If there was one bright spot for New Jersey Democrats last night, it was in District 1.

In this southernmost district in the state, incumbents Nelson Albano (D-Vineland) and Matt Milam (D-Vineland) held on against Republicans Michael Donohue and John McCann by a relatively comfortable margin.

The two were thought to be the most vulnerable Democratic incumbents this year, since they represent a traditionally Republican district that is dominated by Cape May County - where Christopher Christie did especially well.  Perhaps considered most damning for their chances was the absence of state Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-Dennis), whose coattails helped get Albano elected in 2005 and Milam in 2007, from the ballot. 

But Van Drew was anything but absent from the campaign.  He played a crucial role in it, folding his two running mates into his independent brand and campaigning as if he were on the ballot himself. 

"Do I feel like I was on the ballot in a way?  Yes, because I have a commitment to them and the people in this district that we'll stand up and continue to do what is right regardless of party politics," he said, adding that the candidates still had to win on their own merits "regardless of how much help they had."

In the district Republicans believe they have the best chance of turning over this year, the two GOP Assembly candidates have raised about half of what the two Democratic incumbents have.  

In District 1, Assemblymen Matt Milam (D-Vineland) and Nelson Albano (D-Vineland) have raised $555,723* and spent $521,122.  Republican Michael Donohue – who narrowly lost to the two Democrats in 2007 -- and running mate John McCann have raised $199,206 in their joint account and spent $150,558.  Donohue and McCann each have individual campaign accounts with a little bit of additional money in them -- $9,500 additional on hand for Donohue and $1,400 more on hand for McCann.  

Milam and Albano have $34,601 on hand (they finished up an uncontested primary with $83,040 on hand), while Donohue and McCann have $48,647 left over.

Fundraising numbers for the two Assembly leadership committees, which are expected to play heavily in District 1, have not yet been released. 

Two '09 State Assembly races are pivotal for Republicans as they seek to win back control of the State Senate in 2011.  The GOP needs to oust Democratic Assemblymen Nelson Albano and Matthew Milam in the first district, with the hope that one of the newly-elected Republican legislators, perhaps Michael Donohue or John McCann, will challenge freshman Democratic State Sen. Jefferson Van Drew.  Van Drew, who runs well in GOP-dominated Cape May County, unseated Republican State Sen. Nicholas Asselta in 2007.

Republicans still see Freeholder Leonard Desiderio, the Mayor of Sea Isle, as a strong contender for the Senate.  Desiderio declined to run for the Assembly this year.  Another possible candidate is U.S. Marshal James Plousis, who is a former Cape May County Sheriff.  Plousis is currently on holdover status while U.S. Senators Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg consider possible candidates.

The other seat the GOP wants back is in the second district, where Democrat James Whelan unseated incumbent James "Sonny" McCullough in 2007.  McCullough had won a special election convention earlier that year when Bill Gormley retired after 25 years in the Senate.  Republicans need to make sure their two freshmen Assemblymen, Vincent Polistina and John Amodeo, win re-election (they are favored), so that one of them is positioned to take on Whelan in two years.

State Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-Dennis) is not concerned with former Republican Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum’s visit to Cape May County tonight.

“I don’t think those things matter too much, other than raising a bit of money,” he said.

Santorum, a two-term social conservative who lost his seat amid an anti-Republican wave in 2006, will hold a public appearance with Republican Assembly candidates Mike Donohue and John McCann in Cape May Court House, along with some fundraising events.

Van Drew is not on the ballot this year, but his district’s two assemblymen, Matt Milam (D-Vineland) and Nelson Albano (D-Vineland), are considered the state’s two most vulnerable Democratic legislators come November.  As such, Van Drew, who helped his running mates in 2007 with his electoral coattails, is running as if he is up for reelection himself.   

Former Pennsylvania U.S. Senator Rick Santorum is heading to Cape May County on Tuesday to stump for Republican Assembly candidates Michael Donohue and John McCann.

The candidates struck a socially conservative tone in announcing Santorum’s visit.

“For sixteen years, Rick Santorum was a champion of the conservative cause in the Congress,” said Donohue in a statement. “Whether the issue was defending traditional marriage, or fighting for tax cuts for middle class families, or working to protect America against the threat of radical Islamic terrorism, Rick Santorum was always on the front lines. We’re thrilled that he’s able to join us next week to help us reach out to more voters in South Jersey.”

A public rally is scheduled for Tuesday at 5:00pm at Cape May County Park in Cape May Court House, as well as several fundraising events. 

SWEENEY-VAN DREW BILL TO REQUIRE LAW ENFORCEMENT TO INFORM SCHOOL PRINCIPALS OF STUDENTS’ CRIMES RECEIVES FINAL LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney and Senator Jeff Van Drew which would require law enforcement or prosecuting agencies to provide written notice to high school principals of the identity of any student who is 18 years old or older and has been charged with certain serious criminal offenses was approved by the Assembly today by a vote of 79-0, receiving final legislative approval.

“School officials have a responsibility to maintain a safe and productive learning environment for their students,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem. “They need to know when students in their midst have committed violent crimes, in order to protect the rest of the student population. This bill would ensure that principals have the information they need to take whatever precautions are necessary to protect our kids on school grounds.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Fred H. Madden and Jeff Van Drew, which would expand New Jersey’s Homestead Property Tax Reimbursement program to help more seniors and disabled residents was unanimously approved today by the full Senate.

            “As the economy continues to change, quite a few of our older and disabled residents find themselves having to move to more affordable homes,” said Senator Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester, who first sponsored this legislation in 2004.  

“The impetus for this bill came from one of my Gloucester County constituents who was in this predicament.  This bill would help to permit residents who would normally qualify for the homestead reimbursement program, but decide to move – out of necessity or otherwise, to receive these benefits.”

Girding for what is expected to be the toughest legislative contest in the state, the 1st district Democrats are clear on what their early strategy will be: stand together and emphasize their independence, most of all from Gov. Jon Corzine.

State Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-Dennis), a dentist with an independent streak and long electoral coattails, will campaign as if he is on the ballot this year with assembly candidates Nelson Albano (D-Vineland) and Matthew Milam (D-Vineland).  The three plan to emphasize their status as a relatively undifferentiated team, and will almost certainly highlight their differences with the Governor, whose upside down statewide approval ratings are likely even lower here in the state's southernmost tip.

The approach is nothing new.  In the 2007 election, the three loudly opposed Corzine's plan to monetize the state's toll roads.  Since turning the district all-Democrat after that race, the delegation has made an effort to work as a single entity, sharing all three of the district's legislative offices and making joint legislative efforts.  Van Drew noted that he doesn't even have a legislative business card with just his name on it.

VAN DREW-CONNORS HEAD BIPARTISAN EFFORT TO AID VETERANS IN NEED IN SOUTH JERSEY

Senators Joined by Assemblymen Rumpf, Van Pelt, Albano, Milam, and Amodeo

TRENTON – Expressing the belief that we have to do better on behalf of the military veterans that have served our country, Senators Jeff Van Drew and Christopher Connors today announced bipartisan efforts to push for a South Jersey health care facility to meet the unique health care needs of the region’s military veterans.

“This gathering of state and federal legislators to discuss this important issue along with representatives from AtlantiCare and Kessler is the first real progress on this issue in over 4 years,” said Robert E. McNulty Sr., an Atlantic County veterans advocate and junior vice commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3361. “That it is being done in a bipartisan fashion shows our legislators are concerned with the veteran community.”

VAN DREW BILL TO INCREASE PENALTIES FOR MEDICAL WASTE AND WATER AND OCEAN POLLUTION ADVANCES IN BUDGET COMMITTEE

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Jeff Van Drew which would increase civil penalties for medical waste and water and ocean pollution was approved by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today by a vote of 14-0, with one abstention.

“New Jersey’s pristine beaches are more than just a beautiful natural resource and source of State pride,” said Senator Van Drew, D-Cape May, Cumberland and Atlantic and Vice Chairman of the Senate Environment Committee. “For communities along the Jersey Shore, beaches are the lifeblood of the economy, and generate hundreds of millions of dollars in tourism revenue for the State. We need to take a hard-line approach in dealing with those inconsiderate few who would spoil our beaches through illegal ocean dumping.”