Bill Baroni will leave the Senate

Wow. (4.00 / 1)

That's a significant loss for ME supporters in the state Senate. But it's also an opportunity for a progressive candidate in the swingiest district in the state. (I would have said the swingingest, but I lived there forever, and it's not that much fun!)

So let's be sure we encourage a straight-up teabagger for the Republican nominee!

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by: denniscmcgrath @ Fri Feb 19, 2010 at 16:54:10 PM UTC

Dennis (0.00 / 0)

You lived in the District, who would you want to see run on the progressive side?

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 Feb 19, 2010 at 17:03:19 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I'd have to think about that (0.00 / 0)

No one leaps to mind. Top of my head, there was a woman from South Brunswick who I liked a lot who was on, maybe still is on, the township committee - Debra ... can't put my finger on it. Dvd Avins knows her for sure. He could also probably provide a quicker answer to who else would be a potential progressive from around the district. Unfortunately, I lived in Trenton, so my exposure to progressive up-and-comers was limited, to say the least ... and I don't see any coming out of Hamilton, either. I'd be looking to WW, Plainsboro or SB.

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by: denniscmcgrath @ Fri Feb 19, 2010 at 17:30:32 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Dan Benson (0.00 / 0)

The reality of these things is that pecking order prevails in terms of who the party promotes. But in the mix, whatever it is, I would like to see Freeholder Dan Benson move up.  

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 Feb 19, 2010 at 17:33:38 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I was thinking former SB mayor Debra Johnson (0.00 / 0)

but a freeholder trumps a mayor, as you point out.

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by: denniscmcgrath @ Fri Feb 19, 2010 at 17:40:52 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

PNJ is focusing on DeAngelo and Greenstein (4.00 / 2)

Before we get too excited about this, we should remember that the seat is initially going to go to a Republican in about a month or so with special primary and general elections in June and November.

If pecking order does prevail, then the Democratic nomination will most likely go to one of the two Democratic Assemblypersons, Wayne DeAngelo and Linda Greenstein.

DeAngelo, a conservative labor leader from Hamilton is more likely to get the support of Steve Sweeney and would almost definitely get the party line in Mercer County, but if Greenstein was willing to buck Sweeney and run in a contested primary and could get a wink and a nod at the very least from NJDSC Chairman and fellow Middlesex County Democrat, John Wisniewski, then she would most likely have the Middlesex County line.

This scenario would give DeAngelo an advantage, but not an insurmountable, particularly if Greenstein had the enthusiastic support of the progressive community, which she should have as she has a very good record in terms of both her words and deeds.

She was more than willing to have her Assembly Judiciary Committee hold hearings on the marriage equality legislation, but was eventually blocked from doing so by Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts who wanted to wait for the entire Senate to vote before the bill would go to the entire Assembly.

I would hope that if there is a contested Democratic primary between DeAngelo and Greenstein this June, progressives from every part of the state would engage this battle wholeheartedly and join me in sending a message to Assemblyman/Chairman Wisniewski that if he does want to repair the damaged relationship between progressive Democrats and the Democratic establishment, he should do everything in his power to ensure that Assemblywoman Greenstein has a fair shot at vying for this seat.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Fri Feb 19, 2010 at 18:32:52 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

d'oh! (2.00 / 1)

Linda Greenstein OF COURSE!

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by: denniscmcgrath @ Fri Feb 19, 2010 at 18:40:38 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Is she progressive enough for you, Dennis? (0.00 / 0)

If so, that's better than the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Fri Feb 19, 2010 at 18:59:41 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Linda (0.00 / 0)

Given that I live in the district and will miss Baroni, I too hope that Linda Greenstein gets a shot at the seat.  Given his failure to commit on the ME issue, I'd hate to see DeAngelo in the Senate; it would be like electing another Sweeney!  If it comes to a primary between DeAngelo and Greenstein, I know where my money and support would go!

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by: lounur @ Sat Feb 20, 2010 at 05:45:54 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I liked Debra Johnson (0.00 / 0)

When I was Chair, I encouraged her to run and she later officiated at my Dad's second marriage. But she has since burned many bridges and would get little support here.

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by: Dvd Avins @ Fri Feb 19, 2010 at 22:55:12 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Still, a vacancy. (0.00 / 0)

Assuming the seat goes to an Assemblyperson, that still leaves a vacancy we can ponder, jut in the other chamber. And, though I don't think it likely, we could have to vacancies in the assembly if WDA and LG both run in the Senate primary.

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by: Dvd Avins @ Sat Feb 20, 2010 at 16:13:10 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Unfortunately not (4.00 / 1)

The Assembly seat of either DeAngelo or Greenstein would not be vacated unless and until one of them won both the primary and general election for the seat.  Neither have to vacate their seat to run in the special primary election.  Thus, only one vacancy is likely.

I think that it is entirely possible that someone like Dan Benson could be considered for the vacant Assembly seat, although he would most likely have to beat John Cimino to get it, which would be tough, considering the fact that he is the son of former Mercer County Freeholder and Assemblyman, Anthony "Skip" Cimino.

If the district remains the same after redistricting, it is entirely possible that the loser of a DeAngelo-Greenstein special primary election could take another shot at the Senate seat with his/her own slate of Assembly candidates in 2011, which could create a second opportunity for both Benson and Cimino as well as some Middlesex County candidates.

I'm rooting for Linda to get the Senate seat and Dan to get the Assembly seat.  I also wouldn't mind seeing someone more liberal than DeAngelo in the other Assembly seat.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Sat Feb 20, 2010 at 17:29:44 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Gotta (4.00 / 1)

get rid of those that don't toe the party line.

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by: Thurman Hart @ Fri Feb 19, 2010 at 17:28:43 PM UTC

meaning, promote Baroni out? (4.00 / 2)

of the Senate? That's what it looks like to me. His principled stand in January may have been partially fueled by foreknowledge that he was leaving, although Baroni has always said he would support ME and that was long before CC came into office.

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by: denniscmcgrath @ Fri Feb 19, 2010 at 18:05:23 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I agree, it's get rid of the moderate (0.00 / 0)

Sad, but I wish him all the best in his new job.

Frank LoBiondo Record and Jon Runyan Watch

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by: Hopeful @ Fri Feb 19, 2010 at 22:08:12 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

It's such an odd district (4.00 / 1)

I'm biased towards a Middlesex candidate, but the total voters from the two towns in Mercer pretty much trump the totals from the five towns in Middlesex, though it's really close. I just don't know what to say about a Freeholder whose offices are on S. Broad St. to a voter who lives on Finnegans Lane in Franklin Park, or Pergola Ave. (either of them) in Jamesburg. Not that there's anything wrong with S. Broad, but it's another universe to some people in the district.
Nevertheless, Hamilton is the dog, not the tail, in the district.

These numbers are from Obama vs. McCain so we wouldn't see exactly these percentages in a 2010 state senate race; still, a Democrat certainly could be elected. The format will collapse no matter what I do, so here goes:

2008 Voters

          REP    DEMS
Hamilton  19422 23658 43080
West Windsor 4092   7895 11987
         23514 31553 55067

Cranbury 986 1153     2139
Jamesburg 884 1172     2056
Monroe 10150 12319  22469
Plainsboro 2280  5760    8040
South Brunswick  6530  11452 17982
      20830 31856 52686

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by: denniscmcgrath @ Fri Feb 19, 2010 at 18:02:52 PM UTC

what the Democrats say (0.00 / 0)

It's just a press release and no doubt what is said in public is not always what is said in private, but here is a joint statement:

JOINT STATEMENT OF DEMOCRATIC STATE CHAIRMAN WISNIEWSKI, SENATE PRESIDENT STEPHEN M. SWEENEY, MIDDLESEX COUNTY CHAIRMAN JOE SPICUZZO AND MERCER COUNTY CHAIRMAN RICH McCLELLAN ON 14TH DISTRICT SENATE SEAT(TRENTON) --

"Senator Baroni's departure opens up a great opportunity for Democrats to grow our Senate majority.

"This is only Day 1 of what will be a careful democratic process to choose the best possible candidate.

"We all know this process will produce a unified Democratic party and the candidate who will give us the best chance to win in November."

So they promise to play well together.

Frank LoBiondo Record and Jon Runyan Watch

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by: Hopeful @ Fri Feb 19, 2010 at 22:29:09 PM UTC

How does Assemblyman Novick sound? (4.00 / 1)

I had an interesting conversation with someone from Mercer County today who gave me one thing to consider with regards to my support for Linda Greenstein to become the Democratic nominee in the special election for the soon-to-be-vacant State Senate seat in the 14th district.

At the moment, Middlesex County has 3 State Senators while Mercer County has 2.  If Linda were to win in November, Middlesex would have 4 and Mercer would only have one.  That said, this is not a nearly compelling enough reason to choose DeAngelo over Greenstein.  It just means that the situation would need to be addressed during redistricting.

This could happen if Hamilton Township and West Windsor were taken out of the 14th and combined with Princeton Township, Lawrence Township, East Windsor, Washington Township, and Hightstown.  The Mercer County part of the 14th could be replaced by North Brunswick, Old Bridge, Spotswood, and Helmetta, but what could make redistricting really interesting is replacing Lawrence and Princeton Townships, which were removed from the 15th to help create the aforementioned new Mercer-centric district, with Hunterdon County towns like Flemington and Lambertville among others.

Obviously, the State Senator and at least one State Assemblyperson in this district would come out of Trenton, but an argument could be made for an Assemblyperson from Hunterdon County.  And who better to be the Assemblyperson from Hunterdon County than our own Joey Novick?

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Sat Feb 20, 2010 at 05:23:32 AM UTC

Greenstein, Benson and D'Angelo (0.00 / 0)

Will miss Baroni's ability to work across the aisle on marriage equality, health and labor. With Greenstein, you get a very smart, female, former prosecutor, LGBT ally, friend of labor with a great record in the Assembly & Judiciary Cmte. D'Angelo, just a friend of labor (and Sweeney).

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by: michaelinthe15th @ Sat Feb 20, 2010 at 18:57:17 PM UTC

Greenstein's to lose now (0.00 / 0)

Linda is probably the more progressive of the two Assembly members and would likely have a clear field if she wanted it.

I know there is some support for Benson, but he was an awful candidate the last time he ran for Assembly.

The Democrats need a candidate who can ensure turnout in the Democratic towns in Middlesex and win enough votes in Hamilton to keep it close.

My papers cover the Middlesex portion of the district, along with West Windsor, and I just don't know that there is an obvious name on the Democratic side.

Democrats have majorities on all five Middlesex governing bodies, but Republicans also managed to win seats in South Brunswick for the first time in 15 years and in Monroe for the first time in three decades. Corzine was the reason, but it is something that the party has to keep in mind.

Plus, this is likely to be a placeholder election, with the redistricting likely to shift everything before the 2011 vote. If the district is split, as some believe, then who know where all of this will end up.

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by: Hank Kalet @ Sun Feb 21, 2010 at 03:43:39 AM UTC

Geenstien is running. (0.00 / 0)

She was at the S.B. Democratic Club last night, circulating her petition. She said she thinks DeAngelo will run, too, but she doesn't know for sure. (All reported by my father; I wasn't at the meeting.)

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by: Dvd Avins @ Tue Feb 23, 2010 at 15:00:59 PM UTC

[ Parent ]