Jerry Green

The Courier News has endorsed Republicans Bo Vastine and Marty Marks over incumbent Democrats Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D-Fanwood) and Assemblyman Jerry Green (R-Plainfield) in the 22nd Legislative District race.

"Marks in particular offers a valuable perspective on how the state's policy mistakes translate into additional problems on the local level," the editorial noted of the former Scotch Plains mayor. "His service in the Scotch Plains government includes years of frustration over the effects of Civil Service regulations, arbitration rules and union excesses on local budgets. He would bring to Trenton the proper sense of urgency in correcting systemic flaws that drive up the costs of government in the state."

Union County's four Democratic Assembly members formally backed Sheila Oliver (D-East Orange) for speaker today, including Democratic State Chairman Joseph Cryan (D-Union), who was in the running for the top spot.    

The move solidifies the a North-South Jersey deal connected to the senate leadership contest, where Senate Majority Leader Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford) yesterday announced that he had the votes to topple Senate President Dick Codey (D-Roseland).

Cryan is said to be the leading contender for Majority Leader.

In addition to Cryan, who is also the state Democratic chairman, Assemblywomen Annette Quijano (D-Elizabeth), Linda Stender (D-Fanwood) and Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Gerald Green (D-Plainfield) said, through a statement released by Union County Democratic Chair Charlotte DeFilippo, that they would back Oliver.

GREEN AND STENDER: IS THERE A TAX YOU DON'T LIKE?

Former Scotch Plains Mayor Martin Marks campaigns today in North Plainfield.

NORTH PLAINFIELD - Marty Marks, former mayor of Scotch Plains and an Assembly candidate in the 22nd Legislative District, has seen polling in Union County that puts that much more spring in the stride of he and his running mate, businessman Bo Vastine, candidates who raised more than $25,000 at a well-attended fundraiser Sept. 12th at Marks' home.

The Republican running mates are challenging longtime incumbent Assemblyman Jerry Green (D-Plainfield) and Green's running mate, former two-time Congressional candidate Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D-Fanwood), in a 2-1 Democratic district where Green and Stender will have more money to fight their challengers and who in normal circumstances should be fine - but where an intensely contested gubernatorial race at the top-of-the-ticket heartens the GOP opposition.

"We're satisfied that statewide issues are penetrating in our district," said Marks, going door-to-door on a Monday afternoon, whose fundraising guests included U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance (R-Clinton), state Senate Minority Leader Thomas Kean, Jr. (R-Westfield), Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce (R-Parsippany), Assembly Minority Whip Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield) and Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz (R-Summit).

Marks and Vastine Call on Jerry Green and Linda Stender to Answer for NJ's Highest Unemployment Rate Since They Were Elected to the Assembly

GREEN’S REACTION TO ROBERTS’ ANNOUNCEMENT

Speaker Pro Tempore Calls Roberts ‘An Advocate for Every New Jerseyan’

(TRENTON) – Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Jerry Green (D-Union) issued the following statement after Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts, Jr. (D-Camden) announced today that he would not be seeking re-election:

“Speaker Roberts is one of the most passionate, thoughtful and detail-oriented legislators I have ever worked with.

“He fought to extend the American dream of homeownership to the widest cross-section of New Jersey residents possible. His efforts have given working class families across the state the opportunity to live in the communities where they work.

“Speaker Roberts’ work on housing reform is a legacy that will have a lasting positive impact on our state..."

Chris Christie paid a visit to downtown Plainfield, here in Union County last week, he was accompanied by the District 22 GOP Assembly candidates, Dr. Martin Marks and William "Bo" Vastine. With members of the press following he went door to door visiting some of the shops and chatting with passersby on the street. It would seem that when word got around that there were actual Republicans who had the nerve to set a foot in Plainfield, Democrat Assemblyman Jerry Green appeared on the scene. Green  later shared his version of the events on his blog as did Dr. Marks and Mr. Vastine on their campaign web site and it seems that  Assemblyman Green 's report of what transpired has a different slant from the others including what appeared on the news broadcast by NJN that evening.

GREEN: CHRISTIE LACKS SPECIFIC SOLUTIONS FOR NEW JERSEY

      PLAINFIELD – Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Jerry Green (D-Union) today issued the following statement in response to conservative Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie’s recent visit to Plainfield:

Assemblyman Jerry Green (D-Plainfield)

PLAINFIELD – The Women for Progress in Plainfield event was advertised as a mayoral forum and as such the candidates in the mayor’s race occupied their seats behind their name plates on the dais at the front of the room in the basement of the Plainfield Public Library when Assemblyman Jerry Green (D-Plainfield) appeared.

“At this point, Linda Stender has told me she’s running with me, but meanwhile, I can’t afford to be taken for granted,” he would explain later to PolitickerNJ.com. “The people need to hear what I have to say.”

For the moment, there were some stunned looks exchanged as the veteran legislator went to the front of the room – and sat down beside the mayoral candidates wearing an unruffled expression, as though nothing were amiss, as though ready for the questions coming his way.

Plainfield 3rd Ward Councilman Adrian Mapp

PLAINFIELD – Running as the New Democrat successor of the late Mayor Al McWilliams, 3rd Ward Councilman Adrian Mapp opened his campaign headquarters on Watchung Avenue Saturday and promised to end what he described as “a dictatorial form of government” in Union County’s Queen City, and to fairly represent all four wards.

“I will create an economic development plan that is not developer-driven, and develop an aggressive marketing plan to enhance Plainfield’s image,” said Mapp, standing at a podium in front of an American Flag hung from the ceiling. “With a transit village tax credit, the train station can be our linch pin for  revitalization. I would also like to undertake a study of all brownfield structures and create retail store ratables where possible.”

A large concentration of those old structures stands in the 4th Ward, the city’s longtime poorest residential district and the epicenter of the 1967 Plainfield riots. When she first won election nearly four years ago with the establishment backing of Assemblyman Jerry Green (D-Plainfield) , Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs defeated then-incumbent Mayor Al McWilliams in the 4th, 868 to 698 votes.