Fun with Redistricting Redux: Keeping Hawthorne in LD35

by: Bertin Lefkovic

Sat Jan 22, 2011 at 05:07:37 PM EST

There has been a lot of talk about John Girgenti's future with regards to redistricting, primarily because he was a loyalist of Governor/Senator Richard Codey's when the Steve Adubato/George Norcross axis of corruption staged their takeover of the Democratic leadership in Trenton.  As a result, neither Jeff nor Girgenti have any advocates for keeping their otherwise Republican-leaning town of Hawthorne in the very Democratic (thanks to Paterson) 35th LD on the legislative redistricting commission.  I could be wrong, but I think that if there is anything that Jeff and Girgenti agree on, is that it is in their best electoral interest for Hawthorne to stay in LD35.

But without any advocates on the LRC, the only thing that might help them keep Hawthorne in LD35 is a compelling argument that serves the agendas of some of the commission's members.  There are two members of the LRC in particular whose agendas have become quite clear over the last year.

There really is a "Jeff Gardner for Senate"

by: Jeff Gardner

Tue Jan 18, 2011 at 04:00:00 PM EST

Oh sure, there is much that can happen between now and the June primary, what with redistricting, and the lobbying and jockeying for positions, etc. that is bound to follow. But, I wanted to make sure Blue Jersey readers were the first to hear that I've opened up a campaign account, and have officially tossed my proverbial hat into the ring for the 2011 Primary.

Thank you to everyone for their advice, support and encouragement. I hope you'll take this ride with me, and help me be another voice for you in Trenton. Stay tuned! :)

BlueJersey Blogger Jeff Gardner to challenge for NJ Legislature?

by: Jay Lassiter

Mon Dec 27, 2010 at 02:56:41 PM EST

And secondly, OMMFG is this a bombshell?

He'd count on Netroots, LGBT+ Labor support

The chairman of the local Democratic committee in Hawthorne may challenge for a 35th Legislative District seat next year. Jeff Gardner will leave his present job as an attorney with the National Labor Relations Board in January to star a solo law practice in his hometown. "I think it's safe to say I have not ruled out a run," said Gardner, who opposed state Sen. John Girgenti's (D-Hawthorne) no vote on marriage equality and subsequently took control of the local Democratic committee.

Jeff Gardner's good night in Hawthorne

by: Rosi Efthim

Tue Jun 08, 2010 at 09:16:52 PM EDT

Update: Jeff Gardner is the new Democratic Municipal Chair of Hawthorne, NJ.

Jeff Gardner is now well-positioned to become the next Democratic Municipal Chair of his hometown of Hawthorne (Passaic), having just prevailed over longtime Municipal Chair Senator John Girgenti in a party contest for county committee seats. Voting machine results show Jeff's slate won 19 of 26 seats, to Girgenti's 7 seats. Still to be counted, however, are at least 79 vote-by-mail ballots, which could still change that equation. So, it's going to be a late night in Hawthorne, which may spill into tomorrow before the obvious trend is certified as a clear win.

During this campaign, Girgenti's team employed disreputable tactics against the upstart party reformers led by Jeff, including sending out a mailer with a snarling police dog, an ugly chain link fence and the headline: Beware of Fake Democrats, accusing Jeff's Democrats for Hawthorne team of being secret Republicans. In fact, something like the opposite was true, as GOP stalwarts in Hawthorne seemed uncomfortable enough at the idea of change that they inserted themselves into the Democratic primary as something quite more than mere bystanders.

But assumption of voter loyalty and contempt for challengers of your own party are no substitute for shoe leather and fresh ideas.

Jeff and the team behind him showed how it's done. His people - who include bluestatejoe - simply and plainly did their work. They were out weekends, and evenings meeting voters, laying out their plans to fellow Democrats and engaging them in the changes to come. Also a factor in Jeff's win was the Democracy for America group he leads in Passaic County, which meets in Hawthorne, enthusiastically supports the primary process, and contributed labor and ideas to the Hawthorne party reformers.

Congratulations, Jeff. Congratulations Democrats for Hawthorne. Next comes the reorganization meeting, and the election of a new Municipal Chair. You earned change. Can't wait to watch you make it. And I hope you have Glee Tivo'd.

Up is Down, Down is Up in Hawthorne

by: Jeff Gardner

Tue Jun 01, 2010 at 02:15:00 PM EDT

So, it came as a shock to see 5 Shortway's (and some English's) suddenly registered as Democrats for this year's Primary election, along with a host of other Republicans suddenly turned Democrats this Spring.

Well, I guess it shouldn't be too much of a shock. One of the prime motivating factors in the Democrats for Hawthorne's campaign to unseat Sen. John Girgenti as our municipal chair has been the fact that he has been too cozy with Republicans for too long at the expense of our Democratic candidates - like, e.g., Girgenti's working to keep former Councilwoman Shortway's legal troubles out of the news during last fall's election.

So, it's not so much shocking as fitting that on the heels of one of our Republican Councilmen's LTTE endorsing the Girgenti team and another of our Republican Councilmen's volunteering for the Girgenti team at their headquarters (a.k.a. the Senator's District Office), the most diehard Republicans in Hawthorne would want to become "Democrats for a Day" to actually vote for the Girgenti team, with the goal of re-electing Girgenti as Hawthorne's Democratic Leader.

And, it's not so much shocking as hilarious that the Girgenti team, in their near-daily campaign mailings, have taken to calling themselves "Hawthorne's Real Democrats" and touting their placement on the ballot with our unopposed federal and county officials. Basically, Girgenti knows he can't win with democratic votes. So, he's trying to get elected Democratic leader by the most diehard Republicans in town.

Naturally. Who else but Republicans know what's best for Democrats? Shouldn't they choose our next democratic leader?

Yes We Did.

by: Jeff Gardner

Thu Apr 15, 2010 at 10:45:00 AM EDT

Democrats for Hawthorne in the Press

So, it was with great pride, and some courage, that I joined with 25 other proud democrats in Hawthorne on Monday to file a full slate of 26 democratic county committee candidates to run in this year's primary election for Passaic County Committee - under the "Democrats for Hawthorne" banner. It is an historic undertaking - there has not been a contested primary for even one democratic committee seat in Hawthorne in at least 20 years. And our work is far from over.

But this is America, and we should still get to vote on who represents us, and who is in charge of our political parties. Publicly, everyone agrees with that sentiment. Privately, not so much.

You see, there's another slate running in town, led by our current municipal chair, John Girgenti. Under his 30-year leadership, Hawthorne has failed to elect even one democrat as Mayor or At-Large Councilmember. And, in the last 10 years, we've elected only 3 democrats as Ward Councilmembers - 1 who has since switched parties, the other 2 who are supporting our slate. Indeed, about the only people not supporting our slate are Girgenti's relatives and "employees" - including the multiple Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission employees who owe their jobs to the Senator's generosity with our tax money.

Our goal is to unite and build the Democratic Party in Hawthorne for a winning future.

But, as you might guess, rather than embrace the increased interest in Democratic organizing this brings to Hawthorne, Girgenti is lashing out, upset that anyone would dare challenge him. He's quoted in the local paper, basically accusing us of being liberal extremists, and blaming others for his own record of failure as Hawthorne's Democratic leader.

And, he nearly came unglued at a public event last Saturday (Sheriff Speziale's campaign HQ grand opening), when he refused to stand next to our only elected Democratic councilman, whose wife is running on our slate. Not very Senatorial. And more importantly, not how a democratic leader should behave in public.

We're braced for much worse behavior than that - money can pay for all sorts of nastiness, and Girgenti has tons of money to spend. But in the end, this is a campaign to organize Democrats in a town that has been voting Republican for far too long, too often with the Senator's help.

It's time we change that. And we took the first step this week.

June 2011

by: Matthew Jordan

Thu Jan 07, 2010 at 10:41:42 PM EST

Senator Van Drew is honestly the only person on this list who deserves a pass, his district is just overwhelmingly Republican.  

I've never been more disgusted and embarrassed than I was today to be a Democrat.  

Can we make this the official primary candidate suggestion list?