John Murphy

Fifteen State Senators who were elected in the 2003 election did not seek re-election in 2007 – a record number of voluntary retirements in a chamber where Senators are more likely to die in office than to walk away. The next Senate election is in 2011 -- in newly-drawn districts that will reflect the next census.

Three Senators on the possible retirement list are Republicans Gerald Cardinale, who will be 77, and Anthony Bucco, who will be 73, and Democrat Loretta Weinberg, who will be 76 in 2011.

The controversy surrounding U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie's selection of John Ashcroft for a lucrative federal monitor position may have roiled Democrats, but it hasn't changed Republicans' feelings about their would-be gubernatorial nominee.

That's not to say that Christie has come out and announced he's running for governor. In fact, he consistently blows off speculation about a potential run, saying that members of the media obsess about it more than he does.

That may be true. But members of the Republican Party obsess about it too, and the revelation about him giving his former boss a hefty paycheck hasn't dampened the establishment's enthusiasm for Christie as their nominee in 2009 - should he choose to run, of course. The election may be two years away, but all signs point to vast Republican support for a Christie candidacy.

The biggest upset of the night was in Morris County, where Freeholder John Inglesino lost his bid for re-election in the Republican primary.  Inglesino, the former Mayor of Rockaway, has been considered one of the young rising stars of Morris County politics, and widely viewed as a likely candidate for higher office in the future. Inglesino has played a leading role in the reform of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, where his law firm (he is partner's with former federal Judge and U.S. Attorney Herbert Stern) had been named as  the federal monitor.  

Former Morris Township Mayor and Republican State Committee Finance Chairman Peter Mancuso will run for Republican State Chairman in June. He made his final decision last night, after a twenty minute private conversation with his opponent, incumbent Tom Wilson, at a fundraiser in Morris County for Freeholder (and possible '09 gubernatorial candidate) John Murphy.

Former Assembly Majority Leader Paul DiGaetano is also mulling a bid for GOP State Chairman.

Morris County Freeholder John Murphy has taken sides in the upcoming GOP primary for State Assembly in the 26th district: he will serve as Campaign Chairman for Kinnelon Council President Larry Casha, who is seeking the seat being vacated by State Senate candidate Joseph Pennacchio. That's a potentially risky move for Murphy, who sought the GOP nomination for Governor in 2005 and is expected to run again in 2009. If Casha loses the '07 primary to Jay Webber, Murphy could find himself with a problem from conservatives who view Webber as one of their rising stars, and with some serious holes in his Morris County Republican base. Of course, Murphy's base could collapse anyway if U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie decides to run against Governor Jon Corzine.

WWW.CASHAFORASSEMBLY.ORG

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Larry Casha 973-263-1114
November 28, 2006

JOHN MURPHY TO SERVE AS CAMPAIGN CHAIR FOR LARRY CASHA

Kinnelon – 26th District Assembly candidate Larry Casha and Morris County Freeholder John Murphy issued the following joint statement announcing Murphy’s appointment as Campaign Chairman for Casha for Assembly:

Larry Casha:
“I am truly honored to have my friend John Murphy serve as Chairman of my campaign for State Assembly. John has served Morris County as a Freeholder for 9 years and has dedicated much of his adult life to making New Jersey a better place.

“Many people across the state met John when he ran for Governor in 2005. He spoke about lowering taxes, fighting for stronger ethics reforms and bringing a conservative vision of opportunity to state government. John and I will continue to talk about these and many other issues during the course of the campaign.

“We are focused on keeping the tenor of this campaign civil and debating the issues, not throwing mud. The voters of the 26th District deserve nothing less.�

John Murphy:
“I’ve known Larry Casha for many years and he has always worked hard for his community whether as an elected official or private citizen. He has worked with the local volunteer fire departments – which holds a special place in my heart – as well as with charitable and business groups and, as Council President, has actually voted to keep taxes and spending in check in Kinnelon Borough.

“Larry will take his experiences as a true public servant to Trenton and fight for us. A common theme I heard during my campaign for Governor is encapsulated in Larry’s campaign slogan: Enough is Enough! Voters across New Jersey and especially in the 26th District have had enough of the out-of-control spending, corruption and general fiscal mismanagement by politicians in Trenton. They want real leadership. Larry Casha is the leader we need.

“I look forward to working with Larry to conduct an issue-based campaign for the sake of our citizens.�
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Contact: Dana Wefer's Campaign For Immediate Release
Phone: (973)663-4233
Email: MorrisCountyVictory@DanaWefer.com

DEMOCRATIC FREEHOLDER CANDIDATE WEFER TAKES FREEHOLDERS TO TASK FOR “LAVISH� SPENDING

Morristown, 14, 2006- Last Wednesday, the Freeholder Board allocated $50,000 from the capital surplus fund to upgrade their conference room furniture. Dana Wefer, Democratic candidate for Freeholder, has condemned the expenditure as lavish and wasteful.

Three days after announcing that he expected to run on the Bergen County Republican Organization line in the June U.S. Senate primary, Thomas Kean, Jr. was a no-show at Guy Talarico's fundraiser for the BCRO candidates he will run with. But Kean wasn't stuck on Route 1: he had his own fundraiser last night and the Talarico event was not on his schedule.

One sign that Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose is preparing to run for higher office -- either her father's State Senate seat in 2007 or for Lieutenant Governor in 2009: she has hired Republican operative Louis Crescitelli as her new Chief of Staff. Crescitelli worked for Congressman Frank LoBiondo and managed the Republican Assembly campaign in the third legislative district in 2005. McHose's mother, former Republican State Chairman Virginia Littell, has openly suggested that her daughter would make a strong running mate for John Murphy, the Morris County Freeholder who is expected to name a second bid for the GOP guberbatorial nomination in 2009.