Steven Lonegan

Based on the first Republican debate, which I had the opportunity to watch in the NJN studio and participate in a panel discussion afterwards, it was clear that both Steve Lonegan and Chris Christie were well-prepared and able to stay on message throughout the exchange.

The format of the debate was lively and the questions asked by Bob Ingle, Cynthia Burton, Michael Aron, and two viewers via e-mail touched on most of the major issues that have framed the electoral contest to date. I think the format can be improved by allowing candidates more time to fully articulate their positions.

For example, Steve Lonegan is introducing ideas, including a flat tax and revenue redistribution formula that would fundamentally change the tax structure of state. The one minute response, thirty second rebuttal format did not allow him to provide a full explanation of the benefits of such shift, nor was he able to provide detailed examples of where such a system is working.

Chris Christie, on the other hand, was asked about the monitoring contracts he awarded as U.S. Attorney. His answer only touched on the surface of his rationale for awarding these contracts. He was not asked about the Deferred Prosecution Arrangements that led to these contracts and will need more than 90 seconds to educate voters on the intricacies and benefits of such arrangements.

PolitickerNJ.com's Matt Friedman had an interesting observation during his coverage of the Republican gubernatorial debate.  He notes that Christopher Christie, "in recounting the damage he says has been done by seven years of Democratic governors," skips Richard Codey - he goes from James E. McGreevey straight to Jon Corzine. 

Butehorn says Christie backs a 'go along to get along' plan

Steve Lonegan offered a clear conservative message at tonight's gubernatorial debate, while Christopher Christie  supports a 'go along to get along' plan that will result in just 'more of the same,' says Hank Butehorn, the Lonegan campaign chairman.

"Steve Lonegan laid out a plan to replace the punitive tax redistribution system that we have with a 2.9 percent flat tax that cuts the tax rate for singles making over $35,000 and couples making over $70,000. Steve also explained how he would get rid of COAH, eliminate 5 departments of government and cut property taxes by 20 percent," Butehorn said.  

According to Butehorn, "Republican voters are going to be faced with a very clear choice on June 2nd: A conservative who wants to slash the size of government and lower our taxes, or another “moderate” without a plan."

Non-partisan local elections will be held in 28 municipalities today, and Republican gubernatorial candidates Christopher Christie and Steven Lonegan will hold their first official televised debate tonight.

Key mayoral races will be held in Jersey City, where the popular incumbent, Jerramiah Healy, must win 50% of the vote in a five-man field to avoid a runoff; in Passaic, where newly-elected Mayor Alex Blanco faces voters for the second time in six months; in Hoboken, where David Roberts is stepping down after two terms; and in Hillside, Robbinsville, and West Windsor.

New Jersey Network (NJN) will air the debate, sponsored by Gannett New Jersey and the Philadelphia Inquirer, at 8PM.  It will be available on streaming video at njn.net.  NJN News anchor Jim Hooker will be the moderator, and NJN reporter Zach Fink will offer debate commentary on Twitter.

NJN Senior Political Correspondent Michael Aron will host a post-debate analysis on NJN2 and njn.net will Seton Hall University Prof. Joe Marbach, Rutgers University Prof. Ingrid Reed, former EPA Regional Administrator Alan Steinberg, and former State Sen. Richard LaRossa.  Marbach, Steinberg and LaRossa are unpaid contributors for PolitickerNJ.com.

A second GOP debate, sponsored by the League of Women Voters of New Jersey, will be held at 11AM on Sunday, May 17 on WABC-TV/Channel 7 in New York and on WPVI-TV/Channel 6 in Philadelphia. 

A third candidate, Assemblyman Rick Merkt (R-Mendham), will join Christie and Lonegan in two other debates: New Jersey 101.5 on May 26 at 7PM, and WOR 710 on May 27 at 4PM.

Voters in ten municipalities going to the polls to elect a Mayor: Jersey City, Hoboken, Passaic, Hillside, West Windsor, Robbinsville, Byram, Stafford, Tinton Falls, and Island Heights.  Municipal elections will also be held in Asbury Park, Avalon, Audubon Borough, Bordentown City, Cedar Grove, Collingswood, Evesham, Hackensack, Haddonfield, Lyndhurst, Millville, Monmouth Beach, Pohatcong, South Orange, Tavistock, Verona, West Cape May, and Wildwood Crest.

There is some talk that Assemblyman Michael Doherty (R-Oxford) would emerge as the leading candidate for Lt. Governor, if Steven Lonegan wins the GOP gubernatorial primary and if Doherty fails to beat State Sen. Marcia Karrow (R-Raritan) in the District 23 State Senate primary.  Doherty won't give up a State Senate nomination to run statewide.

If Lonegan and Doherty both win on June 2, look at former Assembly Majority Leader Paul DiGaetano (R-Nutley) to emerge as a strong contender to be Lonegan's running mate.  DiGaetano was an early supporter of Lonegan, and could help unite the state GOP if the former Mayor of Bogota beats Christopher Christie for the Republican nod.  

The 55-year-old DiGaetano has a strong resume: businessman, naval reservist, nine-term Assemblyman, four-term Passaic City Councilman, and former Assembly Majority and Minority Leader.  He's also been through a statewide campaign as a candidate for the 2005 Republican nomination for Governor.  But DiGaetano might struggle to prove his conservative credentials to Lonegan supporters.  Despite his endorsement of Christie, State Sen. Kevin O'Toole (R-Cedar Grove), the Essex County GOP Chairman, actually enjoys a strong relationship with Lonegan and his top strategist, Rick Shaftan.  And O'Toole, who as Chairman of the Republican County Chairmen would play a pivotal role in uniting the party after the primary, can't stand DiGaetano.

View the list of campaign contributors to Jon Corzine, Christopher Christie and Steven Lonegan:

Former Jersey City Mayor Bret Schundler thinks that Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Lonegan's flat tax plan could be good for New Jersey in the long run, but that it is not politically feasible.

"What Steve is talking about is a very dramatic change in our tax system which would have more people having increased taxes and some having lower taxes. In the long term you can make an argument that it would be pro-growth, but I don't think politically you can get it implemented," said Schundler during a conference with Lonegan's rival for the nomination, former U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie.  "It's just not realistic. When you have most people having a tax increase, you won't get the support necessary for it."

Schundler, a conservative who upset Bob Franks in 2001 to win the Republican nomination for governor and lost the 2005 gubernatorial primary to Douglas Forrester in a race that included Lonegan, was mayor of Jersey City from 1992 to 2001.  He planned to run to retake the mayoralty this year, but opted out in January, citing personal financial difficulties.

Schundler said that Christie's plan to cut taxes for everyone after first decreasing government spending was more viable.

"How do you get political support for making taxes go down?  You have to make everyone's taxes go down," he said.

Christie chimed in by panning Lonegan's tax plan, which, combined with Lonegan's support for ending the property tax rebates, would hit senior citizens with a "double whammy."

"In these difficult economic times, with people worrying about how they're going to keep their job, keep their mortgage... to raise taxes on 70% of New Jersey residents during recessionary economic times is just wrong," he said (The Lonegan camp puts the estimated number of New Jerseyans who will see their taxes rise at about 50%).

When it comes to the race for New Jersey governor I'm in the anybody-but-Corzine camp. That may not seem much of a declaration seeing as I've lived nearly all my 42 years in heavily Republican Morris County. But it takes an awful lot to say I'm as willing to vote for former US Attorney Chris Christie in November as for former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan, the two frontrunners in a tightening GOP primary race.

You see, in 1994 Christie unseated my then 62-year-old mom, Cecilia Laureys, in her GOP primary bid for reelection to the Morris County freeholder board. Two years later, a Superior Court judge found that Christie had made "false" and "defamatory" remarks about my mom during that '94 primary campaign. A year after that, the political tables turned again, and mom regained her seat in another GOP primary while Christie lost badly (sixth out of a field of six) in his bid at reelection.

Joe the Plumber and Rudy Giuliani will headline events today on behalf of Republican gubernatorial candidates.  Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher, aka Sam the Plumber, will attend a fundraiser for Steven Lonegan at the Deutscher Club tonight in Clark.  Tickets range from $50 to $1,000 per person.  Giuliani, the former Mayor of New York City, will join Christopher Christie on a conference call for reporters this afternoon.  Giuliani also made an appearance for Christie yesterday. Lonegan, Christie and Assemblyman Rick Merkt (R-Mendham) will all participate in a candidate forum this morning in Parsippany sponsored by the Tuesday Group.