Martin Marks

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.

Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D-Fanwood) is under consideration for a seat on the Board of Public Utilities, according to several Democratic sources familiar with her interest in the state post.  The speculation seems to have annoyed her Republican opponent, former Scotch Plains Mayor Martin Marks, who could face a replacement candidate for the second time in six years. There has been talk of Stender's interest in a pension boosting job since she lost a bid for Congress last year by nine percentage points for an open seat she nearly won two years earlier. 

Marks and his running mate, Bo Vastine, have asked Gov. Jon Corzine not to appoint Stender to the BPU.  "By being complicit in this quid pro quo to get a politician in danger of being voted out of office a cushy state job, you would directly contradict the two priorities you set for yourself upon becoming governor," Marks wrote in a letter to the Governor.  We ask you not to abet yet another end run around the electoral process, like those we saw in the 2002 Lautenberg for Torricelli U.S. Senate candidate switch and the 2003 Scutari for Suliga State Senate candidate switch that occurred right here in the 22nd district. If such a switch occurs again -- this time connected to the promise of a lucrative state job for Mrs. Stender -- the citizens of New Jersey and especially here in the 22nd Legislative District will not accept any reason other than New Jersey politics as usual."

Republicans can stop the appointment of Stender, if Senate Minority Leader Thomas Kean, Jr. (R-Westfield) refuses to sign off on her nomination.  Kean has senatorial courtesy over Union County appointments that require Senate confirmation.

Two Republicans seeking to unseat Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D-Fanwood) thought it was an April fool's day joke when they heard she won a seat on the Assembly Appropriations Committee.   This marks the fourth consecutive year Republicans are running a campaign that calls the incumbent "Stender the Spender."  Stender is 1-2 in those races.

Stender lost a close race for Congress in 2006 against incumbent Michael Ferguson, losing by just one percentage point.  She was re-elected to the Assembly in 2007, comfortably but not impressively.  When Ferguson retired in 2008, she was the favorite to win his House seat, but she wound up losing to Republican Leonard Lance (R-Clinton) by seven points.

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. 

Former Scotch Plains Mayor Martin Marks and newcomer Bo Vastine are seeking State Assembly seats in a district that trends Democratic. But they must smell an opportunity because they've hired Jamestown Associates, a GOP political consulting firm, which has made something of a cottage industry out of beating up Linda Stender.  Stender, a four-term Assemblywoman, came close to beating U.S. Rep. Michael Ferguson in 2006 when Jamestown labeled her as “Stender the Spender” and helped Ferguson eke out a one percent victory.  Last year, Jamestown (working for Leonard Lance), beat Stender by nine points, despite being outspent by a 3-1 margin.

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.

It continues to look as though Linda Stender won't seek re-election to a fifth term in the State Assembly.

Democratic sources say that Linda Stender (D-Fanwood) is worn out after three campaigns in three years and has decided not to seek re-election to the State Assembly.   She's waiting for party leaders - some say that means State Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Elizabeth) -- to help her with an exit strategy (aka a job).  Stender ran for Congress in 2006, losing to incumbent Michael Ferguson by just one percentage point, for re-election to the Assembly in 2007, and again for Congress in 2008 - this time losing by nine points.

But Stender's aide, Ed Oatman, strongly denies that Stender won't run.

"It’s absolutely untrue.  I spoke to her three minutes ago. She is definitely running for reelection. We had a fundraiser last week and we have one for next week," Oatman told PolitickerNJ.com.

The leading contender to replace Stender in the Assembly is Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr, the President of the New Jersey Conference of Mayors.  Republican Martin Marks, the former Mayor of Scotch Plains, has said he was considering a challenge to Stender.

Former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan, left, and Franklin Township Mayor Brian D. Levine

ROSELLE PARK – On a night of party revelry, two men here tonight appeared at least initially dejected.

There would be no candidates’ speeches at the Union County Republican Party’s Lincoln Day Dinner/Auction, and former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan accepted the news with admitted disappointment.

“First it was five minute speeches then three minutes and now we’re down to no speeches,” said Lonegan when he was asked if he would be addressing the packed crowd at the annual event.

A second candidate for governor, Franklin Township Mayor Brian D. Levine, arrived with an envelope containing prepared remarks in his jacket pocket, but there was no need, he learned from Lonegan when Levine walked in the door to the small but swanky Solar do Minho banquet hall.

“The candidates are mingling, talking to people,” explained Union County GOP Chairman Phil Morin. “They’re getting their message out. If we do speeches, we’ll be here all night.”