Robert Gordon

Hillary Clinton campaigns in Hackensack today, where she was endorsed by Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joe Ferriero: Getty Images Photo

In her first public campaign stop in New Jersey since September, Hillary Clinton made an appearance tonight at Bergen County Academies in Hackensack to accept the endorsements of Bergen County Chairman Joe Ferriero and a host of other elected officials from the powerhouse.

The appearance came immediately after Clinton attended a $2,300 per head fundraiser at the Stony Hill Inn across town, and afterwards she was off to another rally to appeal to the Hispanic vote in North Bergen. Earlier today, she was in Pennsylvania to accept the endorsement of Gov. Ed Rendell.

The Hackensack crowd, which Clinton campaign officials estimated at 700 to hear Clinton speak at the school's gymnasium with 1,000 more overflowing into its auditorium, had to wait. Clinton arrived about an hour and a half late, leaving Bergen County Sheriff Leo McGuire to keep the crowd entertained, adlibbing jokes and poking fun at other elected officials.

ELECTRONIC WASTE RECYCLING ACT CLEARS ASSEMBLY
Measure Would Make New Jersey Fifth State to Create Responsible System
For Collecting, Reusing, Disposing Chemical-Laden Computers, Televisions

(TRENTON) - The Assembly today passed legislation Assemblymen Reed Gusciora, John F. McKeon, Upendra J. Chivukula and Robert M. Gordon sponsored to establish a statewide collection and recycling program for used computers and other electronic products laced with toxic metals and dangerous chemicals

ELECTRONIC WASTE RECYCLING ACT CLEARS FINAL ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE HURDLE
Measure Would Make New Jersey Fifth State to Create Responsible System
For Collecting, Reusing, Disposing Chemical-Laden Computers, Televisions

(TRENTON) - The Assembly Appropriations Committee today released legislation Assemblymen Reed Gusciora, John F. McKeon, Upendra J. Chivukula and Robert M. Gordon sponsored to establish a statewide collection and recycling program for used computers and other electronic products laced with toxic metals and dangerous chemicals.

Add Robert Colletti to the membership list of the Douglas Forrester Club: Republicans who were headed to the Senate, but were defeated when Democrats changed their candidates.  Colletti, a former Elmwood Park Councilman, looked like he would win the 38th district State Senate race last summer after incumbent Joseph Coniglio became the target of a federal criminal probe -- a Democratic poll confirmed exactly that.  But now, against Assemblyman Robert Gordon, Colletti doesn't have a chance.

The Record has endorsed the Democratic ticket in the 38th district: Robert Gordon for State Senate and Joan Voss and Connie Wagner for State Assembly.  MORE

With about five weeks to go before the general election, it’s risky to write off any political campaign as a lost cause. But several underdog candidates who once seemed to have a slight chance at running competitive races do not seem to have picked up steam or support from their parties.

State Senate candidates Robert Colletti, Richard Dennison, Gina Genovese and John Villapiano have all run spirited campaigns. And while none has a good shot at winning on November 6th, all four insist that their campaigns are very much alive.

Meanwhile, Seema Singh’s State Senate campaign isn’t necessarily dead, though it is on life support.

Once viewed as among the state's most politically regions in New Jersey, the 38th has become a "blue district" and Republicans will not even compete there this fall.  Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce has told Bergen County Republicans that his leadership PAC will not play in the 38th, where incumbent Joan Voss and Freeholder Connie Wagner face Republicans John Driscoll and Renee Czaplicki. 

State Senator Joseph Coniglio, the target of a federal corruption probe, has dropped out of sight since he dropped his bid for re-election to a third term.  With Assemblyman Robert Gordon now slated as the Senate candidate, there hasn’t been a whole lot of talk about Coniglio.

It was an interesting weekend in the 38th district, where Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero picked a State Senate candidate that he was initially reluctant to go with.  Two-term Assemblyman Robert Gordon is hardly a party hack: back in 1996, the ex-Fair Lawn Mayor refused to abide by party's decision to back then-Bergen County Surrogate Steven Rothman for an open congressional seat and challenged him in the Democratic primary.  Since going to the Assembly in 2003 -- he replaced Matt Ahearn, who left the Democratic Caucus to join the Green Party after a fight with local Dems -- Gordon has been viewed as an independent reformer, although he never publicly commented on Coniglio's ethics woes.

It was a big happy event, by the looks of it from the outside. They looked like an extended family in there, with the Jets game on in the background and a few of the men shamelessly turning sideways in their chairs as they watched Gang Green lose.

But when Assemblyman Robert Gordon stood at the podium and accepted their unanimous backing to succeed District 38 Sen. Joseph Coniglio, Bergen County Democrats emptied their seats and gave him their face-forward attention amid sustained applause.

Gordon had some longtime allies in the Sunday evening crowd at party HQ in Hackensack, guys with whom he went back a long time.