Roselle

Roselle Mayor Garrett Smith

Roselle Mayor Garrett Smith, an independent Democrat who's long warred with the Union County Democratic Committee, hailed Gov. Jon Corzine's selection of fellow reform Dem, state Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck), as an inspired choice for lieutenant governor.

"I was on the fence regarding how much support I was going to give Gov. Corzine, but with the senator now on the ticket, I enthusiastically support his re-election," said Smith of Weinberg, a longtime foe of the Bergen County Democratic Organization. 

"I think she's a quality individual with a record of standing up for regular people," added Smith, now in the middle of his second term as mayor. "We need more leaders like Loretta Weinberg, whom I respect for her fight for quality and good government. I think it's an awesome pick, and it definitely energizes independent progressive Democrats."

Roselle Mayor Garrett Smith

Roselle Mayor Garrett Smith needed this one, and so did the Union County Democratic Organization.
 
Those two mutually exclusive desires added up to one thing: a war.
 
Ever since former Assemblyman Neil Cohen's (D-Roselle) career went belly up amid charges of keeping child porn on his computer, the battle lines for local party control intensified here in his town, which, depending on your perspective, is either a buffer for Westfield against the danger-zone of Elizabeth or a buffer for Elizabeth against the whitebread excesses of Cranford and Westfield.
 
A mild-mannered wonk in Trenton, Cohen could get tough in his hometown as head of the local party. He wasn't beyond delivering full-blown, profanity-laced public dress-downs to recalcitrant committee members as he dealt with the ongoing headache of Smith, a charismatic independent Democrat, originally from Jersey City, who built his name as head of a thriving local basketball league before seeking his first term as mayor in 2003.
 
Smith and Cohen could grudgingly come together to beat on Republicans in presidential or gubernatorial general elections, but mostly they embroiled themselves in a Roselle battle-royale with themselves as chief antagonists.

COHEN TO BUSH: GET OUT OF THE WAY
Assemblyman Assails President for Impeding Embryonic Stem Cell Research

(ROSELLE) - Assembly Deputy Speaker Neil M. Cohen today called on President Bush to end his senseless war against embryonic stem cell research and unshackle America's scientific community so it can lead the world in finding cures to some of humanity's most sinister diseases and afflictions.

COHEN INVITED TO PRESENT AT GREAT WALL INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF CARDIOLOGY SYMPOSIUM

(ROSELLE) - Assembly Deputy Speaker Neil M. Cohen, prime sponsor of the New Jersey Stem-Cell Research Law, has been invited to attend and present a lecture during the 17th Great Wall International Congress of Cardiology (GW-ICC) & American College of Cardiology (ACC) Symposium: Cardiology Update 2006.

COHEN/CHIVUKULA SEEK IMPROVED BENEFITS FOR SURVIVORS OF FALLEN NJ VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS
'Kevin's Law' Would Provide for Families of NJ's Bravest

(ROSELLE) - Following the tragic death of a volunteer firefighter in Somerset County last week, Assemblymen Neil M. Cohen and Upendra Chivukula announced today that they are crafting legislation to improve the benefits offered to the surviving families of volunteer firefighters killed in the line of duty.

CORZINE ORDERS FLAGS TO FLY AT HALF-STAFF
TO HONOR U.S. ARMY CAPTAIN JOHN F. DUGAN

TRENTON – In honor of U.S. Army Captain John F. Dugan, Governor Jon S. Corzine signed the following Executive Order calling for the United States and New Jersey flags to fly at half-staff on Wednesday, April 12, 2006.

The Executive Order is below: