ICYMI: Christie on Education Reform and Donald Trump’s Presidential Prospects

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Did Senator Kean Miss An Opportunity?

 By Tommy DeSeno

Have you ever seen a news wave?  It’s a real phenomenon in journalism.  One outlet says something, then outlet after outlet says the same thing, never verifying if the first outlet was right.  And you can’t stop a wave, even if it’s wrong.
 
As soon as the new 30th district was announced, immediately the word got out that Senator Singer would have the advantage over Senator Kean.  I guess Senator Kean concurred, having agreed to move down to the Assembly.
 
I like Singer.  But his comments in the Press yesterday that Sean Kean would be primaried even if Singer retired has me angry.  It’s as if Bob is throwing down the gauntlet and declaring that the rest of us will be governed by Lakewood for the next 10 years.
 
Well, as a Howell boy, I’m pretty upset that I had to be governed by Lakewood the last 10 years.  So I’m calling bullshit on Singer, which I can do even though we are friends, because I’m a journalist first.
 
Howell and Wall combined are larger than Lakewood, so if Howell and Wall got behind Kean, that could be a fair fight against Lakewood.
 
As for the rest of the district, those little Monmouth shore towns are larger than the 2 Pt. Pleasants, and Sean has name recognition there while Singer does not.
 
I know what the road block would have been – Howell Republicans.  They rarely get along.  But John Costigan is a strong Municipal Chair.  He could have pulled the Howell Republicans together (which would be a nice thing all by itself) to back Kean.  The rallying cry would have been provincial but effective –  Monmouth needs to keep a Senator.
 
I really wish Sean decided to stay Senator.  I’m not reading next week’s triCityNews, because I don’t want to know what Dan Jacobson will call Sean now.

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Thompson Says He Has Fellow Chairmen’s Support For Senate Race

By Art Gallagher

Assemblyman Sam Thompson of Old Bridge told MoreMonmouthMusings that he has the support of his fellow 12th district county chairmen for his bid to run for State Senate.

Thompson, who is also the Middlesex County GOP Chairman said that Ocean Chair George Gilmore, Monmouth Chair Joe Oxley and Burlington Chair Bill Layton each indicated that they would recommend that their respective conventions or screening committees nominate him for Senator.  He is confident that his own convention will award him the nomination.

Thompson said he would ask the Middlesex County Convention to nominate Monmouth County Freeholder Director Rob Clifton for the Assembly seat that Thompson now holds.  Assemblyman Ronald Dancer, Plumsted is also expected to be nominated.

Clifton told MMM that he proudly supports Thompson for Senate, that he looks forward to campaigning with him and Dancer and serving with them in Trenton.

Manalapan Mayor Andrew Lucas, who has said he will challenge Clifton in the primary, was not immediately available for comment.

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Done Deal: Singer, Kean and Rible comprise the 30th District Ticket

By Art Gallagher

Senators Robert Singer and Sean Kean have come to an agreement that has Singer running for Senate in the new 30th legislative district and Kean running for Assembly.  Assemblyman Dave Rible will complete the Monmouth-Ocean GOP ticket in the district.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as the Senator for coastal Monmouth County’s 11th District for the last four years,” said Senator Kean.  “I care deeply about this state and refuse to let a political hit job by the Democratic redistricting commissioners derail my desire to serve.  I have been in the trenches of Governor Christie’s efforts to bring fiscal discipline and property tax relief to the most highly taxed people in America since the beginning.  That is a fight on which I have no intention of giving up.  After a great deal of thought and consultation with family, friends, and supporters, I have decided to seek election to the Assembly in the new 30th District.  Bob Singer and I have a great working relationship representing adjacent districts in the Senate and a tremendous amount of mutual respect.  I look forward to working with him for the good of our newly shared constituents in Monmouth and Ocean Counties.”

Singer said he looks forward running with Kean in the upcoming campaign.  “Sean is a talented legislator who works hard for the people he represents,” said Singer.  “We need him in the Legislature to stand with the taxpayers after the damage done to New Jersey by ten years of unchecked Democratic control of Trenton.  I want to thank him for putting the needs of the people we serve and party unity ahead of personal ambition, and look forward to serving with him and Assemblyman Rible in our new district.”

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30th District Primary Looking Less Likely

By Art Gallagher

“The Democrats created this district so that Republicans would spend resources fighting each other while they sit back and get ready for the general election and it looks as like that is going to happen.”  So said Ocean County GOP Chairman George Gilmore about the new 30th legislative district in an interview with MMM early yesterday afternoon.

Within hours what had seemed to be a certain primary between Senators Sean Kean and Robert Singer was apparently avoided.  “Sean is talking to Singer,” said Monmouth GOP Chairman Joe Oxley, “There will be no war between the Ocean and Monmouth Republican organizations. Ocean and Monmouth were key counties in delivering a victory to Governor Christie and we will be working together to deliver Republican gains in the legislature.”

Kean later told the Asbury Park Press that he was uncertain about challenging Singer in the primary.  Singer told the APP that should he retire, that Kean would face an Senate candidate from Lakewood.

With both Senators backing off their firm positions to run, it appears that cooler heads will prevail as a slate is chosen with an eye towards victory in November.

The new 12th district will not be such a heavy lift.  “With three counties, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean, each having roughly 1/3 of the population of the district it would seem that each county should have a representative in the legislature,” said Gilmore.  Oxley concurred.

Middlesex County Chairman Sam Thompson, Old Bridge, is an incumbent Assemblyman from the new 12th district.  He has been angling to get the senate nod, touting the fact that he would be the only GOP Senator from Middlesex County and that his senatorial courtesy would give the Christie administration a new bargaining chip in dealing with the Democrats.   GOP sources in the legislature and the administration are divided over the benefit of Thompson having sentatorial courtesy so long as there is a Republican governor.  “The Senate seems to be slipping away from Sam,” said one senior Republican close to the process.

Oxley does not consider Manalapan Mayor Andrew Lucas’ primary bid in the new 12th to be a serious undertaking.  “I don’t know who is giving Andrew his political advice,” said Oxley, “this is not fun and games, it is serious business.”  Oxley was referring to Lucas’ comment on MMM that a legislative primary against Freeholder Director Rob Clifton would be fun.

If Clifton is awarded “the line” in Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean, a Lucas primary victory would appear to be unlikely even if he runs a competitive race in his Western Monmouth base.

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Middletown Introduces Budget With Nearly $4 Million In Spending Cuts

Conforms With 2% Cap Levy Law Absent Needed Tool Kit Reforms

MIDDLETOWN – The Middletown Township Committee anticipates introducing its 2011 municipal budget that is $3.87 million (5.9%) less than the Township’s 2010 budget.

“Middletown’s proposed municipal budget is very austere and in full conformance with the new 2% cap levy law despite the Legislature’s continued failure to enact the Governor’s tool kit reforms that would empower the Township to make further cuts,” said Middletown Mayor Tony Fiore.  “We are hopeful to continue to rein in spending through ongoing negotiations with the Township’s collective bargaining units with a focus on decreasing the Township’s health care costs.”

“Cuts in the proposed budget include the layoffs of 26 employees, including 10 police officers, and the third consecutive year of salary freezes for the Township’s managerial employees,” continued Fiore.  “Middletown will continue to focus on core governmental functions while seeking other ways to continue to reduce costs though interlocal agreements and the Township’s solar initiative that is currently under way.”

Proposed Budget Data and Facts

·         The proposed 2011 municipal budget is $61,114,285 compared to the adopted 2010 budget that was $64,979,576.

·         The proposed budget represents an actual decrease in spending of $3,865,291 (5.9%) from the 2010 budget.

·         The largest cost drivers offsetting the Township’s $3.87 million in budget cuts are tax appeal refunds, State-mandated pension contribution increases of 22%, and costs associated with deferred charges due to numerous retirements last year.

·         The proposed 2011 budget anticipates an increase in the total tax levy of $1,357,855 which complies with the new 2% cap levy law and will cost the average Middletown homeowner approximately $5 per month.

·         The municipal budget makes up only approximately 22% of the average property tax bill, the remaining portion relates to the school and county tax levies.

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Returning to the scene of the crime

By Art Gallagher

The New Jersey State Democratic Party will be celebrating their victory in the redistricting battle on Wednesday evening at the Heldrich in New Brunswick, the same hotel where the Redistricting Commission was holed up for the last week of negotiations with “11th member,” Dr. Alan Rosenthal of Rutgers.

State Democratic Chairman John Wisniewski sent the following message to the Democratic faithful this morning:

By now you’ve probably heard the news. The tiebreaking 11^th member has chosen the Democratic Legislative map proposal that will be in place for the next 10 years. This is a monumental victory for our Party and it’s time to celebrate with Democrats from across New Jersey at the 2011 Jefferson Jackson Dinner this Wednesday night, April 6^th at the Heldrich in New Brunswick.

 

There’s still time to reserve your seat NOW by going online to deleted by MMM. If Wisniewski wants the contact info printed here he can buy an ad.

 

 

 

This will be a great night to energize our party and I hope you will be there with our guest speaker Governor Martin O’Malley of Maryland, who has been a strong voice for Democratic values across the nation as the Chairman of the Democratic Governors Association.

Video of O’Malley deleted contact artvg at aol.com for ad sales.

 

 

 

 

The victory with the adoption of our Democratic map at yesterday’s meeting of the Legislative Reapportionment Commission in Trenton ensures progressive, forward-looking and inclusive state government for the next decade. The Democratic momentum is building and we’re well on our way down the path to victory in November.

 

 

I hope to see you as we celebrate this Wednesday Night.

-John

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What will George do?

By Art Gallagher

Looming large for incumbents and potential legislative candidates in the new 12th and 30th legislative districts is the question, “What will George Gilmore do?”

Gilmore is the Chairman of the powerful Ocean County Republican Organization.  He was a member of the Redistricting Commission.

The new 12th includes Plumsted,Jackson and the Pt. Pleasants in Ocean County.  Ronald Dancer of Plumsted is an incumbent Assemblyman.  Sam Thompson of Old Bridge (Middlesex) is also an incumbent Assemblyman in the new district.  There is a Senate vacancy.  Monmouth County Freeholder Director Rob Clifton and Manalapan Mayor Andrew Lucas, also of Monmouth County, have both announced their intention to seek a legislative seat in the district.

Will Gilmore put up candidates to challenge Thompson, Clifton and Lucas? 

Likewise in the new 30th, Glimore looms large.  Monmouth County’s population dominates the new 30th, but Robert Singer has represented Howell of Monmouth for years.  Singer is better known in Howell than Sean Kean is. 

Dave Rible is the only incumbent Assembly member from the new 30th.  Rible hasn’t returned a call for comment, but some of his supporters from the old 11th are worried that Dave could be vulnerable should Gilmore field two Assembly candidates in the district.

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Singer Is Running

By Art Gallagher

While not exactly news, Senator Robert Singer of Lakewood told Gannett’s Michael Symons that he is definitely running for the Senate seat in the new 30th legislative district that includes Wall Township, the home of Senator Sean Kean.

Singer had nice things to say about Kean who he called a friend and a great legislator. Singer said he hadn’t spoken to Kean.  Symons said Kean didn’t return a message seeking comment.  What a relief!  I was beginning to take Kean’s lack of availability personally.

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Lucas Will Run In the New 12th

By Art Gallagher

Manalapan Mayor Andrew Lucas will be a candidate for the state legislature in the GOP primary from the new 12th district.

Lucas, who will make a formal announcement tomorrow, said he would defer to Assembly incumbents Sam Thompson and Ronald Dancer should either seek the vacant Senate seat.  In such case Lucas will run for Assembly.  Should neither incumbent Assemblyman run for Senate, Lucas will seek that seat.

Lucas said that he will not compete with Freeholder Director Rob Clifton for the Monmouth GOP line with the screening committee, but would  take the race to a primary.

“I think this will be fun and reinvigorate the western portion of the Monmouth GOP,” said the Mayor.

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