njpoliticker.com year in review 2008

PolitickerNJ.com

InsIde Winners & Losers of the Year * Politician of the Year

* Best & Worst Campaigns of 2008 * Top Ten News Stories of 2008

Best Operatives * Moron of the Year* People to Watch

Happy new Year from PolitickernJ.com

PolitickerNJ.com

Bob Menendezeight years ago, when House minority Whip David Bonior told al gore he should pick then-congressman Bob menendez as his running mate, there were some ques-tions about whether the Hudson county politician could extricate himself from his interest in local politics and become a leader of national stature. the joke at the time was a mock press release that read: “Vice President Bob menendez, the Union city Democratic municipal chair-man, today announced his endorsement of candidates for the Hoboken Board of education.” menendez has now completed is third year in the United States Senate and continues to enjoy political success on a national stage. He is the new chairman of the Democratic Senatorial campaign committee, a leadership post with national visibility and clout, and as one of the ranking latinos in american politics; he’s in demand as a campaigner in key states like Florida, texas and Nevada. He’s transitioned from the day-to-day activities of Hudson county politics, but he still maintains a strong interest, and considerable clout, in New Jersey state politics. menendez’s accumulation of national and state power, and his willingness to step up and use his influence, makes him the 2008 Winner of the Year. When rob andrews decided to take on Frank lautenberg in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, it was menendez more than anyone else who fought to protect the political interests of his 84-year-old colleague. Seemingly within minutes of andrews’ announcement, menendez jumped in to shut the South Jersey congressman down. He stopped Bergen county Democrats from giving their line to andrews; his use of U.S. rep. Steve rothman as a surrogate in the intra-party battle that led to Joe Ferriero’s sudden reversal was extraordinary. in Hudson county, menendez helped cut off andrews at the kneecaps. He made sure that potential donors stuck with the incumbent. He played a key part in holding Union and middle-sex counties for lautenberg. and he campaigned hard for his New Jersey colleague – even willing to damage his relationship with South Jersey Democratic powerhouse george Norcross in the process. (they’ve since kissed and made up.) menendez nemesis christopher christie is now gone as the United States attorney, and there has been no sign of any federal investigation that linked the two during the final days of the 2006 U.S. Senate campaign. Now menendez will play a pivotal role in the selection of christie’s successor under the new Democratic president. there was one blip on menendez’s 2008 record: he backed the wrong horse in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination – which is likely the reason he wasn’t offered a speaking slot at the national convention last summer. But still, menendez delivered for Hillary clinton, who beat Barack obama in the February 5 New Jersey primary by ten points, and now his friend is about to become the U.S. Secretary of State. as the new DScc chairman, menendez is now Harry reid’s personal political confidante at a time when the Senate majority leader faces his own competitive re-election in Nevada. menendez is also poised to get a much coveted seat on the Senate Finance committee, and he enjoys a strong personal relationship with the new White House chief of Staff, who is his former House colleague.

wInner OF THe YeAr

Joe Ferriero2008 was supposed to be a hallmark year for Joe Ferriero – his 10th as the uber-successful and incredibly powerful Bergen county Democratic chairman. Since taking the reins in 1998, Ferriero had transformed the local Demo-crats from a perennial minority party to the holder of all but one county-wide office, and a successful bulwark against statewide republican victories. So coveted was Ferriero’s endorsement in the presidential primary that in order to get it, Hillary clinton had to come to Bergen county in January where, on stage with Ferriero at a rally and apparently oblivious to the irony, she said “let’s reform the government so it ends the no-bid con-tracts and the cronyism and the incompetence.” But Ferriero made a huge blunder that april, when he looked ready to back U.S. rep. rob andrews’ nascent sen-ate primary bid against Bergen county’s own incumbent, Frank lautenberg immediately, U.S. rep. Steve rothman, working with U.S. Sen. Bob menendez, challenged Fer-riero’s power by threatening Ferriero’s chairmanship if he backed andrews. Ferriero retreated. By the time the Democratic National convention rolled around, it was clear that Ferriero was the target of a fed-eral investigation. But he made the rounds at the parties anyway, talking little to the press but attending many of the parties and sporting a sun tan. a week later, his law office was raided; he took a leave of absence from his firm and, at least officially, temporar-ily stepped down as chairman. in September, he was indicted on eight corruption counts by U.S. attorney chris christie, who has prosecuted more than 130 public cor-ruption cases without a single acquittal. meanwhile, Barack obama’s Bergen county campaign workers opted against setting up shop in the BcDo head-quarters so as to disassociate themselves from Ferriero. Ferriero has vowed to fight the charges and has remained more or less in control of the party from a background role. after a campaign waged mainly against Ferriero by local republicans, the Democrats still managed to hold on to all three freeholder seats, although by a lesser margin than usual and despite an obama tailwind. But all of the county-wide elected officials have come to the realization that keeping Ferriero as chairman is politi-cally untenable. earlier this month, the party’s executive committee voted for a resolution requiring him to resign by January 15th if he’s not exonerated of all the charges against him. if Ferriero does not, the party will likely hold a meeting where members will vote on whether or not to replace him. although whether Ferriero’s opponents can marshal enough votes from the county committee’s rank and file to remove the sitting chairman is an open question (many of those members hold public jobs thank to Ferriero), even if Ferriero survives he’ll be leading a party wracked with internal strife while facing his own corruption trial. if he beats the rap, look for a triumphant return.

lOser OF THe YeAr

runners uP: nexT PAge

Frank lautenbergat age 84, Frank lautenberg managed to become the first New Jerseyan to win five races for the United States Senate. and he did it on his own terms against credible primary and general election challengers.

lautenberg was caught a bit off guard by U.S. rep. rob an-drews’ unexpected announcement that he would challenge him in the Democratic primary, and even a bit frightened by reports that some key North Jersey Democratic organiza-tions, most specifically his home county of Bergen, would give andrews their line. With help from his Senate colleague, Bob menendez (it’s important to note that lautenberg, who didn’t really get along with Bill Bradley and despised Bob tor-ricelli, has worked hard to play well with the other Senators during his return engagement in the U.S. Senate), he was able to stop andrews from winning any formal party support outside of george Norcross’ South Jersey. although his poll numbers have always been historically lukewarm – his approvals were akin to those of an endan-gered incumbent, as they were when he won re-election in 1988 and 1994 – he ran with the confidence of a man with a safe seat. lautenberg skillfully parried jabs about his age and refused to take the bait on insinuations that he actually lived with his wife in manhattan. When andrews entered the race, lautenberg pledged to self-fund his race if necessary. most importantly, lautenberg held off debating andrews and Zimmer until the end of the campaign, and avoided face-offs on New York and Philadelphia network tV. this angered his opponents and the press – it probably cost him a newspaper endorsement or two – but it proved to be a smart political move. Debates on public television the Friday night before the primary and the Saturday night before the general limited his exposure. and he avoided making a major gaffe that rivals hoped the octogenarian might commit. the results weren’t even close. lautenberg crushed an-drews by 24%, and went on to beat Zimmer by 13%. lautenberg was also astute enough to stay out of the presidential race during his own election year, avoiding that drama by refusing to back a Democratic primary candidate until obama’s win was a foregone conclusion. lautenberg committed just one political error as a candi-date for re-election: his campaign used political connec-tions to get a block of premium tickets to a Springsteen concert at the meadowlands, and then sought to sell them off at a huge profit to campaign donors. once the press tried to make this an issue, lautenberg cancelled the fund-raiser and shut the story down.

By the time he’s done finishing out his next term, laut-enberg will be just shy of 91. While most insiders expect this to be lautenberg’s last term, it’s a testament to his political skill that the possibility of him running again in 2014 remains open.

POlITICIAn OF THe YeAr

PolitickerNJ.com

Politicians of the Year

lisa Jackson the former state envi-ronmental Protection commissioner became gov. Jon corzine’s chief of Staff on December 1 and on December 15 won a seat in Barack obama’s cabinet as the administrator of the U.S. environmental Protection agency. leonard lance the former State Senate minority leader is elected to congress, winning the open seat of retiring U.S. rep. mike Ferguson.

John Adler the Senate Judiciary committee chairman be-comes the first Democrat to represent his district in congress since 1882.

george Arwadyand Jim willse the hard-nosed Star-ledger publisher and editor helped save the state’s largest newspa-per by pushing for 200 buyouts and convincing two labor unions to follow his demands.

runners uPwInners OF THe YeAr

neil Cohen the assembly Deputy Speaker resigned last July after state officials find child pornography on his legislative office com-puter. He was indicted in December.

Bob Mulcahy the longtime rutgers athletic Director is fired amidst criticism of secret deals surrounding the school’s football program.

rob Andrews the congressman from camden county challeng-es Frank lautenberg in the Democratic U.S. Sen-ate primary, loses, and then cancels his pledge not to seek re-election to the House.

Bill layton the Burlington county goP chairman loses two Freeholder seats and a county clerk race after denying Diane allen the chance to run for Jim Saxton’s seat in congress.

runners uPlOsers OF THe YeAr

Donald Scarinci, 2000John lynch, 2001christopher christie, 2002

michael Beson, 2003Joseph Ferriero, 2004richard codey, 2005

Juan melli, 2006Stephen adubato, 2007Frank lautenberg, 2008

FAVOrITe HeAdlInes

OF THe YeAr

Blind rabbi’s opponent in Bacon

—referring to Dennis Shulman’s challenge in the Democratic congressional primary

from personalized mug designer roger Bacon.

Shreck is the new mayor of

Bradley Beach — after Julie Shreck defeated gary engelstad

by 30 votes last may.

Stender’s a Fact Bender

—a column by Star-ledger columnist Paul mulshine after linda Stender attacked leon-ard lance for supporting christie Whitman’s pension bond plan in 1997, which he did not.

PolitickerNJ.com

TOP 10 POlITICAl sTOrIes OF 2008

1 Neil cohen, one of the most influential members of the New Jersey State assembly, resigned in July after

state officials found child pornography on his legislative office computer. the assembly Deputy Speaker and chairman of the Banking and insurance committee, was later indicted. He was turned in by his running mates, State Sen. raymond lesniak and assemblyman Joseph cryan, the Democratic State chairman.

2New Jersey’s newspapers have suffered massive budget cuts and layoffs. the Star-ledger, the largest

daily newspaper, threatened to closes its doors unless 200 employees agreed to buyouts and two labor unions ratified new contracts. gannett slashed their state-house bureau from six reporters to two, and cut several veteran editors. the New York times has effectively pulled out of New Jersey; they didn’t cover the state budget or the lautenberg/Zimmer Senate campaign. Politicker.com, which operates PolitickerNJ.com, also experienced budget cuts.

3 New Jersey republicans had a heck of a time finding a candidate for U.S. Senate. anne evans estabrook

unexpectedly withdrew after suffering a minor stroke.

Her replacement, andy Unanue, never left his colorado vacation home and was out within a few weeks. State Sen. Joseph Pennacchio’s 1991 “manifesto” made it hard for some goP county leaders to back him. others, like biotech millionaire John crowley, State Sen. kip Bate-man, and U.S. marshal James Plousis, openly flirted with running. Finally, the nomination was won by Dick Zim-mer, a former republican congressman who has been out of office since losing a 1996 Senate race.

4rob andrews, a ten-term congressman from camden county, challenged four-term incumbent

Frank lautenberg in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senator. andrews secured the backing of South Jersey Democrats and won some North Jersey endorsements, but could not get any organization lines outside of the South. lautenberg beat him 59%-35%, with 6% for morristown mayor Donald cresitello.

5conservative leader Steve lonegan, the former mayor of Bogota and a goP candidate for governor

in 2009, was arrested during a protest outside one of gov. Jon corzine’s town hall meetings to discuss his plan to raise tolls. the charges were dropped, but not until the story became lonegan and not corzine. lonegan was an unpaid PolitickerNJ.com columnist until entering the race for governor in December.

6Joseph Ferriero, the Bergen county Democratic chairman and one of the most powerful political

insiders in the state, was indicted on charges that he concealed his ownership in a grants consulting firm while using his influence to deliver public contracts to the company. Dennis oury, the BcDo counsel, was also indicted.

7Jon corzine continues to struggle in his bid to gain the approval of New Jersey voters. a February

Quinnipiac poll had his job approval at an upside-down 37%-52%; by November, he was at 43%-46% -- slightly better heading into his re-election year. two Quinnipiac

polls show corzine in a close race against republican christopher christie, the former U.S. attorney; he’s leading 42%-36%. the governor’s plan to increase tolls failed, and he deals with a pending lawsuit over the release of e-mail to and from his former girlfriend, labor leader carla katz and substantial shortfalls in the state budget. katz is an unpaid PolitickerNJ.com columnist.

8New Jersey Democrats had their eleventh consecu-tive winning year on November 4, 2008. Frank laut-

enberg was re-elected to the U.S. Senate and John adler won a seat in congress that republicans have held since 1884. Democrats won control of the monmouth county Board of Freeholders, won major victories in Burlington and cumberland countywide races, and held their 7-0 majority on the Bergen county Board of Freeholders despite the indictment of their county chairman. Ba-rack obama easily carried New Jersey’s fifteen electoral votes. republicans held mike Ferguson’s seventh dis-trict House seat, unseated a veteran Democratic Sheriff in atlantic county, and beat a Democratic Freeholder in Salem county.

9 Sharpe James and Wayne Bryant, two of New Jer-sey’s most powerful public officials over the last two

decades, were convicted of federal corruption charges. James was the five-term mayor of Newark (and a State Senator) and Bryant was the chairman of the power Senate appropriations committee.

10a Superior court Judge removed Dana rone from her seat on the Newark city council because

she sought to influence a Newark police officer during a traffic stop of her nephew. rone was barred from ever holding public office again, and a special election was held to fill her central Ward council seat.

PolitickerNJ.com

Personal CoverageAuto, Homeowners, Renters,

Condo Owners, FloodCommercial Coverage

Business Auto, Business Owners, Property, L i a b i l i t y, Umbrella Policies, EPLI, Workers Comp

Specialty ProgramsEquipment Dealer, Wholesale, Municipal, Auto

Dealer, Attorney, Professional LiabiltyEmployee Benefits Programs

Group Health, Life, Dental, Vision, Prescription,Disability, Long-Term Care

Financial ServicesRetirement, College Savings,

Investment Management Services

For information contact Cheryl Graham at 800-452-5376or [email protected]

fair.poli 12/20/07 9:36 AM Page 1

Michael Murphy, Esq. Raj Mukherji Cullen McAuliffe Sheila Kelly Hampton Christopher Campos, Esq. Oswin Hadley, Esq. Hugh Hall, CPA

Wishing PolitickerNJ’s readers a joyous holiday season and a prosperous new year…

May 2009 bring Wally new sources and doubled traffic!

172 W. State Street Trenton, NJ 08608 Tel: (609) 394-2000 Fax: (609) 394-3333

www.impactnj.com

PolitickerNJ.com

BesT CAMPAIgns OF THe YeAr

1. Frank lautenberg for u.s. senate the campaign to re-elect Frank lautenberg to the United States Senate was nearly flawless. they took heat from rivals and reporters on process issues like debates, but refused to waver on their plan. “He’s smart to avoid the campaign because the campaign trail is rife with the potential for missteps and mistakes,” said montclair State University political science profes-sor Brigid Harrison. 2. leonard lance for Congress For much of the year, the conven-tional wisdom was that leonard lance couldn’t raise enough mon-ey to overcome linda Stender in a strong Democratic year. But while lance couldn’t keep pace with Stender, who had huge financial support from Washington Demo-crats, he brought in enough cash to mount an effective campaign. Starting with his primary victory, it was clear he was in the race to win. lance, perhaps for the first time in his political career, took off the gloves in his fight with linda Stender, but he never got dirty doing it. team lance knew their greatest strength was their candidate.

3. John Adler for Congress Some people forget that the Senate Judiciary chairman got in the race when he thought 12-term incumbent Jim Saxton would be his opponent. adler concentrated heavily on fundraising, and by the time Saxton announced his retire-ment, the Democrat already had a sizeable warchest. it seemed like adler never stopped raising money. chris myers was no pushover, and adler stayed on message with the economy from the beginning. He worked the fish and game political channels in ocean, vibed with the Pemberton and Willingboro obama organization in Burlington, and worked their base in cherry Hill. this was a big win for Steve ayscue, a close ally of george Norcross, who played a key role from day one of the adler for congress campaign. 4. Mark smith for Mayor of Bayonnethe Bayonne mayoral candidate shut down his opponent with fund-raising, alliance-building and old fashioned door to door campaign-ing. When a ghost from Smith’s police past intruded into the cam-paign, the candidate addressed the issue up front, took every question, and never tried to hide.

5. Chris Brown and Mary Anne reinhart for Burlington County Freeholder the Burlington county Democrats, led by rick Perr and chris Fifis, worked statewide fundraising channels,

took advantage of a symbiotic relationship with the adler cam-paign, and went aggressively after the record of incumbents aubrey Fenton and Stacy Jordan. the campaign’s video assault on Burl-ington goP pay to play was one of the best hits of the season.’

6. Anthony Ferrera and gloria McCauley for Hillsborough Township Committee the republican municipal candidates ran about 3,000 votes ahead of John mccain, a testament to the effectiveness of a modern-day suburban political machine that has merged old-fashioned constituent service with 21st century campaign tactics.

7. wilda diaz for Mayor of Perth Amboy the upset of the year was in Perth amboy, where first time candidate Wilda Diaz upset 18-year mayor Joe Vas despite being outspent by a substantial margin. Diaz become the agent of change and showed that a grass roots insurgency really can beat an entrenched political organization.

8. Barack Obama for President New Jersey’s fifteen electoral votes were never really in the red column, but the Democrats acted like they could have been. Under the leadership of Democratic State chairman Joe cryan, state campaign director tricia mueller, and coordinated campaign chief mike muller, Barack obama’s New Jersey campaign ran a tremendous grass roots opera-tion, and their extraordinary voter registration drive is likely to have an evergreen effect up and down New Jersey.

9. Andre sayegh for Paterson City Councilman the 6th Ward Paterson city council candidate landed the endorsement of retiring city councilman thomas rooney, and built a multi-ethnic, multi-racial grassroots organization to shut down his chief opponent.

10. Carl Block for Ocean County Clerk the goP incumbent faced a tough opponent in Berkeley town-ship mayor Jason Varano, who was the recipient of campaign funds from Democrats all over the state, including gov. Jon corzine. Democrats went on tV and radio before the goP did, and while ocean is solidly republican, this race was hardly a cakewalk.

BesT And wOrsT CAMPAIgns OF 2008

QuOTe OF THe YeAr

“We called it the Friday Night Special ... So one night, we

came in. I went down to the basement bathroom, and

when I came up, to my shock, she was basically undressed

and on the loveseat with Jim. So I sat on the couch

and watched and eventually joined in. And that’s how it

got going,” he said. “We came up with this nice little formu-

la for making it work.” — Former gubernatorial aide Teddy

Pederson, on his three-way relationship with James E. and

Dina Matos McGreevey. (New York Post, 03/17/08)

runner-uP

“I don’t use e-mail now.” — Gov. Jon Corzine

(Star-Ledger, 06/19/08)

PolitickerNJ.com

A T T O R N E Y S A T L A W

Obtaining positive results in law requires

experience, commitment, determination, and

a team you can trust. You can’t succeed

alone. Choosing the right lawyers for your

team makes all the difference. The lawyers

at Genova, Burns & Vernoia are team players

who work with you as partners to plan,

strategize, and, if need be, fight to protect

and promote your business successes.

PRACTICE AREAS

Appellate Practice

Aviation & Aircraft Law

Business Law & Commercial Transactions

Commercial Real Estate, Redevelopment & Environmental Law

Complex Commercial Litigation

Corporate Political Activity Law

Education Law

Employment Law & Litigation

Health & Hospital Law

Labor Law

Public Contract Law & Bid Protest Litigation

Solid Waste & Recycling Law

White Collar Criminal Defense, Corporate Internal Investigations & Corporate Ethics

494 BROAD STREET NEWARK, NJ 07102

telephone 973-533-0777 facsimile 973-533-1112

new york, ny camden, nj red bank, nj philadelphia, pa

www.gbvlaw.com

Paid for by Assembly Republican Victory ’09, Ron Gravino, Treasurer.

HAD ENOUGH? 2009 – The year for real change.

More CorruptionMore Wasteful Spending

More Debt and Higher Taxes

No Property Tax Relief

PolitickerNJ.com

BesT And wOrsT CAMPAIgns OF 2008

wOrsT CAMPAIgns OF THe YeAr

1. linda stender for Congressafter coming within 1% of ousting mike Ferguson in 2006, Stender was viewed as a likely winner for Democrats. But her campaign was an unmitigated disaster. Her local supporters never got along with the emily’s list imports who seemingly hijacked the entire operation. there was no coherent message. Stender offended a core Democratic constituency with an offensive tV ad – one of many examples of how the four-term assemblywoman lost control of her own campaign.

2. Andy unanue for u.s. senatethe goya Foods heir got in the race on easter Sunday and refused to cut short a ski vacation in Vail to meet party leaders, campaign for the nomination, and defend himself against bad news stories that cap-sized a ship that should never have been put in the water in the first place. He dropped out of the race without ever making a campaign appearance.

3. lillian Burley and John Curley for Monmouth County Freeholderthe republicans seemed to have no organization, no coordination between the candidates, and no appar-ent opposition research. Despite Democratic wins in 2006 and 2007, the goP pretended that the Demo-

cratic threat was a mirage. they were only half right, and now the Democrats control the Freeholder Board, 3-2.

4. Murray sabrin for u.s. senatethe ramapo college professor is a nice guy, but his third statewide cam-paign came off as just plain mean. His claim to be the front runner was just plain crazy. His press releases, while entertaining to political insiders, were divisive. He was unable to replicate at a local level the enthusiasm his friend ron Paul generated nationally, although his third place 14% of the vote was still better than anything Paul received. Sabrin joined PolitickerNJ.com as an unpaid columnist in December.

5. rob Andrews for u.s. senateFor the 10-term congress-man from camden county, a last-minute primary chal-lenge against Frank laut-enberg must have seemed like a good idea at the time. He thought he’d be able to raise enough money, and was led to believe that he’d score a few organization lines in North Jersey. the

lines didn’t come through, causing the money to dry up. the attacks on lautenberg’s age didn’t work, and people

didn’t seem to care about process issues like debates. in the end, andrews for Senate, which won just 35% of the vote, was nothing more than tilting at the windmills of political ambition.

6. Finn Caspersen Jr. for somerset County Freeholderthe impatiently ambitious son of millionaire business-man/philanthropist Finn caspersen, who ran for Bed-minster councilman after first trying to fun for congress, desperately wants to move up the political ladder. His chal-lenge to two incumbent Freeholders at the Somerset goP convention fell short because he failed to articulate a com-pelling argument for chance, or to use the advantage of his personal wealth to build a grass roots operation.

7. Jim Mcgettigan for Atlantic County sheriffPaybacks can be a real bitch. the Democratic Sheriff tried to unseat goP county execu-tive Dennis levinson in 2007, and his campaign tactics left the winners with some deep resentment. mcget-tigan never sought to do any damage control, and was a bit overconfident in is chances to win a sixth term. De-spite Democratic wins for Freeholder, mcgettigan was a loser.

8. Josh Zeitz for CongressFor a while, it looked as though chris Smith’s fifteenth Democratic opponent had some promise as he posi-tioned the race as New Jersey vs. Virginia. the college history profes-sor never really got Smith’s 28-year connection with New Jersey voters as he peddled story after story that sought to make Smith look as though he lacked integrity. When the incumbent went to the republic of georgia to facilitate the return of two New Jersey children caught up in a war zone, Zeitz didn’t recognize that voters didn’t care where Smith lived as long as he produced.

9. Camille Andrews for Congressif one were to assume that the campaign of rob andrews’ wife for his open House seat was serious, even as a placeholder, then the effort receives a failing grade. camille andrews didn’t take her position as the Democratic standard bearer se-riously. She refused offers to debate, rejected press calls, and declined to discuss her positions on issues. She

did raise about $70,000, and used some of the money to reimburse herself nearly $7,000 in credit card bills, pay for mailings and computers, and pay for a staff.

10. Bob decheine for Obama n.J. Campaign directorU.S. rep. Steve rothman’s chief of Staff launched a very public campaign to run Barack obama’s New Jersey campaign and lost. the last thing chicago wanted was the Decheine vs. mueller race being fought out in the open.

MOrOn OF THe YeAr Jersey City Councilman steve lipski, who faces charges of public urination after standing on a balcony and evacuating his bladder on a crowd of people at a night club in Washington, D.c. From the New York Daily News (11/09/08): “a drunken Jersey city councilman was arrested for urinating on a crowd of concertgoers from the balcony of a Washington nightclub, police and club sources said Saturday. councilman Steven lipski was caught relieving himself onto several revelers at the 9:30 club during a concert by a grateful Dead tribute band Friday night.”

runners uP: wanda Molina, the former Jersey city munici-pal court chief Judge, was indicted in a ticket fixing scandal. molina is accused of dismissing eight parking tickets for a friend. Virginia Pagan, the former court administrator, allegedly fixed 215 tickets received by herself and her daughter. Former Pleasantville Board of education mem-ber James McCormick, on the witness stand during his primary trial, said: “i stand corrected. i didn’t realize it was a bribe because it wasn’t a bribe to me. Until i was arrested, i didn’t know it was supposedly a bribe.” Pemberton republican official ed Kuck, who was forced to resign after posting a “obama loves america like o.J. loves Nicole” banner on the local goP website. Hardwick township committeeman Alfred Car-razzone had a problem with bathroom facilities at a public swimming beach in Warren county last summer: “Whew, what a mess that was with all the, you know, Puerto ricans and, my god, terrible.”

new JerseY, FOr OnCe,

duMPs Our TrAsH In

new YOrK

CrAIg CArTOn COMPleTes FIrsT

Full YeAr AT wFAn.

PolitickerNJ.com

BesT OPerATIVe OF THe YeAr Brendan gill the veteran Democratic operative from montclair managed Frank lautenberg’s 2008 re-election campaign. lautenberg beat rob an-drews by 24 points in the Democratic primary and Dick Zimmer by 13 points in the general election.

runners uPBesT OPerATIVes OF 2008 dwight Brown, campaign manager, charles Bell for Newark city council Joe Colletti, Field Staffer, John mccain for President nicole davidman, republican fundraiserTim del Monico, Field Staff, N.J. obama campaignAmanda gasperino, campaign manager, Scott garrett for congressChristy gleason, executive Director, camden county Democrats lynne Hurwitz, campaign manager, Bergen county Democratic organization Frank luna, ocean county republican operative samantha Maltzman, Finance Director, Frank lautenberg for U.S. Senate Jennifer May, Finance Director, John adler for congress Tricia Mueller, N.J. State Director, Barack obama for President Michael Muller, Director, New Jersey Democratic coordinated campaign Jason O’donnell, campaign manager, mark Smith for mayor of Bayonnedonna robinson, South Jersey Democratis fundraiser Julie roginsky, Spokesperson, Frank lautenberg for U.S. Senate Chris russell, campaign manager, chris myers for congressraiyan syed, South Jersey Democratic operativeAdam steinberger, Field Director, monmouth county Democrats Mark warren, campaign manager, John adler for congress Amanda woloshen, campaign manager, leonard lance for congress

Chris Christie declares in April that illegal immigrants aren’t breaking the law while being here illegally.

YOgI BerrA-IsM OF THe YeAr

the political community lost a good man on march 15 with the

death of goP political consultant Tom Blakely. He collapsed

during a 5k race at the age of 46. Democrats and republicans

admired him for his tenacity, his integrity, and his intensity, and

he is missed.

other New Jersey political figures who passed away in 2008

include: former U.S. rep. matthew rinaldo; middlesex county

Freeholder David crabiel; former State Senators Walter

kavanaugh, anne clark martindell and Ned Parsekian; former

assembly Speaker William Dickey; former assemblyman

arthur albohn; Salem county Freeholder chuck Sullivan;

former Stafford mayor Wesley Bell; former mt. Holly mayor Jim

Smith; former atlantic city mayor Joseph lazarow; Democratic

pollster Don Herche; former Jersey city council President

Bobby Jackson; reporter russ Flannagan; former essex county

goP powerhouse Joseph intile; gloria Bontempo, the widow

of former New Jersey Democratic State chairman Salvatore

Bontempo; and marian Pallone, the mother of U.S. rep. Frank

Pallone.

In MeMOrIuM

dwight Brown Joe Colletti samantha Maltzman

Tricia Mueller Michael Muller Jason O’donnell

Julie roginsky Mark warren Amanda woloshen

Tim del Monico Amanda gasperino Christy gleason

PolitickerNJ.com

Happy Holidays CONGRESSMAN

FRANK PALLONE

Chairman, Health Subcommittee Energy and Commerce Committee

www.pallonefornewjersey.com

Paid for by Pallone for Congress

PolitickerNJ.com

PolitickerNJ.com

gov. Jon Corzine never returned the phone calls of Michael Kravitz, a local goP candidate in West Deptford. “they would never put me through,” kravitz complained. So last october, kravitz called the governor’s office again, but this time he said he was george norcross.

kravitz: “is Jon there?” lady answering the phone” “Who is calling?” kravitz: “george” lady: “george who?” kravitz: “george Norcross”

“right away i was talking to Jon corzine,” kravitz says. i asked him, ‘How can you take a call and talk to george Norcross but not the average New Jersey citizen.” the State Police were apparently investigating the call, but no word yet.”

BesT PrACTICAl JOKe OF THe YeAr

New Jersey’s winners include:

Leonard Lance for Congress

Ocean County GOP

Middletown Town Council

Salem County Freeholder

In a very difficult year for Republican candidates throughout New Jersey, Jamestown provided the out-of-the-box thinking and persuasive voter contact that made the difference.

Jamestown Associates609.514.7300 www.jamestownassociates.com

FOR MAXIMUM IMPACT: Jamestown Associates.

PolitickerNJ.com

PeOPle TO wATCH In 2009John Ashcroft the former U.S. attorney general, who received a $50 million federal monitor contract from chris christie, is sure to be an issue in the 2009 campaign for governor. steven goldstein all eyes will be on the garden State equality leader as the New Jersey legislature con-siders a marriage equality law. ralph Marra, Jr. the acting U.S. attorney could hold the sec-ond most powerful position in New Jersey for most of 2009. Bill Caruso the former chief of Staff to U.S. rep. rob andrews succeeds Bill castner as the new executive Director of the assembly republicans. rick shaftan the veteran conservative strategist is leading Steve lonegan’s campaign for the republican nomination for governor. Patrick Murray the Director of the monmouth University poll has increasingly emerged as the new David rebovich. wilda diaz the new mayor of Perth amboy, who upset incumbent Joseph Vas, seems to be emerg-ing as genuine reformer. Some Democrats say Jon corzine should pick her for lieuten-ant governor. Barry Albin the associate Justice of the New Jersey Supreme court, who has annoyed liberals for writing the decision against same sex

marriage and conservatives for his views on school funding, is up for reappointment in 2009. rick Perr the Burlington county Democratic chair-man will have two Freeholders, a county clerk and a Surrogate in 2009 – and the opportunity to take control of county government. Bonnie watson Coleman the assembly majority leader is the front runner to be New Jersey’s first lieutenant governor. Christine “roz” samuels one of the first superdelegates to switch her support from Hillary clinton to Barack obama. She lost her bid for re-election as New Jersey’s Democratic National committeewoman in June, calling the vote “retaliation for February.”

Frank Pallonethe Democratic congressman helped Henry Waxman oust John Dingell as House energy & commerce chairman, making his Health Subcommittee chair even more powerful.

richard Codeythe Senate President and former governor is still New Jersey’ most popular Democrat, and that matters if the race for the Demo-cratic gubernatorial nomination changes suddenly.

Bill Palatuccithe lawyer/lobbyist/goP strategist who ran campaigns for ronald reagan and tom kean is chris christie’s closest friend and top advisor.

John Ashcroft Barry Albin steven goldstein

Christine “roz” samuels

Bonnie watson Coleman

ralph Marra, Jr.

THe lIne THAT deFIned THe PrOTesT And MAde nJ101.5 MegA MOneY

“Pigs will fly over the Statehouse before there is a realistic level of new taxes or spending cuts that can

fix this mess.” — Gov. Jon Corzine, on New Jersey’s fiscal woes.


Charlie Stile explains it all: “The Flying Pig Flap cap-tures the paradox of Jon Corzine. After spending

more than $100 million of his own money to become an elected politician, he remains the anti-politician -- struggling to master the salesmanship side of his new profession. He sees the problem and can articulate it through pie charts, bar graphs and phrases like ‘un-funded liabilities’ and other Wall Street wonk words

that spell fiscal disaster.” (The Record, 02/12/08)

richard Codey Bill Palatucci Frank Pallone

PolitickerNJ.com

Happy Holidays

Cape May County Regular Republican OrganizationDavid I. Von Savage, Chairman

Ordered and Paid for by the Cape May County Regular Republican Organization

PolitickerNJ.com

MOsT lIKelY TO lOse THeIr JOBs In 2009 william Clark, the Director of the state Division of investments. the state pension fund he manages lost a reported $25 billion over the last six months.

Tom wilson, the republican State chairman, whose term is up in June. Joseph Ferriero, the Bergen county Democratic chairman.

wOrsT JIngle OF THe YeAr “Hey, ho. Hey, ho. it’s Jersey Joe Pennacchio.” For some unexplained reason, Pennacchio passed on a more effective radio ad to use the jingle in pre-primary robo calls.

wOrsT TIP OF THe YeAr the one spoon fed to Pulitzer Prize winning Star-ledger reporter Josh margolin, who reported the morning after Barack obama’s election that gov. Jon corzine was be-ing vetted for U.S. Secretary of the treasury.

wOrsT AdVAnCe wOrK OF THe YeAr Standing next to Bergen county Democratic chair-man Joe Ferriero at her campaign rally in Hackensack, Hillary clinton said: “let’s reform the government so it ends the no-bid contracts and the cronyism and the incompetence.”

BesT FIgHT OF THe YeAr BeTween FrIends the exchange between U.S. rep. Steve rothman and Surrogate michael Dressler in a closed door meeting of Bergen county Democratic leaders following the indict-ment of Bergen county Democratic chairman Joseph Ferriero: rothman: “F-ck you, f-ck you, f-ck you.” Fressler: “F-ck you too.”

THIngs we wIsH were On YOuTuBe U.S. Sen. Bob menendez singing tora lora lora during a party for New Jersey delegates at the Democratic National convention in Denver. What if conservative assemblyman mike Doherty takes garden State equality chair Steven goldstein up on his offer to be in his wedding party?

OVersTAYIng HIs welCOMe carmen orechio lost his bid for re-election to an eleventh four-year term as a Nutley commissioner in may 2008, ending a career in local government that began in 1968. a former Senate President, orechio was a State Senator from 1974 to 1992.

BesT Free Press OF THe YeAr Steve lonegan got arrested during a peaceful demon-stration outside gov. Jon corzine’s town hall meeting in atlantic county. the story of lonegan’s opposition to toll hikes became front page news. the record’s alfred Doblin explains it: “in the game of media one-upmanship, lonegan is winning. He took a handful of lemons and made himself a very nice whiskey sour.” (the record, 01/25/07) and the best quote about the arrest came from State Sen. gerald cardinale, talking about corzine: “Who does he think he is – Joe Stalin?” (PolitickerNJ.com, 01/22/08)

MOsT eFFeCTIVe endOrseMenT OF THe YeAr Six Democratic congressmen from New Jersey endors-ing Frank lautenberg for U.S. Senate over their House colleague, rob andrews.

leAsT eFFeCTIVe endOrseMenT OF THe YeAr Democratic State Sen. raymond lesniak announcing six weeks after the election that he was secretly backing republican leonard lance for congress.

sTrOngesT sTATeMenT OF 2008 U.S. rep. Bill Pascrell, stating with complete certainty, that karl rove was going to hell. “Dante’s inferno laid out very specifically the very levels receding into hell. and the hot-test place is reserved for those who distort the truth, who manipulate our minds, or who attempt to do it, anyway. So i don’t think Bush and cheney will be at the hottest point in the inferno, but i sure as hell know that karl rove will be,” Pascrell told PolitickerNJ.com at the Democratic National convention last summer. and don’t forget Pascrell’s motto: “this is serious busi-ness, this democracy.” (the record, 01/31/07)

welCOMe HOMe Former Hudson county executive Bob Janiszewski was released from prison in april. “We fall down, but we get up. there are reasons there are erasers on pencils, and that’s because people make mistakes,” said former

Hudson county Freeholder Bill Braker, who served 41 months in a federal prison on corruption charges. (Jer-sey Journal, 04/25/08)

nOw IT All MAKes sense When assembly Deputy Speaker alfred Steele was arrested in 2007 and charged with taking bribes, his republican opponent sounded surprised. “al Steele is a great guy,” said chauncey Brown, a Paterson Board of education member. Nearly ten months later, Brown was also charged in the same bribery scandal.

COluMBO AwArd goP State chairman tom Wilson was able to trace a prankster who was impersonating him in e-mails to republican county chairmen to Patrick Donohue, a consultant to murray Sabrin’s U.S. Senate campaign.

BesT lIne On THe BIggesT Pre-BlAgOJeVICH sCAndAl OF THe YeAr “Now, what i want to know is: what kind of whore costs $5,500? i mean, that’s even more money than lawyers get, for essentially the same service.” – assemblyman michael Patrick carroll (r-morris), on New York gov. eliot Spitzer. (PolitickerNJ.com. 03/10/08)

I’M nOT rAY lesnIAK AwArd Democratic State chairman Joe cryan stuck with the sinking ship known as the S.S. linda Stender, becoming one of the few Democrats willing to beat up on leonard lance: “He’s not independent. He’s as partisan as they come. independent my ass!,” cryan told PolitickerNJ.com in october.

sTuPId Is As sTuPId dOes atlantic city councilman george tibbitt alleged that mayor David evans offered him city jobs in exchange for help with his re-election campaign: “this guy is either wired or incredibly stupid tibbitt, alleging told the Press of atlantic city a month before evans lost the Demo-cratic primary to lorenzo langford.

POll OF THe YeAr the one that former Democratic State chairman tom Byrne put in the field to test his chances in a primary against U.S. Sen. Frank lautenberg. Byrne bailed on the race, but some of the numbers encouraged U.S. rep. rob andrews to get in.

OnlY In new JerseY Former Passaic city councilman marcellus Jackson, who had already pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges and was awaiting sentencing, was the master of ceremonies at a campaign rally for Passaic mayoral candidate Vinny capuana, and was spotted at the door taking cash contributions. another former Passaic city councilman involved in the same scandal, Jonathan Soto, was hired by the county Board of elections as an official challenger last June.|

PolitickerNJ.com

wOrd OF THe YeAr: MAnIFesTO a 94-page manifesto written in 1991 that called for the creation of a new Nationalist Party was one of the main reasons the author, Joseph Pennacchio, was unable to win party support in his bid for the U.S. Senate despite considerable turmoil in the goP field. Now a State Senator, Pennachchio had proposed housing the home-less in military-run camps, and suggested a conspiracy theory in the assassination of President John F. kennedy.

seCOnd BesT IllInOIs sCAndAl OF THe YeAr gov. Jon corzine returns from a June 2008 visit to his home state of illinois only to find that the Senate major-ity leader had proposed eliminating abraham lincoln’s birthday as a state holiday.

HArsHesT InTrA-PArTY COMMenT OF THe YeAr FrOM sOMeOne nOT nAMed lAuT-enBerg Or Andrews “i don’t get a god damn thing for our city…. So far this administration has not done a whole hell of a lot for the citizens of Jersey city.” -- Jersey city mayor Jer-ramiah Healy, on state government. (PolitickerNJ.com, 01/04/08)

CAr OF THe YeAr attorney general anne milgram’s 1994 Honda accord. How did it even reach 69 mph? and milgram gets the “She’s no Zulima Farber award’ for taking the $176 speeding ticket and the four points that come with it, without seeking special consideration. She didn’t even give up a PBa card.

AluMnI OF THe YeAr three people who aren’t from New Jersey but their ties to garden State politics are worthy of recognition: David Plouffe, who managed Bob torricelli’s 1996 U.S. Senate race against Dick Zimmer, ran Barack obama’s campaign for the presidency – arguably one of the best races in american political history; Jill Hazelbaker, who was tom kean, Jr’s communications director in the 2006 Senate race, became John mccain’s national communications director after the first staff cutback and handled the job extraordinarily well; and the multi-talented matthew miller, who worked for Bob menendez before becoming communications director of the Demo-cratic Senatorial campaign committee – and if Politico is right, could be headed for the Department of Justice as spokesman for the new attorney general.

wOrsT PredICTIOn OF THe YeAr tom Wilson:

“New Jersey is going to love Sarah Palin.

(PolitickerNJ.com, 08/29/08)

MOsT POlITICAllY InCOrreCT PredICTIOn OF THe YeAr

rick merkt: “the odds are even money that (Frank)

lautenberg won’t live out his term. (Daily record, 06/05/08)

Feud OF THe YeAr

Dick codey and george Zoffinger. Zoffinger: “(Dick) codey’s an idiot,

and you can print that.” codey: “in my 34 years in politics, i never met a more dishonest per-

son than george Zoffinger.”

THe egYPTIAn HIerOglYPHICs AwArd the interpretive statement to Ballot Question #2, defeated by voters, sponsored by assemblyman John Wisniewski.

slAP dOwn OF THe YeAr Senate President richard codey wasn’t taking any crap from goP State Sen. Jennifer Beck. “i respect your right to speak. However, respect the chamber,” codey told Beck during a Senate session.

runners-uP Hudson goP chairman Jose arango didn’t even realize he was being slapped when U.S. attorney christopher christie told a radio audience: “those who hold the power and corrupt the power are the ones that we’re after. You know in Hudson county, is it shocking to know that most of the people we’ve indicted and convicted were Democrats? a Hudson county republican would love to be indicted. it would show they were relevant.” (WgBo, 11/21/08)

convicted ex-goP operative allan raymond, on then-congressional candidate, now U.S. District court Judge, Bill martini: “What a con artist the man was! His mis-truths came in layers - they came in thirty-one flavors!” raymond, who served as martini’s chief of Staff in congress, made the comments in his book, confessions of a republican operative: How to rig an election

MOsT COMICAl lIe deTeCTOr sCenArIO sInCe denIrO & sTIller In “MeeT THe PArenTs” Senate President Dick codey and assembly minority leader alex Decroce.

THree wOrds THAT exPlAIn dICK ZIMMer’s CAMPAIgn

“i do not.” -- James laurie, an 18-year-old Brookdale community college student, asked if he knew who Dick Zimmer was. (Star-ledger, 07/06/08)

THAT’s wHAT HAPPens wHen BIll BArOnI MOVes TO THe senATe assemblywoman linda greenstein, overhead on the floor of the State assembly, saying “can somebody please get over here and tell me how to vote?”

THe VerY QuOTABle rOnAld rICe

“Bonnie Watson coleman’s a good choice. So is Nia gill. So is Shirley turner. So are all the other legislative Black caucus Nubian queens.” -- State Sen. ronald rice, on who Jon corzine should pick for lieutenant governor in 2009.(PolitickerNJ.com, 01/31/08)

“Steve’s a guy who wants his epitaph to be, ‘i controlled everything in my life,’ but he’s just a guy with a big ego, who wants everyone to kiss his behind like we’re out here picking a bunch of cotton bales, black, white and latino, all of us. to hell with Steve.” -- State Sen. ronald rice, on Newark Democratic leader Steve adubato. (PolitickerNJ.com, 05/31/08)

sCAndAl TO wATCH

In 2009 During his testimony in the federal trial of former

Senate appropriations committee chairman Wayne Bryant, Democratic budget staffer

george leBlanc revealed the existence of a secret slush fund where individual legislators

designated which entities would receive amounts of money from the state account.

“The thing is, he didn’t keep his word. He reneged on it, and peo-ple are going to remember that.” —Rep. Frank Pallone, on Rep. Rob Andrews’ commitment not to challenge Frank Lauten-berg in the Democratic U.S. Senate primary.

(Washington Post, 04/13/08)

“The senator has said he’d be will-ing to have debates if they were sponsored by legitimate organi-zations, and we’ve received nine offers of debates from legitimate organizations.” —Rep. Rob Andrews, on

debating Frank Lautenberg.

“He just sat upstairs in the rock-ing chair and thought through

what he wanted to do. He literally sat and you could see the wheels

turning in his head.” —Democratic con-gressional candidate Camille Andrews, on her husband, Rep. Rob Andrews, deciding to run for the U.S. Senate. (Star-Ledger, 05/02/08)

“As far as I’m concerned, he’s kind of sunk now. He’s sunk by his past record of support for the war, of working with Newt Gingrich on

Contract with America. He’s sunk because he doesn’t represent

the views of the people of New Jersey.”—U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg on the

Senate candidacy of U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews. (PolitickerNJ.com, 04/27/08)

“I’m really humbled by the fact that so many people asked me to run

again, and I’m flattered. But I have not changed my position. I have

made up my mind.” —Rep. Rob Andrews, on seeking re-election to Congress in 2008. (Gloucester County Times, 07/07/08)

“You ought to tell the truth, you were the cheerleader for the war.”—Frank Lautenberg to Rob Andrews, in their NJ 101.5 radio debate. (Star-Ledger, 05/30/08)

“I wouldn’t enjoy it because I think his behavior has been contemptu-

ous.” — U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, on debat-ing with Rep. Rob Andrews, his opponent in the

Democratic primary. (Philadelphia Inquirer, 05/06/08)

“A bare-faced liar. Rob Andrews lied. Plain and simple.” —A Philadelphia Inquirer editorial on Andrews’ decision to seek

re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives. (Philadelphia Inquirer, 09/05/08)

“If they ever make a movie about Rep. Rob Andrews, there is only

one actor to play the South Jersey congressman: Jim Carrey. In fact,

the comedian already has done the needed research for a previous

film: ‘Liar, Liar.’” —The Record’s Alfred Doblin. (The Record, 09/08/08)

“Dishonest politicians aren’t hard to find. But Rep. Robert E. Andrews (D.,N.J.) has managed to distinguish himself in a crowded field.” —Phila-delphia Inquirer, endorsing Rev. Dale Glading for Congress in the 1st district. (Philadelphia

Inquirer, 10/20/08)

A sPeCIAl seCTIOn On rOB Andrews

PolitickerNJ.com

PolitickerNJ.com

On THe sTATe OF THe MedIA “in previous elections, i’d have Jim goodman just bug-ging the hell out of me from the trenton times. i don’t believe i’ve been covered by the trenton times yet. may-be the time i campaigned in Hamilton in Septemberfest, but i’m not sure about that ... i think Bob Schwaneberg is a terrific reporter. But not only is he taking the buyout, but he’s been covering the Wayne Bryant trial and a lot of different things ... one of the editors of the New York times who interviewed me for their editorial thought i was still a member of congress.” -- goP U.S. Senate can-didate Dick Zimmer, who says the media has essentially ignored his race against incumbent Frank lautenberg. (PolitickerNJ.com, 10/27/08)

wHY dIdn’T sOMeOne gIVe HIM THe CuT sIgn? assembly Democratic spokesman Derek roseman reached his breaking point with goP assemblywoman alison littell mcHose: “allison is a special interest pup-pet who is not terribly bright and doesn’t stand for any-thing, so of course she’s against cleaning up elections in New Jersey.” (PolitickerNJ.com, 08/06/08)

reVOlVIng dOOr ‘08 the Star-ledger’s Deborah Howlett went from covering gov. Jon corzine one week to spinning for him the next as his new Director of communications. kathy Barrett carter and Joe Donohue also moved from the Star-ledger to the corzine administration. the Star-ledger’s tom Hester is now with the assembly Democrats and gannett’s greg Volpe is with the assembly republicans.

nOw KeeP rAlPH MArrA AwAY at the swearing in of Wilda Diaz as the new mayor of Perth amboy, master of ceremonies Judy goldberg said of then-U.S. attorney christopher christie’s presence: “We are honored to have him here… and we hope his vis-its remain purely social.” (PolitickerNJ.com, 07/01/08)

sTATe AgenCY MOsT lIKelY TO Be CrITICIZed In 2009 the retirement of Dr. Frederick Herrmann as executive Director of the New Jersey election law enforcement commission after nearly 25 years will open the door to considerable criticism from those who kept their mouths shut out of respect for Herrmann’s integrity and abilities.

MOsT sIgnIFICAnT CAnCellATIOn in September, Diocese of trenton Bishop John m. Smith cancelled former gov. christie Whitman’s speech at the Stuart country Day School of the Sacred Heart because of the former governor’s support of abortion rights.

THe sCAndAl THAT wenT AwAY

gary rose, the chief of the governor’s office of economic growth, helped facilitate a privately funded bailout of the controversial Xanadu project when he owned stock in a company that stood to lose over a billion dollars in the meadowlands project. But with rose leaving as a top advisor to Jon corzine, republicans let the matter drop.

Judge OF THe YeAr Superior court Judge michael giles was reprimanded in September for a few profanity-laced tirades against lawyers in his essex county courtroom. “i said get the (expletive) out of my courtroom. What the (expletive) don’t you understand? Shut the (expletive) up and get the (expletive) out of here. i have a meeting this afternoon,” giles screamed at one lawyer, according to a disciplinary complaint filed with the advisory commit-tee on Judicial misconduct

neIl rOMAnO AwArd FOr BesT IllusIOn OF A CAMPAIgn Dennis Shulman, the blind rabbi from Bergen county, who convinced so many pundits that he might actually win. in the end, he did no better against U.S. rep. Scott garrett than Paul aronsohn or anne Wolfe did.

THe FrAnK lAuTenBerg AwArd Frank Salvato, a 93-year-old republican, was re-elected to the Warren township committee last November. the first time he won was in 1938, when Frank lautenberg was 14-years-old.

THe JOe VITAle AwArd FOr A suCCessFul InTerIM sTInT As MAYOr assemblyman gary Schaer became acting mayor of Passaic after Sammy rivera’s criminal conviction and held the post until a new mayor was elected in November. He also became chairman of the powerful assembly Banking & insurance committee after Neil cohen’s resignation.

“I’ve been waiting for someone to come up and propose it. I already told my wife to get ready to move. It has a beautiful living facility. But I like what I do. Frankly, it’s a more important job. You’re asked to respond to things

in a more basic way than defending bad policy. I don’t like defending bad policy.” -—U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, on running for Vice President in 2008. (The Hill, 05/12/08)

“She doesn’t have a lot of sense, but she has no soul either.” —U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, on GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

(Press of Atlantic City, 10/08/08)

FrAnK lAuTenBerg On THe VICe PresIdenCY

OOPs A telephone company error had callers expect-ing to reach the sussex County democratic Com-mittee instead reaching a phone sex service where the phone was answered

HellO, HOneY, lOOKIng FOr

HOT TAlK?

PolitickerNJ.com

THe dAnA rOne AwArd it’s a tie between trenton city councilwoman annette lartigue and Jersey city mayor Jerramiah Healy. latrigue’s daughter was stopped by a police officer for speaking on a cell phone while driving. She handed the phone to the officer, who heard from the council-woman on the other end: “officer, stand down until your sergeant gets there.” (trenton times, 07/18/08)

Healy was convicted of resisting arrest and obstructing justice during an incident outside a Bradley Beach tavern in 2006. Here’s what the police officer says Healy said: “You are go-ing to be sorry for this whole incident. Do yourself a favor and get your chief down here before this goes any further

because i can’t believe you don’t know who i am. i can’t believe you maced me. You had no reason to do that. i wasn’t resisting. i wasn’t fighting you. i didn’t do anything wrong. i am the mayor of Jersey city. i was a judge, i was a lawyer, i am a good personal friend with your chief (lenny guida). call the chief and let’s get this rectified without any charges. For the good of your town, for the good of your department, for the good of my city, we need to resolve this without charges. can you sweep this under the rug?” -- Jersey city mayor Jerramiah Healy, speaking to Bradley Beach police after his arrest in 2006, according to a police report. Healy denies these quotes. (Jersey Journal, 09/03/08)

Yes, He Is “What a creep.” -- mike Beson, on John edwards. Beson was his 2008 state campaign director. (PolitickerNJ.com, 08/11/08)

wAllY edge’s FAVOrITe MOMenTs gov. Jon corzine’s shout-out at the New Jersey legisla-tive correspondents Dinner last may: “as Wally always says, ‘Hold me accountable.’” matt Friedman and max Pizarro calling andy Unanue’s parents home in alpine and getting a housekeeper to confirm to them that the U.S. Senate candidate didn’t live there, he lived in New York.

sOMeTHIng gOIng On the best cross examination of the year came during the testimony of Francine Pruitt in the federal corruption trial of

former Sharpe James, who addressed the relationship of the former mayor of Newark and his co-defendant, tamika riley: Pruitt: “they had something going on.” gerald krovatin, riley’s defense attorney: “Something going on of what nature.” Pruitt: “Sex.”

sherron, we hardly knew ye

Sherron rolax, who has a place in New Jersey political trivia as the teenager

gov. Christine Todd whitman patted down while accompanying State troopers in a late night patrol in 1996, was killed in a knife fight in camden in may. the photo

surfaced in 2000, after Whitman was nominated to serve as administrator of the

U.S. environmental Protection agency.

Best Wishes for a Happy New Year

STATE SENAToR

BILL BARoNI

Paid for by Friends of Bill Baroni, P.O. Box 3205, Hamilton, NJ 08619—Not Paid for at Taxpayer Expense

PolitickerNJ.com

IF YOu CAn wOrK FOr sTeVe rOTHMAn, dO IT three of U.S. rep. Steve rothman’s former District Directors have enjoyed much success: adam Zellner, a top aide to gov. Jon corzine, served as Deputy to soon-to-be ePa Director lisa Jackson when she ran the DeP; Brendan gill managed Frank lautenberg’s award-winning campaign for re-election; and michael Soliman is now State Director for U.S. Sen. Bob menendez, now the DScc chairman.

lOYAlTY AwArd

When key South Jersey Democrats, like george Norcross, Dana redd and Donald Norcross, endorsed Barack obama on February 20 -- at criticial juncture in the Democratic presidential campaign, assembly Speaker Joe roberts held firm on his endorsement of Hillary clinton. roberts promised to stay with clinton until the end, and he kept his word.

“Work hard, play hard. That was my motto.” —U.S. Senate candidate Andy

Unanue, in testimony during a legal battle over control of his family business, Goya Foods.


“I was spending more time in New York so I moved there ... most of my cars are in New Jersey.” —U.S.

Senate candidate Andy Unanue (The Record, 03/28/08)

“Let’s be candid: The introduction of Andy Unanue to the people of

New Jersey did not go as well as I would have liked.”

—Atlantic County GOP Chairman Keith Davis (Philadelphia Inquirer, 04/03/08)

“I declined to endorse Andy what-ever-his-name-is. In my opinion he did not have the fire in the belly to

want to be a candidate.” —Hunterdon County GOP Chairman Henry

Kuhl, on Andy Unanue (PolitickerNJ.com, 04/10/08)

On AndY unAnue:

JOn COrZIne’s re-eleCTIOn “it’s not that i don’t want to be reelected. i do,” -- gov. Jon corzine (the record, 02/29/08) “gov. Jon corzine is in trouble. Since most New Jersey voters say they don’t know a lot about christopher christie, gov. corzine’s record and inability to unscramble the state’s budget mess is pulling him down.” -- clay F. richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling institute. (PolitickerNJ.com, 08/12/08)

“He has alluded to (Woodrow) Wilson and said, ‘if it takes being a one-term governor to get it fixed,’ he’s willing to do it. it’s a noble sentiment about re- election. But politicians do have to be aware of it. if you’re not concerned about re-election, you’re not going to be re-elected.” -- Seton Hall University Political Science Professor Joseph marbach (Star-ledger, 02/27/08

PolitickerNJ.com

“There are some in the Republican leadership who

think Joe Pennacchio’s porridge is too hot. Then you have Murray Sabrin, who says Joe Pennacchio is defi-nitely not conservative enough — that’s just too cold. Well, you know something? Maybe Joe Pennacchio is just right. Maybe Joe Pennacchio is about where the average person in New Jersey stands and thinks, sort

of right in the middle, a little bit right of center, pragmatic.”

– State Sen. Joe Pennacchio, a candidate for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate

(The Record, 03/20/08)

“Depending on whom you ask, this is a

story about Maverick Murray, Jersey Joe and the Liberal Loser Lobbyist. others regard it simply as

the Republican primary to choose a candidate for the United States Senate in New Jersey. All would agree

that it has not been the neatest, nor the most electrify-ing, of affairs.”

— The New York Times’ David Chen, describing the GOP primary between Murray Sabrin,

Joe Pennacchio and Dick Zimmer. (New York Times, 06/27/08)

“In television, it’s called ‘jumping the shark.’ A plot de-vice designed to bolster declining ratings, the phrase refers to an episode of the sitcom ‘Happy Days.’The

sitcom’s popularity was waning, so the character Fonzie jumps over killer fish in his motorcycle. Re-publican Murray Sabrin is running for U.S. Senate. His self-determined moniker is ‘Maverick Murray.’

If that’s a stretch, calling Sabrin ‘The Fonz’ is practi-cally Gumby-esque. But Sabrin, sans ‘hog’ and leather

jacket, is jumping the shark.” —The Record’s Alfred Doblin

(The Record, 05/09/08)

gOldIlOCKs And THe THree rePuBlICAns

rIsIng sTAr OF THe YeAr

damian BednarzWhile earning his master’s Degree in international relations from Seton Hall University’s Whitehead School of Diplomacy, Damian Bednarz of West Paterson co-founded the grassroots NJ for obama organization in an edison coffee shop. as a volunteer committed to the presidential campaign of Barack obama, he ran the operation here for five months - growing support to 500 members.

the obama campaign hired him in the lead-up to the primary season to work in its New Hampshire office. over the course of a long primary sea-son, Bednarz organized for the campaign as a paid staffer in a multitude of states before moving to the head office in chicago where he served on the campaign staff for the 2008 general election and helped secure his candidate’s general election victory over Sen. John mccain. Now he’s in Washington, workingfor the obama inaugural committee.

runners Up:Mike Burke, Salem county Democratic operativeJenny davis, Hudson county Democratic operativedavid glass, Field Director, leonard lance for c ongressJay lassiter, Blogger, John adler for congressMatt Mowers, Building a New majority PacMitch seim and Alex Habib, ocean county Democratic operatives

njpoliticker.com year in review 2008

News & Politics