June Primaries Can Matter

by: Jeff Gardner

Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 12:12:22 PM EDT

Congressional Primaries

Contested Democratic primaries in the 1st, 5th and 11th Congressional Districts, plus Republican primaries in the 3rd and 7th promise to provide more primary-night intrigue than I can lately remember.

On the Democratic side, there are some pretty strong favorites going in, though I think the results will be closer than expected in all three places. On the Republican side, I think that Kelly is going to pull it out in the 3rd, and (I hope I'm wrong) that Kate Whitman is going to steal home in the 7th.

Local Races

And, don't forget about the local races happening here, there and around, like the BCDO showdown with the Real Bergen Democrats, and even a hard-fought mayoral primary in Washington Township (yes, that Washington Township).

How do you think tomorrow will shape up down-ballot? And, tell us what other local races you have your eyes on.

Near Philly? Join us Tonight

by: Josh Aronovitch

Fri Apr 18, 2008 at 02:58:14 PM EDT

Half price for Blue Jerseyans!

Josh Aronovitch: Netroots'er For Mayor

by: Scott Shields

Thu Apr 03, 2008 at 08:34:00 PM EDT

Josh Aronovitch, running for Mayor of Washington Township (the one in Gloucester County), has a pretty cool diary up right now at Daily Kos about progressive local government. It definitely will give you some good background on Josh, why he's running for Mayor, and what has driven him into politics.

They say there is not a Democratic or Republican way to pick up trash.

However, there IS a progressive way to govern.  It means open honest transparent government.  It means building consensus in the community, not imposing a vision on the town.  It means not kowtowing to a county democratic party that seems to be more about rewarding contributors and amassing power than about doing right by the people.  

Local government isn't as sexy as the latest Obama vs Hillary diary, but it is crucial to the future success (or lack thereof) of our experiment in democratic self government.

Josh is someone I work with, and he's also someone I support wholeheartedly. So head over to dKos and show some love to someone who's been a good friend to Blue Jersey and who will make a great Mayor of Washington Township.

Good Things Come in Threes: a Thank You, an Update and an Invitation.

by: Josh Aronovitch

Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:16:36 PM EDT

To everyone here at Blue Jersey who has already contributed to our campaign for change  , thank you!  As I've been saying all along, we're funding our campaign through contributions from real people, not businesses looking to get a better deal. The only thing that those who contribute to our campaign for change are going to get is good government that takes into account the needs of all the taxpayers.

If you haven't already, I sincerely hope you'll consider making a small contribution to our Campaign for Change.  Every dollar will help us create a local government that is open, transparent and responsive to the needs of the people of Washington Township and will help us show that progressives can challenge the status quo and win.

The Update

I also want to give you all an update on some of the latest news from our Campaign for Change in Washington Township.

Things are going great!  Our message for change is really resonating with our neighbors, and there's a real buzz of excitement around town and the region.  In fact, our campaign made the   front page of the Gloucester County Times   this morning.  And just yesterday there was another article in the Courier Post.  

I'm running for Mayor to bring about much-needed change for my hometown of Washington Township.  For far too long, politics in Washington Township has been about who can get rich at the tax payers' expense and who can hurl the best negative insults, rather than who can work together to solve our problems.  I really believe we need a clean break with the politics of the past.  People hunger for open, honest transparent government at all levels.  Our campaign is about engaging people and having a discussion on what we should to do to come up with solutions together.

This is a really exciting time.  And I'm especially proud to be running alongside two incredibly talented council candidates.  These dynamic women both bring unique and complimentary traits to our ticket

Trish Pisauro has been deeply engaged in her community, her church and her neighborhood.  Last summer, we worked together to strengthen Washington Township's ban on pay-to-play.  Today, Trish is running for council to bring change to the town in which she and her husband are raising their three children.  Trish will bring a strong combination of governmental experience and passion for public service to town council.  She worked closely with Ed Rendell and his administration when he was mayor of Philadelphia in the 90's.  Trish will work with me to fix our town's broken political system, end the culture of pay-to-play and make sure our tax-payer dollars are put to efficient and effective use.  

Debbie Cherella is our other council candidate.  I could not be more proud to be running with her.  Like Trish, Debbie was instrumental in getting pay-to-play reform enacted last year.   Debbie serves as PTO President of Thomas Jefferson Elementary school - my "alma matter".  As an active fundraiser for her daughter's pre-school, Debbie also has a ton of experience in forming the kind of public private partnerships that Washington Township needs going forward.  She'll make sure that families and government will work together to build upon some of the great programs we already have in place around town.  Debbie also works with our town's Anti-Drug Task Force

So, I'm sure you can see why I am so proud to be running with these two council candidates.  Together, I know we can really change things in Washington Township and make our home an even better place to live.

The Invitation

This Sunday, we're having the Families for Change Kickoff Rally - our official campaign kickoff event at 2 pm at the Whitman's Square Men's Club in Washington Township.  Please come out and join us. (And as for the Whitman name - it's definitely not Christie, but rather from the name of the address: 158 Whitman Drive!)  

I hope to see some of you this Sunday.  It's going to be a really exciting day!

Please don't forget to contribute.  Your donation of as little as $50 will enable us to purchase 306 walk pieces to hand out door to door after the rally.

Thanks so much for all you do!

Josh

Join the Campaign for Change

by: Josh Aronovitch

Thu Feb 14, 2008 at 11:46:26 AM EST

The Cliff Notes:

I've been a member of Blue Jersey since the middle of 2006, "de-lurking" in response to Juan's invitation the day before the 2006 general election.

Now I'm following Paul Wellstone's advice that "if you can't find the right candidate, run yourself," and running for Mayor of Washington Township.

I would love your help, financial or otherwise.

Much more after the jump.

Suddenly, Everyone Wants to Ban Pay-to-Play in Washington Twp

by: Juan Melli

Fri Aug 10, 2007 at 08:21:00 AM EDT

Yesterday the township clerk certified that there were enough signatures for the ordinance to be placed on the November ballot if the council doesn't enact the ordinance. They are required to consider it at their next meeting.

Miraculously, after two years of inaction and accepting a flawed pay-to-play law, the council wants to act. Council President Frank Scarpato III:

"I wouldn't be surprised if it passes. I'm in favor of the ordinance. I believe in it, I absolutely do."

"If we can strengthen it, by all means. I feel like the public needs to know that their elected officials are on the up and up and that there is no favoritism."

Moriarty said his ordinance has worked, and believes Aronovitch's proposal "does not go far enough in limiting the influence or contributions of special interest groups."

"I plan to introduce, along with township council, a pay-to-play ordinance that goes beyond what the petitioners have suggested, and I would expect council to introduce it at the next council meeting," he said.

But that's just speculation, and if that's the plan, I don't think it will work. Voters will overwhelmingly support the ordinance if it appears on the November ballot. One way or another, Washington Township will get a tougher pay-to-play law.

This grassroots effort is working exactly as intended. Once there are enough certified signatures for the ordinance to go before the voters, the municipal council is often shamed into action -- despite prior fierce opposition -- because they know it is what the voters want and will vote for. It's been done in dozens of municipalities already. To start or join an effort in your town, visit the Citizens' Campaign.

Point by Point Responses to Mayor Moriarty

by: Josh Aronovitch

Tue Aug 07, 2007 at 06:19:55 PM EDT

I have decided to respond to Mayor Moriarty's arguments against our proposed pay to play ban point by point.  I look forward to the feedback of the Blue Jersey community and hope the Mayor continues the dialogue.

Fighting Pay-to-Play in Washington Township

by: Juan Melli

Tue Aug 07, 2007 at 09:42:26 AM EDT

Washington Township (Gloucester County) resident Josh Aronovitch last week submitted 1,700 nearly 1,800 petition signatures - almost 400 500 more than required by law - to place a pay-to-play ordinance on this year's ballot. Washington Township mayor and Assemblyman Paul Moriarty has opposed the effort and told the Courier Post:

"I agree that we need to reduce the influence of money in the political process. This latest proposal, although well-intentioned, is seriously flawed since it does nothing to reduce the influence or contributions of special interest groups."

This is so disingenuous. Mayor Moriarty introduced and passed pay-to-play legislation in 2005 which by his own logic is "seriously flawed", but he's doing nothing to fix the flaw except criticize this citizen effort. If the mayor wanted to, he could easily introduce a real, comprehensive and effective ban on pay-to-play, but that doesn't seem to be his priority. Like dozens of municipalities before them, Washington Township is going to have to be shamed into action. Keep up the good work, Josh.