Middlesex incumbents rule

by: kwilkinson

Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 01:03:47 AM EDT

...all Democratic incumbents were endorsed by voice votes by county committee members who number more than 1,000 from the county's 25 municipalities...

Spicuzzo, chairman of the Democratic Organization, considers the field of candidates to be a strong one. "I think it is a strong field of candidates, but I also feel that they are capable people in providing good government," said Spicuzzo. 

Spicuzzo said he is feeling much better than the last election during which he was recovering from a stroke he suffered during a gastric surgery...

And how about the only open assembly seat?

The endorsement of Barnes III for the primary also settled the question of who would fill the term of his father and Assemblyman Peter J. Barnes Jr., who appears headed for confirmation by the state Senate later this week for chairman of the State Parole Board. Barnes Jr. would be required to leave the Assembly if he is confirmed and takes the job.

Legacies rule too.  I like the way the reporter goes along with idea that there is no such thing as a competitive primary. The filing deadline is Apr 10th, but of course, no serious challenge is expected.

Oh, but wait, in another district, Assyman Vas has a challenger - you might remember that Vas was the challenger for the 13th CD against Menendez replacement, Albio Sires.

Barry Adler of Woodbridge will challenge for an Assembly endorsement.

Can challenging in a CD actually make a Mdlsx incumbent vulnerable?

To my knowledge, Vas was the last challenger to take down an incumbent, Arlene Friscia, but my memory is short and I only know very recent history.

I know nothing of Adler, and the only thing I know about Woodbridge is that there are 3 out of 9 women on the council, including the council president, but after Sen. Vitale graciously agreed to the former mayor's wish to serve as interim mayor, he also agreed to step aside to let former McGreevey treasurer and the current mayor, McCormac, run for the seat last November.