Gary Schaer

In a tortured political terrain, Republican power players in the 36th  legislative district appear to be slowly coalescing around East Rutherford Councilman/businessman Joel Brizzi and Nutley businessman Carmen Pio Costa as their best chance ticket this year. 

It’s not yet set – in this geographically jagged district encompassing battle weary portions of Bergen, Passaic and Essex counties – nothing is ever really set, and there are candidate screening opportunities, after all; but there remain real factors immediately outside the district threatening party implosion. 

Sensing opportunity after coming close to victory two years ago, the party – and this goes all the way up to the top of the hierarchy - wants to stay focused here in the 36th despite the flailing fortunes of divided Republicans in the neighboring 40th.  

Toward that end, local leaders will sit down tonight at the Franklin Lakes Firehouse and try to re-establish in their sights the deeply fractured Bergen Democrats as their enemies and Assemblyman Gary Schaer (D-Passaic) and Assemblyman Fred Scalera (D-Nutley) as statehouse targets one and two.

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Barack Obama beat John McCain in the 36th legislative district by 10,030 votes, 56%-44%.

New Jersey’s 36th legislative district, which includes politically competitive towns in South Bergen, the heavily Democratic city of Passaic, and Nutley, a swing town in Essex County, is supposed to be a battleground in the 2009 general election.  Assemblymen Gary Schaer (D-Passaic) and Frederick Scalera (D-Nutley) won by the lowest margin of any incumbent Democrats in 2007; Republican Don Diorio, a political newcomer who raised about $1,700, came within 2,424 votes of ousting Schaer.  Some Republicans think they can beat Schaer and Scalera this year, especially since State Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge) is not on the ballot.

But despite some GOP gains at the local level, mostly in response to the EnCap development, the heavily blue collar district still leans Democratic.  In the 36th, Barack Obama beat John McCain 56%-44%, a margin of more than 10,000 votes.  Obama did slightly better than John Kerry’s 5,500 vote (54%-46%) win over George W. Bush in 2004. 

In the 2005 race for Governor, Democrat Jon Corzine won 61% of the vote in District 36, beating Republican Douglas Forrester by more than 10,500 votes.  For Republicans Christopher Christie or Steve Lonegan to win statewide, they’ll need to win the kind of towns that Forrester lost, like Nutley, Rutherford, Lyndhurst and North Arlington.  That could be an argument for either of them to pick five-term Bergen County Clerk Kathleen Donovan for Lt. Governor.  Donovan carried six of the nine South Bergen towns in her 2008 re-election bid.

Nutley Commissioner Joe Scarpelli

In a legislative district where some Republicans sense opportunity, Nutley Commissioner Joseph Scarpelli says he does not intend to run for the Assembly this year in the 36th.

“You can rule it out, I’m not interested,” the Republican commissioner told PolitickerNJ.com. “I’m happy doing what I’m doing.

Scarpelli earned a seat on the commission last year, taking over for his father, former Mayor Peter Scarpelli, who retired from elected office.

Sources say Nutley Mayor Joanne Cocchiola likewise does not intend to pursue a run for the Assembly, while Nutley businessman Carmen Pio Costa remains interested but has not yet formally declared his intentions.

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Gov. Jon Corzine is expected to seek re-election to a second term in 2009.

Look for former U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie to file papers this month as a candidate for the Republican nomination for Governor.   The former federal prosecutor is expected to become the establishment GOP candidate in a primary against former Bogota Mayor Steven Lonegan, the leader of the conservative wing of the New Jersey GOP.   Two other candidates, Assemblyman Richard Merkt and Franklin Township Mayor Brian D. Levine, are also mulling gubernatorial bids.

Incumbent Jon Corzine is expected to seek a second term as Governor, and is likely to run unopposed in the Democratic primary.  Not since Brendan Byrne faced nine rivals, including two Congressmen and a member of his own cabinet, in 1977 has a sitting Governor faced serious opposition for the nomination of his or her own party.  Corizne has struggled to win the approval of voters, but he's a Democrat in a very blue state, and he is expected to spend a huge amount of money to get re-elected.  It will be hard for any Republican to beat him.

If budget issues or e-mails make it impossible for Corzine to continue his race, look for a spirited Democratic primary with Senate President (and former Governor) Richard Codey as the front runner.

New Jerseyans will elect a Lieutenant Governor for the first time in 2009.  The new state law requires the winners of the major party gubernatorial primaries to pick a running mate, much like vice presidential candidates are designated after a presidential nominee is picked.

ASSEMBLY LEGISLATION HONORING ISRAEL SIGNED INTO LAW

Measures Make Permanent New Jersey Israel Commission, Commemorate Israel’s 60th Anniversary

(TRENTON) – Gov. Jon S. Corzine today signed into law Assembly legislation honoring Israel, including plans to make permanent the New Jersey Israel Commission and to commemorate Israel’s 60th anniversary.

The New Jersey-Israel Commission was established in 1988 to honor Israel’s 40th anniversary and promote trade, science and technology, tourism and cultural and economic exchanges.

An executive order extended the commission to 2012, but legislation (A-3162) sponsored by Assembly members Gordon Johnson, Valerie Vainieri Huttle (both D-Bergen), Gary S. Schaer (D-Passaic) and Cary Rodriguez (D-Hudson) makes it permanent.

“Israel has been a steadfast friend and faithful ally of the United States over the past six decades, all the while showing immense bravery in the face of countless terrorist attacks,” said Johnson.

SMALL BUSINESS STIMULATION AND INVESTMENT MEASURE
SIGNED INTO LAW
'Main Street Business Investment Program' to Open Up $50 Million
To Help Small Businesses Survive, Expand

(TRENTON) - Legislation creating a new statewide small business investment program was signed into law today by Governor Jon S. Corzine.

The measure was sponsored by Assembly members Gary Schaer (D-Passaic), Douglas Fisher (D-Cumberland), Grace Spencer (D-Essex), Jack Conners (D-Camden/Burlington), Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer) and Nellie Pou (D-Passaic).

SCHAER/SCALERA MULTIMEDIA PACKAGE ON ASSEMBLY PASSAGE OF BILL TO PREVENT REPEAT OF ENCAP DISASTER

Measure Would Protect Public from Being Financially Liable in Future Public/Private Deals Gone Bad

(TRENTON) - Assemblymen Gary S. Schaer and Fred Scalera today issued a multimedia package on legislation they sponsored to enhance the protections and oversight surrounding public investments in private redevelopment projects.  It was passed today by the General Assembly.

ASSEMBLY PASSES SCHAER/SCALERA BILL
CRAFTED TO PREVENT REPEAT OF ENCAP DISASTER
Measure Would Protect Public from Being Financially Liable
In Future Public/Private Deals Gone Bad

(TRENTON) - Legislation Assemblymen Gary S. Schaer and Fred Scalera sponsored to enhance the protections and oversight surrounding public investments in private redevelopment projects was passed today by the General Assembly.

CRYAN/RAMOS/CRUZ-PEREZ/SCHAER BILL TO PERMANENTLY DESIGNATE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH SIGNED INTO LAW

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assembly members Joseph Cryan, Ruben J. Ramos, Jr., Nilsa Cruz-Perez and Gary S. Schaer sponsored to designate each October as “Hispanic Heritage Month” in New Jersey has been signed into law by Gov. Jon S. Corzine.

“New Jersey’s Hispanic and Hispanic-American communities deserve to be honored,” said Cryan (D-Union).

SCALERA/SCHAER HELP IMMERSE NUTLEY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS

Legislators Hosted Members of the Republican and Democratic Clubs During Latest Voting Session

(TRENTON) - Assemblymen Fred Scalera and Gary S. Schaer (both D-Bergen/Essex/Passaic) today released a multimedia package highlighting their efforts to educate high school students on the legislative process.