Spagnola won't run for mayor of Paterson

Celebrated last year as "the next mayor of Paterson" at a Chris Christie bash in New Jersey's third largest city, former Police Chief Larry Spagnola today said he would not be running for mayor this year.

"I'm not going to take the shot," Spagnola told PolitickerNJ.com. "It's personal. There are a number of different reasons, but no, not at this time. Basically it has to do with family."

The unsuccessful candidate for mayor in 2006 said he has not yet determined if he would publicly endorse a mayoral candidate in a field that now includes his former conqueror and incumbent Mayor Jose "Joey" Torres, Council President Jeffrey Jones, and Ward 6 Councilman Andre Sayegh.

"Anything's possible, but I'm not going to be committed at this point," he said.

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Welcome to the ward: A primer on some of next year's key municipal contests

Welcome to the ward: A primer on some of next year's key municipal contests
Newark Mayor Cory Booker

PERTH AMBOY - Local level jockeying is already underway in advance of next year's mayoral and muncipal contests. Included below are some of the more intriguing prospects: 

Paterson

Two-term Mayor Jose "Joey" Torres projects an understanding of politics as a pragmatic undertaking, and speaks of the coming campaign with no change of tone, teeth-grinding rancor or demagogic speechifying. For Torres, Council President Jeffrey Jones, Councilman Andre Sayegh and former Police Chief Larrry Spagnola are obstacles.

In the mayor's eyes, the councilmen may prove worthy one day of becoming mayor, but they're too young and inexperienced and lack the business acumen necessary to helm New Jersey's third biggest city.

A former Marine, Jones has a built-in base of African American support. Last week he told PolitickerNJ.com he recognizes his challenge in fighting the perception mostly stirred up by his political antagonists that he is simply the black candidate in the race.

If Torres suffers from headlines that depict him as a heartless pay-to-play machine intent on development to the exclusion of other city problems, Jones's critics say he's good in attack mode but sometimes does not follow up with alternatives.

As for Sayegh, the inspirational Booker-speak and snappy one-liners contribute to a charismatic presence - and citywide political reach the councilman built as head of a coalition of nonprofit organizations - but the Ward 6 wunderkind has reached that stage of his career where, like Jones, voters will be waiting to hear detailed blueprint contrasts to the Torres model.  

The big issues: crime and taxes.

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It was 30 years ago today: Torres says this will be his last mayoral campaign

It was 30 years ago today: Torres says this will be his last mayoral campaign

PATERSON - The old campaign poster from 1980 hangs on an office wall at City Hall amid paraphernalia from political lives past and present and when Mayor Jose "Joey" Torres looks at this cherished relic, his eyes fasten on the slogan beneath the Tony Orlando face with the full head of hair photo.

"It's not the age of the man that counts but the service that he may render."  

For Torres - 22 then and 51 now - the same words apply as he heads into his quest for a third mayoral term next year, intent on renovating Hinchcliffe Stadium (a dilapidated ball park testimonial to the 'Negro Ball League'), and overseeing completion of 1,000 new units of housing, three new schools, and the city's light rail system. 

But in this case, says Paterson's first Puerto Rican mayor, his experience gives him an enormous advantage in rendering service as he watches the young turks jockey on the council in preparation of facing him, and in hopes of dethroning him.

"Obviously the times are a factor on this race, but look at what I've done despite the times," he said. 

If other incumbents tread with jittery steps at the edge of 2010, given the economic downturn, Torres, who learned his business acumen early in his father's bodega, said he's the only one among the bunch here who has the business and political savoir-faire to navigate Paterson into its next era.

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In Paterson, Sayegh gets petitions for mayoral run, Morris obtains same for council

In Paterson, Sayegh gets petitions for mayoral run, Morris obtains same for council
Paterson City Hall

***Updated 

PATERSON - The clerk opened the door this morning to those candidates in next year's municipal elections intent on picking up petitions.

So far, as of 11 a.m., Ward 6 Councilman Andre Sayegh is the only prospective mayoral candidate who has obtained petitions at City Hall.

Sayegh will formally launch his candidacy this evening at St. Anthony's Gym.

At-Large Councilman Ken Morris, Jr., has also picked up petitions in pursuit of another four years as an at-large councilman.

"No promises, just results," said Morris, the former council president, who wants a third term.

In addition to Mayor Jose "Joey" Torres, others expected to gather paperwork to run for the city's top position in 2010 include Council President Jeffrey Jones, former Police Chief Larry Spagnola and Minister Kathy Kuykendall.

Fourth Ward Councilwoman Vera Ames, who pursued the mayor's seat in 2006, told PolitickerNJ.com she won't run.

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Spagnola mulls a rematch with Torres

Forty years a Paterson cop, the last seven of which he spent as chief before the wars with Mayor Jose "Joey" Torres mounted and tolled, Larry Spagnola on the outside of City Hall and taking his daily constitutional walk, admitted he may want another crack at Torres in the political arena.

"I have not made up my mind yet, but I'll definitely pick up petitions before the deadline next Thursday," the former chief who ran against Torres and lost in 2006 told PolitickerNJ.com in a telephone interview. "I have to sit down and think about it. Every reaction is a reaction. I want to be involved and make a change. I've got a lot I want to give back. This has been a good city to me and my family. I was part of it for over 40 years."

Back at the beginning of his career, Spagnola stepped out of his Marine Corp uniform and three months later donned the cap and dress blues of a police officer for a swearing-in ceremony on Valentine's Day, 1968.

"As a police officer and police chief, I've already represented everybody in this great city and I represented everybody equally," Spagnola said. "Everybody got a fair shake. Nobody's going to come forward and say that's not true. Equality is my whole life. That's what I've done for 40 years, and if I run I'll get that out to people who don't know me - but hopefully their parents know me.

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Sources: Sayegh poised to enter Paterson mayor's race next week

Sources: Sayegh poised to enter Paterson mayor's race next week
Sixth Ward Councilman Andre Sayegh

Paterson Sixth Ward Councilman Andre Sayegh has scheduled a "big announcement" next Thursday, Dec. 17th, at St. Anthony's Church.

Sources say he's getting in the 2010 mayor's race.

Right now, there are two men in the May contest: two-term incumbent Mayor Jose "Joey" Torres and Council President Jeffrey Jones.

The 35-year old Sayegh, a Lebanese Catholic born in Paterson, is a former School Board president and a political insider who has worked in the offices of both U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-Paterson) and state Sen. John Girgenti (D-Hawthorne).

"It's time to unite Paterson for a new quality of life," Sayegh recently told PolitickerNJ.com. "Paterson's new day deserves a new way - a new day with Andre."

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Paterson's gubernatorial numbers reflect little difference from 2005

Paterson's gubernatorial numbers reflect little difference from 2005
Councilman Julio Tavarez

Paterson - New Jersey's third largest city and now on the brink of a mayoral election next year - delivered the same voter turnout for Gov. Jon Corzine that he received four years ago in his first bid for governor.

These results are unofficial and don't include provisionals: Corzine received 16,038 votes in the Silk City, to Republican candidate (now Gov.-elect) Chris Christie's 2,040.

Those numbers almost mirror Corzine's 2005 performance against Mercer buisnessman Doug Forrester: 17,000 to 1,600 votes.

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Most Paterson council members agree ground game there for Corzine, but two have their doubts

Most Paterson council members agree ground game there for Corzine, but two have their doubts
Ward 6 Councilman Andre Sayegh, left, with Council President Jeffrey Jones.

PATERSON - Barack Obama first sprang the "cousin Pookie" line in New Jersey back in 2006, when he was campaigning for Sen. Bob Menendez (D-Hoboken) in Paterson.

"He said to me, 'Vera, we know about cousin Pookie, don't we?' and I told him, 'We sure do," recalled the 4th Ward councilwoman, who's served on the governing body for 24 years in this Passaic County anchor city where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans, 25,882 to 2802. 

Now incumbent Gov. Jon Corzine is hoping the campaign efforts of President Barack Obama will amp up his numbers in urban areas like Paterson.

"In a strictly Democratic community like this, many folks will be voting the Democratic line, and they know they have to get out and vote," said Ames. "There is a connection between Corzine and (Mayor Jose "Joey") Torres with the $30 million we get every year from this administration to keep the taxes down. There's a lot of work going on for Corzine. There's very good coordination between the Corzine people and local elected officials. We've been working with them for months. I can't speak for the rest of New Jersey, but I know he's going to take Paterson."

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After face time with Corzine in Paterson, Jones formally backs his reelection

After face time with Corzine in Paterson, Jones formally backs his reelection
Paterson Council President Jeff Jones (over Gov. Jon Corzine's left shoulder), formally endorsed the governor Friday with Councilman Ken Morris, Jr., (far left), Councilwoman Vera Ames (next to Morris), at a Black Leadership event that included Passaic Democratic Chairman John Currie (second from right).

Paterson Council President Jeff Jones didn't like the idea of being buffaloed into an endorsement of incumbent Gov. Jon Corzine, particularly since he was no great fan of the governor's, and since the man prodding him to sign on the dotted line was longtime nemesis Mayor Jose "Joey" Torres.

Jones wants Torres' job, and their 2010 mayoral contest will no doubt intensify on the other side of Nov. 3rd, once the gubernatorial race is decided between Corzine and GOP challenger Chris Christie.

Jones knows he wants Torres gone.

But after mulling over the possibility of signaling that he wants Corzine to receive the ejector button by backing Christie, in part as a juxtaposition to Torres, who nurses a close relationship with the governor, the council president of New Jersey's third biggest city last Friday finally decided to back Corzine's reelection.

"I had to do an assessment," he told PolitickerNJ.com, "and I believe Torres was trying to take from me my Constitutional right to choose by forcing me to declare on his timetable, instead of mine. Well, now I've talked to Christie and some of his people, and I've talked to Gov. Corzine, man to man, Marine to Marine."

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Building up Corzine, Torres targets Jones

Building up Corzine, Torres targets Jones

NEWARK - In building up Gov. Jon Corzine, Paterson Mayor Jose "Joey" Torres simultaneously got in a dig on his challenger in next year's mayoral contest, Council President Jeffrey Jones.

"Out of the nine council members in Paterson, eight of them have endorsed Gov. Jon Corzine," said Torres, who's running for a third term in 2010.

Couched as a public display of affection for Corzine, the shout-out to eight council members supporting the incumbent governor left the audience wondering about the one who is not, and that happens to be none other than Torres nemesis Jones.

The first Latino elected mayor of Paterson, Torres, a former supporter of U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-New York) for president, reverted to 2008 Democratic Primary mode in pitching Corzine over former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie.

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Wake-Up Call

Morning News Digest: March 19, 2010

Christie vetoes 5 service contracts approved by Turnpike Authority  Governor Christie on Thursday vetoed five professional services contracts that were approved by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority a month ago. The governor’s office said Christie exercised his eighth veto because the contract fees ranged from...

Wally Edge

Democratic State Chairman John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville) put out a statement today accusing GOP congressional candidate Jon Runyan of “hiding from the press while trying to privately impress party bosses, and taking advantage of thousands of dollars...
The passing of Warren Wilentz means that David Norcross becomes the earliest nominated U.S. Senate candidate currently living.  Wilentz was the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in 1966 against Clifford Case, and Norcross was the Republican U....
The national political environment favored the GOP in 1966.  It was the mid-term election of Democratic President Lyndon B. Johnson, and the war in Vietnam had just begun to divide the nation.   In New Jersey, Republican Clifford Case was...
Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo issued a press release today urging the State Assembly to pass pension and health insurance reform bills, but did not mention in his 574-word that the person blocking the legislation, Assembly Speaker Sheila...
Two Republicans will formally announce campaigns for Congress this evening against Democratic incumbents: John Runyan, a retired NFL star who played for the Philadelphia Eagles, is challenging freshman U.S. Rep. John Adler (D-Cherry Hill), and Diane...

Contributors

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 »
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 »
On Tuesday, Governor Christie outlined a strategy to rescue New Jersey from the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Like other states, we were not immune... more »
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 »
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 »
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 »
Do I love Governor Chris Christie’s budget proposal?  Of course not.  Who would?  I’m sure he doesn’t like it, but that’s not the point, is it?  How could you... more »
The budget speech given on Tuesday by Governor Christie clearly illustrates his priorities – including disproportionately shifting the tax burden away from businesses and the wealthy, and... more »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
Wanted:  Courage to Pass Healthcare Reform In 1935, they spoke out against Social Security.  In 1965, they spoke out against Medicare.  And now in 2010, they are taking a politics-first... more »
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 »
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 »
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 »
3.20.10     Putz of the Week and Mensch of The Week It is not too often that I have designated a Democrat as the Putz of the Week and a Republican... more »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »