Working both sides of the Hudson River

By Wally Edge | March 8th, 2006 - 4:21pm

Kevin Collins is a busy man these days. The Republican strategist, named to the PoliticsNJ.com Best Operatives List in 2001, 2002 and 2003, is the Campaign Manager for John Spencer, the former Mayor of Yonkers who is running against U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. He is also the Political Director of the Bergen County Republican Organization, where the Wood-Ridge resident has emerged as a key supporter in Guy Talarico's bid for re-election as GOP County Chairman. Collins, who managed Paul DiGaetano's campaigns for State Assembly and Governor and Howard Mills' bid for the U.S. Senate against Chuck Schumer in 2004, signed up with Spencer back when the New York GOP establishment was backing Westchester County District Attorney Jeannine Pirro for the Senate nomination. (Pirro's campaign manager was another Republican on the best operatives list, Brian Donahue.) With Pirro and attorney Edward Cox (Richard Nixon's son-in-law) out of the race, Spencer is now viewed as the front runner for the Senate nod against a new candidate, K.T. MacFarland, an obscure former Reagan Defense Department official. Collins has been out front in the Bergen GOP fight, bashing the Republican credentials of Talarico's challenger, lobbyist Alan Marcus. Collins is not necessarily a huge Talarico fan -- he gave serious consideration to running against him -- but he seems to be strong opponent of Marcus.

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Wake-Up Call

Morning News Digest: March 17, 2010

Christie budget calls for 'shared sacrifice'  Gov. Chris Christie today unveiled a $28.3 billion state budget plan that includes deep cuts in spending on property tax rebates and aid to municipalities, schools and colleges, as well as the layoffs of thousands of state workers. ...

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Contributors

Chris
Christie
This is going to be a budget that is going to be unlike any other you’ve probably seen in NJ in at least the last 20 years and maybe... more »
Robert
Torricelli
Everybody needs to start a new job with a list of priorities and Chris Christie is no exception. There might be a thousand things that need to get done... more »
Raymond
Lesniak
It's impossible to support consolidation of government services and also support COAH.S1 paints with a broad brush and thus will miss some fine points.  COAH paints with... more »
Jeff
Michaels
Governor Christie seems to have played the rotten fiscal cards he inherited fairly well. As reported by the Star-Ledger, he is proposing to cut school aid by more... more »
Joseph
Vitale
As part of his solution to New Jersey’s current budget deficit, Gov. Chris Christie announced that, effective yesterday, he will not allow any additional parents to enroll in FamilyCare,... more »
Steve
Adubato, Jr.
Let me get this straight.  The state has a “cap” or limit on how much municipalities can increase their annual budget every year—four percent.  The goal is to keep... more »
Alan
Steinberg
On Rebate Issue, Christie Will Win.  The leading New Jersey Sunday newspapers yesterday confirmed that Governor Chris Christie will propose in his FY2011 budget the... more »
Carla
Katz
You’ve got to hand it to Christie; he calls it as he sees it.  I don’t mean the newly crowned Governor, Chris Christie, but his nine-year-old son, Patrick.  ... more »
Joseph
N. DiVincenzo, Jr.
Anyone involved in governing and administrating a town or county in New Jersey understands the economic problems outlined in The Star-Ledger editorials of February 28 and March 1.  The... more »
Gina
Genovese
It is widely anticipated that Gov. Chris Christie’s first budget message, to be delivered on March 16, will show the harsh reality of New Jersey’s bleak financial outlook. No... more »
Donald
Norcross
In keeping with the commitment I made to you in the November election, I am looking at every possible way to cut wasteful government spending and relieve your tax... more »
Michael
W. Kempner
Republican Playbook:  Fear, Scorn & Partisanship -- Instill fear.  Sow uncertainty.   Create doubt.  Demonize.   These tactics may be the unfortunate norm for campaigning, but they are bad – if not... more »
Michael
Patrick Carroll
Our new Governor suffers from no lack of advice.  Much of it, contained in the transition reports, deserves prompt attention.  Obviously, economic prosperity benefits everyone, and – as... more »
Richard
J. LaRossa
I have to genuinely wonder if this legislature will go down as the most taxing legislature in the history of the state of New Jersey surpassing the legislative actions... more »
Dr.
Joseph R. Marbach
Now that  the dust has finally settled after the grueling campaign for governor, there are a number of lessons that we can draw from this election. First and... more »
Joey
Novick
March 17th, 2010   The Day New Jersey Stood Still It was like the plot from the 1950s science fiction movie: An alien (first Republican elected state-wide in very... more »
Murray
Sabrin
Limited government principles and fiscal conservatism are philosophically sound, because they preserve the people’s natural rights and they prevent government from overspending, over borrowing and overtaxing.   For more than... more »
Anthony
M. Bucco
New Jersey is in severe financial crisis because for years elected officials have been able to make irresponsible and short-sighted decisions without any restraint.  Future governors may... more »
Julio
Tavarez
On January 6, 2010, several newspapers published articles with titles like “no more aid for struggling cities”, “Christie will cut state aid” and the like; furthermore, in the body... more »
Rafael
Román Martel
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, you target teachers. That’s not a positive note to start your tenure. You forget that the Teachers’ Union makes decisions on its own, such... more »
Brian
Valentino
On the day of his inauguration, Governor Christopher Christie inherited a gaping $2 billion hole in the state’s budget and swiftly set about the people’s business in meeting our... more »