Being a Chairman is awful.

And then (0.00 / 0)

Joe Cryan proceeded to ignore the Wizzer while he was talking and shot the breeze with good ol' Simon Legree Sweeney.

He may not have had the money she needed...but isn't it kind of his responsibility (or wasn't it?) to make sure he did?  

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by: Thurman Hart @ Thu Jan 28, 2010 at 23:52:20 PM UTC

you may want to change your signature (1.00 / 1)

I guess that if we really wanted to make Rosi the next NJDSC chair we probably should have figured out what we needed to do to make it happen.

It might have helped to know the date, time, and location of the NJDSC meeting and who the NJDSC members were.  I am not blaming you, Thurman.  I am just as responsible for my lack of action and knowledge as anybody's.

But it would have been great if there was somebody in the Blue Jersey community who knew these things and could share them with the rest of us.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Fri Jan 29, 2010 at 02:01:40 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

The date was listed (4.00 / 1)

in this post that I did about Wisniewski getting the chair support on January 19.  It's not a secret I was trying to keep. I wasn't invited, so I didn't have all the information to share with you.

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by: Jason Springer @ Fri Jan 29, 2010 at 02:16:16 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

you're right (1.00 / 2)

I was not referring to you.  I think that there are others here with access to inside information that could have been useful for those of us who wanted to have an impact on this decision-making process.

Unfortunately, I missed your post.  Anyone who was interested in having their voice heard about this issue should have started organizing at that time.  Thanks.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Fri Jan 29, 2010 at 03:19:09 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

He means me. (0.00 / 0)

And point taken.


It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.  

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by: Rosi Efthim @ Fri Jan 29, 2010 at 21:27:05 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

how do you feel about this? (0.00 / 0)

From Gusciora hopes to return to the Dems' good graces at Politicker.com.

Gusciora wasn't happy after he was bumped from his Commerce Committee chairmanship for, he said, supporting his running mate Bonnie Watson Coleman's bid for speaker over the eventual winner, Sheila Oliver (D-East Orange).    

So he called out the new majority leader, Joseph Cryan (D-Union), accusing him of leaving him in the dark about the chairmanship decision.  Then, two weeks later, he asked Democrats to think twice about reelecting Camden Mayor Dana Redd as the state Democratic Party's vice-chair because, during her final weeks as a state senator, she blew off a request to meet with NAACP Chairman Julian Bond, who was advocating on behalf of gay marriage proponents (Reed, the only openly gay member of the legislature, was the prime sponsor of the gay marriage legislation in the assembly).

Should progressives stand idly by while one of our champions, Reed Gusciora, the first elected official in the state to publicly support Howard Dean's Presidential campaign in 2003, is treated this way or should we do something about it?  Are you with us and Reed or your buddy, Joe Cryan?

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Sat Jan 30, 2010 at 17:57:12 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Let's Settle Down (0.00 / 0)

Hi Rachel'sdad,

We're all on the same side here.  And no one is doing this as a job.  So let's not be too critical when things don't happen in an optimal way.  It would have been nice to know more about the meeting in advance, but it didn't happen.   Let's see if we can work to know when the upcoming deadlines/elections are so we can be prepared.  I think that is one of the purposes of BlueJersey.  To share important information.  Let's work together to get there.

Best,
pb

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by: princetonblue @ Sat Jan 30, 2010 at 01:21:47 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

was not questioning Rosi's commitment or dedication (0.00 / 0)

There is nobody that I know who works longer and harder for progressive causes and issues than Rosi.  The point that I was trying to make without making it was that as a result of her commitment, dedication, and long and hard work, Rosi has developed relationships and has access to people and information that the rest of us do not.

It is my theory and I admit that it is a flawed one at best that Rosi is able to cultivate many of these relationships and has access to the people and information that she does because she is very selective about the information that she chooses to share with the rest of us through Blue Jersey.

Obviously, there is a Catch-22 at work where if she were less selective about the information that she shares, she would probably have access to far less information, which brings me back to my original point.  I don't think that we lacked sufficient information about the NJDSC Chair and Vice-Chair selection process because of a lack of work on anybody's part.  My feeling is that we lacked this information, because the person who had access to it chose to not share it with us.

I have this feeling because before Rosi told us that Janice Kovach was being pushed back to her former position in favor of Dana Redd she told us a few days earlier that the next Vice Chair was someone we knew.  I can only guess that she was referring to Kovach.  I don't know if there is anything that we could have done to push Kovach over Redd for the Vice Chair's job nor am I even sure that she would have been the right person for the job as both Thurman and I have been very vocal about our desire to have someone from the progressive grassroots, ideally Rosi, in that position, but I would have liked to have had the opportunity to try rather than, once again, just be told that the outcome was a fait accompli.

When push comes to shove, Rosi is well within her rights to pick and choose what information she chooses to share with us and what information she keeps to herself as she has proven herself beyond a shadow of a doubt to be an effective leader.  From time to time, I am going to continue to push for more information, because that is all that I can do.  However, my doing that should never be misconstrued as questioning her commitment, dedication, and effectiveness as a leader.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Sat Jan 30, 2010 at 02:42:37 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

609-392-DEMS (0.00 / 0)

Bert, the conspiracy theories are a little beyond.

Here's the number of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee. Get the info yourself next time.  

It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.  

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by: Rosi Efthim @ Sat Jan 30, 2010 at 19:26:50 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

so is your indignant attitude (0.00 / 0)

My comment above is more complimentary than anything, but you choose to focus on something that is probably more truth than conspiracy theory.

You were the one who wrote the great diary about what you thought we needed in the next NJDSC Chair.  Why not go the extra mile and use your fantastic leadership skills to help us make it happen?  If you thought that Janice Kovach, and not Dana Redd, was the right person for the job, why not ask us to help you help her?

I have had the NJDSC phone number as long if not longer than you have.  However, the people who answer the phones aren't the most forthcoming with information, particularly when it comes to the inside baseball stuff.

Being as friendly with Joe Cryan as you are, you are probably able to get your calls returned far more quickly than the rest of us, which brings us back to my original point.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Sat Jan 30, 2010 at 20:38:09 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

There's always a next time n/t (0.00 / 0)

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by: Thurman Hart @ Fri Jan 29, 2010 at 02:18:48 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

any interest in working with me on redistricting? (0.00 / 0)

Since you're a Republican now, it could be considered a bipartisan effort.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Fri Jan 29, 2010 at 03:21:47 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thurman (0.00 / 0)

I was there, and actually I photographed the two - Cryan and Sweeney, leaning up against a wall in heavy chat. But I did that because the two of them interest me as people, as New Jersey political characters cut from substantial Irish cloth.

Not because I thought they were being rude. Just sayin'.

It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.  

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by: Rosi Efthim @ Fri Jan 29, 2010 at 21:26:31 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Where did the NJDSC's money go in 2007? (0.00 / 0)

Does anybody remember the hot races that year?  If I remember correctly, it was all Ellen Karcher all of the time.  I think that might have also been the year that Democrats thought that the 11th district was winnable.  The 14th district Assembly races were somewhat interesting.  That's it.  

I don't believe for a moment that Joe Cryan shed a tear for Melonie Marano or Dana Wefer or any other high-quality candidate in any of the red counties in the state.  While he is undoubtedly better than your average machine politician, he is still a machine politician nevertheless.

As expected, Dana Redd was allowed to return to her position as NJDSC Vice Chair by a unanimous vote.  Despite turning her back on her LGBT constituents and refusing to even meet with Julian Bond to discuss her position on marriage equality, not a single member of the NJDSC cast a vote against her.  These are not people who we can or should be working with.

Progressives in NJ are never going to have the progressive party infrastructure and leadership or the critical mass of progressive elected officials until we create them for ourselves.  Once again, I am going to call for the establishment of a New Jersey Progressive Democratic State Committee.  It would be wonderful if others here would agree.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Fri Jan 29, 2010 at 01:52:52 AM UTC

Silly Question (0.00 / 0)

What does it take to establish a New Jersey Progressive Democratic State Committee?

Until we create one, start raising funds, and competing with the Machine Democratic State Committee, we're not going to make much progress.

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by: princetonblue @ Fri Jan 29, 2010 at 03:38:38 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

need a group of people willing to do it (0.00 / 0)

Once we have that, we can open up a Continuing Political Committee account with ELEC and move forward from there.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Fri Jan 29, 2010 at 04:22:37 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

How many people does one need? (0.00 / 0)

And what does it take to open a continuing political committee account?

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by: princetonblue @ Fri Jan 29, 2010 at 15:31:47 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

21? 42? 105? (0.00 / 0)

I don't believe that there is a specific number of people needed to do this.  It would probably be good if we had at least one person representing every county in the state, but it would be ideal if we had more than that.

Creating a CPC account involves filing forms with ELEC and opening up a bank account where funds will be held.  Most of the rules governing CPCs can be found on the ELEC website.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Fri Jan 29, 2010 at 18:48:03 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

It depends (0.00 / 0)

on whether you want to start a new party or a PAC.  You can find the regulations here:

19:25-4.4 Establishment of a political committee
(a) A political committee shall be established by appointing a treasurer and establishing a depository no later than the date on which the political committee first receives any contribution or makes or incurs any expenditure that when combined with other contributions
received in an election, or expenditures made or incurred in an election, totals $2,100 or more.
(b) No later than 10 days after a political committee is established, the political
committee shall file a registration statement and designation of campaign depository (Form PC) containing the following information for each depository the political committee has established:
1. The full name of the political committee and identifying title, if different, which name or identifying title may not currently be in use by another
political committee;
2. The mailing address of the political committee, and the name and resident
address of a resident of New Jersey who is designated by the committee as the
agent of the political committee to receive service of legal process;
3. The name, mailing address and telephone number of the person appointed as chairperson, if any;
4. The name, mailing and resident address and telephone number of the person appointed as treasurer;
5. The name, mailing address and telephone number of the bank at which the campaign depository has been established, the account name and number, and the names, mailing addresses and telephone numbers of all persons authorized to sign checks or otherwise make transactions;
6. The general organizational category or affiliation of the political committee,
including, but not limited to: supporting or opposing a candidate or public
officeholder, supporting or opposing a public question, or support of or
affiliation with a business, union, professional or trade association, ideological group, civic association, or other entity; and
7. A descriptive statement prepared by the organizers or officers that identifies:
i. The names and mailing addresses of the persons having control over the affairs of the political committee, including but not limited to persons in whose name or at whose direction or suggestion the committee solicits funds or makes contributions;
ii. The names and mailing addresses of persons not previously identified
under subparagraph i. above who, directly or through an agent,
participated in the initial organization of the committee;
iii. In the case of any identified person who is an individual, the
occupation of that individual, home address, and name and mailing
address of the individual's employer;
iv. In the case of any identified person that is a corporation, partnership,
unincorporated association, or other organization, the name and
mailing address of the organization; and,
v. The economic, political or other particular interests and objectives
which the political committee has been organized to or does advance.
(c) The registration statement and designation of campaign depository shall be certified
as true and correct by the chairperson and treasurer, and they shall further certify that no
candidate has established, authorized the establishment of, maintained or participated directly or
indirectly in the management or control of the political committee, and no candidate shall be
permitted to do so during the existence of the political committee.
(d) The political committee shall file an amendment to the registration statement and
designation of campaign depository no later than three days after any of the information required
in (b) above changes.
(e) A political committee shall file a registration statement and designation of campaign
depository for each election in which it raises or expends $2,100 or more to aid or promote the
nomination, election or defeat of a candidate or candidates, or the passage or defeat of a public
question.
(f) A political committee which expects to raise or expend funds in each of two or more successive elections may apply to the Commission to be certified as a continuing political committee.

OR, for a party

19:25-4.6 Designation by a political party committee
(a) A political party committee, that is the state committee of a political party organized
pursuant to N.J.S.A. 19:5-4, the county committee of a political party organized pursuant to
N.J.S.A. 19:5-3, and the municipal committee of a political party organized pursuant to N.J.S.A.
19:5-2, shall designate on or before July 1 in each year an organizational treasurer and an
organizational depository, which designation shall be effective through June 30 of the following
year.
Updated May, 2009 31
(b) No later than 10 days after designating an organizational treasurer and organizational
depository, a political party committee shall file a designation of organizational depository
(Form D-3) containing the following information for each organizational depository the political
party committee has established:
1. The full name of the political party committee, which shall include the name of
the political party to which the committee is affiliated;
2. The name, mailing address and telephone number of the person appointed as
chairperson;
3. The name, mailing and resident address and telephone number of the person
appointed as organizational treasurer;
4. The name, mailing address and telephone number of the bank at which the
organizational depository has been established, the account name and number,
and the names, mailing addresses and telephone numbers of all persons
authorized to sign checks or otherwise make transactions.
(c) The designation of organizational depository shall be certified as true and correct by
the chairperson and treasurer.
(d) The political party committee shall file an amendment to its designation of
organizational depository no later than three days after any of the information required in (b)
above changes.

In short, I'd say: Get a group of people together, talk to a lawyer.

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by: Thurman Hart @ Fri Jan 29, 2010 at 18:50:24 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

What is GSE? (0.00 / 0)

Is a PAC, party, or simply an organization?  Does it raise money that it then distributes to candidates?

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by: princetonblue @ Sat Jan 30, 2010 at 01:40:10 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

GSE is a CPC (aka PAC) and a 501c3 (0.00 / 0)

Yes and it also does nonpartisan, nonpolitical educational programming.

Right now, it would be more important to bring together a critical mass of progressives who are interested in creating an alternative entity to the NJDSC.  My guess is that the CPC would be the way to go, because I am not sure if a political party can support candidates running in the primary elections of another party.

I am not interested in creating yet another 3rd party that will tilt at the political windmills every November like the Greens et al.  I would like to create an entity that operates within the Democratic Party, is independent of the NJDSC and CDCs, but at the same time, runs candidates for positions within the NJDSC and CDCs.

Undoubtedly, this would be a tough needle to thread, but I believe that it is a needle that must be threaded if progressives are ever going to have any say over how our party and our elected officials operate in this state.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Sat Jan 30, 2010 at 02:06:00 AM UTC

[ Parent ]