This past Saturday, I officially announced that I am a candidate for Congress in New Jersey's 5th District. Our priority as Democrats right now must be finding the best candidate to unseat this extremist and get real representation in Congress - someone fighting for middle class values, not right wing ideologies. I'm not afraid to fight Scott Garrett and his extreme positions that hurt middle class families across New Jersey and the 5th District. During my three terms on the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders I have worked across the aisle with Republicans and Democrats alike to get things done. I will bring that same type of leadership to the halls of Congress.
We need common sense solutions, not partisan bickering.
I know what it takes to win in Republican territory. In 2010, Democrats were swept out of office in record numbers across New Jersey and the nation. This wasn't the case in Passaic County. On a ticket led by Congressman Pascrell, we bucked the national trend and were reelected by a strong margin - even with a popular Sheriff dropping out of the race only two months before Election Day. We need a Democrat who can go into Republican territory and make a populist appeal to voters. And most importantly, expose Congressman Garrett's extreme record.
I know I am that candidate in 2012.
I want to join the ranks of giants like Senator Frank Lautenberg, Senator Bob Menendez and Congressman Bill Pascrell to put our nation back on track. I will work with Democrats across the 5th District to ensure victories up-and-down the ballot. Now more than ever we need to come together and beat Scott Garrett. I am going to need your help in the coming months talking to your neighbors, going door-to-door and exposing Scott Garrett's extreme record in Congress. And I hope you'll follow my campaign on Twitter and Facebook as we move forward.
I have lived in Northwestern New Jersey in CD5 for over 30 years, but for the last 9+ years I have had the misfortune of having Scott Garrett as my Representative in Congress. Assemblywoman Connie Wagner would be my choice to unseat him. Having served in the Assembly since 2008, representing the 38th District, she has proven to be a champion of progressive ideals and values. I also think that Connie will be able to raise a significant amount of money in order to compete against Garrett and the Tea Party money.
Dr. Tom Sacks-Wilner lives in Medford, CD3. For several years I have been a donor to Tom's fundraising/bundling group. He is a person who raises money readily and efficiently. With an expansive donor base that he has fashioned, he can easily raise at least $6 million from now to November 6. His ability to fundraise will provide the mandatory funds needed to define Jon Runyan. He has been politically active behind the scenes, especially in progressive causes.
In light of the Republican-favorable redistricting, Connie and Tom would each have a mountain to climb to defeat their respective opponent; however the challenge is certainly not insurmountable. I believe both would make their races interesting, should they choose to run.
I have decided to take lap top in hand and write my opinion as to Rothman's decision to run in the new 9th district vs. the new 5th district after reading numerous newspaper articles and blogs. I am a municipal Chair who is supporting Rothman's decision and here's why:
When I first learned of the redistricting, I was infuriated to learn that some moron had split my town into two congressional districts. How they were allowed to do this when it was probably against the law was beside me- Obviously no one ever challenged the actions in the past when Cities were divided and it probably would cost millions to take the decision on, even though, it is probably illegal what was done. But New Jersey has a way of interpreting the laws as it sees fit and why should this time be any different- However I digress from the reason why I am on my lap top; and the second thought in my head was "Go Get Him, Rothman!" -- him meaning Garrett.
Then reality hit me hard. It didn't take more than a few minutes when I realized that Rothman would probably go for the newly drawn 9th district and here's why in my opinion.
In a perfect scenario with the support of all Democrats coming out to vote in the new congressional 5th district, the republicans wouldn't stand a chance.
In a perfect scenario, it wouldn't matter that the Republicans in Garrett's original district come out in numbers that would shame most democratic voters, a Democrat would still win.
In a perfect scenario, it wouldn't matter that the NRA, the Tea Party (probably backed by the Koch Brothers -who helped found the Tea Party and whose father founded the John Birch society) and other Good Ol' boy businesses who will pour money into Garrett's campaign like water through a sieve, because we could run a democrat against them who couldn't possibly raise the monies Garrett's cronies could but will still win against the Garrett machine.
In a perfect scenario, it wouldn't matter that the Garrett's backers would finance him regardless of the question as to why they would want a Democrat in office- especially someone who is Jewish. Because in a perfect scenario, it wouldn't matter to the Good Ol boys of Sussex and Warren Counties in the political back rooms.
In a perfect scenario, Rothman would clobber Garrett, because good always triumphs -- in the perfect scenario that is.
In the real world, any Democrat running against Garrett doesn't stand a real chance in Hell of winning this race at this time. Again, here's why in my opinion-
One-Just the demographics alone illustrates the fact that there is a huge swath of very active voting Republicans -
Two- If you do enough reading and talking to people regarding the new 5th district, somewhere between 70-72% of the voting population is in Bergen County. The remaining 26%- 28% are in the new Warren, Sussex and Passaic Counties. And- the Republicans come out to VOTE by heavy margins.
Three- If all of you can guarantee me that we can get 100% (alright- 95%) of all REGISTERED Democrats to come out and vote so that our Democratic Candidate could unseat Garrett- I will personally ask Steve Rothman to reconsider.
Four: Anyone who is Jewish doesn't stand a chance against the ultra - conservative Republicans who still refer to a Jewish candidate as "Jew Boy" or "the Heb". I am a Jew, and these people still refer to those of my religion in exactly those words- If I have had to hear them repeatedly throughout my lifetime, then by gosh, you are finally going to read those words.
However, in the real world, the best we could do with the new 5th, is to run a candidate against Garrett so that the Democrats could finally expose the man for what he truly is. By doing that, we can severely dent his suit of armor and knock him off his horse. However, he would probably still be standing.
The next time around in 2014, we could run a candidate against him, and then we could actually stand a chance in winning because he doesn't have a steed under him anymore and his armor is destroyed. Why----because we kept up the attacks.
In a perfect world, Rothman should have run, even if he fell on the sword.
In the real world, that would never happen -- Neither Rothman or Pascrell are willing to fall on the sword.
Based upon my experience in getting the Democrats out to vote, with all the anger amongst the Democrats towards the President and Congress, we are going to have a heck of a time getting them out to vote period!
I know because I have already spoken with people who are going to stay home if it's a battle between Obama and Romney- that's how disgusted the Dems are- Or some want a different Democratic candidate for President.
We, as leaders of the Democrats in Bergen County, will have our job cut out for us in just getting people to the polls in November to vote Democratic.
In the perfect scenario, regardless of who won in the 5th district, the constituents would have a Congressman/woman who would fight for them and represent them.
In the real world, that probably won't happen for the 5th district- my district!
In the perfect scenario, regardless of who won in the 9th district, the constituents would have a Congressman who would fight for them and represent them, be it Rothman or Pascrell.
In the real world, that will happen for the 9th district!
So by the time Rothman called me to ask for my support in my (now) divided township, I already knew what I would say-- because I had already realized he had no other choice in the real world.
A lot has been said, both here at Blue Jersey and in the traditional media, about the recent Congressional redistricting - and more specifically with an eye on the new Fifth and Ninth Districts. Here in the Fifth, where I (still) live, the District is better in terms of the ability to beat radical right winger Scott Garrett, but the District is still a fairly Republican district. Where things are very interesting in terms of just how serious the New Jersey Democratic Party is, not to mention the national Democratic Party, lies right here in Bergen County.
When Rep. Steve Rothman decided to run against Rep. Bill Pascrell in the Ninth as opposed to running against Garrett, my thought on the bigger picture is that there will be a lot of money spent on a Democratic Primary (assuming there is one) that could have been much better spent knocking down one of the worst Representatives in the truest sense of the word "representative" in that Garrett does not represent the best interest of most of his constituents.
Let's face it. Republican strategist and lead member of the Republican contingent of the Congressional Redistricting Commission Michael DuHaime cleverly engineered a pile of dung in northern New Jersey with the likely result that one sitting Democratic Congressman would lose his seat while the 5th District would remain in Republican hands. No "fair fight" in that plan. With Rep. Steve Rothman's decision to challenge Rep. Bill Pascrell in the new 9th District, DuHaime's first wish is now a certainty. However, his second wish that Republican Rep. Scott Garrett would continue to rule in the 5th, even with more Democrats added to it, remains possible but not guaranteed.
It was the Republican plan which moved Rothman's home town out of the 9th District to the new 5th District and 55% of his current constituents to the new 9th District. I don't see any reason why Rothman should kowtow to the Republicans and take his battle to the 5th where they have stacked the odds against him. By moving back to Englewood where he lived before and following the majority of his constituents he seeks to continue representing the 9th District and has a better than 50-50 chance to succeed. Either way, a Democrat will win in the new 9th.
We're not very happy with this new map. Bergen, the most populous County, might not have a Congressman who actually lives in Bergen for the first time in years. Dividing Teaneck into two congressional districts does create problems in building community in a diverse town. Breaking up the African American community in the 37th district into two different congressional districts is also somewhat problematic to preserving a commonality of interests. We assume our Congressman Steve Rothman, a member of the Appropriations Committee, with some seniority in our congressional delegation, is examining his options. Interesting to see how it plays out. We certainly didn't fare well in this one.
While Governor Christie will hobnob today with influential power brokers in NYC, LG Kim Guadagno will attend five 9/11 events in our state. One of them will be at Bergen County's spacious Overpeck Park on the banks of a creek. Befitting the loss of life of so many county residents, the park has its own World Trade Center Memorial. Engraved stones along its paths commemorate those who died.
For me it was not a political leader, but Bruce Springsteen in his song "The Rising" who vividly captured the 9/11 experience and expressed the hope that out of the horror some good would come. It is narrated by a fireman, one of many heroes during this awful moment. He is climbing the World Trade Center stairs through the fire and chaos, "Lost track of how far I've gone, how high I've climbed. On my back's a sixty pound stone. On my shoulder a half mile line." He sees the dead and injured: "Faces gone, black, eyes burnin' bright. May their precious blood forever bind me." Thinking perhaps about the effect this event will have on so many remaining friends and family members, he speaks of "Sky of memory and shadow. Sky of longing and emptiness." Released a year after the event, the song has as its refrain "Come on up for the rising," suggesting not only the fireman's excruciating climb upward, but also a religious exhortation that people come on up for a renewal or resurrection, life after death, which provides meaning and hope where initially there was only despair.
Yesterday I had the pleasure of catching up with one of the best public servants New Jersey has ever produced.
He is not well-known even in Democratic circles, let alone the state of New Jersey, and he last served in public office when Leonid Brezhnev was Premier of the USSR.
Frank Herbert, however is definitely not someone to forget, particularly if you're a New Jersey Democrat or - even more so - a progressive.
You see, Frank Herbert did 2 things that New Jerseyans and progressives should forever be grateful for:
1) He pushed for and got the Legislature to pass the law that created New Jersey Transit, a system that provides business and social lifelines for hundreds of thousands of our residents.
2) He is the only candidate in New Jersey history to win a Federal election as a write-in candidate. In doing so, he saved the Democratic Party from nominating a Holocaust-denying, KKK-loving extremist.
There is an old episode of The Simpsonswhere the release of a "hot new doll" threatens to take sales away from the traditional Barbie-type "Malibu Staci" doll. While the Malibu Staci brass met to discuss the next step to regain market share, they decide to go bold - and release a "new version" of the doll which is exactly the same as the old version, but with a new cowgirl hat.
Living in Bergen County and recently getting myself onto the County Committee, I had hopes that after what the Bergen County Democratic Organization has been through over the past few years, that there would be a bold new direction - something more than a name change to Democratic Committee of Bergen County, or a "new hat" would be warranted.
After all, this is an Organization that represented a Party which held pretty much every important position in Bergen County a few years ago - including County Executive, Sheriff, all seven Freeholders, a number of State Senators and pretty much every candidate for Congress in the District. Then there was embarrassment after resignation after embarrassment after indictment after infighting after embarrassment after resignation- and while new BCDO/DCBC Chairman Lou Stellato attempts to steer a badly wounded ship back in the right direction, even what seems like a great move is being handled clumsily.
"I'm running for re-election," the former Fair Lawn mayor told Patch. "I had a very good return in all the precincts [in the primary election]," he said, adding that he's "never stopped campaigning from the last election three years ago."
Now, I have known Paul for around 5 years - he is a Councilman in Ridgewood (where I live), and we stay in regular touch. When it comes to moving the BCDO/DCBC in the right direction, there are a few people - but not many - who can take a big role in doing so. Paul is most certainly one of them and he should be elevated in a way that gives him more exposure and makes Bergen County Democrats proud to be part of this Organization again. New "up and comers" need to be recruited and groomed, big ideas need to be considered as Bergen County Democrats try to right the ship and regain credibility with voters.
While Paul is on a relatively short list of people who can help in a big way, rumors and innuendo about forcing Ganz off the ticket - even if he is tied to former Chariman Joe Ferriero - is not a productive way to give Committee members and voters the warm and fuzzies. It's too bad that the BCDO/DCBC doesn't seem to be learning a lesson when it comes to showcasing its more valuable people.
Citing a strong belief in the principal of collective bargaining and protecting workers' rights, Bergen County Assembly members Valerie Vainieri Huttle(D- 37), Gordon Johnson(D- 37), Joan Voss(D- 38) and Connie Wagner(D-38) released the following joint statement:
"We were dismayed to learn that this Monday the Assembly Budget Committee will be hearing a bill which will forever alter the way of life of NJ's low-income and middle class workers."
"Through our careers as elected officials we have stood up for those that cannot fight for themselves and for the constituents we represent. This is one of those times where we will stand together to protect our low-income and middle class families from a burden that should not be placed on their backs."
Here's a heads-up, this event is tomorrow. - promoted by Rosi
I recently got an email from a woman in my community, whom I admire greatly. She said:
"I've lived here forty-one years, and I am just recently waking up to the fact that what ails New Jersey is this system of home rule by the 560+ municipalities. Perhaps my eyes were blinded by the fact that at that time New Jersey was far ahead of other states in education for the handicapped, which was my primary reason for relocating. Over the years New Jersey didn't keep up, and when I finally began to wonder why I came to realize the great disadvantage the state has because of its overabundance of municipalities."
On Wednesday June 8 in Rutherford Boro Hall--7 pm--Courage to Connect NJ Bergen County and the Rutherford Community/Quality of Life Committee are hosting Gina Genovese--Founder and Executive Director of Courage to Connect NJ to talk about how municipal consolidation will save our state. www.couragetoconnectnj.org
Come find out how consolidation can make NJ more efficient, more affordable, and increase quality of life.
"For me, a few hours ago, this campaign came to an end. For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die." -Senator Ted Kennedy, 1980 Democratic National Convention
It wasn't an easy week for progressives in Passaic County and New Jersey. I was unsuccessful in my efforts to seek a vacated assembly seat in the 35th District. My friend Jeff Gardner was defeated at yesterday's convention of the Democratic Committee of Bergen County by Maywood Mayor Tim Eustace. But this doesn't mark the end of our fight, it marks the beginning of a new era of progressive politics.
Every day we are seeing a slow death to the old way of doing things. Back room deals and political horse trading are becoming a thing of the past. The process is becoming more transparent, more fair, and more accessible to normal people looking to serve their communities. In the end this will mean more accountable representation for us all in Trenton.
I know I'm not done fighting for my core progressive beliefs: worker's rights, economic empowerment, and keeping property taxes stable while maintaining a high level of municipal services. There will be other fights and campaigns. And I know Jeff and I will be at the frontlines in Passaic County making sure we are living up the ideals of Senator Kennedy's Democratic Party.
As a former member of the Bergen County Democratic Committee over the past few years I need to explain WHY this race matters so much.
As hard as the BCDO has worked over the years to elect Dems in Bergen county and to the NJ Legislature over the years, I have witnessed a myopia regarding races outside the little fiefdom ruled by the BCDO.
In fact - a total disregard when it came to things like Scott Garrett's seat in the Congressional 5th. Paul Arohnson got very little help from the BCDO because it was all about local control. Control the County Exec seat and you control all the patronage mills.
That myopia is still present, but what has changed - is the nation. While Joe Ferriero may have brought Pay to Play in NJ to a whole new level, the Koch brothers have trumped even him. The nation is witnessing an assault on our local - state legislatures in order to deliver rubber stamp approvals to radical Republican Governor agendas across the country.
While the folks who did things the same old way in NJ for years are gearing up and pulling the same old myopic navel-gazing tactics, there is a tsunami building outside our tiny crowded state borders.
The BCDO does not need to merely worry about the Real Bergen Dems anymore. There is a bigger threat to them that they are still not seeing. The attack on unions NATIONWIDE to completely eliminate Barack Obama's chances of re-election are happening on STATE battlegrounds - in STATE legislatures. Because they can get rid of the unions that locally get boots on the ground in 50 states for the Democrats.
So, when you choose a candidate today in LD 38, you have a choice to choose a LABOR attorney who has the million members of Democracy For America behind him. NATIONAL recognition at a time of NATIONAL emergency. OR, you can choose another admirable candidate with no such name recognition.
Jeff has a virtual army of fired up Democrats across the country as well as NJ to help keep NJ's legislature in Dem hands.
You could vote for the unknown candidate who is not a LABOR attorney, but don't you want the guy who built his career protecting union workers, with the most committed (over a million) and energetic friends (DFA!) to help us fight off the RNC onslaught coming this way? The tsunami the Bergen Bosses don't see, the one that may give the Republican's favorite governor the legislature the Koch Brothers want him to have?
Voting for Jeff today in LD38 should be a no brainer, but until the Bergen Bosses get some new glasses, we may have a really tough election season this November.
Yesterday evening I submitted petitions to appear in Sunday's convention as a candidate for the vacant Assembly seat in the 38th district. I plan to make my case to the elected officials of the county committee that I am the best candidate for the job.
This process isn't about party leaders or back room decisions, it is about the people. At the core of my political belief is empowering the people to make sure our nominating process is fair, accountable, and transparent. That's how democracy works best.
Regardless of the outcome on Sunday, I will work hard to support the entire Democratic ticket in the 38th District because it is so important that we hold these seats in November. And, I intend to take that message directly to the floor at Sunday's convention, and let the elected county committee members and other elected officials choose their nominee.
What A way For Bergen County Dems To End The Year! Big headlines in The Record about McNerney and two of his top aides getting big salary increases! Seems that "our" County Executive gave up $10,000 of his salary (originally $134,617) as a "gesture", since budget problems required furloughs for rank and file county workers during 20010. So the Democrats lost anyway. I campaigned for Dennis and the Democratic Freeholders, and now I'm embarrassed by him and, therefore, by my party and my own participation in his campaign.
According to The Record, Dennis' $10,000 "gift" to the taxpayers of Bergen County was somehow restored to his salary on December 14th along with raises for his two "top" aides, Brian Hague from Middlesex County and Lynne Hurwiitz, the Municipal Chair of Hackensack. Brian received a "promotion" his last two weeks in office along with a raise of $17,000 and Lynne was also "promoted with a raise of more thant $22,000". And to add to my own feeling of dismay, Mr. McNerney "didn't even know about" these raises (including his own) until a reporter called him. How pathetic an answer!
We, Democrats - and they are mostly responsible hardworking officials - owe an apology to the taxpayers of Bergen for this unseemly behavior on the part of our top county official. This column will serve as my personal apology for the time and effort I put in to Dennis McNerney's campaign and to the residents of Bergen County for this travesty.
"I'm going to return it - probably" saiid Mr. McNerney. And if he does, along with the unseemly raises to the "top aides", I will apologize for my apology! I would also ask the incoming County Executive Kathe Donovan, to investigate exactly how raises are granted in Bergen County without the County Executive even "knowing about them". Interesting!
Speaking of the new County Executive, she is coming in to office with enormous good willl. I hope her actions will always justify that confidence. However, her first two appointments for County Administrator and Chief of Staff went to two Fair Lawn councilmembers. Without passing judgment on their qualifications, I do believe their service on the Council should end pretty quickly. It is difficult to avoid problems when trying to serve two constituencies like this. Their terms of office do not end until 2013, so I hope they will be asked to resign well before then.
Sorry for spending so much time on politics in my own County of Bergen, but these actions required some extra spotlight.
Chris Christie's spin machine has been at it again since Election Day, doing everything it can to try and claim some kind of mandate for or validation of the Governor's politics and governing philosophy. In trying to do so, he's tied himself in rhetorical knots. Amazingly, the press has given him a free pass on this one.
Here's what New Jersey's Chief Executive Spinner had to say after Election Day (video courtesy of NJN):
I really felt like we needed to bring some balance back to the congressional delegation, and I saw [the 3rd Congressional District race] as the best opportunity for us to do it...That's why the Runyan/Adler race was to me the most important.
So the 3rd Congressional District was the most important race to him, where the candidate he endorsed and campaigned for won. Quite an interesting statement, especially considering he sang a very different tune only the day before Election Day:
"Brought in by the Jersey anthem "Born to Run" but his accent now distinctly twanged from his tumbleweed campaign tour of the country, Christie repeatedly staked his name on hometown Hamiltonian Goodwin.
"I said from the beginning that the most important race was Tom Goodwin in the 14th District," said the governor. "He's been the hardest working candidate in New Jersey this year, and that's why he's going to win."
Christie's "guy," of course, lost in LD14, so he clearly needed to change his "most important race" to suit his political agenda. The question I have is, where's the media on this? They've been almost eager to find validation of the Governor's politics, but you'd have to think even this brazen attempt to change facts would be subject to some basic reporting.
While we celebrate having avoided the Republican deluge in other states, let's not forget that the NJ landscape is now more slippery than before. The unexpected can happen: "No Way" can become "Yes Way." We better get our ass in gear for 2011 and 2012.
I can't say I am surprised this morning by what happened in Bergen County. The urge for voters to usher out the era of Joe Ferriero was palpable here. Charlie Stile got it right.
This was a referendum on Joe Ferriero, the disgraced Bergen County Democratic Chairman. His favorite candidates in previous elections and those who could be counted on to be loyal to him lost badly last night. Particularly County Executive Dennis McNerney - who I dubbed the "3 million dollar man" because that is what Ferriero's BCDO spent on him in his previous election.
Sheriff Leo Mcquire - "Mr. Personality" whose name was often thrown around as someone who would straighten us Real Bergen Dems out when we got unruly at internal BCDO elections, was also a major FOJ (friend of Joe). He reminds me of the top cop in Boardwalk Empire who is always hanging with Nucky. Definitely one of Joe's all time favorite candidates.
Then we go to James Carroll, a Thomas Nast caricature if ever there was one. Larger than life with the uncanny ability to turn a flaming crimson when reformer and former Hasbrouck Heights councilwoman Carol Skiba would walk into the Freeholder meetings to collect ammunition in her fight against Pay to Play. Carroll, a dual office holder for years with an additional gig as Mayor of Demarest, finally was convinced to ditch the Mayor position to seek re-election, also appears to have lost the Demarest Mayor seat for the BCDO just by association.
Unfairly or not, Elizabeth Calabrese was also seen as a Joe Ferriero candidate. She also shares a last name with some of the most colorful politicians in Eastern Bergen County. In fact, because of the way Joe Ferriero handed out cash for elections, he ALWAYS wanted something in return, which is why ANY candidate who took Joe's money for an election and stayed in his favor appeared suspect to Bergen County voters.
Kathe Donovan is an interesting figure. She is popular with Independents and Democrats here. Because they TRUST her. The BCRO hates her because they feel she was too independent. If you ask me, I believe the Republican freeholder candidates were carried in on Donovan's coattails. She always would win elections even when the BCRO couldn't get a shred of respect due to their constant Keystone Cops approach to Bergen County elections. The BCRO was joke, which was why the reformer dems stepped up - the BCRO was ineffectual at being the opposition party to Joe Ferriero's antics.
NJEA's Political Action Committee, NJEA PAC, has three ads running on local cable stations, promoting John Adler for Congress, Linda Greenstein for the LD-14 state senate seat, and Bergen County Executive Dennis McNerney. who is running for re-election.
Adler's ad went up just yesterday the Greenstein and McNerney spots have been running since last Friday. Adler ad is below; Greenstein and McNerney ads, after the jump.
