Richard Merkt

Former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan

NORTH PLAINFIELD – Steve Lonegan struck at the Chris Christie campaign  Tuesday night as he called for the Republican frontrunner to get real regarding a chunk of campaign cash. 

Citing a forthcoming story in the Observer-Tribune weekly newspaper that serves Christie’s hometown of Mendham, gubernatorial candidate Lonegan criticized his primary opponent for accepting $20,400 in campaign contributions from partners in the Roseland law firm of Stern and Kilcullen and their spouses.

During his tenure as U.S. Attorney in 2005, Christie signed off on a deferred prosecution agreement, enabling Stern and Kilcullen to oversee the financial resucitation of a scandal-plagued University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), a job that has reportedly added up to at least $8 million. 

Tom Wilson's best chance at keeping his job may be for Brian Levine to win the Republican nomination for Governor.  Sources close to the two leading candidates, Christopher Christie and Steven Lonegan, say that Wilson is a goner with no hope of holding on as GOP State Chairman after the June primary.  Another candidate, Richard Merkt, called for Wilson's ouster last year.  By tradition, the winner of the gubernatorial primary gets to pick the new state party chairman.

Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce (R-Parsippany)

UPDATED 

TRENTON – It looked like bedlam, but closer inspection revealed a perfect fault line.

The governor’s speech ended and that great mass of lawmakers spilled into the aisles and into the well of the chamber amid a crowd of reporters who heard them to a man or to a woman either applaud (if they were Democrats) or denounce (if they were Republicans) the 2010 budget speech.

“I think he did an admirable job,” said Assemblyman Albert Coutinho (D-Newark). “We’re still going to be lower than the highest tax rate in New York. Only those that are making over $500,000 a year are getting a tax increase.”

“A three-quarters of one percent tax increase,” put in Assemblyman Thomas Giblin (D-Montclair).

“We’re trying to spread the pain as much as possible in the midst of a global recession,” said Continuo. “But we are dedicated to preserving programs for the underserved.” 

Chris Christie

GOP gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie blew away the rest of the field here today at the Northeastern Republican Organization (NERO) convention, earning 91.7% of the vote of District 39 committee members. 

“Let’s not take our foot off the gas pedal,” Christie told a crowd gathered outside the Hillsdale Municipal Building. “Tomorrow, Mary Pat and I are celebrating our 23rd wedding anniversary, and you all gave us our gift today.” 

Christie won 212 votes, trailed by former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan’s tally of 18, and Assemblyman Richard Merkt’s mark of 1. Franklin Township Mayor Brian Levine received zero votes.

State Sen. Joe Kyrillos (R-Middletown), right, greets GOP gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie

The start of this Northeastern Republican Organization (NERO) convention is delayed until former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie arrives and when he gets here with a packed room at the Hillsdale Municipal Building waiting, he’s the first speaker.

“Alphabetical order,” explains Mike Ryan of Harrington Park, the chairman of NERO.

Christie makes brief remarks.

“This election is extraordinarily important,” the front running Christie tells the crowd. “You feel the sense of desperation people are feeling, probably for the first time in my lifetime. …We had a governor who four years ago said he would increase property tax rebates 40% over four years and now he wants to zero those out. …If he wonders why people are cynical he ought to get up in the morning and look at himself in the mirror.”

Marlboro Mayor Jon Hornik

MARLBORO – The self-professed good government tag team of Marlboro Mayor Jon Hornik and GOP rising star turned Democratic Party Hornik-backer Councilman Jeffrey Cantor amped up their anti-Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) effort at last Thursday night’s meeting. 

Just days after Cantor scrapped the local Republican Party as a band of naysayers and became a Democrat, the Marlboro Township Council on Thursday night voted unanimously in favor of a resolution calling on Democratic Party leadership in Trenton to step up and abolish the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH).

The governing body undertook the resolution at the request of Hornik, widely seen as a Democratic Party rock star and potential opponent for state Sen. Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth) in 2011. 

“We should be focused on keeping taxes stable. To overlay the social demand of COAH at this time is irresponsible,” said Hornik. “When something’s broken, it’s time to revisit the whole structure, and I think in the case of COAH, it’s time to start at square one. I think we’re at that point right now.”

Former U.S. Attorney Chris Chrisie, left, confers with Assembly Whip Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield)

FRANKLIN – Guerilla sniping sounded from the Lonegan camp even as the four Republican candidates for governor split up on the trail tonight to chart an otherwise sedate course to one of two prime Lincoln Day Dinner events.

Assemblyman Richard Merkt (R-Mendham) and former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan attended the Bergen County Republican Organization confab in Hackensack, and former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie and Franklin Mayor Brian D. Levine mixed at the Somerset County Republican Organization’s annual dinner at the Imperia in Franklin.

Levine played host in his hometown, while Christie the star former U.S. Attorney dominated interest among a crowd here in Franklin that included state Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean, Jr. (R-Union), Assembly Minority Conference Leader Pete Biondi (R-Hillsborough), Assembly Minority Whip Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield), Assemblyman Eric Munoz (R-Summit), and Assemblywoman Denise Coyle (R-Bernards). 

Franklin Mayor Brian D. Levine

Since the Republican candidates for governor began touring the events circuit together a little over a week ago, Franklin Township Mayor Brian D. Levine has tried to position himself as the foursome’s expert on job growth and economic issues.

“My candidacy is based on my background as a CPA and corporate person, and as a mayor with a strong focus on economy and jobs creation in my town,” Levine said. “That’s where I’m coming from right now. I’m trying to show people from a town perspective that we’ve had our share of job growth and getting business in and that’s a microcosm of what I would like to do statewide.” 

While former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie, former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan and Assemblyman Richard Merkt (R-Mendham) have so far mostly tried to outmuscle one another on the affordable housing issue, the 50-year old, pro-choice Republican moderate has run under the radar with his jobs and economy message.

Crystal clear pictures from Trenton...all done digitally.

Morris County Freeholder James Murray

MOUNTAIN LAKES - Part of the crowd buzz last night at the Zeris Inn concerned the whereabouts of Morris County Freeholder James Murray, who evidently had his own reason for not being in attendance at Chris Christie's formal kickoff.

It's because Murray is himself mulling a bid for governor.

"He called me the day before yesterday and I asked him if he was going to Chris's event," said Morris County Republican Chairman John Sette.

The chairman recalled Murray telling him he was going to stay neutral and when Sette asked him why, Murray spilled it.

"He told me, 'I'm thinking about running for governor because I think I can appeal to Democrats and Independents,'" Sette said.