Nelson Albano

ALBANO & MILAM BILLS TO PRESERVE FARMLAND & OPEN SPACE APPROVED

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assemblymen Nelson T. Albano and Matthew W. Milam to help preserve farmland and open space throughout the 1st District has been unanimously approved by the Legislature.

“New Jersey is called the Garden State for a reason,” said Albano, chairman of the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. “Our farmlands and open space provide the foundation for a strong agricultural and tourism economy. These investments were supported by voters and will pay dividends for generations to come.”

ALBANO, MILAM & WAGNER ‘MADE IN THE USA’ FLAG BILL SIGNED INTO LAW

(TRENTON) – With Independence Day's arrival, legislation Assembly members Nelson Albano, Connie Wagner and Matt Milam sponsored to require the state to buy only United States and New Jersey flags manufactured in the United States has been signed into law.

“It makes absolutely no sense to allow even one dime of the public’s money to be spent on an American flag made anywhere but in America,” said Albano (D-Cumberland /Atlantic/Cape May). “It is bad enough that our state and nation’s manufacturing bases have largely evaporated as jobs were shipped elsewhere. Buying the most-recognized symbol of our nation from overseas just adds insult to injury.”

ALBANO, MILAM & WAGNER TOUT ‘MADE IN THE USA’ FLAG BILL

(TRENTON) – With Independence Day weekend’s arrival, Assembly members Nelson Albano, Connie Wagner and Matt Milam today noted legislation they’ve sponsored would require the state to buy only United States and New Jersey flags manufactured in the United States.

“It makes absolutely no sense to allow even one dime of the public’s money to be spent on an American flag made anywhere but in America,” said Albano (D-Cumberland /Atlantic/Cape May). “It is bad enough that our state and nation’s manufacturing bases have largely evaporated as jobs were shipped elsewhere. Buying the most-recognized symbol of our nation from overseas just adds insult to injury.”

MILAM & ALBANO BILL HONORING CAPE MAY VETERANS RECEIVES FINAL LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL

Bill Would Rename Rt. 109 Bridge; Mandates No Public Money Be Used for Name Change

(TRENTON) – Legislation honoring Cape May veterans sponsored by Assemblymen Nelson T. Albano and Matthew W. Milam has received final legislative approval. The bill (A-3788) would designate the Route 109 bridge over the Cape May Canal between Cape May City and Lower Township as the Cape May County Veterans Memorial Bridge.

“New Jersey’s citizens are indebted to the sacrifice and heroism of the brave men and woman who have served their country in the armed forces, many of whom call Cape May County home,” Milam said. “Dedicating this bridge in memory and honor of the men and women of Cape May County who have served will be a constant reminder for all of the sacrifices

It appears that Ocean City Republican Municipal Chairman John McCann will be the new assembly candidate in the 1st Legislative District.

No one else submitted a letter of intent to the district’s three county chairs by today’s 4:30pm deadline.  

McCann replaces Upper Township Committeeman Frank Conrad to run with Mike Donohue, an attorney from Dennis Township, against incumbents Matt Milam (D-Vineland) and Nelson Albano (D-Vineland).

“I look forward to completing the statutory process to confirm John as my running mate.  We have important battles to fight on behalf of the people of South Jersey who yesterday got hit with yet another Corzine budget that raises their taxes and reduces their chances for prosperity,” said Donohue, who endorsed McCann soon after Conrad dropped out. 

ALBANO / BARNES / EVANS / GREENSTEIN / MILAM / SCALERA INTERNET SAFETY BILLS GET FINAL LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assembly members Nelson Albano, Peter Barnes III, Elease Evans, Linda Greenstein, Matt Milam and Fred Scalera sponsored that would give law enforcement enhanced abilities to crackdown on child Internet crimes received final legislative approval today by the Senate.

The bills are part of Attorney General Anne Milgram’s Internet safety initiatives. They were approved by the Assembly in March.

“This would give law enforcement the tools they need to better protect children who use the Internet for education and recreation,” said Greenstein (D-Middlesex/Mercer). “No longer will Web sites be the playgrounds of criminals looking to prey on vulnerable children.”

“On every major initiative put forth by Jon Corzine, Nelson Albano and Matt Milam have walked lock-step,” said Davis.  “Milam’s comments to PolitickerNJ that he and Albano do not have a strong relationship with Governor Corzine are a complete fabrication and a futile exercise in revisionist history.  Their record shows they’ve been so close to Corzine that you might think they’ve been sleeping on the futon in the Governor’s high rise apartment in Hoboken.

Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce (R-Parsippany) is having a tough year playing the candidate recruitment game this year. 

At the start of the campaign season, only four districts were viewed as potentially competitive for the Republicans: District 1, a GOP-leaning district where Democrats hold two Assembly seats and will not have the benefit of coattails from popular State Sen. Jefferson Van Drew (D-Upper); District 3, where four-term Assemblyman Douglas Fisher gave up his seat to become state Secretary of Agriculture; District 14, which has elected Democratic and Republican legislators in each of the last four elections; and District 36, where two Democratic Assemblymen were re-elected by a relatively narrow margin two years ago and where the EnCap/Xanadu issues have taken a toll on local candidates.

But the GOP has not done well recruiting or nominating their strongest candidates.  Their top choice in the 36th district, East Rutherford Councilman Joel Brizzi, changed his mind about running and dropped out between his announcement and filing day.  Some Republicans think there might be more to the story, suggesting that State Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Sanzari) might have helped alter the field.

The top GOP recruits in the 14th, Hamilton Councilwoman Kelly Yaede and former Cranbury Councilman Wayne Wittman, ended their campaigns just days before the GOP nominating conventions.  Republicans wound up with a primary between second choice candidates, and DeCroce had to spend money to nominate two political unknowns.

In District 3, Republicans worked to recruit Arthur Marchand, a top-tier challenger who had served as Cumberland County Surrogate, Freeholder and Prosecutor.  But Marchand and his running mate, East Greenwich Mayor George Shivery, lost the GOP primary by a razor thin margin.

Girding for what is expected to be the toughest legislative contest in the state, the 1st district Democrats are clear on what their early strategy will be: stand together and emphasize their independence, most of all from Gov. Jon Corzine.

State Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-Dennis), a dentist with an independent streak and long electoral coattails, will campaign as if he is on the ballot this year with assembly candidates Nelson Albano (D-Vineland) and Matthew Milam (D-Vineland).  The three plan to emphasize their status as a relatively undifferentiated team, and will almost certainly highlight their differences with the Governor, whose upside down statewide approval ratings are likely even lower here in the state's southernmost tip.

The approach is nothing new.  In the 2007 election, the three loudly opposed Corzine's plan to monetize the state's toll roads.  Since turning the district all-Democrat after that race, the delegation has made an effort to work as a single entity, sharing all three of the district's legislative offices and making joint legislative efforts.  Van Drew noted that he doesn't even have a legislative business card with just his name on it.

First district Republicans have set a deadline of 4:30 PM on Friday for Assembly candidates to file a letter of intent to seek the GOP nomination to take Frank Conrad's place on the ticket.  Conrad has dropped out of the race to challenge incumbents Nelson Albano (D-Vineland) and Matthew Milam (D-Vineland).  Republican County Committee members will vote on a replacement candidate by 4:30 PM on Wednesday, July 1.  So far, only Ocean City GOP Municipal Chairman John McCann has entered the race, and sources say he has commitments for a huge block of votes.