David Rebovich Dies

by: Juan Melli

Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 01:56:14 PM EDT

It is with profound sorrow that I inform you of the untimely passing of Dr. David Rebovich, associate professor of Political Science and director of the Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University. David was the most well-known and respected voice for political insight in the state of New Jersey and a beloved member of the Rider community.

David suffered a massive heart attack this morning while teaching his Political Science 102 Class in the Fine Arts Building on the Lawrenceville campus. The Lawrence Township ambulance was called and administered CPR before taking him to Helene Fuld Hospital in Trenton, where he died a short time later.

A loss of this magnitude cannot be expressed in words. David's contributions to our community, his passion for his work and his love of teaching were unsurpassed. [...]

The thoughts and prayers of the entire University community are with David's family.

Mordechai Rozanski
President

Statement from NJ Democratic party chair Joe Cryan:

"This is a stunning and terrible loss to the entire political and academic community.
  "David Rebovich was one of a kind. He was an academic who understood the real world of New Jersey politics and he was a political scientist who knew that politics is much more than science.
  "He provided insight and perspective to New Jersey politics, which is no small achievement, and he did it with as much passion as intelligence. He will never be replaced, but we should remember that his legacy will include all the students he taught and inspired."

"David Rebovich was a widely respected presence in New Jersey's political scene, offering insight that was universally acknowledged as nonpartisan, fair and vital to the public discourse. During a lifetime in politics, David Rebovich's enthusiasm and idealism never waned.

"His legacy is the thousands of students in whom he instilled a passion for politics and a belief in the potential of the political process to change people's lives.

"Above all, David Rebovich loved New Jersey and devoted his life to his state. He will be dearly missed, and his family is in our thoughts and prayers."

"It is sad when someone who still has so much more to contribute passes away.
  David was not content to be a secluded observer, he was a hands on political scientist. He understood and appreciated that politics is a contact sport.  He regularly attended press conferences, Legislative meetings and other political events.  This allowed him, as a commentator and teacher, to provide a unique perspective that synthesized political theory with political reality.
  David's ability to educate and analyze raised the quality of political discourse in New Jersey and earned the respect of all. 
  His death is first and foremost a family tragedy and my prayers and condolences go out to his family and friends."

David Rebovich Dead at 58

by: denniscmcgrath

Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 12:29:12 PM EDT

State Dems enjoy big campaign cash advantage

by: Jay Lassiter

Wed Jan 17, 2007 at 04:31:15 PM EST

"That's an enormous help," says Rider University political scientist David Rebovich.

Courier post:

Rebovich said Democrats will use their money advantage to run widespread television ads, protect vulnerable Democrats and target vulnerable Republicans. 

Democrats -- who control the governor's office, the Senate and the Assembly -- have about $3.44 million in their three major campaign accounts, according to reports released by the state Election Law Enforcement Commission. Republicans have about $1.1 million in their three accounts, according to the reports.

So that's the good news.  The bad news is that last October's campaign finance info had showen the Democratic edge to be 5:1.

The dems have a pretty solid lead in the assembly, holding 49 of 80 seats.  The Senate lineup is a bit closer with dems holding a 22-18 majority.

Rebovich on Corzine's First Year

by: Martin

Thu Dec 07, 2006 at 10:27:46 AM EST

The Democratic establishment - i.e., legislators, party leaders, county and municipal officeholders, and key interest groups - weren't necessarily thrilled by all this talk of reform.

Rebovich's analysis, while mostly positive, does point out some "missteps" in Corzine's first year, including, in his attempt to have a diverse cabinet, promoting Zulima Farber to attorney general. Rebovich is correct in asserting that Corzine got it right the second time around and that

Stuart Rabner, whom Corzine named Attorney General when Farber resigned under fire, should have been named to this post in the first place.

Corzine's balancing game between both reducing the state budget deficit and providing property tax reform is also mentioned by Rebovich, though his stance here is unclear.  He does mention that, by accepting the Roberts proposal for shifting some of the 7% sales tax towards property tax relief, Corzine gave up his goal of having "fiscal integrity," but I'm not sure that is completely right.  The next 2007 budget should also be a lean one, but at that time property tax reform may already have funding and momentum without having to rely explicitly on the sales tax.  My criticism of the governor in the budget is not with his actions -- I fully supported the government shutdown and the governor's hardline stance -- but that he let some, not all, pork in for individual projects after the final budget was accepted. 

Rebovich acutely sees Corzine's major struggle as that between his liberal principles for government helping the disenfranchised and his fiscal restraint:

As he looks to the future, the Governor will have another major challenge that he cannot avoid.  That is trying to reconcile his economic and social populism, i.e., his desire to help needy New Jerseyans and average property tax payers, with his commitment to encouraging economic growth by keeping the lid on other taxes.

Rebovich doesn't mention a few moments from  Corzine's first year that I find particularly telling for why he is such a good, decent governor. First,  Corzine refused millions in school aid from the federal government when the Bush administration when it was predicated on teachers having abstinence-only sex education, which is not a viable method for stopping the spread of STDs and teen pregancy.  Secondly, he also has a plan to decrease NJ dependence on nonrenewable oil by 2020, when our state would have a high percentage of its energy needs met by renewable resources. Thirdly, one of the first things that Corzine did as governor was reach out to assembly and senate Republicans in a genuinely bipartisan gesture; he sees property tax reform, ethics reform, and budget constraints as only being tackled in such a bipartisan manner. Finally, we now know he won't veto any gay marriage amendment and seems to be returning to his pro gay rights roots in that regard.

I share optimism with Rebovich and others for Gov. Corzine's term(s) as head executive in this state. The sky is the limit for a smart, savvy governor such as Corzine. 

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