Wayne DeAngelo

The search for GOP Assembly candidates in the politically competitive fourteenth district continues, with Republicans viewing restaurant owner Rob Calabro as a stand-in candidate until party officials can find a stronger candidate.  The Mercer GOP has been in turmoil since Hamilton Councilwoman Kelly Yaede unexpectedly backed out of the race against Democrats Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro) and Wayne DeAngelo (D-Hamilton).  Other potential candidates, including former Hamilton Mayor/Assemblyman Jack Rafferty, former Mercer County GOP Chair Cathy Tramontana, '08 Sheriff candidate James McSorely, and Councilman Thomas Goodwin all declined.

Rob Calabro, a Hamilton restauranteer who ran for Mercer County Freeholder in 2007, was picked tonight as a Republican candidate for State Assembly in the politically competitive 14th district.  Calabro was a last minute pick for the GOP, who had no candidate as of this afternoon after Hamilton Councilwoman Kelly Yaede changed her mind about running.  Calabro and a candidate from Middlesex who is expected to be picked on Saturday, will face incumbents Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro) and Wayne DeAngelo (D-Hamilton).

From the Democratic side, there is no shortage of snickering at the ineptitude of Mercer County Republicans who have been unable to find State Assembly candidates in one of the few districts where Democrats admit their incumbents are vulnerable.  The Mercer GOP is holding their convention tonight and the Middlesex GOP will pick their candidates on Saturday.  With just hours to go before the balloting begins, Republicans have no one to take on incumbents Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro) and Wayne DeAngelo (D-Hamilton).

Less than a week ago, Republicans had their ticket: Hamilton Councilwoman Kelly Yaede and former Cranbury Councilman Wayne Wittman.  Both have subsequently changed their minds.  Yaede apparently decided to run more than a week ago, but held off notifying party leaders.  Her withdrawal comes two weeks after she was introduced as a candidate at an Assembly Republican fundraiser and met with gubernatorial candidate Christopher Christie.  Sources say that Yaede has been flip-flopping about an Assembly bid for the last two months, being in the race one day and out the next.  She has Hamilton Republicans so angry that there is speculation that the local GOP might dump her from their ticket in 2011.

Source: hamiltonnj.com

Hamilton Council President Kelly Yaede has decided not to run for assembly in the 14th Legislative District, leaving Mercer County Republicans without a candidate in a district they hope to make one of the most competitive in the state.

“Right now I think there’s too much at stake for me to do otherwise,” said Yaede.  “I ran two straight years for the position on the council, and it’s a job that I absolutely love, and I intend to continue to serve the people of Hamilton Township.”

Yaede’s decision has left party leaders scrambling to find candidates in time for the Mercer County Republican convention tomorrow night.  One party source said that they might have to come up witha placeholder to extend their recruitment window, then switch them out when they find suitable candidates.  

Yaede was considered the top choice to take on assembly incumbents Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro) and Wayne DeAngelo (D-Hamilton).  Another top recruit, former State Trooper Jim McSorley, who ran for sheriff last year, opted against running earlier this month.

ASSEMBLY CELEBRATES SAINT PATRICK'S DAY

Annual Celebration Commemorates Contributions, Heritage of Irish-Americans

(TRENTON) - Assembly Democrats today issued a multimedia package commemorating the chamber's annual celebration of Saint Patrick's Day - a celebration of New Jersey's strong Irish-American heritage and its contributions to the betterment and advancement of the state.

BURZICHELLI & DEANGELO MOVE TO PROTECT CONSUMERS

Measure Aims to Prevent Mailed Manufacturer Rebate Checks From Being Lost & Thrown Out

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assemblymen John J. Burzichelli and Wayne P. DeAngelo are sponsoring to help ensure consumers who are entitled to a manufacturer’s rebate actually receive their money has been approved by the Assembly.

The bill (A-3008) would prohibit manufacturers, retailers or third-party rebate clearinghouses from mailing rebate checks to consumers unless the refund is enclosed in a sealed envelope and clearly identifiable as a manufacturer’s rebate payment, in a manner prescribed by the Director of Consumer Affairs.

“Some rebate refunds or payments have been mailed as little checks attached to post cards,” said Burzichelli (D-Gloucester). “Refunds and payments sent in this way could easily be lost or stolen, or even confused for junk mail. Requiring checks to be mailed in sealed envelopes and be clearly identifiable as a manufacturer’s rebate will help ensure consumers don’t lose the opportunity to receive their money. “

ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATS ON PASSAGE OF ECONOMIC PROTECTION BILL PACKAGE

Measures Latest Steps to Help New Jersey Residents Emerge Strong from Economic Crisis

(TRENTON) - Assembly members John J. Burzichelli, Linda R. Greenstein, Wayne P. DeAngelo, Louis D. Greenwald and Joseph Cryan today issued a multimedia package on the Assembly passage of a five-bill package to further bolster the state's economy in the face of the ongoing global financial crisis.

ASSEMBLY OK’S DeANGELO/SCHAER/WISNIEWSKI/McKEON BILL TO REFORM LENDING ACTIVITIES

Bill Would Revise Mortgage & Consumer Loan Practices

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by sponsored by Assemblymen Wayne P. DeAngelo (DMercer/ Middlesex), Gary S. Schaer (D-Passaic), John S. Wisniewski (D-Middlesex) and John F. McKeon (D-Essex) to reform mortgage and consumer loan lending activities was approved 79-0 Monday by the Assembly.

“The ongoing mortgage foreclosure crisis has showed our oversight laws desperately need reform,” DeAngelo said. “The current system isn’t working and change is needed. This bill will strengthen our ability to ensure mortgage lenders are accountable and help keep people in their homes.”

ASSEMBLY OK'S SCHAER/JASEY/COUTIHNO/DeANGELO BILL
TO PUT MORE MATH, SCIENCE TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM
Pilot Program Would Recruit Non-Traditional Teachers

(TRENTON) - The General Assembly today passed legislation Assembly members Gary Schaer, Mila Jasey, Albert Coutinho and Wayne DeAngelo sponsored to create a pilot program to enable more individuals with degrees and career experience in math and science to receive teaching certificates.

If Governor Corzine's calls for concessions from state workers are a political liability this year for Democratic Assembly members Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro) and Wayne DeAngelo (D-Hamilton), then Greenstein thinks former U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie's comments about laying off state workers may have made the race much more difficult for whomever the Republicans run.

"It is true that Chris Christie seems to me, in a couple spots, to be taking a very anti-union approach, and I do believe the very people who will be running under him will be in a difficult position," said Greenstein.

Christie made the comments, subsequently reported by the Associated Press, on Friday morning's Brian Lehrer Show on WNYC.

Greenstein and DeAngelo, a freshman, sit in a district that is at the top of Republicans' target list this election cycle -- an area next to Trenton where state workers' unions and private sector organized labor members make up a large and extremely influential portion of the electorate.