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election

Any honest Congressmen left in NJ?

by: carolh

Tue Jun 10, 2008 at 01:10:16 AM EDT

OK, folks.  Based on Juan's diary and the fact that Rothman has now officially endorsed Joe Ferriero for Chairman of the BCDO, I have to put out an open call to ANY honest Congress members out there - or any one else NOT afraid of Joe Ferriero who still believes in the Democratic process who wants to sit in on our election to make sure it is carried out in an honest way.

Unfortunately, Rothman is more worried about his own re-election than about the future of the Democratic party and about a fair and open process.  I am so disappointed I can't even express it.  He has become an apologist for his crony - a dictator - who refuses to let County Committee members do anything to represent the people.  

Why have you sunk so low, sir?  I used to respect you.  I used to, but like my respect for Jon Corzine and Dick Codey - it has dropped due to your lip service to ethics reform.  My mom always told me  - be careful who your friends are.  Maybe your mom never told you that.  

We are having our "election" at 5 tomorrow.  Gee, will Joe let us have the candidates speak BEFORE the vote or AFTER, like usual?  Will he herd us like cattle into different pens depending on our towns and loyalty?  Will it be a secret vote?

Get there as soon as you can - before he can call a voice vote.  Bring your cameras, folks, and videocameras and extra memory cards and batteries, we're gonna need it!  Looks like we're REALLY on our own this time.

Discuss :: (1 Comments)

Ferriero puts out Glossy Ads for Re-election

by: carolh

Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 12:00:08 PM EDT

Well, I just witnessed the first glossy ads I can remember for Joe Ferriero's re-election campaign.  Guess he is worried.  Like a Michael Wildes office wall, they are plastered with photos of him with all sorts of "very important people".  

The glowing endorsements are from:

Bob Menendez
Jon Corzine
Dick Codey
Steve Rothman
Dennis McNerney
Paul Sarlo

Missing from the endorsements are any Dems in Bergen County who aren't beholden to Joe for THEIR re-election.  

He's worried all right.  He's spent a lot of $$$ advertising for his re-election.  TWO different ads.  One of which takes credit for ANYWHERE dems won in Bergen even if they won DESPITE him.  Like in Tenafly.

He's gonna need all the help he can get.

Discuss :: (31 Comments)

A Trickle of a Primary

by: Thurman Hart

Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 03:55:44 PM EDT

Is this booth on:
Voting in the primary election today got off to a slow start in some New Jersey polling places despite some races that were expected to be competitive.

At one district voting at Cherry Hill West High School, there were only two voters in nearly two hours, leaving poll workers to chat and work on crossword puzzles as they waited for more.

Meanwhile, in Monmouth County's Ocean Township, only 29 of the nearly 900 registered voters in one district had voted by midday.

Turnout in New Jersey's primaries held in early June has hovered around 10 percent for the last several years.

Will we make ten percent?  Small voting pools mean each voter has even more power than in regular elections - so thank God we are being protected from dishonest homeless people.

Discuss :: (1 Comments)

The Night Democracy Died

by: carolh

Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 11:22:23 PM EST

I couldn't bear to stay.  I just didn't have the stomach.  

I got to the gym at the Hackensack Middle School at 4:30 and when I went to vote, I wasn't challenged - for once.  I was handed a small blue slip of paper and I looked all around for a private place to write on it and finally saw a tiny piece of cardboard about 1 ft square - I kid you not - that I guess was supposed to be some kind of privacy screen.  It was taped so it stood at one corner of the very same table where I gave my name.  Grabbing one of the pens on the table which all said Ariyan for State Senate on them, I realized it didn't really matter because the ONLY choice was between Camille and Dennis for Congress and Boss Joe had used the BCDO phones and money to ONLY push for his choice - Dennis Shulman.  Which is why Shulman won.  It was NOT a private vote.  There was a little box just 2 ft behind the workers taking signatures and I asked the young man watching the flimsy cardboard box if it had been empty before this little exercise and he smiled and said it had been checked by four people.  He didn't say who.  Lets just say - I DIDN'T vote for Vernon Walton who was coronated only a few weeks ago.

I then stood for roughly two hours handing out flyers to every county committee person I could in the Hackensack Middle school.  The flyers quoted the Mike Kelly column in the Record today and urged members to stay and support Robert Gulack's attempt to get our "Bill of Rights" for the County Committee passed.  The one that would ENSURE fair and HONEST committee elections. The one we had asked to have a convention to bring to a vote last year after obtaining the necessary signatures.  The petition that was IGNORED by Boss Joe because it would have made him an honest man.

I watched the auditorium finally fill up with the Committe members for speeches by the candidates even though the only contest was really between Camille Abate and Dennis Schulman.  At least this time we had a semblance of a candidates speech time - after most folks had ALREADY VOTED.  After we stood for the pledge, Robert Gulack rose holding a copy of Robert's Rules of Order in his hand and declared he had a point of order.  Would the Chairman allow Mr. Gulack to speak.  

That was when the thugs in the back of the room threatened to throw Mr. Gulack out.  It was a small but vocal and rude minority that attempted to shout Mr. Gulack down.  Boss Joe stated that this convention WAS NOT SUBJECT to the Bylaws and when Mr. Gulack disagreed and asked Chairman Ferriero to explain which part of the Bylaws allowed him to preside over a convention of the Committee WITHOUT following the Bylaws, Boss Joe stated that he would take a vote on denying Mr. Gulack the floor.  

It would have been funny if it was not a serious breach of the rules when Boss Joe said  - "All in favor?" and his goons in the back of the room shouted "YES!!!!" before the folks still trickling into the room knew what was going on.  At that, Boss Joe said basically that the ayes have it.  I was stunned - still waiting for my turn to shout NAY! but there was no forthcoming "All those opposed?"  

I felt like Charlie Brown lying on my back after Lucy just pulled the football away AGAIN.

So that is his LATEST trick.  That is how Joe takes a voice vote.  Nice, huh?

Mr. Gulack, who actually knows and follows Roberts Rules had to sit down.  I was so disgusted at what I had just seen that when Boss Joe then let Ms. Lynn Hurwitz get up to speak, I had to get out of there. I got up, turned to the thug behind me - told him he was nothing more than a sheep and left the auditorium.  

I was surprised we even got this far, but at least there were more witnesses tonite to the horrific way Boss Joe runs the Democratic (now there's an oxymoron) party in Bergen County.  

The only fun part of the night was watching Ms. Rabbit from Bergenfiield tell Dennis Schulman who was running for Congress not to believe everything he may have heard about Bergenfield.  I wanted to run up after her and say - "believe it! believe it!"

If anyone else had the strength to stand there and watch the rest of the "show" please let me know how it turned out.  I just was so enraged and infuriated and disappointed and beside myself, I was afraid I would have to confront the loud mouthed bullies that had taken over my political party.

I'd be hard pressed not to punch one of them before the men (and they were mostly men - white men at that) all beat the heck out of me.  They were so riled up that anyone would DARE EVEN HAVE AN ORIGINAL THOUGHT that wasn't put in their head by Joe Ferriero - the guy who got them their county jobs.

Just disgraceful, disgusting, and an event that made me want to live somewhere else.  

There's More... :: (16 Comments, 92 words in story)

Primary Election Day Open Thread

by: Jay Lassiter

Tue Feb 05, 2008 at 06:22:56 PM EST

( - promoted by Juan Melli)

[Juan taking over this thread with updates tonight]

New Jersey Democratic primary (98% reporting)
   Hillary Clinton   54%
   Barack Obama   44 %

  • Hey, my guess yesterday wasn't too far off (Clinton: 55%, Obama: 45%). Lucky guess.

    Barack Obama  Hillary Clinton
    Georgia  Oklahoma
    Illinois  Arizona
    Delaware  Tennesse
    Alabama  Arkansas
    Kansas  Massachusetts
    North Dakota  New York
    Utah  New Jersey
    Connecticut  California
    Minnesota  Arizona
    Idaho  
    Colorado  
    Missouri  
    Alaska  

  • McCain wins New Jersey

  • 83% Democratic turnout in Essex County? That's incredible even by general election standards.

    How did you spend election day?

    Did you get anyone else  to vote?

     Any election watch parties near you?

    How will you follow the results?  Old media (like CNN) or new (bluejersey, mydd, youtube) or both?

    Are you innoculated for the outcome, one way or another?

    Here's the place to discuss all the little subplots on the day.

  • Discuss :: (38 Comments)

    Problems with voting machines in NJ?

    by: nms716

    Tue Feb 05, 2008 at 04:21:16 PM EST

    If you have been experiencing problems with voting machines in New Jersey, please contact the RUTGERS LAW SCHOOL CONSTITUTIONAL LITIGATION CLINIC.  The clinic has sued the State of NJ for using insecure and unreliable electronic voting machines.  We would like to share your story with the Judge who is overseeing our lawsuit to show that NJ's voting machines do not count votes as cast.

    Please contact Penny Venetis at (973)353-5687 or pennyv@kinoy.rutgers.edu

    Discuss :: (0 Comments)

    Voting on Feb 5 - Easy As Pie

    by: danpreston

    Wed Jan 23, 2008 at 09:54:56 PM EST

    In a previous post, I noted the needless confusion and outright misinformation about who can vote in NJ's February 5th Presidential Primary. The correct answer is that upwards of 99.95 percent of citizens who were registered to vote as of January 15, 2008 CAN vote, whether they're already members of the Democratic or Republican parties (about 40 percent of voters) - or if they are currently "unaffiliated" (not members of any party, about 60 percent of all voters). The only exceptions are registered members of the Green, Libertarian or a few other alternative parties, which combined represent a tiny fraction of a percent of the electorate.

    So what will happen when you, the voter, walk into your regular polling place on February 5th? What if you're not already a Democrat or a Republican? If you are currently unaffiliated, what hoops will you have to jump through to "declare" a party affiliation? To find out, I decided to attend a poll worker training class held this evening in Hopewell Township, conducted by the Mercer County Board of Elections.

    Short answer: It's pretty much like voting in any other election. You go to your usual polling location. The poll workers look in the poll book where you sign in to see if there's a "DEM" or "REP" printed above the block where you sign. If so, DEMs get to vote the Democratic ballot; REPs get to vote the Republican ballot.

    If the space for your party affiliation is blank, they simply ask you: Democrat or Republican? You answer with one or the other. They fill in the blank. You vote accordingly.

    That's it. No fuss. No bother. No forms to fill out. You vote. And then you leave, knowing that you've taken part in the first Presidential Primary Election ever where NJ voters had a real say in the outcome.

    Discuss :: (4 Comments)

    NJ Unaffiliated voters CAN vote in the Feb 5 primary

    by: danpreston

    Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 04:03:40 PM EST

    Promoted from the diaries -- Juan

    I keep hearing misinformation about the eligibility of unaffiliated voters to vote in the NJ Presidential Primary on February 5. So I looked for a clear and authoritative statement on the subject.

    I found this press release from the NJ Office of the Attorney General, the ultimate authority in these matters. Here's the money quote:

    New Jersey?s primary election law allows unaffiliated voters ? those registered voters who never affiliated with the Republican or Democratic parties -- to choose a party on Primary Day and vote in the primary. However, voters already registered as Democrats can only vote in the Democratic primary; similarly, voters already registered as Republicans can only vote in the GOP primary. Cross-over voting is not allowed. The deadline for switching party affiliations was December 17.

    There were almost 4.8 million people registered to vote before the Nov. 6, 2007 general election, including 1,164,504 Democrats, 874,457 Republicans and 2,756,759 unaffiliated voters.


    So all an unaffiliated voter needs to do is - GO TO THE POLLS ON FEB 5. It's that simple.

    The voter statistics underscore how major this is: Only about 24 percent of voters statewide are Dems, and about 18 percent are Repubs. The rest - about 58 percent - are "unaffiliated." So any news organization or other source that gets this wrong is doing a huge disservice to a vast majority of NJ voters.

    So ... please pass the above info along to anyone who needs it  - especially reporters or others in a position to [mis]inform voters!

    And ... I'd really like to know if you hear/see/read inaccurate stories anywhere in the media.

    Discuss :: (6 Comments)

    Assessing the Election

    by: Begoner

    Thu Nov 08, 2007 at 05:54:47 PM EST

    While this year's elections represent a setback when compared to 2005, due to the off-year trough, the results are a significant improvement relative to the more apt standard of 2003.  Even though the changes in the legislature were relatively minor this year, the trend towards Democrats is evident, especially in South Jersey.  Graphs/analysis of the General Assembly results on the flip.
    There's More... :: (3 Comments, 564 words in story)

    Corruption and the November Election

    by: mikeshapiro

    Wed Oct 03, 2007 at 10:51:19 PM EDT

    A recent Quinnipiac poll revealed that nine out of ten New Jersey voters believe that corruption is a "very serious" or "somewhat serious" problem.  However, a sizeable majority of voters polled said that the issue would not sway their vote to the Republican column despite the announcement of several recent high profile corruption cases against prominent Democrats.  What does this mean for New Jersey residents?
    There's More... :: (1 Comments, 252 words in story)

    Bergenfield Sore Losers Launch Write-In Campaign

    by: carolh

    Sat Sep 15, 2007 at 06:02:43 PM EDT

    Boy, it will get interesting this November in Bergenfield. 

    When Timothy Driscoll and the Real Bergen Dems won the Primary in June, they ticked off the Ferriero Democrats in town - and so the Council President Dennis Mulligan, APPALLED that things didn't go his way in a fair election, has launched a Write-In campaign to get around the sore loser laws.  His girl Dolores Butler lost the Primary and he's coming to her rescue to fight for her honor, or something, unleashing a general election Free For All in the process.

    According to the Twin Boro News in Bergenfield in an article by Steve Kelman, Mulligan said he was jumping into the race just before the General Election because " The June Primary was hijacked by out-of-town forces that donated tens of thousands of dollars to destroy the Democratic Party in Bergenfield."

    "The result"  he said "is a candidate that does not reflect the Democratic Party of Bergenfield."

    Excuse Me?  Looks like Democracy finally actually WORKED in town.  The out-of -towners didn't vote for Mr. Driscoll, the BERGENFIELD Voters of the Democratic persuasion did.  Maybe they voted for Mr. Driscoll because he is an honest WWII veteran whose has been writing tirelessly on behalf of folks in Bergenfield - like my Dad.  Maybe they don't like the kind of politics practiced by Mr. Mulligan who saw nothing wrong with the fact Mr. Driscoll was disenfranchised when his name was forged to kick him OUT of the County Committee.  Maybe they liked his running mate Bruce Carlson who happens to be the lone voice of reason from the Democrats on the current town council? 

    My Dad lives in Bergenfield, and I'm telling you - residents there want to TAR AND FEATHER the Ferrierocrats who are RUINING Bergenfield. 

    And now in a scene from "They just can't make this stuff up."  The current Republican Mayor who was not seeking to be re-elected has thrown his hat into the ring after the Republican Primary when the current R Candidate got the nod in an uncontested Primary.  He is probably afraid to see his town fall under the total grasp of Ferriero now that the machine candidates are back in the race. 

    And so after a Primary which resulted in 1 Democratic and 1 Republican candidate for Mayor, Bergenfield voters will be bombarded by literature from 2 SEPARATE Democratic Campaigns, and 2 SEPARATE Republican Campaigns. Got that?  There ought to be a law.  It's like if Lieberman had a sore loser law where he was from and convinced his bestest buddy to "get even" with Ted Lamont by running as a Dem in a sneak write-in campaign.  They just can't take "no" for an answer. 

    There's More... :: (5 Comments, 147 words in story)

    elect collingswood progressive 2 camden cnty committee

    by: roses4jo

    Mon Jun 04, 2007 at 10:14:18 PM EDT

    yo to all of you registered voters from collingswood, i know it is only a primary and it doesnt look like there is any opposition, but there is!

    i am tim oneill,from collingswood. i am on the steering committee of the Progressive Democracy South Jersey pda/dfa.

    i am running for a seat on the camden county democratic committee. i would like the opportunity to bring a PRGRESSIVE DEMOCRATIC vision to the committee.

     so PLEASE VOTE FOR ME.......

    i have column 2 all to myself

     COUNTY COMMITTEE FOR COLLINGSWOOD                            TIMOTHY J ONEILL

    IMPEACH THE BUSH GANG... STOP THE FUNDING.... END THE WAR

    Discuss :: (1 Comments)

    Don't Stay Home

    by: carolh

    Fri Jun 01, 2007 at 10:31:25 PM EDT

    Well, it's getting down to the wire.  Primary Day.  Tuesday.  The day the status quo politicians wish everyone would stay home and let the party bosses pick your candidates for you.  Don't give away your power to shape your party.  Vote on Primary Day. 

    Even if there is no Presidential race - Don't stay home.

    Even if there is no Gubernatorial race - Don't stay home.

    Even if there is no Senate Race - Don't stay home.

    Even if there is no Congressional race - Don't stay home.

    Even if there is no contested State House race - Don't stay home.

    Even if there is no contested County election - Don't stay home. 

    Even if there does not appear to be a contested local election - Don't stay home.

    Even if you think your candidate is safe -   Don't stay home.

    Even if you think your vote doesn't matter -  Don't stay home. 

    Even if you think you can't win a real Boss battle -  Don't stay home.

    Even if you are afraid they won't count your vote -  Don't stay home.

    Even if you are afraid they will turn you away - Don't stay home. 

    Even if you think they will intimidate you -  Don't stay home.  You can call and report it. 

    Even if you don't have a way to get there -  Don't stay home. You can call and get a ride there.

    Even if they have to give you a provisional ballot - Don't stay home.  Provisional Ballots count too.

    Even if you have to work -   Don't just go home.  The polls are open early and late.

    If you don't know who the candidates are -  Find out.  But whatever you do, on Primary day - Don't Stay Home.

    Unless of course, you have filled out and sent in your absentee ballot.

    But otherwise - DON'T STAY HOME this Tuesday.  Please. 

    Discuss :: (0 Comments)

    An ATM, a Reduced Delegation, or Both?

    by: JRB

    Mon Jan 22, 2007 at 05:09:17 PM EST

    In this morning New York Times, a top advisor to John McCain commented on states' rush to the front of the primary calendar.
    All of these states, who are moving up early, want to play and have an impact. But oddly enough, it ultimately will limit the legitimate candidate choices for the nation at large in the primary process.
    To counter that, the Democratic National Committee is considering a rule at their upcoming winter meeting that would penalize states for moving up. Wally Edge is reporting that,
    The move would reduce the size of state's delegation by as much as 30% as a penalty for moving their primaries to the first Tuesday in February. California is among the state's considering a February 5, 2008 primary; the California Senate President and Assembly Speaker have asked Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean to reject the proposal.
    In his 2005 state of the state address, Dick Codey said that moving up the primary would "make New Jersey a Presidential player instead of an ATM machine for Presidential candidates." Maybe so.

    But if the move came at the expense of the size of the convention delegation, it could reduce New Jersey's role in Presidential politics.

    In the first place, if California, Michigan, North Carolina, Missouri, and Delaware all move their primaries to February 5 (the earliest any states can move up), New Jersey will be competing with several major players and their cheaper media markets. And this doesn't include Florida and other Western states that are also rumbling about a move.

    Not to mention the dynamic of this particular presidential year. Some, like National Journal's Chuck Todd, are suggesting that the presence of two or three heavyweights could lead to extremely well-financed campaign organizations  with no quit in them -- leading to a delegate fight at the national convention.

    If New Jersey sacrifices a chunk of its delegation for a handful of campaign stops and maybe a few million dollars in additional revenue, will it be worth it?

    Discuss :: (5 Comments)

    State Dems enjoy big campaign cash advantage

    by: Jay Lassiter

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

    According to campaign finance info released today, the state Democrats currently hold a 3:1 edge over the GOP in their campaign warchests.  That advantage may prove decisive for the democrats this election year.

    "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.

    Discuss :: (1 Comments)

    TODAY: Rally for Loretta Weinberg, Gordon Johnson and Valerie Vainieri-Huttle. PLEASE JOIN US!

    by: Steven Goldstein, Garden State Equality chair

    Tue Jan 16, 2007 at 06:53:54 PM EST

    (Updated - promoted by jmelli)

    Update: The room is full with some people having to stand. There's about 250-300 people attending the rally.

    Update 2: More people are still arriving. The unions say "we stand up for the people who have always stood up for us."

    Update 3: In attendance: HPAE, Local 164, laborers local 592, CWA, Firefighters union district 37, Garden State Equality, Phyllis Salloway-Kaye of Citizen Action

    Update 4: Also attending: Amy Goldsmith of the NJ Environmental Federation, SEIU, UFCW, Mike Herson of the Sierra Club.

    Join us Wednesday, January 17 at 4 pm in Paramus at a HUGE RALLY of union leaders and progressive activists to support Senator Loretta Weinberg, Assemblyman Gordon Johnson and Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle.

    Wednesday, January 17 at 4 pm
    IBEW 164 Union Hall Auditorium
    205 Robin Road
    Paramus, NJ 07652

    4 pm: Loretta, Gordon and Valerie hold a pre-rally meeting with progressive activists -- they want to talk to us before the hoopla.  A photographer will be present to take photos of each of us with the legislators.

    5 pm:  The rally itself.  A who's who of labor and progressive activists across the state -- it's going to be amazing.

    Here's why the event has historic significance:  There aren't enough times when we progressives join with our incredible friends from the labor movement in political action.  New Jersey, as you know, is per capita the most unionized state in America.  And thanks in huge part to Blue Jersey, its bloggers and their other respective organizations, New Jersey right now is the hottest place for progressive activism in America.

    Imagine all we can achieve when progressives and labor unite! 

    This event is also when we progressives, almost all of us staunch Democrats, stand up to a county party machine when it strays from the values of progressive, clean and open government that we cherish by not expressing sufficient support for incredible legislators like Loretta, Gordon and Valerie - reformers and champions of justice everyday in every way.

    What an incredible signal we're sending with this event, one that will reverberate politically statewide. 

    So join us
    Wednesday, January 17 at 4 pm
    IBEW 164 Union Hall Auditorium
    205 Robin Road
    Paramus, NJ 07652

    Please don't hesitate to be in touch if you have any questions.  Best, Steven, cell (917) 449-8918, Goldstein@GardenStateEquality.org.

    Love you, Blue Jersey!

    Discuss :: (5 Comments)

    Love those headlines!

    by: DottieG

    Sat Nov 11, 2006 at 02:10:25 PM EST

    The New York Times, Wednesday, November 8, 2006:

    Democrats Take House

    The New York Times, Friday, November 10, 2006:

    Democrats Take Senate

    And I can't wait
    For 2008!

    Discuss :: (1 Comments)

    Garden State Equality's Election 2006 endorsements

    by: Steven Goldstein, Garden State Equality chair

    Mon Nov 06, 2006 at 07:37:20 PM EST

    For United States Senate:  Bob Menendez (D)

      Garden State Equality was the first statewide organization to endorse Senator Menendez, who has a 91 percent lifetime rating from the Human Rights Campaign.  His election is crucial for a change in control of the United States Senate.
      Senator Menendez's opponent, Tom Kean Jr. (R), is among the most anti-LGBTI statewide candidates to be nominated by either party in the history of New Jersey politics. 
      Kean Jr. is nothing like his father.  Kean Jr. favors a state constitutional ban on marriage equality for gay couples, which would permanently end our campaign for marriage equality in New Jersey. 
      In 2004, Kean Jr. also voted "no" on the state domestic partnership law that provides gay couples less than one percent of what straight couples have. 

    For the United States House of Representatives:

      Linda Stender (D) in the 7th Congressional District, covering parts of Union, Middlesex, Somerset and Hunterdon counties.  To check whether you live in Linda's district, visit http://www.lindasten...

      This race, among the one dozen closest U.S. House races across America, could determine control of the U.S. House of Representatives.  Linda Stender, currently an Assemblywoman, is as progressive, honest and effective a public servant as exists in New Jersey today.  She's a strong supporter of the LGBTI community.  Her opponent, incumbent Mike Ferguson (R), is viciously anti-LGBTI and joyfully pro-war.  He is also obsessed with banning marriage equality in the United States Constitution. 

      Carol Gay (D) in the 4th Congressional District, covering parts of Mercer, Monmouth, Ocean and Burlington Counties.  To check whether you live in Carol's district, visit http://www.carolgayf...

      Carol Gay is one of New Jersey's most unshakable supporters of marriage equality.  Active in the labor movement, she's a member of the Solidarity Singers of the New Jersey Industrial Union Council that performs at Garden State Equality events.  She's running against incumbent Chris Smith (R), a nationally known warrior against every LGBTI civil right imaginable.  Smith is favored in this district but your vote for Carol Gay is a must to keep Smith's self-perceived mandate at a minimum.

      Garden State Equality endorses the following incumbent U.S. House members who face no serious competition, but who deserve your vote for being among our country's strongest supporters of civil rights for all:  Rep. Rob Andrews (D-1st Congressional District); Rep. Frank Pallone (D- 6th Congressional District); Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-8th Congressional District); Rep. Steve Rothman (D-9th Congressional District); Donald Payne (D-10th Congressional District), and Rep. Rush Holt (D-12th Congressional District).

      Garden State Equality endorses the following candidates for local office, all more pro-LGBTI, more progressive and more qualified than their opposite party opponents.  We note which candidates are openly lesbian or gay because New Jersey ranks near the very bottom of all U.S. states in the number of openly LGBTI people who hold public office.

    - Donna Schiavone (R) for borough council in Hillsdale in Bergen County.  Openly LGBTI.
    - Charles Eader (D) for township committee in Bedminster in Somerset County.  Openly LGBTI.
    - John Stoltz (D) for township committee in Colts Neck in Monmouth County.  Openly LGBTI.
    - Tim Eustace (D) for borough council in Maywood in Bergen County.  Openly LGBTI.
    - Michael Peterson (D) for borough council in Roselle Park in Union County.  Openly LGBTI.
    - Dana Wefer (D) for Morris County Freeholder.

    You may take print this information and take it to the polls with you.  This Blue Jerse blog entry is from the Garden State Equality continuing political committee, an independent entity under state election law. 

     

    Discuss :: (0 Comments)

    LGBTI volunteer program for the 2006 Congressional elections -- volunteer today!

    by: Steven Goldstein, Garden State Equality chair

    Sun Oct 01, 2006 at 03:26:55 PM EDT

    Below in this posting, Garden State Equality, joined by our friends at New Jersey Stonewall Democrats, lists six LGBTI field offices across the state at which we encourage you to volunteer for pro-equality candidates for U.S. Congress between now and Election Day, Tuesday, November 7th. 

    This volunteer program is open to everyone who believes in equality, whether you are LGBTI or straight.

    The offices are in Jersey City, Montclair, Scotch Plains, West Trenton, Ocean Grove and Cherry Hill, so you're likely to find a location just minutes away.

    But first, some background:

    Two years ago, the 2004 elections marked a painful time for the LGBTI community across America.  In one of the most hateful campaigns ever, Karl Rove and the national right-wing demonized LGBTI families state by state by state.  The hatemongers didn't merely go after our freedom to marry.  They campaigned to abolish laws that give LGBTI Americans any rights, from domestic-partnership laws, to the ability to adopt children, to our inclusion in even the most elementary anti-discrimination laws. 

    The 2006 elections are a whole different story.  We now have the best chance in many years to win back both houses of the U.S. Congress -- and it all comes down to New Jersey.

    If U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, a steadfast champion of equality, doesn't win in November, we don't have a prayer to take back the U.S. Senate.  What an irony that would be:  Pro-LGBTI candidates for Congress are surging everywhere in America, even in the reddest of "red" states -- yet it could be New Jersey, the most progressive state in America, that keeps the U.S. Senate in the hands of those who want to strip the LGBTI community of our most fundamental human dignity.

    Indeed, the stakes for us in New Jersey are higher than anywhere else in America:  When we win marriage equality -- whether in the next four weeks through a court victory, or in the next four years through our legislature's passing a statute -- our victory will completely erased if the hatemongers keep control of the U.S. Congress and finally succeed in banning marriage equality in the U.S. Constitution.

    So friends, this election involves way more than choosing between two candidates -- though on its own merits, the choice is clear between pro-LGBTI U.S. Senator Bob Menendez and his Republican challenger Tom Kean Jr., who voted against the domestic-partnership law in 2004.  This election is about the bigger picture nationallly and about advancing our civil rights in New Jersey.

    Garden State Equality and New Jersey Stonewall Democrats therefore ask you to volunteer in one of the six offices below, as soon as possible and as often as possible between now and Election Day, November 7th. 

    So we can keep track of who our volunteers are --and can remind our leaders of the political power of the LGBTI community and our progressive allies -- we ask everyone interested in volunteering to contact Jeff Gardner, Vice Chair of Garden State Equality and director of our Election 2006 field operation, at jeffpgardner@gmail.com or cell (973) 951-7081. 

    These campaign offices are open every day, every weeknight and even on weekends -- and Jeff will be able to check for you in advance.  Again, contacting Jeff, allowing us to keep track of our volunteers, is crucial.  The next time we're in a dogged fight for our civil rights, we want to say to public officials and party leaders, "We stood up for you with these great volunteers, so now stand up for us."

    Thanks, everyone, from all of us at Garden State Equality and our friends at New Jersey Stonewall Democrats -- the campaign offices are below.  Best, Steven Goldstein, chair, Garden State Equality

    Jersey City
    Hudson County Democratic Organization
    74 Oakland Avenue 

    Montclair
    Smith & Mullin law firm 
    240 Claremont Avenue

    Scotch Plains
    Linda Stender for Congress campaign headquarters 
    211 Park Avenue

    West Trenton
    Communications Workers of America Local 1034
    1 Lower Ferry Road

    Ocean Grove
    Century 21 Coastal Realtors
    67 Main Street

    Cherry Hill
    USBW Local 152
    5 Executive Plaza

    To volunteer, contact Jeff Gardner, Vice Chair of Garden State Equality and director of our Election 2006 field operation, at jeffpgardner@gmail.com or cell (973) 951-7081. 

    This posting is by the Garden State Equality political organization, not the Garden State Equality Educational Fund.
     

    Discuss :: (0 Comments)

    A huge progressive test in 2007: Reelecting Sen. Loretta Weinberg

    by: Steven Goldstein, Garden State Equality chair

    Thu Sep 28, 2006 at 12:58:41 PM EDT

    (Loretta Weinberg represents the future of NJ's Democratic party, and Ferriero is making a big mistake in trying to push her out. - promoted by jmelli)

    On this, Blue Jersey's one-year anniversary, it seems like the right time to look ahead to a watershed moment for our progressive community in 2007.  It's in Bergen County, where state Senator Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck, Hackensack, Englewood), one of the greatest progressive champions of our time, a woman who has sponsored and fought fiercely for every major progressive bill in the legislature since her election to the Assembly in 1992, may well be primaried by the Bergen County Democratic machine.
    There's More... :: (3 Comments, 397 words in story)
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