Denver Update: SIX New Co-Sponsors for Marriage Equality in NJ

by: Scott Shields

Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 01:49:39 PM EDT

Though there are still doubters, all indications are now that New Jersey will be the third state after Massachusetts and California to guarantee the right to marry for same-sex couples. This kind of momentum, indicated by this morning's surprising development, is incredibly hard to overcome. While civil unions have been a progressive step forward for the cause, New Jersey residents seem to agree that basic civil rights should no longer be denied to a significant portion of our population.

This has been a great week for New Jersey's Democrats. Despite some weird media fixation on whether or not Senator Menendez would be given a speaking role at the Pepsi Center (and everyone knows he'd have delivered the keynote if it were up to me -- and perhaps should have, all things considered), we've seen our share of groundbreaking scenes at this year's convention. Our state's delegation played a big role yesterday, from the morning move to pledge all of our 127 delegates to Barack Obama, to being the last state to have our delegates counted in the roll call before Hillary Clinton's historic motion to nominate Obama by acclamation. It's fitting that six new backers for the marriage equality bill would announce their support at a convention where so much history is being written.

Why is Gordon Johnson Shilling For The Railroads?

by: BlueBergen

Sat Jun 28, 2008 at 03:01:48 PM EDT

Gordon Johnson sits on the transportation committee.  

The Association of American Railroads paid for this ad.  

CSX owns the railroads that run through the 37th district.

CSX is a member of the Association of American Railroads.

Assemblyman, Englewood City Councilman Gordon Johnson appears in this ad under his role as "Sheriff, Bergen County, New Jersey (retired).

This ad began running in publications such as Politico this month.  

I smell a conflict of interest a brewing.

Clinton & Obama campaign rallies today

by: Juan Melli

Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 10:43:51 AM EST

Senator Bob Menendez and Congressman Bill Pascrell will headline a rally for Clinton at Montclair State University today. Doors open at 6pm at the Alexander Kasser Theatre on the Montclair University campus (1 Normal Avenue, Montclair).

Congressman Steve Rothman, State Senator Loretta Weinberg and Assemblyman Gordon Johnson will hold a rally for Barack Obama tonight in Bergen County. The event is at 7:30pm at the Hackensack Civic Center (215 State Street, Hackensack).

Party Democracy Act - Filed Today

by: carolh

Thu Jan 24, 2008 at 07:48:35 PM EST

Will this be the start of a new era?

If The Party Democracy Act passes - it could be the very first official nail in the coffin of party boss politics in the State of NJ.

If the Party Democracy Act passes - NJ may no longer be the poster child for political corruption, but a model for ethics reform in the US.

If the Party Democracy Act passes - it will be easier for ANY democrat with a passion for serving the public to choose who winds up on the ballot.

If the Party Democracy Act passes - I won't have to wonder if my county committee vote actually was counted or not.

If the Party Democracy Act passes - I won't have to worry about my entire Tenafly Municipal Committee - including the entire Elected Town Council being challenged at the BCDO special elections.

If the Party Democracy Act passes, I will be able to blog more about other things than what my Party Boss is up to THIS time.  

If the Party Democracy Act passes, I won't have to worry about forged resignation letters turning up with my name on them.  

If the Party Democracy Act passes, I will be able to sleep at night, knowing that democracy is alive and well in my beloved state, and that the voices of my fellow NJ voters are actually - finally - heard.

Lets help this Bill PASS.  Please.

Here is the official press release:

January 24th, 2008 Contact: Heather Taylor, 732-548-9798 x.1

Sponsors Pledge to Fight for Adoption of Party Democracy Act Bill filed today.

While filing the Party Democracy Act for the 2008-2009 session, the Senate and Assembly sponsors renewed their pledge to seeing the bills adoption in the new legislative session. The Party Democracy Act guarantees county political parties operate under a constitution and bylaws and sets a fair process for the filling vacancies in public office. The sponsors of the Act are Senators Loretta Weinberg and Diane Allen, and Assemblywomen Linda Greenstein, Amy Handlin, Valerie Vainieri Huttle, Charlotte Vandervalk, and Assemblyman Gordon Johnson. The legislation was developed by the Citizen's Campaign Legal Task Force.

For far too often County Political Parties have operated in a closed and undemocratic manner with party chairs wielding immeasurable power over the award of ballot lines, campaign cash, and the filling of vacancies in public office. The legislation lays the groundwork for the county committeepeople---the elected neighborhood party representatives - to have clearly spelled out and fundamentally fair set of rules.

Senator Loretta Weinberg said, "This is really a step to protect the rights of the most grassroots members of our two party system. Party leaders should support and lead the way on this bill."

Senator Diane Allen said, "This bill empowers our county committee people to do what they were elected to do so decisions are made by the people not by a single party boss."

Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein said, "As a candidate who ran for Assembly in 1999 as a relative political outsider, I appreciated the open process in both Mercer and Middlesex counties that allowed me to build support among county committee-people without the threat of backroom deals. I would like to see a similar open convention process in all counties to encourage women, minorities and others to participate in the political process."

Assemblywoman Amy Handlin said, "This bill will open doors to new talent. It will encourage the development of independent thinkers in both parties -- exactly what New Jersey needs at every level of government."

Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle said, "Government reform begins with political reform. Keeping our political party system honest and transparent will help ensure the integrity of our democracy here in New Jersey."

Assemblyman Gordon Johnson said, "It is amazing that in a Country that is the beacon of democracy to the world, there are institutions that do not function democratically. It is the responsibility of the state and national government to foster democracy and insure its proper function in its institutions. That responsibility extends to the political party apparatus of New Jersey. It falls to us to make sure that this most basic platform of democracy operates democratically."

Citizen's Campaign spokeswoman Heather Taylor said, "We are pleased to have such strong sponsors behind this effort to restore democracy to the political parties, we plan to lead an aggressive grassroots campaign to see this bill's adoption."

The legislation:

*Mandates county political parties adopt constitution and bylaws. Currently, it is optional for county political parties to have a constitution or by-laws. Constitutions and by-laws ensure fundamental fairness and allow all participants to know the rules of the game. Without them, political parties operate under clubhouse rules which are known by few and often result in domination by the chair. The actual content of the constitution and bylaws will still be determined by each individual county political party in a manner they choose.

* Because County Party Constitutions and bylaws are currently optional, it can be very difficult to obtain valid copies of the bylaws and constitution. It is critical to maintain a political culture where the rules are the rules, and they are available to all participants. In the case of a vote to fill a vacancy, it is even more important that those who wish to run for a vacancy be able to obtain the rules immediately.

*Requires voting machines for party committee votes to fill vacancies in public office. Voting machines are critical to enabling county committeemembers to vote their conscience, free from the threat or perception of intimidation from party bosses who in many cases control their livelihood. County Committees elect to vacancies in the legislature and board of freeholders.

*Requires the County clerk to maintain a list of the county party committees. For candidates seeking nomination or election in a committee vote to fill a vacancy in public office, it is critical to know who are the eligible voters. In the case of Senator Weinberg's special election, she was unable to get an official list for several days while the list was being changed last minute. By establishing a standard list which must be updated and a public record, last minute replacements will not be allowed.

*Provides for resignation, vacancy and appointment records to be maintained by County Clerk to ensure the lists accuracy. Notarized resignation letters to be submitted to the clerk. Persons selected to fill a va cancy on the county committee will also file a certificate of acceptance which regularly elected county committeepersons file. The Citizen's Campaign is a non-partisan organization which devises innovative government reforms and promotes citizen leadership.

The actual Bill filed just today - in black and white and hot off the presses!

AN ACT concerning county political party committees and amending R.S.19:5-3 and R.S.19:13-20.

BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. R.S.19:5-3 is amended to read as follows: 19:5-3. The members of the county committees of political parties shall be elected annually at the primary for the general election in the manner provided in this Title for the selection of party candidates to be voted for at the general election by voters of a municipality. The county committee shall consist of one male and one female member from each unit of representation in the county. The male receiving the highest number of votes among the male candidates and the female receiving the highest number of votes among the female candidates shall be declared elected. Members of the county committee shall actually reside in the districts or units which they respectively represent. The county committee shall determine by its bylaws the units into which the county shall be divided for purpose of representation in the county committee.

The members of the county committee of each of the political parties shall take office on the first Saturday following their election, on which day the terms of all members of such committees theretofore elected shall terminate. The annual meeting of each county committee shall be held on the first Tuesday following the primary election, except that when such meeting day falls on a legal holiday then the said meeting shall be held on the day following, and when such meeting day falls on the day of a municipal runoff election within the county then said meeting may be held on the day following, at an hour and place to be designated in a notice in writing to be mailed by the chairperson of the outgoing county committee to each member-elect, at which annual meeting the members of such committee shall elect some suitable person as chairperson who shall be a resident of such county to hold office for 1 year, or until a successor is elected. The chairperson of the outgoing county committee shall transmit, with the notice of the annual meeting, a copy of the constitution and bylaws to any newly elected committee member. The members shall also elect a vice-chairperson of the opposite sex of the chairperson to hold office for 1 year or until a successor is elected and the vice-chairperson shall perform all duties required by law and the constitution and bylaws of such committee. The members of the county committee shall adopt a constitution and bylaws, ensuring fundamental fairness and the rights of the members of the county committee in the governance of the county party. Any person elected or appointed to membership on the county committee pursuant to R.S.19:5-2 may request, in writing and by certified mail to the county chairperson, such constitution or bylaws. The committee member requesting the constitution or bylaws shall receive the constitution or bylaws within 48 hours of the receipt of the request by the chairperson. The chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the committee and shall perform all duties required by law and the constitution and bylaws of such committee.

When a member of a county committee ceases to be a resident of the district or unit from which elected, a vacancy on the county committee shall exist. A member of a county committee of any political party may resign his or her office to the committee of which he or she is a member, and upon acceptance thereof by the committee, a vacancy shall exist. A vacancy in the office of a member of the county committee of any political party, caused by death, resignation, failure to elect, or removal for cause, shall be filled for the unexpired term by the municipal committee of the municipality wherein the vacancy occurs, if there is such committee, and if not, by the remaining members of the county committee of such political party representing the territory in the county in which such vacancy occurs. The chairperson of the outgoing county committee shall provide a copy of the constitution and bylaws to any committee member appointed pursuant to R.S.19:5-2 to fill a vacancy within three business days of the committee member's selection.

The chairperson of the county committee of the several political parties shall, before April 1, certify to the clerk of each municipality in the county the unit of representation in such municipality, together with the enumeration of the election district or districts embraced within such unit.
(cf: P.L.1980, c.105, s.3)

2. R.S.19:13-20 is amended to read as follows:
19:13-20. In the event of a vacancy, howsoever caused, among candidates nominated at a primary election for the general election, which vacancy shall occur not later than the 51st day before the general election, or in the event of inability to select a candidate because of a tie vote at such primary, a candidate shall be selected in the following manner:

a. (1) In the case of an office to be filled by the voters of the entire State, the candidate shall be selected by the State committee of the political party wherein such vacancy has occurred.
  (2) In the case of an office to be filled by the voters of a single and entire county, the candidate shall be selected by the county committee in such county of the political party wherein such vacancy has occurred.
  (3) In the case of an office to be filled by the voters of a portion of the State comprising all or part of two or more counties, the candidate shall be selected by those members of the county committees of the party wherein the vacancy has occurred who represent those portions of the respective counties which are comprised in the district from which the candidate is to be elected.
  (4) In the case of an office to be filled by the voters of a portion of a single county, the candidate shall be selected by those members of the county committee of the party wherein the vacancy has occurred who represent those portions of the county which are comprised in the district from which the candidate is to be elected. At any meeting held for the selection of a candidate under this subsection, a majority of the persons eligible to vote thereat shall be required to be present for the conduct of any business, and no person shall be entitled to vote at that meeting who is appointed to the State committee or county committee after the seventh day preceding the date of the meeting. Within 20 days after the meeting of each county committee that is held on the first Tuesday following the primary election at which committee members are elected, the municipal clerk shall certify to the county clerk an official list of the duly elected county committee members. The county party chairperson shall have a continuing duty to report to the county clerk any vacancies, resignations, and committee positions filled pursuant to R.S.19:5-2 or 19:5-3. A report of a resignation shall be accompanied by a notarized letter of resignation signed by the resigning committee member. Notice of vacancies in the membership of a county committee that are filled pursuant to R.S.19:5-2 or 19:5-3 shall be accompanied by a certificate of acceptance signed by the newly selected member. The official list of the county committee members maintained by the county clerk shall be deemed to be a government record and only those county committee members listed thereon seven days prior to a selection to fill a vacancy and otherwise qualified to vote on the vacancy shall be entitled to vote on filling a vacancy pursuant to this section. In addition, every person appointed to the county committee shall file with the county clerk a certificate of acceptance which shall be preserved by the county clerk as a government record. In the case of a meeting held to select a candidate for other than a Statewide office, the chairperson of the meeting shall be chosen by majority vote of the persons present and entitled to vote thereat. The chairperson so chosen may propose rules to govern the determination of credentials and the procedures under which the meeting shall be conducted, and those rules shall be adopted upon a majority vote of the persons entitled to vote upon the selection. If a majority vote is not obtained for those rules, the delegates shall determine credentials and conduct the business of the meeting under such other rules as may be adopted by a majority vote. All contested votes taken at the selection meeting, as referenced in subsections a. and b. of this section, shall be by secret ballot in a voting booth of the type used in primary and general elections.

b. (1) Whenever in accordance with subsection a. of this section members of two or more county committees are empowered to select a candidate to fill a vacancy, it shall be the responsibility of the chairpersons of said county committees, acting jointly not later in any case than the seventh day following the occurrence of the vacancy, to give notice to each of the members of their respective committees, as certified by the county clerk, who are so empowered of the date, time and place of the meeting at which the selection will be made, that meeting to be held at least one day following the date on which the notice is given.
  (2) Whenever in accordance with the provisions of subsection a. of this section members of a county committee are empowered to select a candidate to fill a vacancy, it shall be the responsibility of the chairperson of such county committee, not later in any case than the seventh day following the occurrence of the vacancy, to give notice to each of the members of the committee, as certified by the county clerk, who are so empowered of the date, time and place of the meeting at which the selection will be made, that meeting to be held at least one day following the date on which the notice is given.    
  (3) A county committee chairperson or chairpersons who call a meeting pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection shall not be entitled to vote upon the selection of a candidate at such meeting unless he or she or they are so entitled pursuant to subsection a.
  (4) Whenever in accordance with the provisions of subsection a. of this section the State committee of a political party is empowered to select a candidate to fill a vacancy, it shall be the responsibility of the chairperson of that State committee to give notice to each of the members of the committee of the date, time and place of the meeting at which the selection will be made, that meeting to be held at least one day following the date on which the notice is given.

c. Whenever a selection is to be made pursuant to this section to fill a vacancy resulting from inability to select a candidate because of a tie vote at a primary election for the general election, the selection shall be made from among those who have thus received the same number of votes at the primary.

d. A selection made pursuant to this section shall be made not later than the 48th day preceding the date of the general election, and a statement of such selection shall be filed with the Attorney General or the appropriate county clerk, as the case may be, not later than that day, and in the following manner:
  (1) A selection made by a State committee of a political party shall be certified to the Secretary of State by the State chairperson of the political party.
  (2) A selection made by a county committee of a political party, or a portion of the members thereof, shall be certified to the county clerk of the county by the county chairperson of such political party; except that when such selection is of a candidate for the Senate or General Assembly or the United States House of Representatives the county chairperson shall certify the selection to the State chairperson of such political party, who shall certify the same to the Secretary of State.
  (3) A selection made by members of two or more county committees of a political party acting jointly shall be certified by the chairpersons of said committees, acting jointly, to the State chairperson of such political party, who shall certify the same to the Attorney General.

e. A statement filed pursuant to subsection d. of this section shall state the residence and post office address of the person so selected, and shall certify that the person so selected is qualified under the laws of this State to be a candidate for such office, and is a member of the political party filling the vacancy. Accompanying the statement, the person endorsed therein shall file a certificate stating that he or she is qualified under the laws of this State to be a candidate for the office mentioned in the statement, that he or she consents to stand as a candidate at the ensuing general election and that he or she is a member of the political party named in said statement, and further that he or she is not a member of, or identified with, any other political party or any political organization espousing the cause of candidates of any other political party, to which shall be annexed the oath of allegiance prescribed in R.S.41:1-1 duly taken and subscribed by him or her before an officer authorized to take oaths in this State. The person so selected shall be the candidate of the party for such office at the ensuing general election. Each candidate for the office of Governor or the office of member of the Senate or General Assembly filing a certification shall annex thereto a statement signed by the candidate that he or she:
  (1) has not been convicted of any offense graded by Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes as a crime of the first, second, third or fourth degree, or any offense in any other jurisdiction which, if committed in this State, would constitute such a crime; or
  (2) has been so convicted, in which case, the candidate shall disclose on the statement the crime for which convicted, the date and place of the conviction and the penalties imposed for the conviction. Such a candidate may, as an alternative, submit with the statement a copy of an official document that provides such information. If the candidate has been convicted of more than one criminal offense, such information about each conviction shall be provided. Records expunged pursuant to chapter 52 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes shall not be subject to disclosure.
(cf: P.L.2005, c.136, s.21)

3. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill requires county political party committees to adopt and distribute a constitution and bylaws. The bill requires the constitution and bylaws to ensure the representative rights of members of the county committee in the governance of the county party. In addition, the bill provides that within 20 days of the first county committee meeting after a primary election, the municipal clerk will certify to the county clerk an official list of the county committee members. The bill provides the chair of a county committee will have a continuing duty to report changes in the committee membership, with appropriate documentation, to the county clerk. It also provides that the official list of the county committee members maintained by the county clerk will be a government record that is accessible to the public and only those county committee members listed thereon seven days prior to a selection to fill a vacancy and otherwise qualified to vote on the vacancy will be entitled to vote on filling a vacancy. In addition, every person appointed to the county committee will be required to file with the county clerk a certificate of acceptance.

Requires adoption and distribution of constitutions and bylaws by county political party committees; requires certified list of committee members to be filed with county clerk.

The Rebirth of Democracy

by: carolh

Sun Jan 06, 2008 at 06:04:15 PM EST

Just got back from the Celebration in Bergenfield, where WWII veteran, and brand new Mayor Tim Driscoll took the reins at his very first Reorganization meeting of the Governing Body of Bergenfield for 2008.  Real Bergen Democrats Barry Doll and Bruce Carlson joined him on the dias.  What a beautiful sight for ethics reform in NJ.

Everyone was there - by that I mean the "Merry Band of Reformers" Real Bergen Democrats, and their supporters including,  Loretta Weinberg, Valerie Vainieri Huttle, Gordon Johnson, Carol Skiba, Paul Eisenmann, Nick Lento as well as all the press.

It was a long meeting, but the best part and most entertaining was watching Councilmen Mulligan and Lodato squirmily adjust to their new roles as the obstinate bullies who have been taken down a peg.  Mulligan couldn't bring himself to vote YES to a different Borough attorney than Oury.  You could see the calculations going on in that shiny head of his, as to how many DOLLARS he would lose for re-election if he voted YES to a Mayor Driscoll's choice, and you could see him calculate how many VOTES he would lose by ticking off the voters with a NO vote.  So what do bullies do, when cornered?  They vote to ABSTAIN. But they always give a speech while doing so.  It reminded me of watching Scooby Doo as a child.  I pictured him saying - "Drat! Foiled again! I would've got away with voting Dennis Oury in again, too - if it weren't for those meddling kids, I mean Real Bergen Democrats, and their ethics reform minded friends in the Assembly and Senate - Weinberg, Johnson and Huttle! "  But my daydream disappeared in a poof as Mulligan waxed on about how he thinks Dennis Oury is the bestest Borough Attorney in the whole wide world.  I had to resist the urge to cough disrupively into my hand and say "Liar" or break into cackles of hysterical laughter at the absurdity of the moment.  Because Councilwoman Rabbit was absent (scared away perhaps) Lodato knew the writing was on the wall - he did not have enough votes to Vote NO. And with a long speech that seemd to be a public apology for his vote (kissing up to Oury)  he stunned us with a YES vote.  

The Room erupted into thunderous and enthusiastic applause when enough yes votes were taken to send the ubiqitous Mr. Oury packing.  We were cheated of the sight of Oury himself packing his briefcase and making sure the door didn't hit his backside on the way out,  but we got to see Renfield, or whatever the diminutive associate's name was who was filling in for Oury, slink away to the applause of nearly everyone in the room - except Mulligan and Lodato. 

I smiled. It was a very good day in my hometown of Bergenfield.

Mike Kelly Column on Oury losing Borough Attorney job in Bergenfield
http://www.northjersey.com/politics/Thank_you_thank_you_Bergenfield.html?c=y&page=1

Serdar Tumgoren Column on Oury losing Borough Attorney job in Paramus: http://www.northjersey.com/news/bergenpolitics/Politically_connected_lawyer_is_fired_again.html?c=y&page=2

Video of 37th LD Debate #3: A Victory for Common Decency

by: Nick Lento

Tue Oct 30, 2007 at 11:59:46 PM EDT

The debate, which I'll be putting up here on video by morning, (apologies in advance for the image quality, the audio should be fine though) was marred by some loud ugly demonstrations (on the part of what I took to be LaRouchites) attempting to drive the event in a direction that just gave them publicity.  They came looking for a "lynching" and there was none.

Gordon Johnson Supports Lyndon LaRouche

by: BlueBergen

Fri Oct 26, 2007 at 01:57:43 PM EDT

Here are the numbers:  http://www.campaignm...

Gordon Johnson gave money to Lyndon LaRouche.

Lyndon LaRouche runs a radical/hate group that has called for the creation of a transatlantic bridge.  Mr. LaRouche has actually stated that the "Jews" control American foreign policy and are somehow responsible for 9/11.
http://en.wikipedia....

Gordon Johnson claims he liked LaRouche's grassroots movement.

This is the twilight zone.

So...... what do you think?

Final LD37 Clean Elections Debate

by: carolh

Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 02:24:03 PM EDT

This one will be held at Bergen Community College in Paramus.

Doors open  -  6:30pm
Debate begins - 7:00pm.

This one will be quite different than the last one.  It will be sponsored by the RECORD newspaper as well as the League of Women Voters.

The moderator will be the famous Alfred Doblin, Editorial Page Editor of the Record.

Two well-known Record Columnists are rumored to be questioning the candidates. Charles Stile and Mary Ellen Schoonmaker are presumed to be the questioners.

The Assembly candidates will debate first.  The Senate debate will follow the conclusion of the Assembly debate.

The questions will be asked first by the Record reporters, then the League of women voters will be reading written questions from the audience.

So, here's your last chance before the election to ask the Clean Elections candidates questions. 

Any other questions we should ask?
 

LD 37 Gordon Johnson: It's the Hypocrisy, Stupid

by: BlueBergen

Fri Oct 19, 2007 at 12:34:16 AM EDT

Calling for an end to dual office holding for everyone except yourself....... acceptable?

Announcing a plan to "Clean Up New Jersey" while refusing to clean up your own act...... acceptable?

Tell me what you think Blue Jersey.

The Fight For Good Government

by: Juan Melli

Wed Oct 17, 2007 at 09:49:09 AM EDT

Democrats in Bergen County are fighting a civil war that pits a small band of reformers against one of the richest and most powerful machines in the state.

The surprise is that the reformers, led by Sen. Loretta Weinberg, are winning. They have survived every attempt by the machine to knock them off.

And now they are switching to offense by unmasking the greedy habits of their own party's leadership -- an insiders' club that is enriching itself with big public contracts. [...]

This, of course, is driving the machine Democrats insane. Weinberg and her merry band have turned from the barricades to fire backward at their own officers. It is a mutiny, plain and simple.

And let's hope the rebellion spreads, because it's probably the only hope for reform in this long-suffering state.

The Republican Party is an empty shell these days. So for now, change has to come from within the Democratic Party.  [...]

So far, most Democrats are watching and waiting. Some whisper to Weinberg in the hallways of the Statehouse, encouraging her. But they won't stick out their own necks.

"Too many of them, their goal is to get re-elected," Weinberg says. "But there's got to be the next goal -- what do you do when you get there?"

Any time the issue of corruption and good government is raised, the straw man that's always foisted up is that because the "reformers" aren't 100% squeaky clean, they can't possibly be fit to try to set the bar higher for good government. For example, though Moran seems to disagree, there is obvious hypocrisy in calling for an end to dual office-holding while remaining a dual office-holder yourself, as is the case with Assemblyman (and Englewood councilman) Gordon Johnson. Whether the conflict is real or perceived, Johnson should step down from one of his two elected offices, because when it comes to the public trust perception is reality.

While this is no doubt a struggle for power and control in Bergen County, for me, this isn't about Senator Weinberg or Assemblymembers Huttle and Johnson so much as it is about good government. And that is what they represent. They no doubt understand that if they take control and resort to the same undemocratic tactics abused by the current power brokers, they should expect another merry band to challenge them...and eventually win.

LD37 Clean Elections Debate - My View

by: carolh

Wed Oct 17, 2007 at 12:22:41 AM EDT

The same few thoughts crossed my mind again and again.  Clara Nibot is clueless.  Simply Clueless. She and Woj were at the wrong debate.  They should be running for Council, not Assembly and Senate.  They had absolutely no idea that the things they said they are running for are things controlled by the Borough Council, NOT the State Legislature.  It was so summed up by the moderator who at the end of the debate and to laughter all around said to the Republicans -"I'd like to thank the Republicans for RUNNING."  Implied was a loss in their very near future.

However, to be fair, I will mention their positions on the questions asked:

8 Questions were asked and the positions stated were the following:

Question #1 Their view of the Clean Elections program:
Frank Cifarelli - is for the Clean Elections Program
Valerie Huttle - it increases women and minority participation in the process- increases voter participation.
Woj gave interesting excuses - answers as to why they couldn't get enough votes to qualify for the money that Ms. -Nibot now says is a travesty that the Weinberg team earned.  He said that the 37th is a safe district for Democrats and that they had no BCRO chairman till late July He blamed voter apathy and that people were not familiar with the program as well as the fact that the ADS did not mention candidate names (even though there were several places on the internet you could easily find them). 
Gordon Johnson said that the grassroots was already familiar with them so even though they started late - after the Primary, they were able to raise the contributions to qualify.  He said it definitely keeps the special interests out of teh process.  It is worth it. 
Clara Nibot just came off as simply whiny.  She said it wasn't hard for Loretta.  The opponents had no name recognition.  But she said was FOR Clean Elections, before she came out AGAINST it today. 
Loretta Weinberg - money should be equalized across districts - District 37 will get LESS money than other Clean Elections Districts, but it will SAVE money in the long run.  Public financing will have an impact on property taxes in the end.

Question # 2: Why should voters send Dems back to Trenton?
Huttle- The LD37 team have a proven record of good government and attention to social issues such as SCHIP, as well as a record of supporting clean government and fiscal responsibility.  The LD37 team has stood up against Pay To PLay and has several bills on ethics reform in the Legislature currently.
Woj - the R's have honesty and integrity.
Johnson - The LD37 team serves the public first and can fight the machine to provide opportunity for all.
Cifarelli - taxes (what else) 

All night the 3 Rs kept decrying high property taxes - which they did not understand were high in Bergenfield and Hackensack because of ethical lapses at the MUNICIPAL LEVEL. They were very misguided and ignorant on this point. They did not seem to even understand what Pay To Play really is and that to fight it in their towns they should have run for COUNCIL not ASSEMBLY AND SENATE.

Gordon - explained that property taxes are paid to the MUNICIPALITIES

Weinberg - Democrats provide better government, they helped get and increase in school funding.  More than $25 million has been returned to District 37 because of efforts by the LD37 team.
Nibot - In a ridiculous rant, said that the LD37 team was not strong enough to withstand the power of Joe Ferriero's machine.  (Hello?????  Anybody home??????  She obviously has not been reading either the Record OR the Twin Boro news for the past two years).  Nibot blamed the high taxes in Bergenfield on the LD37 team even though that is done on a MUNICIPAL level, not a state level.  Clueless. 

Weinberg:
The LD37 team actually ATTENDED Council Mtgs in Bergenfield to help residents there. They helped get residents an extended time to file their taxes by.  They worked VERY hard to help any way they could.  In fact, during the debate - the few applause moments belonged to the LD37 team when their efforts in Bergenfield were mentioned. 

Question #3 Rebates  - a Good Idea? 
Johnson - The state does not recieve property taxes, rebates are a way the state can help alleviate this problem and give some relief. 
Woj - the rebates were a bandaid - a gimmick - he says the LD37 team did nothing to help him with his property taxes.
Gordon:  Again.  Patiently as if to a child: The State legislature does not figure out MUNICIPAL PROPERTY TAXES. 
Huttle: Her opponent did accept AND CASH his rebate check. 
$40 million in rebate checks were sent to residents in LD37 alone. 
Weinberg:
Real property tax reform can't happen until bad government is cleaned up with ethics reform first. 
Nibot:  Says rebates are a gimmick and goes off on a tangent about taxes at the gym for rehabilitation for health reasons.  Goes on a rant about folks are leaving NJ because it isn't affordable.  Sounds like she's afraid we'll have ghost towns and tumbleweeds pretty soon.  Her only point is that NJ is not affordable - no argument there.
Weinberg:
We are a corridor state, we have a diverse population, the state started the 4% cap on spending and are reining spending in to keep NJ affordable. 

Question #4: Dual Office Holding
Woj tries to paint Gordon Johnson as a corrupt pension padder, and fails miserably.
Cifarelli - says compared to Joe Ferriero ANYONE else is a reformer.  He gets the biggest laugh of the entire debate.  He actually gets it the the LD37 team is trying to clean up corruption and commends them for it.
Huttle:  Stated that she was a dual office holder for only 1 year.  She is for the Dual Office Holding ban.  She was involved in ending Christmas tree grants, as well as getting legislative voting records online and is working on banning contributions from developers.
Cifarelli: Is against no-bid contracts
Nibot: Dual office holding is at heart of Pay To Play.  ( Now if she only knew what Pay to Play is.....)
Weinberg:  Explained the Clean Up NJ initiative.  A full time legislature would end the current practice of a legislator having 5 or 6 outside PUBLIC jobs which are often outside PAID jobs for government agencies.

Question #5 - Stem Cell Research Ballot Initiative
$450 Million to finance  = 9 years - $50 million each year for research grants
Woj: Doubtful it would help the states budget.  Does not think that the US could surpass the efforts of the European countries.
Johnson:
He is FOR it.  It would be an "economic engine" for research and education in NJ.  We will be in the forefront if we start now.
Cifarelli:  Opposes Embryonic Stem cell research, but is for adult stem cell research.  However that a good business environment is needed and it is the wrong time right now.
Huttle:  FOR it.  Mentioned it as and "economic engine".  She pointed out we are known for our pharmaceuticval industry and biotechnology.  It is a perfect fit.  She also mentioned "You cannot put a price tag on a cure for cancer".
Cifarelli:  For adult stem cell research
Nibot:  Does not want to spend any money on stem cell reserach
Weinberg:  Stem Cell Research is "One of the best investments the people of NJ can make".  NJ is the perfect state to become a biotech center.  It will creat jobs.  There is a capital building section in the bond issue.  "We must invest in what the new frontier of medical research is."

Question# 6 - Asset Monetization
Transforming state assets into cash.
Johnson: The plan has not been presented to the legislature yet, but it will be throroughly discussed at the local levels prior to the legislature voting on it.
Cifarelli:  Bought the Republican party line that we will be SELLING The GSP and the Turnpike.
Woj:  He said he has an open mind on it and that he is not a professional politician (no kidding - he definitely missed the class on not having a boring monotonous monotone and putting everyone to sleep).
Weinberg: She said she trusts that Jon Corzine would never sell a state asset.  The Governor made clear that that is NOT part of the plan and that any emplyees would be protected.  We will not be "selling any assets". 
Nibot:  just a nasty whiny rant that made no sense....(when she gets this way my notes simply say "clueless!")
Weinberg: There are still unanswered questions about this plan.  The LD37 team will engage the local voters and will wait to see the plan. 

Question #7 Civil Unions
Huttle:  Would vote for same sex marriage.  Has a bill in Legislature right now.  She is pro-family and pro-marriage outside of religious institutions.
Cifarelli:  Civil Unions are OK, needs a little work but it should be a public ballot question.
Woj: Complicated.  Thinks it should be by referendum.  Thinks only a small minority is actually for it.  (Again shows lack of doing homework on this)
Johnson:  FOR it. The people have already spoken - they want equal benefits.  Employees have been having problems already with the civil unions law. 
Weinberg: She stated that she knows loving families with children in longstanding relationships that lasted longer than heterosexual couples'.  They should have the full benefits of civil marriage.  "Words do matter" to all committed couples.
Nobot:  It's a social issue and it would be a "big change".  It should be a ballot initiative.
Weinberg:  The courts have already spoken on it.  We don;t have an initiative and referndum procedure in NJ, that's why we elect State Senators and Assemblymembers.  (Again the LD37 team had to explain to their opponents how government works in NJ.  So sad.) 

Question #8 - School Aid Formula
Cifarelli:  Current funding formula is unfair  - only Garfield is an Abbott school district.
Johnson:  The system is not perfect, but LD37 aid has gone UP.
Woj:  School Construction is a problem and there are unaccounted for funds.
Nibot: Again talks about local problems in Bergenfield that are addressed at Municipal level, not state level. Clueless.
Cifarelli:  Blamed local tax problems on the LD37 legislators (I need to remind folks here that Nibot and Woj are from Bergenfield - a Ferriero town steeped in Pay to Play, and that Cifarelli is from Hackensack, another town in need of Pay to Play housecleaning - their knowledge of taxes and what affects them needs a huge overhaul and education on how pay to play raises local taxes and that it is the County that affects that NOT the state legislators.) 
Woj:  nearly put me to sleep again.  Recomended that the school funding should be based only on the # of children.
Weinberg:
School funding should follow the child and be based on the child's NEEDS.  Hackensack got 11-1/2% MORE money thanks to the LD37 teams efforts and Bergenfield got 5% MORE.  They passed a law to get the County School Superintendent to have oversight. They also voted to get rid of unfunded state mandates.  12 Boroughs in LD37 got MORE funds - from 3% to 13%.
Nibot:  Pleased to hear that before she went into another rant about why are they worrying about this "now???!"  Clueless. (She didn't even know it happened, how could she be expected to understand when they actually started working on it?) 

Closing Arguments:
Weinberg:  Proud of her record.  She was a prime sponsor of the law to reduce the blood alcohol level for DWI.
Sponsored the Clean Indoor Air Act, the law to give new mothers more time in the hospital before being sent home, the law to have insurance cover mammograms for women under 40.  She works hard to help children not just here but all over the state.  It matters what happens to children in Newark as well as in the 37th. 
Woj:  He said we need a "change" (just what that means he didn't say).  He talked about tax increases, no bid contracts, dual office holding, emminent domain, and school reforms.
Huttle:  As a Funeral director she knows about compassion and she puts a human face on the issues of our district.  She is a business owner with 2 daughters. She cares about children and has worked to change the way DYFS operates.  She is concerned about saving the environment and quality of life in NJ. 
Cifarelli:
He commended the LD37 team for getting more funding.  He said we should directly elect the District Attorney and the State Comptroller.  (If he only knew how difficult it is to have fair elections....)
Johnson:
When you support the LD37 team - you ARE supporting the reformers.  To set the record straight he stated that the only pension he receives is from being a retired Police officer in Englewood.  He feels that public service to his hometown of 50 years is very gratifying and it was because of that sense of service and duty that he ran for councilman while he was in the Assembly to try to clean up the Pay To Play corruption at the local level in Englewood.
Nibot: She is an ordinary citizen who is upset over property taxes and corruption.  (like we aren't)
 

First Clean Elections Debate in LD37

by: carolh

Mon Oct 15, 2007 at 05:57:33 PM EDT

Where - at the Civic Center in Hackensack, located behind the Hackensack Municipal Complex.  This debate will be moderated by Citizen Action and NJN and will feature all six legislative candidates for LD37.

Come show your support for Clean Elections!

The Senator Responds

by: carolh

Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 10:50:36 PM EDT

http://politicsnj.co...

However, Senator Weinberg has an answer to that, and here is what she had to say to the Party Boss Joe Ferriero:

Dear Chairman Ferriero,

I too read with great interest the copy of your letter to Assemblyman/Councilman Johnson.

With all due respect to you, I'd like to bring you back to reality.  You mentioned the various health care pacs, lobbyists and big tobacco companies who have contributed to me which you must have researched over the 15 years I've been in the legislature.  Since I was the prime sponsor in the Assembly for many years which resulted in the Clean Indoor Air Act, signed by Governor Richard Codey, I'm assuming that the one small contribution I received many years ago from Philip Morris was not well spent on their part.  Please be aware that I returned the Enron check to that sorry corporation soon after receiving it with a note stating that their check should be re-deposited and given to their workers who were left "high and dry".  I guess the insurance companies who were forced to pay for 48 hour care for moms and their babies or for mammograms for women under 40, couldn't be too happy with me either.  I guess the restaurant lobby decided that .08 BAC was not so bad after all. 

Mr. Ferriero the reality of the situation is you can't have it both ways.  You can't criticize me for accepting so-called "special interest" money and then try to criticize me for not accepting special interest money and becoming a Clean Elections candidate.  Please don't try to be on both sides of this fence.

Let me clarify once again our position on dual office holding.  Our call is for a full-time legislature so that State Legislators, some of whom who hold six outside jobs which could present conflicts, would have to choose to give up those positions.  These are the kinds of excesses we hope to cure with a full-time legislature.

May I also point out that each of the seven points we put forth to help clean up the mess of which you are an integral part, covers all those law firms and individual lawyers, Republican and Democrat, who do business in the shadow governments in the state of New Jersey. My goodness with all the fuss you're making, do you have a problem with transparency and accountability?  That is all this program calls for.  We would hope that you  join us in calling for public service to again become a public mission rather than a profit-making machine at the expense of the hard working taxpayers we all represent.

Sincerely,

Loretta Weinberg, State Senator, District 37

Shadow Governments and Pay-to-Play: the LD37 Connection

by: BlueBergen

Thu Oct 11, 2007 at 07:23:39 PM EDT

Shouldn't we expect more from our District 37 Team? 

Those who live in glass houses......

Reform Begins At Home

by: BlueBergen

Thu Oct 11, 2007 at 01:11:54 PM EDT

Assemblywoman Valerie Huttle has got a lot to say about ethics.  Her husband is a partner at DeCotiis, FitzPatrick, Cole & Wisler.  Perhaps, while Assemblywoman Huttle is throwing stones at  contributors and contractors in her own party, she should look at her own glass house.

I enjoyed reading the Lorettacrats' "Clean Up New Jersey"  proposal: especially this part "The Seven Habits of Highly Ineffective Government: 2. Part-time Legislature - A fulltime legislature to eliminate dual job holding and any outside employment."

Assemblyman-Councilman-Mr. Pension Padder Himself- Gordon Johnson wants to eliminate dual office holding.  He thinks that a part time legislature makes for idle hands.  If he had had more to do in the Assembly, perhaps he wouldn't have taken on the hobby of running a primary campaign against an incumbent Democratic Councilman.  Does Assemblyman/Councilman Johnson have enough to do now that he has sought lower office?
(NOTE:  Mr. Johnson's wife receives a check from the Township of Teaneck)

As for 37th District Boss Loretta "Pay-to-play" Weinberg??.
"It not the trip, it's the association with somebody who's under investigation," said state Sen. Gerald Cardinale , a Republican from Bergen County. "I have the same concerns that Loretta Weinberg has. I did not know about that before I signed off on him, but it is very troubling because he should be the first line of defense."

Her decision to join forces with Senator Cardinale 4 weeks before Election Day has got me puzzled.  Is right now really the time to attack other Democrats?  Does she want to have Democratic colleagues in the 39th District or is she comfortable with Bushies like Cardinale?  I don't get it. 

LD37 Legislators uncover NJ "Shadow Governments" & Initiate "Clean Up New Jersey"

by: carolh

Tue Oct 09, 2007 at 02:33:49 PM EDT

At an 11 am press conference today, the LD37 Legislators, Senator Loretta Weinberg & Assemblymembers Valerie Huttle and Gordon Johnson explained their findings after months of painstaking research of NJ corruption, and announced their plans to reform NJ ethics laws.  Their approach is based firmly on the hard facts obtained that show clearly that the current laws are full of loopholes that allow literally MILLIONS of dollars to flow from the taxpayers to a few individuals.  What they uncovered, they said was only "the tip of the iceberg". 

They want to clean house and end the "Seven Habits of Highly Ineffective Government":

1) "Shadow Governments" - like the Passaic Valley Sewer Authority and the Bergen County Improvement Authority. These public entities have absolutely no oversight and you need to be a detective to connect where the money goes.  Also, the Governor has no veto power over their meeting minutes - which means he has no ability to stop an action taken by the body. 

2) Part Time legislature - which can present conflict of interest issues.

3) Loopholes in State "Pay to Play" laws.  Currently, there is not enough trransparency about where the money goes when PACs are involved.  Also, Pay-to-Play laws don't stop redevelopers from seeking eminent domain to cash in. 

4) Unfairness in political party operations.  Selection of party officials and the review process used to fill legislative vacancies is currently not transparent.  If you need a reminder, see my diaries on the BCDO.

5) Campaign financing.  It currently allows Pay-to-Play to occur and removes the people from the process. Money gets funneled up down and all around the state.

6) Lack of Transparency in hiring lobbyists.  Currently in places like the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission, folks like Joe Ferriero (you knew he'd come up - didn't you?)  who not only is a paid employee of the commission - (he makes $45,000 per year WITH pension and benefits) on top of running his own private law firm, earned an additional $719,000 in legal fees in 2006 ALONE.  Nope, I didn't add an extra zero.  He made over half a million in addition to his salary and benefits.  If you count since 2001 - he has made $4.5 MILLION dollars in legal billings alone.  That's taxpayer money, folks.  YOUR Money.  With NO oversight.

7) Loopholes in local government ethics laws.  In non partisan elections, such as in Teaneck, local government officials don't need to submit financial disclosure statements until a year after they are sworn in. That's a long time. Talk about locking the barn door too late.

NJ Legislators have already brought some bills to the Legislature. Here is a rundown of each bill, by name:

S677/A1730  by Weinberg/Johnson/Voss
This would give the Governor veto power over the minutes of any commission as a check so that he can prevent the body from taking action or hiring a no show lobbyist or "consultant".

SCR122/ACR259 by Doria/Greenstein and Gusciora/Manzo/Johnson respectively
These bills would provide for a full time legislature. The difference in the two bills has to do with how the salaries are set - by either the legislature itself, or an independent commission. 

S214/A4164 by Weinberg/Karcher/Buono/Johnson/Huttle
Would close loopholes in the current "Pay-To-Play" laws.

S1599/A4235 by Weinberg/Karcher/Johnson/Huttle
This would force even those running in non-partisan elections to file their financial records withoin 30 days of being sworn in instead of a year AFTER. 

Senator Weinberg, when announcing these initiatives, collectively called "Clean Up New Jersey", stated that public service should once again be a "public mission & not a moneymaking machine for any one or any one group of people."

Assemblywoman Huttle stated that "The buck has to stop somewhere" while speaking about the use of a state comptroller who would perform an annual audit and act as  check against the kind of abuse of the public trust in matters of financial responsibility. 

As part of the initiative, Assemblywoman Huttle spoke of a new process whereby taxpayers could get online access to see exactly how many lobbyists are employed by a public entity. 

New bills will be announced on October 16 jointly with the Citizen's Campaign.  Further measures include limiting contibutions from those doing business with public entities.  and also to limit contributions by developers in discussions with public entities.  Keeping money in the district in which it is raised is one way they hope to limit the influence of PACS as well as limiting the # of PACS one individual can manage.

Gordon Johnson said that Clean Elections financing is part of the whole effort and puts "Democracy back in the people's hands".  It gets the average voter much more involved in the whole process.  While Clean Elections still needs a little tweaking paper-workwise, the LD37 team said that they hoped the rest of the state would use Clean Elections as it clearly worked.  They pointed out that Dems in clearly R districts earned their Clean Elections funds.

And now, all is clear.  I get it.  I totally understand why Joe Ferriero and Dennis Oury spent 4 million of BCDO money on the race for the County Executive in Bergen County.  You see, the County gets to appoint the folks to these "shadow governments"  with the ability to spend your money like drunken sailors WITHOUT having to ask you or even EXPLAIN it to you.  You have to control the County appointments in order to control these money making machines.  Joe Ferriero doesn't care about Hillary, or even Scott Garrett, which is why he spent so little to win the 5th seat.  It would not have affected his secret ATM the way that losing the County Executive seat would have.  Here is the explanation of what has been nagging me for so long.  It isn't about politics, or even government, it is solely about greed and personal gain for a few people. 

Now, this works the same ALL OVER THE STATE apparently, so if you are in South Jersey too, take heed.  Get your legislators on the phone and tell them you want to "Clean Up New Jersey" and that you want them to pass these initiatives or you will NOT vote for them this November.  The power is in the hands of the Counties, and to keep the money flowing, folks like Joe Ferriero will do whatever they can, to keep control of the Party Organizations and the County government in their hands for the reasons, your LD37 team outlined today.  And, they will do ANYTHING to control state legislative seats that could potentially pass laws to stop their gravy train.  The reason the Senate seats are the most valuable is because of Senatorial Courtesy which can prevent an honest judicial appointee from investigating what the folks in the shadows want to keep secret.   

If NJ folks are still wondering why living here costs so much after this explanation, they aren't paying attention.  Wake them up. 

P.S. This took a lot of homework, but no Clean Elections money was used in this act of selfless pure public service, and according to elec, it would have been allowed ANYWAY, Ms. Nibot.

Clean Elections, Dirty Politics

by: carolh

Sat Oct 06, 2007 at 05:18:14 PM EDT

You could almost pity poor Ms. Nibot according to this Stiles column in the Record.  Tsk. Tsk.  Actually bribing elderly ladies with the promise of a free dinner if they would be her 400th contributor.  Sad.  So sad.

However, hold your pity for a moment.  Bergenfield does wierd things to folks lately........

Without the slightest sense of even understanding the irony of it all, Nibot has asked the ELEC to look into how Loretta Weinberg is spending her Clean Elections money.  After campaigning as the Clean Elections candidate up until the bitter end, while actually never being certified an OFFICIAL NJ Clean Elections candidate (talk about misleading packaging), Ms, Nibot has the raw unadulterated chutzpah to challenge Senator Weinberg about how she spends her newly acquired campaign funds.  I feel like Jon Stewart when he rubs his eyes furiously with his palms, shakes his head, looks up wide eyed and says Whaaaaaaa? 

Come again, Ms. Nibot?  If anyone is a Clean Candidate it is Senator Weinberg.  It is certainly not you.  According to ELEC, I have the proof.  You didn't QUALIFY.  You will just have to accept funds from folks like Joe Ferriero, Councilman Mulligan, or whoever else is funding your misleading campaign against our incumbent Senator. 

As for Ms. Nibot's indignation that Senator Weinberg is looking into how our public utilities are run, whether for ideas on how to improve them or to root out corruption, what the heck is wrong with that?  As a voter in NJ, I'd be happy to know that our Senator is looking after our interests everywhere - especially in expensive places and under rocks we often don't think to look.  I hate to tell Ms. Nibot,"It ain't all about you, sweetheart."  Just because you don't think a candidate should do any research except to learn all about your failings, doesn't mean Senator Weinberg is doing anything illegal or even unethical.  It just tells me, you have more issues than a newstand.  I don't know if I care to figure out what they all are before November 6 and I don't know if the voters have the time or inclination either. 

See below for more links and articles explaining the real ways campaign money corrupts the political process.  After reading them, tell me how a desperate Republican like Ms. Nibot can attack a popular honest Democratic State Senator like Loretta Weinberg who has just persuaded over 800 District 37 voters to give her 10$ each.  Tell me that Niibot is the clean candidate when she can't even stay above the kind of nasty smears and innuendos that characterize the dirtiest of politics.

Ms. Nibot, it is you who needs to "come clean" and stop advertising yourself as the Clean Candidate when you are NOT. 

Don't Worry - We'll Be Nice

by: carolh

Sun Sep 09, 2007 at 06:03:59 PM EDT

Well, it's official.  The MSM thinks we have an actual "army" of Democratic Grassroots activists against Pay to Play.  Good. 

The funny thing is it is really more like - "A Word to the Wise is Sufficient".  There is such excellent communication between our Legislators in the 37th District and our voters, and a genuine dialog between the rank and file Dems and the LD37th team  - that news travels at light speed.  That's all.  When an internet savvy activist simply hears what is going on in their name - they are used to logging on, plugging in, and mobilizing others who care what their party is up to and need to know.  Blackberries and text messages are even faster than the internet.  There is no ordering around, there is only communication. 

I'm going to be standing outside 50 Main street as it is my right to do to express my displeasure at the actions of my Party Chairman and the BCDO attorney.  If all the friends I have made since the Dean campaign and on Blue Jersey here feel like standing out there with me, I won't turn them away.  We'll be nice but we won't be silent. 

I am not trying to intimidate my fellow Committee members, I am trying to awaken their consciences.  I am trying to free the County Employees who can't speak up.  I don't think they are bad people.  I think they are terrified to rock the boat.  That's why I'm happy to do it for them. 

UPDATE: Ferriero Seeks to Undercut Pay-to-Play Laws

by: Juan Melli

Sun Sep 09, 2007 at 12:16:07 AM EDT

Bergen County boss Joe Ferriero, who runs the county by routinely trading jobs for loyalty and contracts for campaign contributions, wants BCDO lawyer Dennis Oury to sue the state to strike down pay-to-play laws threatening his patronage mill.

But why now? Why time this to coincide with election season? He almost pulled a similar stunt last year, but was talked out of it. Some think he's pressing the issue at this politically awkward time to pressure Codey and Roberts to pony up their leadership PAC money.

Since 37th district legislators Loretta Weinberg, Valerie Huttle and Gordon Johnson objected to his decision, he decided to call a meeting of the BCDO executive committee for this Monday at 5pm to take a vote on the issue. Presumably, he wouldn't have called the meeting if he didn't have the votes. Bergen County rank and file Democrats are expected to stage a protest outside the meeting to express their disapproval of this latest power grab.

Those eligible to vote include elected officials in Bergen County. The legislators in the 37th district have already made their views known, but how will Senators Paul Sarlo and Joe Coniglio and Assemblypersons Robert Gordon and Joan Voss vote?

There are several other candidates from Bergen County who could find themselves in a similar position if they win in November, and we deserve to know how they would vote: Joseph Ariyan, Esther Fletcher, Carl Manna, Zonie LeSane and Lisa Sciancalepore. Do they agree with Joe Ferriero that the pay-to-play laws should be struck down? I'll post updates here as we learn where they stand.

Clean Elections - Round 2

by: carolh

Tue Sep 04, 2007 at 09:42:44 AM EDT

The hard deadline is September 30, which is when all the paperwork must be in to the state.  Don't make things harder for your candidates.  Get your contributions to your candidates by September 15, which will give them enough time to verify and get their paperwork to the state. 

Meeting this second deadline will get them more clean elections funds to spend on their campaigns.  Only two more months to go before the election. 

We can do this.  If you already gave your $10 to each candidate you CAN'T give again.  But you CAN urge your fellow registered voters who haven't contributed to send in $10. Tell them if we get clean elections to work right this time - you won't be hitting them up for a $250 dollar donation next election season.  What a bargain!!!

To Recap - these are the towns involved:

DISTRICT #14: Mercer: Hamilton, West Windsor Middlesex: Cranbury, Jamesburg, Monroe, Plainsboro & S. Brunswick

DISTRICT #24: Hunterdon: Califon, Tewksbury Morris: Chester Boro, Chester Twp, Mt. Olive, Netcong Boro, Washington & Sussex County

DISTRICT #37: Bergen: Bergenfield, Bogota, Englewood, Englewood Cliffs, Hackensack, Leonia, Maywood, Palisades Park, Ridgefield Park, Rochelle Park, Teaneck & Tenafly

Clean Elections webpage: http://www.njcitizen...

No matter what you read on other blogs, Loretta Weinberg's team is Clean Elections CERTIFIED so far, her Republican opponents are not.  The Republicans could not get even 400 contributions.

Webage showing which candidates are certified so far:
http://www.njcleanel...

For Downloading Printable Forms:
http://www.elec.stat...

Remember - EACH candidate you support needs a $10 check AND a form filled out with their name on it.