2012: The Year in Review, January and February
Freeholder Serena DiMaso was elected to replace Rob Clifton. Photo credit: Rhoda Chodosh
January
Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce died on January 9 shortly after the final voting session of the 214th legislature.
Mitt Romney was declare the winner of the Iowa Caucuses by 8 votes. Weeks later after all the votes were counted, Rick Santorum was declared the winner.
Newt Gingrich won the South Carolina GOP Presidential Primary.
Holmdel Deputy Mayor Serena DiMaso was elected a Monmouth County Freeholder by the Monmouth County Republican Committee.
State Senator Joe Kyrillos announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate.
U.S. Senator Bob Menendez blocked Federal Magistrate Patty Shwartz’s nomination to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Menendez denied he was blocking the appointment because Shwartz’s boyfriend was the Assistant U.S. Attorney who investigated him in 2006. Menendez reversed himself after the news of his opposition to Shwartz become pulbic. Shwartz’s nomination has yet to be confirmed.
Governor Christie nominated Fair Haven Mayor Mike Halfacre to be the Director of the Division of Alcohol Beverage Control.
Governor Christie nominated First Assistant Attorney General Philip Kwon and Chatham Mayor Bruce Harris to be State Supreme Court Associate Justices. Kwon was the first Asian-American ever nominated. Harris was the first openingly homosexual nominee.
New Jersey’s newspaper industry fought back efforts to allow “Legal Notices” to be posted online instead of in newspapers.
Mitt Romney won the Florida GOP presidential primary.
Middletown Mayor Tony Fiore asked for Library Board President Randall Gabrielan’s resignation. Gabrielan had been selling books to the library as a vendor and signing the purchase orders as president of the library.
February
Posted: December 22nd, 2012 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: 2012 Year in Review | Tags: Alex DeCroce, Anna Little, Bob Menendez, Joe Kyrillos, Mike Halfacre, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, Serena DiMaso, Steve Sweeney | Comments Off on 2012: The Year in Review, January and February