Newark Mayor Cory Booker on Election Day, 2008

Standing in the vanguard of opposing parties makes Gov.-elect Chris Christie and Newark Mayor Cory Booker obvious political adversaries - a relationship made more intriguing by their agreeable history and the crisis demands on both of them to deliver reforms in their respective spheres of power - but whatever the dynamics of their personal and professional relations, allies of both men expect a coming collision between Newark and New Jersey.

Don't count Booker among them.

"I know people want to turn this into a rivalry but when you consider the monumental challenges we are up against right now, he is my greatest ally," Booker said of Christie, the Republican who on Nov. 3rd defeated Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine. "To characterize us as rivals would be like saying Democrats and Republicans were the chief antagonists during World War II. We're in a crisis."

"I would also say - and I use this word because it is accurate - that Chris Christie is my friend. We have been friends for three years and he can assume credit for things we have accomplished here these past three years."

Booker knows the buzz about how he's the Democratic Party's most likely nominee for governor in 2013, to which he gives the only politic response: he's focused on the city's crime problem.

Prodded on politics and Christie, he adds, "I'm focused on next year's mayoral election and on electing the Booker Team (of council candidates)."

For Immediate Release:Contact: Mario Drodz(973)-555-5555

Caputo Makes His Case For Another Term

Higher Taxes and More Politicos on the Take Are the Right Direction for New Jersey

Belleville-Assemblyman, Freeholder and Former Educational Bureaucrat Ralph Caputo made his case for another term in Trenton at his legislative office at the Sunrise Bagel Shop on Joralemon Street in his hometown where the voters unjustly rejected his Board of Education and Council candidates.

For Immediate Release:

Contact: Daniel Beckelman

(201)-446-9889

October 30, 2009

 Bloschak: Corzine Toll Hike Too Scary Even for Halloween!Belleville-Like a ghost howling from a graveyard, despised New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine resurrected his absurd plan to sell off the turnpike and raise tolls 800%. The question is whether “Rubber Stamp” Ralph Caputo has enough independence to smash utterly frightening plan.

For Immediate Release:

Contact: Daniel Beckelman

(201)-446-9889

October 29, 2009

Democratic Voters Should Make History and Vote for Bloschak

Urban Republican More In Line With Real People’s Concerns  Than Failed Political Retread Caputo

Belleville-Urban Republican Assembly candidate Andrew Bloschak, who is considered to be running the most aggressive challenge in an overwhelmingly Democratic district in the entire state, called on Democrats in his district to give him a shot on Tuesday so he can start working to rebuild Greater Newark’s economy and reform education for all children

For Immediate Release:

Contact: Daniel Beckelman

(201)-446-9889

October 22, 2009 

Bloschak: If Corzine Wants to See Who is Closing Hospitals He Should Look In The Mirror

Irvington-Urban Republican Assembly candidate Andrew Bloschak blasted new advertisements by Governor Corzine accusing Chris Christie of throwing women and children out of hospitals when in fact Corzine has numerous hospitals, including three that serve the urban and economically challenged 28th District: Columbus, Saint James and Irvington General.

For Immediate Release:Contact: Dan  Beckelman

(201)-446-9889

October 20, 2009 Bloschak: Caputo Should Get A Dunce Cap for Failing Belleville's ChildrenBelleville-Citing a recent report in the Belleville Times that Belleville schools are not meeting federal standards in certain areas, Urban Republican Assembly candidate Andrew Bloschak blasted lifelong educational bureaucrat and former failed Republican Assemblyman turned Democratic quadruple-dipper Ralph Caputo for endorsing a school funding formula that is hurting the 28th District.

For Immediate Release:

Contact: Daniel Beckelman

(201)-446-9889

October 19, 2009

Bloschak: If I’m so bad Ralph, then how come you offered me a job?

Belleville-Urban Republican Assembly candidate Andrew Bloschak thinks that recent attacks on the Belleville discussion forum from allies of Assemblyman Ralph R. Caputo and Caputo’s dismissal of Bloschak’s candidacy as a “non-factor” on PolitickerNJ.com mask a fear on the part of the incumbent that he will lose his seat to the insurgent Republican. Bloschak says an incident last spring proves his theory:

For Immediate Release:

Contact: Daniel Beckelman

(201)-446-9889

October 15, 2009

Corzine-Caputo Crisis Economy Throws More New Jerseyans Out of Work

Bloschak And Christie Needed Now to Restore Jobs

Newark-Lifelong union member and Urban Republican Assembly candidate Andrew Bloschak said that the skyrocketing unemployment rate reflects the complete lack of attractiveness to do business in New Jersey as long as Jon Corzine and his top-rubber stamp, Ralph Caputo, remain in office. Unemployment in New Jersey rose 0.5 percent to 9.8 percent in September, the worst since the mid-1970’s. This economy is especially hurting the 28th District, where years of Democratic misrule have led to serious economic evisceration.

For Immediate Release: Contact: Daniel Beckelman (201)-446-9889 October 14, 2009 Bloschak: Caputo Needs to Put The Brakes on Corzine Gas Tax Hike Proposal Belleville-Urban Republican Assembly challenger Andrew Bloschak called on Assemblyman Ralph Caputo to stop a proposed gasoline tax hike, which would inflate taxes on the only item New Jersey is cheaper than the rest of nation on

From left: Assemblyman Fred Scalera (D-Nutley), Gov. Jon Corzine, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-Paterson), Nutley Mayor Joanne Cocchiola, Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo, and Assemblyman Ralph Caputo (D-Belleville)

BELLEVILLE - The self-proclaimed party of diversity lined up at the start of the Columbus Day Parade today, and if the presence of a single woman packed into this brace of gray and blue suited would-be alpha males heartened Democratic Party onlookers, the downside was that Nutley Mayor Joanne Cocchiola is, in fact, a Republican.

"We're from every part of Italy you can imagine," cracked U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-Paterson) in an effort to explain the gender domination factor; indeed, they even had an Irishman in there, Essex County Clerk Chris Durkin, who made a point, in the midst of all the pre-march backyard chest-thumping, to compliment Celeste Caputo, wife of Assemblyman Ralph Caputo (D-Belleville), on the food.

Making an appearance here at arguably the area's most important Columbus Day event and forced to share a piece of the street with a Christopher Columbus lookalike in Genovese regalia who, when addressed, only responded in Italian, Gov. Jon Corzine relished a chance to inflate his wobbly image in this blue collar, Italian-Irish-Latino Catholic stronghold where Newark's white ethnics re-entrenched after the 1967 troubles.

Twenty-three days from D-Day, he leaned heavily on the locals.

"He opens up his home the way he opens up his heart," Corzine, affectionately gripping the back of Caputo's neck, told a crowd of local Democratic Party rivals who shelved their differences long enough to occupy the same patio with the governor moments before convening in the street at the head of any number of school marching bands, 1940s and 1950s cars, and party flotillas.