Dan Benson

The Democratic slate in the politically competitive 14th district will be Seema Singh for State Senate, and Linda Greenstein and Wayne D'Angelo for State Assembly

HAMILTON - Wayne D'Angelo bested Dan Benson in a Saturday morning Democratic Party match-up of prospective district 14 Assembly candidates in Hamilton Township.

With the victory, D'Angelo, an IBEW union leader and former Hamilton Township Council President, joins a Democratic Party district 14 Legislative ticket that includes attorney Seema Singh for State Senate, and veteran Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein.

"It's an honor and a privilege to stand before you," D'Angelo told party committee members after Mercer County Democratic Party Chairman Richard McClellan announced that D'Angelo had beaten Benson.

"Let's get campaigning," said D'Angelo.

Wayne D'Angelo defeated Dan Benson by a 41-37 vote to become the Democratic candidate for State Assembly in the 14th district.  D'Angelo, a labor leader and ex-Hamilton Councilman, will seek the open seat of Republican Bill Baroni, who is running for State Senator.

Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein has made several phone calls to Democratic County Committee members in Mercer County today seeking support for labor leader Wayne D'Angelo for State Assembly, according to multiple sources with strong knowledge of the legislative race. D'Angelo and '05 candidate Dan Benson -- both former Hamilton Township Councilmen -- will face off on Saturday to be Greenstein's running mate for the open 14th district seat.

The convention contest tomorrow to pick a second Assembly candidate in the fourteenth district sets up a semi-epic battle between two separate but important wings of New Jersey's Democratic Party: organized labor and progressives. Competing for Hamilton Township's slot on the legislative slate are Wayne D'Angelo, an IBEW union leader and Mercer County Central Labor Council member, and Dan Benson, an academic (he works for the Center for Energy, Economic & Environmental Policy at Rutgers) and an activist in the Howard Dean-inspired Democracy for America group.

D'Angelo is viewed as a centrist Democrat who comes out of the blue collar wing of organized labor, although in Mercer County he enjoys exceptionally close ties with public employee unions. Benson is a policy wonk whose network is aligned with the liberal (progressive) wing of the party.

Democratic sources say the race for an open Assembly seat in the 14th district has narrowed to former Hamilton Council President Daniel Benson and former Hamilton Councilman Wayne D'Angelo, who will compete in an open convention this weekend for the chance to run for Republican Bill Baroni's Assembly seat.  Hamilton Mayor Glen Gilmore sought to clear the field for D'Angelo, Democrats say, but was rebuffed by Benson, the Democratic Municipal Chairman. 

BENSON UNVEILS PLAN FOR SAFER COMMUNITIES
Democrat Emphasizes "One and Done" Philosophy,
Zero Tolerance for Convicted Felons

At the request of a reader, PoliticsNJ.com will sponsor our First Annual Songwriting Contest. E-mail us your lyrics and an audio link to your background music. If we like it, and if it's clean, maybe we'll post it in this section of the Inside Edge.

Click on the lyrics to hear the music:

DAN BENSON RAN AWAY

Dan Benson ran away, Dan Benson ran away
Hi-ho,The derry-o, Dan Benson ran away

The presser became a debate, the presser became a debate
Hi-ho,The derry-o, Benson's presser became a debate

Baroni took control, Baroni took control
Hi-ho,The derry-o, Baroni took control

The handler gave the cut sign, the handler have the cut sign
Hi-ho,The derry-o, the handler gave the cut sign

Dan Benson left the room, Dan Benson left the room
Hi-ho,The derry-o, Dan Benson left the room

Dan Benson ran away, Dan Benson ran away
Hi-ho, The derry-o, Dan Benson ran away

O DANNY BOY

Oh Danny boy, your aides, your aides are calling
From the State House, on the Assembly Democrat side
The presser's done, and the debate you are a-losing,
Baroni won, and you must run and hide.
But come ye back when Baroni's gone from press row
When the race is done, and he's no longer your foe
But for now you must hide in the shadows
Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, it's time to go.

AINT NO TIME FOR A CONOVER

Kirk Conover forgot to pay his property taxes!
He missed the deadline, now says he's sorry for his lapses?
Seven Hundred and Ninety days late
There's no excuse, even by Bush standards, that's 3rd rate

Kirk, ki-Kirk, kirk, kirk-Kirk, kirk, Kirk!

Kirk increased taxes, spending, and debt
And now, he can't seem to handle his own rep?

How does he plan to manage our money in Trenton?
When he can't even handle his own Spendin!

We see Kirk hanging with the Gormley Crew
Making trouble like Gormley Do

Always involved in the pay to play game
But pointing fingers at others to blame

You're the problem,
But I got the solution
We'll elect two Assemblymen
Whose records are Proven.

Too bad Conover
Cuz Come November,
Your term is OVER!

I FOUGHT BARONI AND BARONI WON

Spinning reporters was like shooting blanks with a gun
I fought Baroni and Baroni won
I fought Baroni and Baroni won
I needed traction 'cause I had none
I fought Baroni and Baroni won
I fought Baroni and Baroni won

I can't spin and it feels so bad
Guess my race is run
This is the worst presser I ever had
I fought Baroni and Baroni won
I fought Baroni and Baroni won

Getting pulled from the presser sure isn't any fun
I fought Baroni and Baroni won
I fought Baroni and Baroni won
I got yanked from the presser and I lost my fun
I fought Baroni and Baroni won
I fought Baroni and Baroni won

Assembly Dem staff is gonna be so mad
Guess my race is run
I may be the worst candidate they've ever had
I fought Baroni and Baroni won
I fought Baroni and Baroni won

I fought Baroni and Baroni won
I fought Baroni and Baroni won
I fought Baroni and Baroni won

GREENSTEIN, BENSON WIN BACKING FROM STATE'S LEADING GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY GROUP
New Jersey Citizen Action says Dems Have Shown Commitment
To Social Security, Health Care, Clean Elections, and Consumers

When Democratic Assembly candidate Dan Benson entered the State House today, he thought he was there to hold a press conference criticizing GOP incumbent Bill Baroni on property taxes. But the event turned into a surprise debate when Baroni showed up to answer the attack. Baroni questioned Benson in his own property tax record as a Hamilton Township Councilman. One Assembly Democratic staffer was heard in the hallways saying "we've got to get him (Benson) out of here." Soon after, a seemingly flustered Benson (that description came from a Democrat in the room) left his own press conference, leaving Baroni alone standing alone at the podium -- the apparent winner of the impromptu debate.

BARONI CONTINUES TO BE THE 'NOWHERE MAN' ON PROPERTY TAXES