John Amodeo

Election results in three South Jersey districts offer some hope to Republicans as they look to regain control of the State Senate in 2011, even as local powerhouse Stephen Sweeney moves closer to becoming the next Senate President. 

In the Atlantic County-based District 2, freshmen GOP Assemblymen John Amodeo and Vincent Polistina won re-election by more than 10,000 votes, setting up a potentially competitive State Senate race for one of them against Democrat James Whelan in two years.  Whelan ousted short-term incumbent James "Sonny" McCullough in 2007.  Christopher Christie carried Atlantic County by 2,423 votes, 49%-45%; four years ago, Jon Corzine won it by 6,535, 53%-43%.

In District 4, which includes parts of Camden and Gloucester counties, Republican Domenick DiCicco won an open State Assembly seat.  DiCicco immediately becomes the GOP's best hope to unseat Democrat Frederick Madden in the next election.  There has been considerable speculation that Madden won't seek a third term in 2011, and that Assemblyman Paul Moriarty will run for the Senate.  Christie carried the fourth district.

The Press of Atlantic City has endorsed Republican Assemblymen Vincent Polistina (R-Egg Harbor) and John Amodeo (R-Margate) for re-election to second terms.  "It's a tough choice between good candidates," the newspaper said. "Voters could be served well by any of the four candidates running."

“The passage of the Jessica Lunsford Act will send a clear message that the citizens of New Jersey are serious about protecting our children and keeping child predators off the streets,” said District 2 Freeholder Candidate Frank Formica. “Atlantic County Freeholders have a solemn responsibility in ensuring the safety of our communities for our neighbors, family and friends.”

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.

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(OCEAN CITY, September 4) – First Legislative District GOP Assembly nominees Mike Donohue and John McCann – responding to the announcement earlier today by GOP Assemblymen Vince Polistina and John Amodeo of a 10-point program to revitalize the Atlantic City region – pledged their support for efforts to spur job growth efforts not just in the Atlantic City area, but throughout all of South Jersey.

The race for Governor is a toss-up and Democrats are favored to retain control of the State Assembly, according to a new PolitickerNJ.com Battleground 2009 analysis of state and county campaigns.  This breakdown will include key municipal races in future weeks.

Two Republican Assemblymen from Atlantic County said Sharon Harrington should remain with the Motor Vehicle Commission and save taxpayers money because the Casino Control Commission can "operate effectively" with three members.

John Amodeo (R-Linwood) and Vincent Polistina (R-Egg Harbor Township) criticized Gov. Jon Corzine's decision to fill a vacancy on the Casino Control Commission and described the move as "business as usual."  

There is no need to fill this vacancy on the commission nor will there be a need to fill the vacancy which will open up in August," said Amodeo.  "The Casino Control Commission can operate effectively with three members.  And as far as I know, there is no need for Sharon Harrington to leave the Motor Vehicle Commission."

Polistina says that Corzine has missed an opportunity to downsize government.

"It's political patronage appointment pure and simple," said Polistina.  He does not have to make the appointment, but, I guess he could not resist filling a $125,000 a year appointment.  It's just business as usual in Trenton."

Three new staffers have joined Gov. Jon Corzine's re-election team: Dr. Juan Melli, the founder of bluejersey.com and a former Associate Editor at Politicker.com, will be the Director of New Media; former Obama campaign staffer Julie Diaz will be the Director of Volunteer Organizing; and David York, who worked in the Governor's office as Director of Legislative Policy, will be the campaign's Director of Policy.

Gov. Jon Corzine and Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro)

Amid fullblown intrigue elsewhere, Nutley businessman Carmen Pio Costa and Carlstadt School Board member Don Diorio will formally announce their Republican candidacies in Rutherford Thursday evening, and few doubt the battleground, gauntlet-down implications of their challenge to Assemblyman Gary Schaer (D-Passaic) and Assemblyman Fred Scalera (D-Nutley).

But if the 36th Legislative District remains a decided field of contention this cycle (as is the 1st District in New Jersey’s deep south), two other districts – the 2nd and the 14th – early identified by operatives in both parties as potential battlegrounds in their own right,  at least for the moment do not appear to be marquee headline races.

Certainly that opens up the possibility for North Country Democrats and Republicans to expend more resources in the 36th, where Democrats enjoy a 2-1 edge but where the Dems must run with an unpopular leading man in Gov. Jon Corzine. 

Yet it could also open up other regions, other terrain, formerly classified as green zones. Arguably chief among these, particularly given its bordering proximity to the 14th, is the 12th District, where Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon (R-Little Silver) and Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande (R-Colts Neck) seek reelection, and last night double-teamed at a town hall meeting in Manalapan.

State Democratic Party Chair Joe Cryan, left, mingles with Northfield Councilman Jimmy Martinez and the Rev. Reginald Floyd, right.

EGG HARBOR CITY – When the better-known names faded, Atlantic County Democrats turned to two relative newcomers – Northfield Councilman Jimmy Martinez and Northfield attorney and Minister Reginald Floyd - who accepted their party’s nomination tonight at the Vienna Inn on the White Horse Pike.

By all accounts good guys in their party’s eyes, the pair nonetheless emanated “B” team presence after freeholders Alisa Cooper and Charlie Garrett and former Atlantic County Prosecutor Jeff Blitz made the rumor rounds as early favorites these last few weeks to face incumbent GOP Assemblyman John Amodeo and Assemblyman Vince Polistina in a South Jersey war - only to decide against running 

Republicans promptly pounced on the news coming out of Egg Harbor City tonight.