Carl Manna 
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Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 01:10:01 PM EDT
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Up until now, I haven't made any financial pleas for New Jersey's 39th Legislative District. This is because I feel as if "getting the word out" about the district, its out-of-touch Republican incumbents (Gerry Cardinale, John Rooney and Charlotte Vandervalk) and the Democrats taking them on (Joe Ariyan, Esther Fletcher and Carl Manna) was more important. In fact, it still is, because turning NJ-39 blue - with your help - will not only be a tremendous victory for New Jersey and its Democratic Party, but will serve as a textbook example of how to turn the suburbs and exurbs of America Democratic as well. I'm working hard to turn State Senator Cardinale and his Assembly running mates out of office - and now I need your help.
http://www.voicefor3...
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Tue Sep 11, 2007 at 12:47:42 PM EDT
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By Stephen Yellin
This diary is an introduction to what I believe will be one of the most exciting races to watch in 2007 - and a race that is a microcosm of the United States at large. New Jersey's 39th Legislative District is worth watching for three reasons:
1. The changing dynamics of the suburbs of America - both in New Jersey and across the country. A victory in NJ-39 would serve as a template for races across America.
2. Clearing obstructionist, out-of-touch Republicans out of office, in order to better present a progressive agenda for New Jersey. After all, would you want a State Senator who opposes a woman's right to choose - even for rape and incest? Or a State Assemblyman who bullies his constituents? Again, this would serve as a template for both state and Congressional races all over this country.
3. A Democratic ticket that represents a microcosm of the suburbs - a young, driven attorney for State Senate, a teacher and community activist for one Assembly seat, and a Wall Street manager and business leader for the other. Joe Ariyan, Esther Fletcher and Carl Manna represent an impressive coalition of the Democratic Party's membership and values.
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Sun Sep 09, 2007 at 12:16:07 AM EDT
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( - promoted by Juan Melli)
Big Update [Sept 10, 2:35pm]: Joe Ferriero has called off tonight's meeting. Instead, he is forming a "platform committee" to consider the issue. This is not over, but consider this battle won.
Bergen County boss Joe Ferriero, who runs the county by routinely trading jobs for loyalty and contracts for campaign contributions, wants BCDO lawyer Dennis Oury to sue the state to strike down pay-to-play laws threatening his patronage mill.
But why now? Why time this to coincide with election season? He almost pulled a similar stunt last year, but was talked out of it. Some think he's pressing the issue at this politically awkward time to pressure Codey and Roberts to pony up their leadership PAC money.
Since 37th district legislators Loretta Weinberg, Valerie Huttle and Gordon Johnson objected to his decision, he decided to call a meeting of the BCDO executive committee for this Monday at 5pm to take a vote on the issue. Presumably, he wouldn't have called the meeting if he didn't have the votes. Bergen County rank and file Democrats are expected to stage a protest outside the meeting to express their disapproval of this latest power grab.
Those eligible to vote include elected officials in Bergen County. The legislators in the 37th district have already made their views known, but how will Senators Paul Sarlo and Joe Coniglio and Assemblypersons Robert Gordon and Joan Voss vote?
There are several other candidates from Bergen County who could find themselves in a similar position if they win in November, and we deserve to know how they would vote: Joseph Ariyan, Esther Fletcher, Carl Manna, Zonie LeSane and Lisa Sciancalepore. Do they agree with Joe Ferriero that the pay-to-play laws should be struck down? I'll post updates here as we learn where they stand.
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Tue Jul 24, 2007 at 10:26:42 PM EDT
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When the state's AFL-CIO released their endorsements (http://www.bergenclc...) for the 2007 legislative races, labor supporting progressives across the state scratched their heads as to why Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk was on the list. Her record on labor issues, to be kind, is abysmal.
For years, Vandervalk has failed to support even the simplest pro-labor measures. And on the most issues most important to our state's working families - such as allowing employees to unionize easily via "card check" recognition - Vandervalk has stood in opposition to labor.
But it doesn't begin and end with card check. On fair wage legislation, job creation, and unemployment benefits, Vandervalk has continually voted against the interests of organized labor. For instance, in 2005, she opposed a measure to raise the minimum wage by $2 despite the fact that it would have helped nearly 130,000 (http://www.cbpp.org/...) New Jersey workers.
How Vandervalk receives support from the AFL-CIO in New Jersey given her opposition to working family issues is a mystery to me. The Democratic Assembly challengers in the thirty-ninth, Esther Fletcher and Carl Manna, will be strong voices for worker's rights in Trenton, never jeopardizing their livelihood by opposing basic protections and support for those who make New Jersey work.
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Wed Jun 13, 2007 at 08:15:48 PM EDT
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PoliticsNJ has written an article about the race in the 39th District and how Joe Ariyan, Esther Fletcher, and Carl Manna are starting to pose a real threat. Among their reasons for running is the fact that they believe Cardinale and team are out of touch and that they better represent the district. For example Cardinale tends to spend "too much time on pet causes that would play better in the Deep South, issues like second amendment rights, gay marriage and opposition to stem cell research."
All of these stances are out of touch with a growing number of residents in the 39th district. Also, Fletcher points out "the representatives lack of direct involvement in the community. She pointed to an instance when she was at an Eagle Scout meeting at the same time as Assemblyman Rooney, and some of the people present didn't know who he was." Ariyan, Fletcher, and Manna promise to be more involved with the community and more up to date with their constituents stances and problems.
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