Jerry Green

Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D-Fanwood)

MANVILLE – Running again in the 22nd District, Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D-Fanwood) said one of her prospective Republican challengers blundered badly in his 7th District Congressional primary run last year as he positioned himself to the right of the rest of his party’s candidates.

Pro-life and pro-gun, former Scotch Plains Mayor Martin Marks ran as “your across the board conservative Republican candidate for Congress.” 

“That won’t play well in the district,” said Stender, shortly after receiving the support of the Somerset County Democratic Committee at the Manville VFW Hall on Saturday. “He’s too conservative for the 22nd District, particularly when you consider his views on abortion. It didn't work for him when he ran before (in 2003).”

Marks, who along with his running mate, Scotch Plains resident Bo Vastine, simultaneously received the endorsement of the Middlesex County Republican Party on Saturday, retaliated.  

Former Scotch Plains Mayor Martin Marks will challenge Assemblyman Jerry Green (D-Plainfield) and Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D-Fanwood) as a Republican candidate for the Assembly in District 22, he told PolitickerNJ.com.

“We haven’t made a formal announcement, but there will be a campaign this year,” said Marks, a dentist, who will run on a GOP ticket with Scotch Plains resident Bo Vastine, formerly of Plainfield.

“I have been meeting with quite a few people, and this time out the Republican Party asked me to run,” said Marks, who scrapped with his party in years past over ideological commitment.

A conservative, Marks ran unsuccessfully for the Assembly in 2003 and for Congress last year.

Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D-Fanwood) with her running mate, Assemblyman Jerry Green (D-Plainfield).

EDISON – Short of giving a name for lieutenant governor, Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D-Fanwood) told PolitickerNJ.com she would like to see Gov. Jon Corzine select a woman for the job. 

“Women are 52% of the population in New Jersey and when we voted on the lieutenant governor’s position I did so with the idea that this would create an opportunity for women,” Stender said.

The Middlesex County Democratic Organization (MCDO) tonight nominated Stender and her 22nd District running mate Assemblyman Jerry Green (D-Plainfield) for reelection.

Former Scotch Plains Mayor Martin Marks, left, gets former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie to autograph Marks's copy of "The Soprano State."

ROSELLE PARK – He said last year he would be the perfect candidate to take on Linda Stender, and former Scotch Plains Mayor Martin Marks may still believe that, as he mulls over a challenge of the 22nd District Assemblywoman, who also lost her own Congressional bid and now faces reelection to the Assembly.

“I’d say it’s about a 50% percent chance that I’ll run,” said Marks, who served as mayor of Scotch Plains for eight years and failed twice to move up: once in a State Senate bid in 2003 and again in his 2008 Republican Primary bid for Congress.  

“It’s a tough district,” said Marks, remembering how Nicholas Scutari, buried him in the City of Plainfield.

ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS RENEW CALL FOR HOMEOWNERS FACING FORECLOSURE TO TRY MEDIATION PROGRAMS

(TRENTON) – Assembly members Bonnie Watson Coleman, Jerry Green, Ralph R. Caputo, John J. Burzichelli and Joseph Vas again today urged homeowners facing foreclosure to take advantage of mediation and counseling programs that can help keep families in their homes.

Residents facing foreclosure can visit

http://www.nj.gov/foreclosuremediation/

for more information and call a hotline at 1-888-989-5277.

WATSON COLEMAN/ GREEN/CAPUTO/JASEY/POU/RAMOS/VAS/SMITH ANTI-FORECLOSURE MEASURE NOW LAW

Bill Establishes Direct Lines of Help to Lenders, Borrowers

(TRENTON) – Legislation eight Assembly Democratic lawmakers sponsored to help homeowners facing impending foreclosure was signed into law today by Gov. Jon S. Corzine.

“New Jersey’s deepening mortgage crisis makes it imperative that we provide direct assistance to ensure families can stay in their homes and out of foreclosure,” said a leading sponsor, Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer). “We need to open lines for borrowers and lenders to work together to preserve the dream of homeownership that is quickly becoming a nightmare for too many families.”

ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS URGE HOMEOWNERS FACING FORECLOSURE TO TRY MEDIATION PROGRAMS

Programs Offers Chance to Resolve Loan Delinquencies.

(TRENTON) – Assembly members Bonnie Watson Coleman, Jerry Green, Ralph R. Caputo, John J. Burzichelli and Joseph Vas today urged homeowners facing foreclosure to take advantage of a programs that can help resolve disputes and keep families in their homes.

Plainfield Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs

PLAINFIELD – Get it right in four years or you’re gone. 

That’s the message the voters consistently deliver in the Union County city of Plainfield, and looking at past results, most of their elected leaders get it wrong. 

In 125 years of political wrangling, only one mayor won reelection here. 

That was the late Al McWilliams, a self-professed New Democrat who in 2005 failed to get over a rising crime wave and lost his bid for a third term to machine Democrat Sharon Robinson-Briggs by 325 votes, 2,713 to 2,388.

Now Robinson-Briggs, 49, Plainfield’s first woman to serve as mayor, readies for her reelection campaign next year in what will likely be a hard fought Plainfield contest with once and future councilman Adrian Mapp, a McWilliams ally and now leader of the New Democrats, who’s energized by his successful return to local politics.

In Plainfield and Hillside, sources say two African-American women will be running for reelection to the mayor’s race next year, one with the backing of the Democratic Party and the other in opposition to the machine.    

First, in Hillside, sources say incumbent Mayor Karen McCoy Oliver and Union County Democratic Chair Charlotte DiFilippo will likely not make peace before next year’s May election.   

They’re both dug in on this one.    

DiFilippo lives in Hillside and has served as municipal party chair for 36 years. Oliver would be pursuing her third term in office.

WATSON COLEMAN/GREEN/CAPUTO ANTI-FORECLOSURE
MEASURE CLEARS ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE
Bill Would Establish Direct Lines of Help to Lenders, Borrowers

(TRENTON) - Legislation Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman and Assemblymen Jerry Green and Ralph Caputo sponsored to provide assistance for homeowners facing impending foreclosure was released last night by the Assembly Appropriations Committee.