A Quick Update on my Council campaign

by: Stephen Yellin

Tue Oct 11, 2011 at 07:55:54 PM EDT

This is going to be a quick diary because I have another event to run to in less than an hour. However, I will be back tomorrow morning to answer any questions or comments you may have.

First, I am proud to announce that I have been endorsed by Democracy for America. As one of 11 New Jersey candidates chosen, and just 1 of 2 not running for the State Legislature, I am honored and humbled to have received the endorsement of an awesome, forthright progressive organization. I have a picture of myself and Howard Dean from 2004 on my refrigerator; it is my hope that, when I am elected to the Berkeley Heights Township Council on November 8th, I can emulate his tell-it-like-it-is demeanor and open dialogue with his constituents.

More in the extended text area...

My campaign kickoff - you're all invited!

by: Stephen Yellin

Tue May 31, 2011 at 11:57:01 AM EDT

It's been two months since I announced here I was running for office once again in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey - the town I've lived in all my life and the town I want to give back to as a Councilman! "Yellin for Council Version 2.0" has been rather successful so far, and I'm building on that momentum going into the June 7th primary.

With that in mind, I'm having my campaign kickoff this Saturday (June 4th) in Berkeley Heights - and every "Blue Jersey" blogger is invited to attend! It is at Noon at 345 Plainfield Avenue, at the pavilion of Columbia Park (the parking lot is behind the Middle School at that address). The kickoff is free and open to the public.

An update on my campaign is below.  

In Union County, "Democrats for Change" = Democrats for Christie

by: Stephen Yellin

Sat May 28, 2011 at 07:42:13 AM EDT

By Stephen Yellin - I am proud to be on the ballot for the June 7th primary on Column A. I am also a candidate for Township Council in Berkeley Heights.

This isn't a 'me-first' rally - this is a 'community-first' rally...a worker's rights rally!
           - Joe Cryan, March 3 2011 (standing with union workers in Trenton)

He's going to do a wonderful, fabulous job as our next Governor.
         - Tony Monteiro, November 4 2009 (at Chris Christie's victory party)

On June 7th, Democrats in the 20th Legislative District (Elizabeth, Hillside, Roselle and Union) have a clear choice to make. They have a choice between the regular Democratic ticket, whose Democratic Party credentials aren't in question, and a renegade group called "Democrats for Change".

Just who are these "Democrats for Change", and what do they stand for? Examining the facts paints a troubling picture of this group, and its candidates for the State Legislature in the 20th District. This ticket has managed to combine the 2 worst problems confronting New Jersey today: a corrupt, unaccountable political machine and the enabling of Chris Christie's destructive, divisive policies across our state.

How I cast my vote today (a fun story)

by: Stephen Yellin

Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 01:33:20 PM EDT

Since I'm going to be taking a final exam later today at my graduate school, I was unable to make it back to Berkeley Heights to vote in today's School Board election. Accordingly, I sent it my Vote-by-Mail request form to the Union County Clerk's office, asking for a ballot to be sent to my house.

Unfortunately the mail was slow in arriving at the Clerk's office, and although I submitted my request in advance I did not receive a ballot in the mail. That's where my story gets interesting...

A look at the new NJ-21 (and a brief history)

by: Stephen Yellin

Sun Apr 03, 2011 at 06:37:30 PM EDT

First, a friendly welcome to the residents of Kenilworth, Chatham Borough, Bernards Township and Far Hills (all 919 of you in the last case) to the 21st Legislative District of New Jersey. I hope you find your accommodations comfortable, as you'll be staying here for the next 10 years. :)

Second, we in the 21st bid a fond farewell to Chatham Township, Madison and Millburn, which will now have a Democratic delegation to represent them in the form of Dick Codey, John McKeon and Mila Jasey. While this Berkeley Heights resident is more than a little jealous to be less than a mile away from having this awesome trio as my delegation, I take comfort in knowing that my friends at Drew University will get to know another awesome ex-Governor a lot better in the year ahead*.  

Stephen Yellin for Council, Version 2.0

by: Stephen Yellin

Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 08:45:54 AM EDT

Hi all,

Last year, when I decided to run for Township Council, I neglected to inform my friends here at Blue Jersey about my decision. Poor Rosi had to break the news herself after the press wrote about my entry.

Not this time.

I put up my press release on the Internet last night, and Blue Jersey is the first to hear from me directly. I'm running again for Berkeley Heights Township Council, and I've learned from last time what it takes to win.

http://thealternativepress.com...

Union County GOP: Minorities Too Stupid To Vote For Us

by: Stephen Yellin

Sun Dec 12, 2010 at 08:25:26 PM EST

Hi all,

As you may know, I was a candidate for Township Council in Berkeley Heights this year. As a Democrat running in a Republican-leaning town in a Republican "wave" year, it's not surprising that I lost. Union County, however, saw a surprisingly strong victory for the Democratic Party's County-wide ticket, with Sheriff Ralph Froehlich and Clerk Joanne Rajoppi each garnering 60% of the vote; our Freeholder candidates weren't far behind.  

I can imagine that the Union County Republican Party's Election Night gathering wasn't that joyful - neither was mine. When I conceded, however, I certainly did not attack the voters of Berkeley Heights by saying (for example): "You hit them [the Republicans] with a cattle prod, and they'll go under; there's no brain power involved." It would be incredibly offensive, and would do a tremendous disservice to my supporters, some of whom were registered Republicans.  

An Update on my Campaign

by: Stephen Yellin

Mon Aug 16, 2010 at 01:15:47 PM EDT

[crossposted from DailyKos]

Hello all,

Four months ago, I set out on an unusual political journey.

It was unusual because, unlike all the campaigns I had worked on before, the campaign I was working on was my own. In April, I filed to run for Township Council in my hometown of Berkeley Heights, New Jersey. I decided to run because now was the right time in my life to try and give back to my community in the way I knew best - through public service. With three months to go until Election Day, I wanted to give you an update on how my campaign is going.

My campaign website
NJ Courier-News candidate statement
More bloggers throwing hats in ring (see page 2)

Union County wants marriage equality

by: Rosi Efthim

Thu Dec 17, 2009 at 10:51:32 PM EST

New Jersey is a diverse state. But Union County is a more diverse county even than the state's average, with a significant Catholic population. Given that considerable organized opposition to marriage equality comes from the Catholic infrastructure, with reports of bishops requiring priests to distribute literature denouncing marriage equality to parishioners and asking for prayer against it, Union County's action is a powerful statement that the Freeholders representing more than half a million New Jerseyans won't cave to that.

Are there more resolutions like this in the works?

The resolution, introduced by Freeholder Chair Al Mirabella, describes the County as proud to be a place that welcomes and invites people of all backgrounds, faiths, races, nationalities, ethnicities, status, sex, sexual orientation, or gender, to access its government services, its public agencies, and its communities.

The resolution lauds the marriage equality bill, its bi-partisan support in the Senate Judiciary Committee and its ability to provide the same access to a civil marriage certificate or license in New Jersey, at the same time protecting the rights of religious institutions to practice as they wish. And that civil unions have failed to provide same-sex couples equal access to the rights, privileges and benefits of civil marriage, because the word marriage is what everyone understands. The intense and thorough study of the Civil Unions Review Commission's findings on the inequality of that institution is cited, just as dozens of couples testified about before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The full text of the Resolution is here (in the extended text, after the jump).

We're hearing a rumor ... of a marriage equality vote tonight

by: Rosi Efthim

Thu Dec 17, 2009 at 05:47:24 PM EST

There's buzz that the Union County Freeholder Board will be considering a resolution - tonight - calling on the NJ legislature to pass the marriage equality bill. If it's true, it's a big deal. Union County is bustling and diverse, and its leaders encouraging marriage equality is a signal that new families are welcome. It's also significant that Union County is a Democratic stronghold.

Pro-equality legislators should feel supported that an important local government is considering its own position on this issue.

The Union County Freeholders are Chair Alexander Mirabella, Vice-Chair Daniel P. Sullivan, Freeholders Chester Holmes, Rayland Van Blake, Bette Jane Kowalski, Rick Proctor, Deborah Scanlon, Angel G. Estrada and Nancy Ward.

Below the fold is the wording of the Resolution, to be presented by Freeholder Chair Alexander Mirabella.

The Real Story behind the Lyndhurst (bait and) Switch

by: carolh

Fri Oct 26, 2007 at 04:13:09 PM EDT

Here is an article in NAToday.net North Arlington news website that gives a little bit more of the local flavor.

http://www.natoday.n...

This completely helps shed more light on the story that Ferriero-crats in Bergen County want to keep a lid on by by throwing out more red herrings before an election than a guy fishing with dynamite.  Don't get lost in the distractions, folks.  Here's what you should know about the situation.

http://www.leadernew...

Remember Paul Sarlo? (a Dual office holder - Triple if you consider he is a sitting state senator, as well as the Mayor of Wood Ridge and also a highly paid Professional Engineer for the Borough of Carlstadt) Well, former Democrat Mike Guarino who had the AUDACITY to run against FOJ Paul Sarlo for Senate as a Republican but who had his bid VOIDED by the powers that be (remember that story, folks?) figures into this. Reminds me of how Katherine Harris - I mean the Bergen County Clerk tried to get the entire Bergen County Dems line disbanded on a technicality. 

Apparently Guarino was interested in the Encap mess as far back as 2005 according to the following article in the Record and has annoyed the powers that be - Sarlo particularly.

http://www.northjers...

This is why Guarino switched from Democrat to Republican.  He could not stomach a Paul Sarlo win unopposed by anyone. Guarino won about as many write in votes to be on the Republican ticket  - by grass roots Republicans no less - as Sarlo got for the Deocratic ticket by machine Dems.

Funny how Guarino's votes were voided and in a town that is SUPPOSED to be non-partisan.  Guarino makes Ferriero-crats like BlueBergen see red. 

But now you know "the rest of the story." And so another Bergen County town falls to the Ferriero-crats.

Boy, I can't wait for the new Party Democracy Act to become law.  Poor, poor anonymous BlueBergen, enjoy these last few wins, and then find another line of work.  You're tap dancing is so frantic now and obvious, that I'm quite afraid you'll faint like poor Marie Osmond. 

NJ STONEWALL DEMOCRATS ENDORSE PRIMARY CANDIDATES

by: Babs NJSD

Sun Jun 03, 2007 at 01:59:36 AM EDT

NJ STONEWALL DEMOCRATS ENDORSE PRIMARY CANDIDATES

NJ Stonewall Democrats is pleased to make the following endorsements, based upon personal interviews, voting records, and collaboration with Garden State Equality and Hudson Diversity.

All candidates listed support LGBT rights which means:
  The candidates say they will vote for a marriage equality bill and a stronger and transgender inclusive Hate Crimes law. The candidate supports a comprehensive syringe exchange program, and if currently serving in the legislature must have voted "yes" to syringe exchange, transequality and civil unions laws passed in 2006.

District 28, Essex (Part of Newark, all of Belleville, Bloomfield and Irvington):
  Cleopatra Tucker for Assembly

District 29, Essex/Union (Part of Newark, all of Hillside):
  Teresa Ruiz for Senate
* Wilfredo Caraballo for Assembly
  L. Grace Spencer for Assembly

This is a split ticket and we give special emphasis for the reelection of Wilfredo Caraballo who has been a Champion of LGBT rights

District 31, Hudson (Part of Jersey City, all of Bayonne):
  Sandra Cunningham for Senate
* Nicholas Chiaravalloti for Assembly - Column B
  L. Harvey Smith for Assembly

This is also a split ticket as Nicholas Chiaravalloti is given special emphasis

District 32, Hudson (Part Jersey City, all Harrison, Secaucus, Kearny and North Bergen):
  Joan Quigley for Assembly - (Joan has been a consistent champion!)
  Vince Prieto for Assembly

District 33, Hudson (Part Jersey City, all Hoboken, Union City, West New York and Weehawken):
  Brian Stack for Senate
  Ruben Ramos for Assembly
  Carrie Rodriguez for Assembly

The New Jersey Stonewall Democrats (NJSD) is the state organization of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex Democrats and their allies and friends. NJSD is committed to its mission of improving the responsiveness of the Democratic Party and Democratic officeholders to our communities' issues and to educating voters on the vast difference between the two major parties that exists on issues of importance to our communities. We are an affiliate of National Stonewall Democrats.

News Round-up and Open Thread for Tuesday, April 10, 2007

by: Sharon GR

Tue Apr 10, 2007 at 08:40:08 AM EDT

• The Star-Ledger has a brief list of highlights of yesterday's filing deadline for Essex & Morris; and for Susses & Warren Counties. The Jersey Journal has a laundry list of filings, The Press of Atlantic City lists the races in the South East of Our Fair State, and the Gloucester County Times covers their races. The APP has a list of races in shore towns, The Times of Trenton covers Mercer, and and The Courier-Post reviews Camden/Burlington County races.
• The "Reform Democrats of Union County" missed the deadline to file by fifteen minutes. It is expected they will challenge the Union County Clerk's decision not to accept their filing in court.
• Wayne Bryant appeared in court yesterday and pleaded Not Guilty. There's a joke in here about him showing up for court when he never showed up for work, but it's just too easy. The trial is set to begin in January.
• An Appellate Court yesterday reversed a decision in Bergen County, saying the $108 million in management fees the county pays to Bergen Regional Medical Center LP annually could be excessive and that a huge, unsecured loan did not appear to benefit the public. A lawsuit by NJ Citizen Action and county residents can now go forward.
• Hamilton Twp. (Mercer Co.) has been back and forth on building a transit village near its train station for three years. Now, the developer is suing the township in order to go forward with the plans, insisting the Republican town council is playing politics.
• Steve Politi reminds Don Imus that there are very real women playing basketball for Rutgers. Very real, very bright women who work very hard.

new Union County park ?

by: jfc521

Fri Mar 09, 2007 at 10:39:37 AM EST

The Union County freeholder board voted last night to take control of a decommissioned reservoir in Clark Township as part of a plan to transform it into a nature preserve.

Clark Township officials have long been asking the county to take over the neglected, 150-acre reservoir, which has not been used for drinking water since the 1970s. The county plans to use its Open Space Trust Fund to build observation piers along the water's edge and a walking path through the surrounding woodlands.

The county will formally take possession of the reservoir in roughly three months, pending an environmental study.

I've noticed that the (democrat-controlled) Union County government has some good enviro folks, and this is another example of their efforts to preserve and restore what little open land remains in this small and densely populated county.

Cranford GOP slams Union Co. Dems

by: John C

Fri Mar 02, 2007 at 06:12:34 PM EST

In a vote split along party lines, the Township Committee this week authorized a study to account for how much local residents pay in taxes to Union County, and how much Cranford receives in return for those taxes. ...

[Robinson -R] added that having the study delivered in July, after the budget season but before the fall election campaign, would help keep politics out of the issue. ...

"It's a political exercise," McDonough [D] said before casting his dissenting vote. Jorn [D] joined him in the objection. With the county looking at a budget increase of less than 5 percent while the township is facing nearly a 12 percent increase, "It looks like they're doing a better job (with) the budget process then we are right now," Jorn said. ...

"This is a fact-finding effort. It is not a partisan witch hunt," responded Robinson [R].

It's funny how the Republicans on the Town Committee desperately try to portray the study as non-partisan, while the Dems recognize it as obvious grandstanding and posturing.  Besides, how do you place an accurate dollar figure on all the services and benefits provided by the County to the Town?  There is some small irony in the fact that Cranford Republicans want to waste the Town's taxpayer dollars on a pointless study of...taxes.

"Interesting Connections"

by: krose

Fri Feb 02, 2007 at 01:29:32 AM EST

Did Tom Kean, Jr., Mike Ferguson and the Union GOP Misuse Troops?

by: huntsu

Tue Mar 28, 2006 at 02:41:20 PM EST

A kerfluffle resulted from these accusations of Republicans using military personal for partisan gain, and as a result the Secretary of Defense, Don Rumsfeld, issued renewed orders on March 14th barring active duty soldiers from participating in partisan political events in uniform.  Here's part of the rule from TPM:

For instance, one directive states that active duty personnel may "Attend partisan and nonpartisan political meetings, rallies, or conventions as a spectator when not in uniform." They may not "Participate in partisan political management, campaigns, or conventions (unless attending a convention as a spectator when not in uniform)."

The directive is pretty clear, and is intended to ensure that the military in the United States in non-partisan and as free of political pressure as possible. 

Well, looking for Junior's phone number earlier today I noticed this picture below from Tom Kean Jr.'s campaign web site:

You can clearly see what appears to be a person in a military uniform speaking at a podium at what is captioned as the Union County Republican Convention where Junior was endorsed by the county GOP, and Junior and Assemblyman Eric Munoz, M.D. looking on.  In this angle, you can also see Rep. Mike Feguson.

The date is four days after Rumsfeld re-issued the orders regarding military personnel and partisan political events. 

Now, I don't know who that guy in the uniform is.  It's possible that he is a hunter or some other non-military person.  If so, however, that seems like strange garb to wear to a county political nominating convention.

Laurel Hester has already made a difference

by: Juan Melli

Fri Dec 02, 2005 at 09:40:24 AM EST

Last week, Mercer County also cited the situation in Ocean County as the reason why they were acting to pass domestic partner benefits. The person at the freeholder's meeting continued: "I watched in tears - even if Ocean County doesn't budge, Laurel has already helped so many with her courage and I wish she had seen it."

If the Ocean County freeholders hope that this situation is just going to fade away, they are sadly mistaken. They are the laughing stock of not only New Jersey, but the entire country and if tourism declines next summer, they shouldn't act surprised that people don't want to visit the homophobia capital of the world.

The next Ocean County freeholder's meeting is Wednesday, Dec 7th in Room 304, Third Floor, Administration Building, 101 Hooper Avenue, Toms River. If you're from the county, come out in support of Lt. Hester.

You can also contact the following people and let them know how you feel:

County Administrator
Alan W. Avery (732) 929-2147

Freeholders CountyConnection@co.ocean.nj.us
Gerry P. Little: (732) 929-2001
Joseph H. Vicari: (732) 929-2002
John P. Kelly: (732) 929-2003
James F. Lacey: (732) 929-2004
John C. Bartlett, Jr: (732) 929-2116

County Tourism Director
Barbara Steele - (732) 929-2000 bsteele@co.ocean.nj.us