely populated state in the nation – every acre of open space is absolutely precious, and we must do everything we can to preserve undeveloped land from suburban sprawl. Through this law, we are once-again asking voters to step up and give us the authority to protect endangered open space for many years to come.”

BURZICHELLI & RILEY BILLS TO PRESERVE FARMLAND, OPEN SPACE & HISTORIC SITES SIGNED INTO LAW

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assemblyman John Burzichelli and Assemblywoman Celeste Riley to preserve farmland, open space and historic sites throughout the 3rd Legislative District has been signed into law.

“This is our heritage, and preserving farmland, open space and historic sites will benefit our families and children for decades to come,” said Burzichelli (D-Gloucester). “Farming, parks, recreation and historic sites and the jobs and tourism they produce are the foundation for a strong economy and a way of life.”

“This money will help preserve pristine land in our counties and municipalities, provide a boost to our local tourism and historic site economies and preserve sites that are so important to our heritage,” said Riley (D-Cumberland). “It’s not only a smart long-term decision, but a decision that will provide immediate benefits, too.”

BURZICHELLI & RILEY BILLS TO PRESERVE FARMLAND, OPEN SPACE & HISTORIC SITES GETS FINAL LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assemblyman John Burzichelli and Assemblywoman Celeste Riley to preserve farmland, open space and historic sites throughout the 3rd Legislative District has received final legislative approval.

“This is our heritage, and preserving farmland, open space and historic sites will benefit our families and children for decades to come,” said Burzichelli (D-Gloucester). “Farming, parks, recreation and historic sites and the jobs and tourism they produce are the foundation for a strong economy and a way of life.”

“This money will help preserve pristine land in our counties and municipalities, provide a boost to our local tourism and historic site economies and preserve sites that are so important to our heritage,” said Riley (D-Cumberland). “It’s not only a smart long-term decision, but a decision that will provide immediate benefits, too.”