Henry McNamara

Some very optimistic Bergen County Republicans are thinking ahead to 2010, when two-term County Executive Dennis McNerney is up for re-election.  The GOP believes they could have a shot at the post they held from 1986 to 2003, if New Jersey has a Republican governor.  And some Democrats say that McNerney could be weakened if federal prosecutors convict former Democratic County Chairman Joseph Ferriero after his corruption trial this fall.

The Republicans who receive the most attention as potential County Executive candidates are: County Clerk Kathleen Donovan, Assemblyman David Russo (R-Ridgewood), and former Bogota Mayor Steven Lonegan.  If the Bergen County Democratic Organization pulls their support from McNerney, look for Surrogate Michael Dressler, Sheriff Leo McGuire, and outgoing Englewood Mayor Michael Wildes to be among the top candidates.

Is Kathleen Donovan headed to the bench?In Bergen County, Republicans only have one county-wide elected official: Kathleen Donovan, the County Clerk since 1988.

That could soon change.

Multiple sources from both parties say that Donovan’s name has been suggested to Gov. Corzine for a nomination to a Superior Court judgeship by Democratic state Sen. Paul Sarlo.

Donovan, a former GOP State Chairwoman and one-term Assemblywoman, would not confirm or deny the prospect of her taking a judicial post.

If Dennis Levinson loses his bid for re-election as Atlantic County Executive, that would mean that Democrats would control all five County Executive offices in New Jersey.  Five years ago, Republicans had four County Executives: Atlantic, Bergen, Essex and Mercer. 

Hudson County has always had a Democratic County Executive.

Bergen went Democratic after William "Pat' Schuber retired in 2002 (Democrat Dennis McNerney beat Henry McNamara), Essex moved to the Democratic column the same year when James Treffinger gave up the post to run for the United States Senate (a campaign that endedfollowing an FBI raid of his offices), and Democrats won Mercer following Robert Prunetti's retirement in 2003; Brian Hughes just narrowly defeated Republican Catherine DiCostanzo.

The last time one party held all County Executive posts was in 1979, when Democratic incumbents were unseated in Atlantic and Mercer.

If it wasn’t for the gift of anonymity, it wouldn’t be wise for someone with an easily bruised ego to venture down to the comments section at the bottom of each of this Web site’s stories, where partisan punches tend to fly.

But in between blowing off steam, some frequent commenters have found that, on occasion, they actually have had some informative discussions, and that what they write here can sometimes impact campaigns and news cycle – whether it’s insider gossip or criticism of a reporter’s story.

Some have even developed personas and have gathered their own followings. Take DinoPCrocetti, the anonymous conservative commenter, whose alias is an homage to his idol, Dean Martin. He started his own blog, Dino’s Forum, after this site’s own pseudononymous administrator blocked his posts last summer. Under PoliticsNJ.com's new ownership he’s back.

Bergen County Democrats would like Kathleen Donovan to become a Superior Court Judge within the next year, since that would increase their chances of winning the County Clerk’s post that has eluded them since Donovan first won in 1988.

There has been speculation about Donovan’s judicial ambitions before, and some Republicans say he greatest obstacle has been State Senator Gerald Cardinale, a fellow Republican who has been allied with Donovan rivals over the years. Their feud goes back to 1989, when Donovan supported Jim Courter for Governor against two Bergen candidates, Cardinale and former Attorney General Cary Edwards.

The Republican primary battle in that district echoes last week’s reverence for Ronald Reagan at the Republican Presidential debate, with both of the leading State Senate candidates evoking the Gipper to set them apart from the rest of the state’s Republican Party.

Former Bergen County Freeholder Todd Caliguire and Assemblyman Kevin O’Toole are the main contenders for the Republican nomination for the Senate seat of Henry P. McNamara, who’s retiring after serving as a Senator for 22 years. Caliguire is running with two Assembly candidates: conservative activist John Ginty and Wayne Councilman Joseph Schweighardt. O’Toole, the frontrunner, shares a line with incumbent Assemblyman David Russo and Wayne Mayor Scott Rumana. A third candidate, Wayne attorney Victor K. Rabbat, is in the race as well.

HISTORIC PROPERTY ACT CLEARS COMMITTEE
McNamara Bill Will Help Rehabilitate Historic Structures

Legislation sponsored by Senator Henry McNamara, (R-40), which would help property owners rehabilitate historic structures cleared the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today.

WE’RE ON A ROAD TO NOWHERE
Turnpike Lease Scheme to Impose 75 Years of Toll Increases Finally Revealed

Senator Henry P. McNamara (R-Bergen/Passaic/Essex), who serves on the Senate Transportation Committee, reacted to the unveiling of a plan by Governor Corzine to lease the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway to foreign interests, thereby ensuring 75 years of constant toll increases.

McNamara Remarks on State of the State Message
Corzine’s First Year is Combination of Failure on Property Taxes & Radical Social Policy

Senator Henry P. McNamara (R-Bergen/Passaic/Essex) issued the following statement on today’s “State of the State� message by Governor Jon S. Corzine: