Jack Rafferty

The search for GOP Assembly candidates in the politically competitive fourteenth district continues, with Republicans viewing restaurant owner Rob Calabro as a stand-in candidate until party officials can find a stronger candidate.  The Mercer GOP has been in turmoil since Hamilton Councilwoman Kelly Yaede unexpectedly backed out of the race against Democrats Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro) and Wayne DeAngelo (D-Hamilton).  Other potential candidates, including former Hamilton Mayor/Assemblyman Jack Rafferty, former Mercer County GOP Chair Cathy Tramontana, '08 Sheriff candidate James McSorely, and Councilman Thomas Goodwin all declined.

Former gubernatorial candidate Bob Schroeder could be headed to the State Assembly.

Robert Schroeder, who spent $2.1 million - most of it his own money - in pursuit of the 2005 Republican nomination for Governor, is now the leading candidate for an open State Assembly seat in the Bergen County-based 39th district.  The Washington Township Committeeman won the endorsement today of the incumbent, John Rooney, who is stepping down after 26 years in the Assembly. 

As a gubernatorial candidate, Schroeder won the organization line in Ocean County, and scored a victory at the Northeastern Republican Organization convention in Bergen County.  But he won just 6% of the vote in the GOP primary, finishing fifth in a field of seven candidates.  He did beat former Assembly Majority Leader Paul DiGaetano and former Bergen County Freeholder Todd Caliguire.

Schroeder now faces former River Edge Councilman John Felice (the son of former Assemblyman Nicholas Felice) and Harrington Park Councilman Thomas Bettancourt for the support of the Bergen County Republican Organization.  Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk (R-Montvale) is seeking re-election to an eleventh term, and while she is favored to win the Northeastern Republican Organization (NERO) convention on Saturday, it is possible that two other candidates might do so. The NERO vote will determine the line.

Republican Jim McSorley is a possible candidate for State Assembly in the 14th district this year.

Former State Police Captain Jim McSorley, who ran an aggressive but ultimately unsuccessful campaign for Mercer County Sheriff in 2008, is considering a bid for State Assembly in the fourteenth district.  The Hamilton resident worked as an aide to U.S. Rep. Christopher Smith (R-Hamilton) after leaving the state police.

Republicans in the 14th  Legislative District will have to pull together a slate of challengers without former Mercer County GOP Chair Cathy Tramontana, the niece of former Hamilton Mayor Jack Rafferty. 

“I’m absolutely not running for the Assembly,” Tramontana, the Director of Health and Recreation in Hamilton Township,  told PolitickerNJ.com. 

Hamilton Township Councilman Tom Goodwin and Ewing businessman Adam Bushman have already said they don’t intend to run again against Assemblyman Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro) and Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo (D-Hamilton).

Speculation that State Sen. Bill Baroni could become the next U.S. Attorney if John McCain wins the presidency has created some discussion among Democrats about who they would support in a 2009 special election to fill his seat.  If Baroni were to resign, Republicans would hold a special election convention to elect a new Senator - possibly former Hamilton Mayor Jack Rafferty - who could then (depending on the timing of the appointment) face a Democrat in a November 2009 special election.  One Mercer County Democratic leader said that former Hamilton Mayor Glen Gilmore could emerge as a serious contender, suggesting that his local popularity is on the upswing after narrowly losing last year to Republican John Bencivengo.

The problem for Gilmore, if he decides to pursue a political comeback as a State Senate candidate, is that the local Democratic bench is wide and deep.  Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein passed on a Senate bid 2007 (when Peter Inverso announced his retirement) after several key labor unions quickly endorsed Baroni.  Greenstein, the top vote getter in the '07 Assembly race and with a significant base in Middlesex County, is unlikely to back down from another Senate fight.

There's another statewide campaign in New Jersey next winter: the race to succeed Christopher Christie as the United States Attorney - a post that holds considerable power and visibility, and potentially a launching pad for higher public office.   By tradition, federal prosecutors submit their resignations to coincide with the inauguration of a new President. 

If John McCain wins, possible candidate for U.S. Attorney include McCain state campaign director Rick Mroz, a former Chief Counsel to Gov. Christine Todd Whitman; and State Sen. Bill Baroni, the Chairman of McCain's New Jersey campaign.  Mroz runs former Assemblyman/BPU Commissioner Edward Salmon's consulting firm, and is associated with former Cumberland County GOP Chairman Lawrence Pepper's law firm.  Baroni is a Seton Hall University law professor, and has been on Team McCain since 1999, when he worked on the national campaign staff as McCain's advanceman. 

McCain could also go with one of Christie's deputies, like First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ralph Marra or Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Brown.

Hamilton Mayor John BencivengoStrengthened by what he described as a "shared vision with my people, a cause to be accomplished and a dream come true," John Bencivengo officially became mayor of Hamilton today as he was sworn in by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith in the ballroom of the Nottingham Firehouse in front of a crowd of 350 people.

"I wish that I could have given a more cheerful address today," said Bencivengo in a nod to the town’s $10 million budget deficit. "But even if our fiscal circumstances had been better, even if we had ample surplus, I’d be saying the same things. It should be our goal, no matter the circumstances, to do more with less."

The former Republican Party municipal chairman and fired government worker ran and won on a platform of restoring common sense and accountability to government. Today Bencivengo swore always to remember that working families fund the town, and promised to present the 2009 budget on time in July.

He made the second of these vows in defiance of the record of his predecessor, Glen Gilmore, who sat on the document last year until a judge ruled he had to release it to the Township Council prior to the November election. The release of the 2008 budget, which initially showed a $5 million shortfall, helped propel the Republican Bencivengo to victory over Gilmore by fewer than 500 votes.

One of the races to watch tomorrow is in Hamilton Township, where Democrat Glen Gilmore may be in trouble as he battles Republican John Bencivengo in his bid for a third term.  Gilmore, once viewed as a rising star in state Democratic politics, has refused to release budget and audit information -- leaving some voters to believe that he is looking to hide a tax hike until after Tuesday. 

Former Hamilton Mayor Jack Rafferty made a political comback tonight, winning election as the Republican State Committeeman from Mercer County.  Rafferty, who served as Mayor from 1975 to 1999, served as Co-Chairman of Ronald Reagan's New Jersey campaign in 1980, and as an Assemblyman from 1986 to 1988.  He sought the Republican nomination for Governor in 1981; his loss in that primary was the only defeat of his political career.

John Bencivengo, Hamilton Township Republican Chairman and long time entrepreneur, has announced his intentions to seek the nomination as the Republican candidate for mayor in this year’s mayoral election.

Bencivengo is credited for stabilizing a failing Republican Organization from the effects of losing the mayor’s office in 1999 after twenty four years with a Republican in the municipal building. The last two local elections saw the Hamilton GOP win four council seats with Bencivengo heading up the Republican political organization. Bencivengo lived in Hamilton most of his adult life and was former Executive Director of the Hamilton Partnership, a private/public partnership created to provide a better forum for area business and industry to air their concerns and work more effectively with government and the people.

Bencivengo has been actively involved in Republican politics over the last twenty years. “I’ve always had a strong desire to serve in government. As an economic adviser to Mayor Jack Rafferty during the 90’s, I witnessed first hand what major goals government can attain with solid governmental leadership. I see nothing but a bright future for the Township of Hamilton; Hamilton’s potential is unlimited. I believe I have the ability to provide the much needed leadership for Hamilton to fulfill her great potential. Hamilton should be second to none as a place to live, work and raise a family, concluded Bencivengo.�

Bencivengo says he plans to implement a constructive campaign effort. He has the experience in local government, the energy and the enthusiastic commitment of a dedicated, diverse campaign team that will promote his positions in a positive and beneficial manner.