Obama, Sestak, Christie & Merkt

by: ken bank

Thu May 27, 2010 at 04:13:14 PM EDT

No, this is not the name of a politically connected law firm.  Check out this story on Huffingtonpost about Joe Sestak offered a job in the Obama administration for getting out of the primary race.  It reminds me of a similar allegation Rick Merkt made last year about being offered a job if he got out of the primary.  I recall at the time some folks pointed out that if the story was true it would amount to election tampering.

If Republicans go after Obama on this one will they defend Christie for doing the same thing?

Will Michele Brown and others get jobs in the Christie administration?

by: Jason Springer

Mon Nov 09, 2009 at 09:45:00 AM EST

Gov.-elect Christopher Christie told the Star-Ledger that he would not rule out appointments for Ralph Marra and Michele Brown, two of his top colleagues at the U.S. Attorney's office.

"People who have real problems won't be in the administration. People who have problems that are contrived for attempted political advantage won't be hurt by that.  That doesn't necessary mean they're going to be in, but if they're not in, that won't be the reason why they're not," Christie told the Star-Ledger's Claire Heininger.

Christie could also be talking about former Morris County Freeholder John Inglesino, who stepped out of the spotlight after he became a campaign issue during the primary election.

John Inglesino became a campaign issue when he offered Rick Merkt a job in a potential Christie administration if only he would get out of the primary campaign. He made more news in the campaign when he ended up quitting his part-time government job with State Senator Joe Pennacchio to end allegations of pension padding.

Lets not forget what Christie said when he was running for Governor:

You know, we're going to ferret out waste and fraud and abuse in the government. I think you know I'll do that better than anybody. I've got a group of assistant U.S. attorneys sitting down in Newark still doing their job. But let me tell you, they are watching the newspapers. And after we win this election, I'm going to take a whole group of them to Trenton with me and put them in every one of the departments because they saw a lot of waste and abuse being investigated while we were in the U.S. Attorney's office that didn't rise to the level of a crime. So I told them, the good news is, when we get to Trenton we don't have to worry about beyond a reasonable doubt anymore.

Quote of the Day: I'm not being pessimistic, I'm being realistic

by: Jason Springer

Thu May 28, 2009 at 08:14:49 PM EDT

"You have to understand that what you can do are the things you can do as governor, not the things that you hope the Legislature's going to do. I'm not being pessimistic. I'm being realistic,"

Forbes and Christie might as well propose a law requiring the rivers to run with whiskey and the mountains to be made of ice cream.

Christie ducks questions, cancels interview

by: Jason Springer

Thu May 28, 2009 at 06:02:23 PM EDT

It's the very situation that Christopher Christie has labeled "pension abuse'' and vowed to stop if elected governor.

Christie refused to say at a public event Thursday whether he would call on friend and fundraiser John P. Inglesino to give up the pension credits he is earning as a $3,000-per-year political consultant for Republican Sen. Joe Pennacchio. Christie then abruptly canceled an interview with The Associated Press that had been scheduled weeks ago but did not give a reason why.

Christie said this week he had "no idea'' that Inglesino, one of his closest campaign advisers and a friend for 15 years, remained in the government pension system because of a job with the state senator from Morris County, where Christie lives. Inglesino, a corporate lawyer, began working for Pennacchio after losing re-election as a Morris County freeholder. Without the job, he would have been out of the pension system on Jan. 1, 2008, the day he was enrolled in the plan through Pennacchio.

Asked whether he'd call on Inglesino to give up his pension or the political job, Christie didn't give a direct answer.

"I've made it very clear that my position on pensions and politicians is that when I get into office pensions for politicians in this state will be eliminated,'' he said. "Anybody, whether they're a friend of mine, and adviser of mine, an opponent of mine, if they're into this public service to get a public pension, they're going to be sorely disappointed.''

Merkt: GOP will alter Supreme Court

by: vincent solomeno

Fri Apr 24, 2009 at 12:00:00 AM EDT

In Merkt's view, one can't affect change in the state without altering the makeup Supreme Court first.  Four out of the seven justices will come up for reappointment during the next gubernatorial term, while one is set to reach the mandatory age of retirement.  The governor is required to keep a partisan balance on the court, although Merkt could try to find Democrats who share his political philosophy.

"In one regard, I view this campaign as a huge success because this issue has finally come to the fore," said Merkt.

The next Governor's ability to appoint the next majority on the New Jersey Supreme Court is an important but rarely discussed issue in the campaign.  What kind of change does the GOP wish to affect?  What would that mean for affordable housing?  Environmental regulation?  Paid family leave?  Marriage equality?

2009 and the Politics of Supreme Court Appointments

by: vincent solomeno

Fri Feb 06, 2009 at 03:20:00 PM EST

Top row, L to R: Justice Roberto A. Rivera-Soto; Justice Barry T. Albin; Justice John E. Wallace, Jr.; Justice Helen E. Hoens; Front row, L to R: Justice Virginia Long; Chief Justice Stuart Rabner; Justice Jaynee LaVecchia.

More than any previous gubernatorial contest in recent memory, the outcome of this November's election will have a lasting impact on the composition and ideology of the New Jersey Supreme Court.  

The brief campaign has already included Republican criticism of several of the Court's high profile decisions.  However, little attention has been paid to the fact that the terms of four out of seven justices will expire on the watch of the next Governor.  Justices Virginia Long and John E. Wallace, Jr. will reach the age of mandatory retirement in 2012.  Additionally, the non-tenured terms of Justices Roberto A. Rivera-Soto and Helen E. Hoens will expire, allowing whoever is Governor the option of reappointment or selecting a new jurist to join the bench.

These days it's popular to beat up on the Supreme Court in conservative circles.  As such, the potential to reshape the Court's majority is significant when one considers that that criticism has been a centerpiece of the Republican primary campaign.  

Former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan has pledged to overturn judicial decisions mandating affordable housing and funding for the state's poorest school districts.  While he has proposed taking the matter to voters in the form of referenda to amend the state constitution, the unlikely passage of such measures no doubt guarantees that a Governor Lonegan will work to achieve his agenda through the judicial selection process.

Assemblyman Rick Merkt (R-Morris), a longshot candidate for his party's nomination, labeled the coming Supreme Court appointments "a critical issue for New Jersey's future."  If elected, he wants to "drive a stake into COAH's [affordable housing] heart, bury it, and make sure it never rises again."

Meanwhile, former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie, the presumed front runner, echoed his opponents and pledged, "If I am governor, I will gut COAH and I will put an end to it."

These ambitious goals can only be accomplished by overturning previous Supreme Court decisions.  By tradition, Governors maintain a partisan balance on the Court.  However, is it difficult to imagine a Republican Governor appointing justices - even those who are registered Democrats - sympathetic to conservative views?  Such a reversal would signal not only an end to COAH and Abbott funding, but a reorientation of the ideology of the Court, a shift with implications beyond these two issues.

Take the ongoing campaign for marriage equality in New Jersey.  In October 2006, the Supreme Court ruled that same sex couples are entitled to the same rights and benefits enjoyed by heterosexuals.  This decision led the Legislature to pass the landmark civil union law.  The ruling also set the stage for marriage equality by leaving the decision to lawmakers.  Will a refashioned and more conservative Supreme Court find same sex marriage unconstitutional?  Will it reverse the previous decision on civil unions?  Considering conservative views on the subject, it is hard to conclude otherwise.

New Jersey is a socially liberal, environmentally conscious state.  That said, Democrats need to make it clear that while we oppose legislating from the bench there is a compelling case for complying with affordable housing, education, and equality mandates.  We should raise the appointments issue.  A right turn by the Supreme Court should alarm not only progressives, but the moderate Democrats and Independents critical to victory in November.  New Jerseyans should know that changes to the Court's ideological composition will result in conservative decisions that impact life in our state for a long time to come.

Right Side Roundup: Gov Election Edition

by: Jason Springer

Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 01:30:00 PM EST

Speaking of the big dog in the race, after years of an informal campaign, Chris Christie is ready to formally announce his campaign for Governor this week with a tour around the state.  I don't think it's a Rick Merkt walking tour, who "raised the roof" at his stop in Gloucester County, but Christie  plans to travel to a town near you.  I wonder if anything will change now that that he's "officially" going to be a candidate?  Before he makes even makes the announcement, he'll face more questions about politicizing the office of US Attorney.

Meanwhile, Steve Lonegan is pushing full speed ahead with his effort.  Before Christie even announces, Lonegan will be up on the air with a $500,000 ad buy:

"We've been up (on the air) since last week and we'll probably stay up through the primary," Lonegan strategist Rick Shaftan said. "We might only pull back once Christie drops out."

"If the establishment Republicans are trying to rig the system against me, then I intend to beat them."

Though he refrained from criticizing Christie during his remarks, Lonegan, the former mayor of Bogota, said he would continue to "force the debate" between the Republican challengers over the next few months. "That's how you get ready to go to war," Lonegan said. "If we can't work our way through a hard-hitting primary, how are you going to take on Jon Corzine?"

Right Side Roundup: Gov Election Edition

by: Jason Springer

Tue Jan 06, 2009 at 09:04:01 PM EST

Indecision 2009 Begins ...

by: denniscmcgrath

Wed Oct 22, 2008 at 01:38:32 PM EDT

http://www.nj.com/news/index.s...

It's all good - I'd very much like to see a three or four-way Republican primary. Christie, Lonegan, Merkt, and Junior - let the games begin!

Good news for New Jersey

by: Scott Weingart

Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 02:00:00 PM EDT

Campaign Update!

by: Dana_Wefer

Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 07:54:25 AM EDT

I am happy to bring you some updates on the campaign as we close in on the final few weeks before election day.  Last week, we launched www.DanaWefer.com.  On the new website, you will find my position on several of the issues affecting the 25th District and New Jersey as well as a form to volunteer your time and a button to contribute financially to the campaign.

We have been attacking the incumbents relentlessly for their
opposition to important issues.  To illustrate: both voted against virtually every bill in the package benefiting autistic children and their families.  In one case, Carroll was the only person in the entire assembly to vote against one of these bills.  Voting against these bills, among others, is simply a manifestation of outright hostility towards people they are supposed to serve.  There is an absolute inability to understand that every vote they cast has real effects on real people.

We need change. 

This campaign is going to bring it.

I am privileged to be running this race and  I appreciate all those who encouraged me to run.  If you pledged to contribute to my campaign earlier this year, you can now contribute easily and electronically through the website www.DanaWefer.com.  I truly appreciate your support.  Almost all contributions at this point will be going towards GOTV.

For those of you who are also interested in helping the campaign, I encourage you to sign up to volunteer by filling out the volunteer form on the website.  We are tirelessly building a GOTV infrastructure unlike any that the 25th has ever seen.  We are basing our structure on the successful strategy used in the Morris Township special election early this year, which resulted in the first Democrat being elected to the Township Council since 1974.  As you know, GOTV is fundamentally grassroots, so we need a lot of volunteers on election day and in the lead up to election day.  This is truly a grassroots campaign, and that is why I believe we can win.

I know that with so many people like you contributing to and helping campaign, this will be the year that Democrats take back the 25th!  Thank you for your continuing support!.

  Sincerely,

  Dana