Choi is running against the local party organization - but now has the formal backing of Pallone, whose 6th District includes a large chunk of Edison.

As he pursues his reelection campaign without the support of the local Democratic Party, Edison Mayor Jun Choi can at least boast the unbridled backing of 21-year U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-Long Branch), who today enthusiastically endorsed Choi.

“Over the past three years, I’ve seen significant progress in the municipal government of Edison Township,” Pallone said in a statement. “There is a renewed energy, pro-active leadership and great focus on good, efficient and open government ….I can’t say enough positive things about Mayor Choi. I have worked with him on important issues like securing money for the Edison Memorial Tower and the expansion of the parking lot at Edison Train Station. I am convinced Mayor Choi is a leader who gets things accomplished for residents. His common-sense, fiscally responsible and practical approach is exactly what Edison needs.”

When is a Prosecutor not a Prosecutor?

Two hours after Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie outlined a series of proposed ethics reforms, U.S. Reps. Bill Pascrell (D-Paterson) and Frank Pallone (D-Long Branch) emailed a press release announcing their introduction of a bill that seeks to regulate the Justice Department’s use of deferred prosecution agreements (DPAs)– legislation that the Congressmen began pursuing after revelations that Christie gave the firm of his former boss, John Ashcroft, a monitoring contract with $27 to $52 million when he was U.S. Attorney.
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“Deferring a prosecution should never be an excuse for a federal prosecutor to defer justice,” said Pascrell in a statement.  “As federal prosecutors have dramatically increased the use of deferred corporate prosecutions in recent years, it is necessary that Congress have the oversight authority to ensure all legal arrangements are being made above the board.”

The Ashcroft contract, which was for monitoring a medical implant company that Christie had charged with giving doctors kickbacks to use its products in lieu of prosecution, has been wielded as a political weapon by Democrats seeking to take Christie’s corruption-busting image down a peg.  It led Pallone to introduce an earlier version of the legislation last year.  Ashcroft, under threat of subpoena, gave at-times heated testimony about the contract in front of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law.

Calling him an "outstanding choice to serve the Jersey Shore families," U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-Long Branch) today endorsed former Neptune Mayor Mike Beson for the Democratic nomination for Monmouth County Freeholder. 

Beson and Middletown Committeeman Sean Byrnes will face off at a Democratic convention on Saturday for the chance to run for the Freeholder seat currently held by Democrat Barbara McMorrow.  McMorrow is not seeking re-election to a second term, and Democrats must hold her seat to retain control of the Board of Freeholders.

"Throughout almost 20 years that I have known Mike, he has demonstrated constant dedication and commitment to protecting and defending the public interest," said Pallone, the senior Democrat in the New Jersey congressional delegation.  "In recent years, Mike has become a local small business owner who sees first-hand the struggles that hard-working families face in this economic climate.  He will undoubtedly combine his decades of public service with his experience in private sector businesses to be a strong representative for Monmouth County."

Beson was Pallone's district director from 1990 to 2000.  After serving a Mayor of Neptune, he moved to Ocean Township and now serves on the Board of Education.  He is also a prominent Democratic operative, and ran Howard Dean's New Jersey campaign in 2004.  He was the PolitickerNJ.com Politician of the Year in 2003 after Dean locked up the endorsements of most of New Jersey's Democratic establishment.

"It is an honor to have the support of Congressman Pallone not only as a candidate but as a friend for many years.  His leadership and tenacity to represent our state in Washington has served us well in fighting for quality health care, preserving and cleaning up our waterways and open space, and advocating for working families," said Beson.  

"While we are well represented in Congress, it is important that we have strong countywide representatives that will be independent in pushing for our residents and ensuring that our voices are heard," Beson said.  "Every day, I see the frustration felt by residents given the challenges facing our state and nation.  I will work as hard as they do to make the choices necessary to move our County forward."

One day after GOP gubernatorial candidate Christopher Christie said that he would not accept funding from President Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-Long Branch) said that Christie should "stop playing politics and start providing solutions."

"While Governor Corzine and the New Jersey congressional delegation fight to make healthcare more affordable, to create opportunities for school construction, and to make New Jersey a leader on green technology, Chris Christie and the Party of No, continue to obstruct these efforts," Pallone said.  "The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has provided a great opportunity for New Jersey during one of the worst economic situations in our history.

VITALE WELCOMES PALLONE EFFORT TO ENGAGE STAKEHOLDERS IN FIXING NATIONAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

TRENTON – Senator Joseph F. Vitale, D-Middlesex, and Chairman of the New Jersey Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee, issued the following statement today in support of Congressman Frank Pallone’s announcement that he’s engaging New Jersey stakeholders in discussions on how to fix the nation’s broken health care system:

“I applaud Congressman Pallone for his approach to building a better national health care model – one which meets the needs of all Americans, and ensures access to quality care for everyone, regardless of age, race or income level. In New Jersey, the Congressman will be able to tap into a wealth of knowledge about how to do health care right, because we are on the front lines of ensuring adequate health care for all New Jerseyans.

U.S. Rep. Frank Palllone is expected to run for the Senate if Frank Lautenberg retires in 2016.

One more indication that U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone is extraordinarily serious about running for the United States Senate: he has hired veteran Democratic spokesman Richard McGrath as his new Communications Director.  McGrath, who has held the same position for two U.S. Senators, has worked five statewide campaigns and has spent the last seven years at the New Jersey Democratic State Committee.  McGrath isn't moving to Washington to work for a policy wonk Congressman unless another statewide race is on the horizon. 

The twelve-term Congressman from Monmouth County has $3.5 million cash on hand - the largest war chest of any New Jersey federal official.  Pallone is eyeing the seat of Frank Lautenberg, who will be 90-years-old when his current Senate term is up.

Richard McGrath, one of New Jersey's premier spinmeisters, will be moving to Washington this month to become the Communications Director for U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-Long Branch).  

Since 2002, McGrath has been the Communications Director of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee, where he has played a full-time role in Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign, Bob Menendez's 2006 U.S. Senate campaign, and Jon Corzine's 2005 gubernatorial campaign.  He was Communications Director for James E. McGreevey's 1997 and 2001 campaigns for Governor, served as Communications Director for two U.S. Senators, Frank Lautenberg and Robert Torricelli.  McGrath has also worked for the New Jersey Senate Democratic office, the state Treasury Department, and the Democratic Governors Association.

McGrath will replace Andrew Souvall, who has worked for Pallone since 2000.  Souvall has accepted a private sector position in California.

Cash on hand for candidates for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives from New Jersey.