Peter Biondi, R.I.P.

by: nathanrudy

Sat Nov 12, 2011 at 08:28:45 AM EST

NJ Assemblyman Peter Biondi was a Republican.  Usually you won't see a GOP legislator eulogized on Blue Jersey, and given my former reputation as a bit of a partisan many folks wouldn't expect to see me write it.

I met Pete in 1999 when I was managing the campaign against him for my father.  He and my father connected and so I got to talk to Pete.  He was funny, friendly and while he tried to wheedle campaign secrets from me he was not underhanded about it.  I knew he was doing it, an he knew I knew.  Still he tried, and still I parried.  

He always asked after my father whenever we ran into each other on a campaign trail, down in Trenton or in Somerville.  It was generous of him to do so.

When I ran for Freeholder in 2003 the Somerset County Democrats' office was next door to Pete's Assembly office.  The late John Guerrera owned our building, and he and Pete were friendly rivals in trying to take or keep control in Hillsborough.  Many nights I would come in from a night of campaigning and John and Pete would be in the back office drinking hard liquor and smoking cigars.  I joined them many times, and loved watching these two war horses jockey with each other, try to steal information from each other, and tell great stories about their battles, successes and failures.

In 2004 I ran for Freeholder again, because I lost in 2003.  Pete invited me in to his office and gave me advice even though we both knew my job in 2004 was not to win, but to take a spot on the ballot and aid other candidates up and down-ticket.  Or maybe he gave me advice because he knew I had no chance.  

I teased him because he was a New Jersey Assemblyman and had no NJ flag outside his office.  He sloughed it off like he did many things, so I bought one for him and had it shipped with a smart-ass note.  He put it up, took a picture and sent a smart-ass note back to me.

Over the years Pete did me a few favors, being a reference for jobs, co-sponsoring a bill to help the Red Cross and a few other things.  I never had the opportunity or ability to do him any favors other than the flag.  I wish I'd had that chance.

Peter was my friend.  He will be missed.