David Rible

Kim Guadagno must resign her post as Monmouth County Sheriff in January to become New Jersey's first Lt. Governor.  At that point, the Governor will nominate an Acting Sheriff and the State Senate must confirm the appointment.  There should be relatively few complications, since all three State Senators from Monmouth County are Republicans.   Several months ago, there was speculation that Assemblyman David Rible (R-Wall), who was easily re-elected to a second term yesterday, might be interested in the job.

The Courier News is recommending the election of two Republicans seeking to unseat incumbents Linda Stender and Gerald Green in the 22nd district Assembly race.  The endorsement went to former Scotch Plains Mayor Martin Marks and first-time candidate Bo Vastine.

The Press of Atlantic City and the Asbury Park Press have endorsed Republicans Brian Rumpf and DiAnne Gove for State Assembly in District 9.  Rumpf is seeking his third term and Gove won a special election following the arrest and resignation of Daniel Van Pelt and his waiting to be sworn in. 

The Asbury Park Press is backing the re-election of freshman GOP incumbents Mary Pat Angelini and David Rible for State Assembly.

Two Republican legislators are asking the state Ethics Commission to investigate an e-mail written by one of Gov. Jon Corzine's top aides asking cabinet members to come up with creative ways to spin the governor's record on job creation.

Assemblywoman Amy Handlin (R-Middletown) wants to know if Mark Matzen, Corzine's Deputy Chief of Staff, violated state ethics laws by asking cabinet members to "be creative" in justifying the administration's accomplishments.  Handlin wrote the letter with another Monmouth County GOP legislator, David Rible (R-Wall)

"This revelation is disturbing on so many levels," Rible said. "Not only does it question whether the Governor and his staff adhere to the New Jersey's ethics laws, it suggests that the Governor and his staff are more concerned about their ‘message' than the fact that unemployment is approaching ten percent under their watch.

Handlin says that next month's election must be conducted "without a trace of impropriety."

"The public deserves the assurance that can only be provided by an independent ethical arbiter," Handlin wrote.

Assembly Minority Leader Alec DeCroce (R-Parsippany) says that a state Labor Department report that unemployment is now at 9.8% is evidence that Corzine's claim of creating new private sector jobs is bogus.

If Kim Guadagno is elected Lt. Governor, look for Assemblyman David Rible (R-Wall) to seek her job as Monmouth County Sheriff.  As Governor, Christie would appoint an Acting Sheriff, with the advise and consent of the State Senate. 

If he were to name Rible, it would trigger a special election convention to fill his eleventh district Assembly seat - assuming he wins re-election to a second term in November.  That would mean a November 2010 special election to fill the remaining fourteen months of Rible's term.  In the potentially competitive Monmouth County-based district, that would make for an interesting referendum on Christie's first ten months as Governor.

If Christopher Christie picks Kim Guadagno to run for Lt. Governor, and if they win the general election, look for Assemblyman David Rible (R-Wall) to seek her job as Monmouth County Sheriff.  As Governor, Christie would appoint an Acting Sheriff, with the advise and consent of the State Senate.  If he were to name Rible, it would trigger a special election convention to fill his eleventh district Assembly seat - assuming he wins re-election to a second term in November.  That would mean a November 2010 special election to fill the remaining fourteen months of Rible's term.  In the potentially competitive Monmouth County-based district, that would make for an interesting referendum on Christie's first ten months as Governor.

Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini (R-Ocean) and her daughter, Toni, a candidate for council in Matawan.

HANOVER - Assemblyman David Rible (R-Wall) and Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini (R-Ocean) just arrived and they're both ready to keep working for Chris Christie.

There's no official word yet about who won the gubernatorial primary but the crowd is exhilarated by the thought of Christie as governor.

"This goes beyond being happy for my party," said Rible. "I'm happy as a New Jerseyan. I think Chris has the skills to reach across the aisle and appeal to independent voters."

"I heard Chris Christie speak long before I became an elected official and I was inspired," said Angelini. "What he was talking about was how he led his offfice as U.S. Attyorney and it was, 'you guys figure out to do the right thing and go do it.'" He's clearly a man of integrity."

Assemblyman David Rible (R-Wall Twp.) has been elevated to the position of Deputy Conference Leader of the Republican Assembly caucus by Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce (R-Parsippany).  

“David has provided valuable insight and commitment to our caucus,” said DeCroce,.  “His dedication and commitment to serving not only his district, but all New Jersey taxpayers is exemplary.  He has earned the opportunity to assume further responsibilities.

The leadership position used to belong to the late Assemblyman Eric Munoz (R-Summit), who died in March and whose wife, Nancy, was formally sworn into the Assembly yesterday to take over his old seat.  Rible will join the other Deputy Conference Leader, Allison Littell McHose (R-Franklin).

The death of Assemblyman Eric Munoz (R-Summit) nearly two weeks ago creates an opening in the Assembly Republican leadership.  Munoz had served as one of two Deputy Conference Leaders.  It is possible that Assemblyman Scott Rumana (R-Wayne) could move up from Assistant Minority Leader, and it is not likely that retiring Assemblyman John Rooney (R-Northvale), who is also an Assistant Minority Leader, would get a leadership promotion for his last eight months in the Legislature.

Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce (R-Parsippany) is a big Rumana fan -- he threatened to cut off funding for Assembly races in Bergen County this year if the organization didn't back Rumana for a second term -- and could give the freshman lawmaker a small boost in his contested primary by offering him what legislators view as a more important leadership position.

TRENTON – Key Assembly Democrats this week said they would like to expunge at least two of the more controversial elements of Gov. Jon Corzine’s budget proposal: the one-year property tax deduction on income taxes and the request for property tax rebate freezes for non-senior homeowners making over $75,000 and reexamine alternatives.

“I’m not certain the property tax deduction will be in the budget when it’s done,” said Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville). “We have to try to embrace these things as temporary measures, but my own personal suggestion on how we get through this is we may have to borrow money to get the state through its current economic crisis.

“I know it’s near heresy to say that, and in normal times that’s true, but now we ought to at least seriously consider borrowing. Against the pension fund? Sure, at least examine it. There are a variety of vehicles we have.”   

TRENTON – However subdued his variations on this year’s most infamous catch phrase, “tough economic times,” members of both parties are prepared to hear Gov. Jon Corzine’s budget address tomorrow as a starter’s gun blast in the 2009 gubernatorial and legislative races.

Already exhilarated by Republican gubernatorial frontrunner Chris Christie’s argument that Corzine and the Democrats must accept responsibility for the state budget (which swelled from $25 billion to $33 billion in nine years) and not hide within the folds of an international economic crisis, the GOP wants to capitalize on a dismal tide statewide, which last year buried John McCain at the national level in a narrative of poor fiscal management by the Bush administration.

“It’s too late,” confirmed Assembly Minority Whip Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield) of Corzine. “You’ve been the governor. If the economy was doing great you would take credit for it. When it’s not doing well, you’re stuck with the hand you’ve been dealt. If the state ain’t getting better, end of story."

Presumably no longer able to rely on their most beloved if unwitting ally – President George W. Bush – to deepsix the Republican Party, New Jersey Democrats face a humbling nine point deficit in the gubernatorial contest, according to last week’s Fairleigh Dickinson Poll.