Happy New Year from PolitickerNJ.

com

Inside

Winners & Losers of the Year * Politician of the Year

* Best & Worst Campaigns of 2008
* Top Ten News Stories of 2008
Best Operatives * Moron of the Year
* People to Watch
PolitickerNJ.com

page 1

Bob Menendez
Eight years ago, when House Minority Whip David Bonior
told Al Gore he should pick then-Congressman Bob
Menendez as his running mate, there were some questions about whether the Hudson County politician could
extricate himself from his interest in local politics and
become a leader of national stature. The joke at the time
was a mock press release that read: Vice President Bob
Menendez, the Union City Democratic Municipal Chairman, today announced his endorsement of candidates for
the Hoboken Board of Education.
Menendez has now completed is third year in the United
States Senate and continues to enjoy political success on a
national stage. He is the new Chairman of the Democratic
Senatorial Campaign Committee, a leadership post with
national visibility and clout, and as one of the ranking Latinos
in American politics; hes in demand as a campaigner in
key states like Florida, Texas and Nevada. Hes transitioned
from the day-to-day activities of Hudson County politics, but
he still maintains a strong interest, and considerable clout,
in New Jersey state politics. Menendezs accumulation of
national and state power, and his willingness to step up and
use his influence, makes him the 2008 Winner of the Year.
When Rob Andrews decided to take on Frank Lautenberg in the
Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, it was Menendez more
than anyone else who fought to protect the political interests
of his 84-year-old colleague. Seemingly within minutes of
Andrews announcement, Menendez jumped in to shut the
South Jersey Congressman down. He stopped Bergen County
Democrats from giving their line to Andrews; his use of U.S.
Rep. Steve Rothman as a surrogate in the intra-party battle
that led to Joe Ferrieros sudden reversal was extraordinary.
In Hudson County, Menendez helped cut off Andrews at the
kneecaps. He made sure that potential donors stuck with the
incumbent. He played a g

PolitickerNJ.com

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RUNNERS UP
winners OF THE YEAR

RUNNERS UP
losers OF THE YEAR

Lisa Jackson

Neil Cohen

The former state Environmental Protection

Commissioner became
Gov. Jon Corzines Chief
of Staff on December
1 and on December 15
won a seat in Barack
Obamas cabinet as the
Administrator of the U.S.
Environmental Protection
Agency.

The Assembly Deputy

Speaker resigned last
July after state officials
find child pornography on
his legislative office computer. He was indicted in
December.

Leonard Lance

Bob Mulcahy

The former State Senate

Minority Leader is elected
to Congress, winning the
open seat of retiring U.S.
Rep. Mike Ferguson.

John Adler

The Senate Judiciary

Committee Chairman becomes the first Democrat
to represent his district in
Congress since 1882.

George Arwady
and Jim Willse

The hard-nosed StarLedger publisher and

editor helped save the
states largest newspaper by pushing for 200
buyouts and convincing
two labor unions to follow
his demands.

The longtime Rutgers

Athletic Director is fired
amidst criticism of secret
deals surrounding the
schools football program.

FAVORITE
HEADLINES
OF THE YEAR
Blind Rabbis
opponent
in Bacon

referring to Dennis Shulmans challenge

in the Democratic congressional primary
from personalized mug designer Roger Bacon.

Rob Andrews

The Congressman from

Camden County challenges Frank Lautenberg in
the Democratic U.S. Senate primary, loses, and
then cancels his pledge
not to seek re-election to
the House.

Bill Layton

The Burlington County

GOP Chairman loses
two Freeholder seats
and a County Clerk race
after denying Diane
Allen the chance to run
for Jim Saxtons seat in
Congress.

Shreck is the new

Mayor of
Bradley Beach

after Julie Shreck defeated Gary Engelstad

by 30 votes last May.

Stenders a
Fact Bender

a column by Star-Ledger columnist Paul

Mulshine after Linda Stender attacked Leonard Lance for supporting Christie Whitmans
pension bond plan in 1997, which he did not.

Politicians of the Year

Donald Scarinci, 2000
John Lynch, 2001
Christopher Christie, 2002
PolitickerNJ.com

Michael Beson, 2003

Joseph Ferriero, 2004
Richard Codey, 2005

Juan Melli, 2006

Stephen Adubato, 2007
Frank Lautenberg, 2008
page 3

Top 10 political Stories of 2008

Neil Cohen, one of the most influential members of

the New Jersey State Assembly, resigned in July after
state officials found child pornography on his legislative
office computer. The Assembly Deputy Speaker and
Chairman of the Banking and Insurance Committee,
was later indicted. He was turned in by his running
mates, State Sen. Raymond Lesniak and Assemblyman
Joseph Cryan, the Democratic State Chairman.

Her replacement, Andy Unanue, never left his Colorado

vacation home and was out within a few weeks. State
Sen. Joseph Pennacchios 1991 manifesto made it hard
for some GOP county leaders to back him. Others, like
biotech millionaire John Crowley, State Sen. Kip Bateman, and U.S. Marshal James Plousis, openly flirted with
running. Finally, the nomination was won by Dick Zimmer, a former Republican Congressman who has been
out of office since losing a 1996 Senate race.

Rob Andrews, a ten-term Congressman from

Camden County, challenged four-term incumbent
Frank Lautenberg in the Democratic primary for U.S.
Senator. Andrews secured the backing of South Jersey
Democrats and won some North Jersey endorsements,
but could not get any organization lines outside of the
South. Lautenberg beat him 59%-35%, with 6% for
Morristown Mayor Donald Cresitello.

polls show Corzine in a close race against Republican

Christopher Christie, the former U.S. Attorney; hes
leading 42%-36%. The Governors plan to increase
tolls failed, and he deals with a pending lawsuit over the
release of e-mail to and from his former girlfriend, labor
leader Carla Katz and substantial shortfalls in the state
budget. Katz is an unpaid PolitickerNJ.com columnist.

8
2

New Jerseys newspapers have suffered massive

budget cuts and layoffs. The Star-Ledger, the largest
daily newspaper, threatened to closes its doors unless
200 employees agreed to buyouts and two labor unions
ratified new contracts. Gannett slashed their statehouse bureau from six reporters to two, and cut several
veteran editors. The New York Times has effectively
pulled out of New Jersey; they didnt cover the state
budget or the Lautenberg/Zimmer Senate campaign.
Politicker.com, which operates PolitickerNJ.com, also
experienced budget cuts.

New Jersey Republicans had a heck of a time finding

a candidate for U.S. Senate. Anne Evans Estabrook
unexpectedly withdrew after suffering a minor stroke.

Conservative leader Steve Lonegan, the former

Mayor of Bogota and a GOP candidate for Governor
in 2009, was arrested during a protest outside one of
Gov. Jon Corzines town hall meetings to discuss his plan
to raise tolls. The charges were dropped, but not until
the story became Lonegan and not Corzine. Lonegan
was an unpaid PolitickerNJ.com columnist until entering
the race for Governor in December.

New Jersey Democrats had their eleventh consecutive winning year on November 4, 2008. Frank Lautenberg was re-elected to the U.S. Senate and John Adler
won a seat in Congress that Republicans have held since
1884. Democrats won control of the Monmouth County
Board of Freeholders, won major victories in Burlington
and Cumberland countywide races, and held their 7-0
majority on the Bergen County Board of Freeholders
despite the indictment of their County Chairman. Barack Obama easily carried New Jerseys fifteen electoral
votes. Republicans held Mike Fergusons seventh district House seat, unseated a veteran Democratic Sheriff
in Atlantic County, and beat a Democratic Freeholder in
Salem County.

Joseph Ferriero, the Bergen County Democratic

Chairman and one of the most powerful political
insiders in the state, was indicted on charges that he
concealed his ownership in a grants consulting firm
while using his influence to deliver public contracts to
the company. Dennis Oury, the BCDO counsel, was also
indicted.

Sharpe James and Wayne Bryant, two of New Jerseys most powerful public officials over the last two
decades, were convicted of federal corruption charges.
James was the five-term Mayor of Newark (and a State
Senator) and Bryant was the Chairman of the power
Senate Appropriations Committee.

10

Jon Corzine continues to struggle in his bid to gain

the approval of New Jersey voters. A February
Quinnipiac poll had his job approval at an upside-down
37%-52%; by November, he was at 43%-46% -- slightly
better heading into his re-election year. Two Quinnipiac

PolitickerNJ.com

A Superior Court Judge removed Dana Rone from

her seat on the Newark City Council because
she sought to influence a Newark police officer during a
traffic stop of her nephew. Rone was barred from ever
holding public office again, and a special election was
held to fill her Central Ward Council seat.

page 4

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page 5

best and worst campaigns of 2008

Best Campaigns
of the Year
1. Frank Lautenberg for U.S. Senate
The campaign to re-elect Frank
Lautenberg to the United States
Senate was nearly flawless. They
took heat from rivals and reporters
on process issues like debates,
but refused to waver on their plan.
Hes smart to avoid the campaign
because the campaign trail is rife
with the potential for missteps and
mistakes, said Montclair State
University political science professor Brigid Harrison.
2. Leonard Lance for Congress
For much of the year, the conventional wisdom was that Leonard
Lance couldnt raise enough money to overcome Linda Stender in a
strong Democratic year. But while
Lance couldnt keep pace with
Stender, who had huge financial
support from Washington Democrats, he brought in enough cash
to mount an effective campaign.
Starting with his primary victory, it
was clear he was in the race to win. Lance, perhaps for
the first time in his political career, took off the gloves in
his fight with Linda Stender, but he never got dirty doing
it. Team Lance knew their greatest strength was their
candidate.
3. John Adler for Congress
Some people forget that the
Senate Judiciary Chairman got in
the race when he thought 12-term
incumbent Jim Saxton would be
his opponent. Adler concentrated
heavily on fundraising, and by the
time Saxton announced his retirement, the Democrat already had
a sizeable warchest. It seemed
like Adler never stopped raising
money. Chris Myers was no pushover, and Adler stayed
on message with the economy from the beginning. He
worked the fish and game political channels in Ocean,
vibed with the Pemberton and Willingboro Obama
organization in Burlington, and worked their base in
Cherry Hill. This was a big win for Steve Ayscue, a close
ally of George Norcross, who played a key role from day
one of the Adler for Congress campaign.
4. Mark Smith for Mayor of Bayonne
The Bayonne mayoral candidate
shut down his opponent withfundraising, alliance-buildingand old
fashioneddoor to door campaigning.When a ghost from Smiths
police past intruded into the campaign, the candidate addressed
the issue up front, took every
question, and never tried to hide.
5. Chris Brown and Mary Anne Reinhart for
Burlington County Freeholder
The Burlington County Democrats, led by Rick Perr
and Chris Fifis, worked statewide fundraising channels,
PolitickerNJ.com

took advantage of a symbiotic

relationship with the Adler campaign, and went aggressively after
the record of incumbents Aubrey
Fenton and Stacy Jordan. The
campaigns video assault on Burlington GOP pay to play was one of
the best hits of theseason.
6. Anthony Ferrera and Gloria
McCauley for Hillsborough
Township Committee
The Republican municipal
candidates ran about 3,000
votes ahead of John McCain, a
testament to the effectiveness of
a modern-day suburban political
machine that has merged oldfashioned constituent service
with 21st century campaign
tactics.
7. Wilda Diaz for Mayor of
Perth Amboy
The upset of the year was in Perth
Amboy, where first time candidate
Wilda Diaz upset 18-year Mayor
Joe Vas despite being outspent
by a substantial margin. Diaz
become the agent of change
and showed that a grass roots
insurgency really can beat an
entrenched political organization.
8. Barack Obama for President
New Jerseys fifteen electoral
votes were never really in the red
column, but the Democrats acted
like they could have been. Under
the leadership of Democratic
State Chairman Joe Cryan, state
campaign director Tricia Mueller,
and coordinated campaign chief
Mike Muller, Barack Obamas
New Jersey campaign ran a
tremendous grass roots operation, and their extraordinary voter
registration drive is likely to have an evergreen effect up
and down New Jersey.
9. Andre Sayegh for Paterson
City Councilman
The 6th Ward Paterson City
Council candidate landed the
endorsement of retiring City
Councilman Thomas Rooney, and
built a multi-ethnic, multi-racial
grassroots organization to shut
down his chief opponent.
10. Carl Block for Ocean
County Clerk
The GOP incumbent faced a
tough opponent in Berkeley Township Mayor Jason Varano, who
was the recipient of campaign
funds from Democrats all over the
state, including Gov. Jon Corzine.
Democrats went on TV and radio
before the GOP did, and while
Ocean is solidly Republican, this
race was hardly a cakewalk.

Quote of
the Year
We called it the Friday Night
Special ... So one night, we
came in. I went down to the
basement bathroom, and
when I came up, to my shock,
she was basically undressed
and on the loveseat with
Jim. So I sat on the couch
and watched and eventually
joined in. And thats how it
got going, he said. We came
up with this nice little formula for making it work.
Former gubernatorial aide Teddy
Pederson, on his three-way
relationship with James E. and
Dina Matos McGreevey.
(New York Post, 03/17/08)

Runner-Up
I dont use e-mail now.
Gov. Jon Corzine
(Star-Ledger, 06/19/08)

page 6

More Corruption

More Wasteful Spending

More Debt and Higher Taxes

No Property Tax Relief

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page 7

best and worst campaigns of 2008

Worst Campaigns
of the Year
1. Linda Stender for Congress
After coming within 1% of
ousting Mike Ferguson in 2006,
Stender was viewed as a likely
winner for Democrats. But her
campaign was an unmitigated
disaster. Her local supporters
never got along with the Emilys
List imports who seemingly
hijacked the entire operation.
There was no coherent message.
Stender offended a core Democratic constituency with an
offensive TV ad one of many examples of how the fourterm Assemblywoman lost control of her own campaign.
2. Andy Unanue for U.S. Senate
The Goya Foods heir got in the race
on Easter Sunday and refused to
cut short a ski vacation in Vail to
meet party leaders, campaign for
the nomination, and defend himself
against bad news stories that capsized a ship that should never have
been put in the water in the first
place. He dropped out of the race without ever making a
campaign appearance.
3. Lillian Burley and John Curley for Monmouth
County Freeholder
The Republicans seemed
to have no organization, no
coordination between the
candidates, and no apparent opposition research.
Despite Democratic wins
in 2006 and 2007, the GOP
pretended that the Democratic threat was a mirage. They were only half right, and
now the Democrats control the Freeholder Board, 3-2.
4. Murray Sabrin for U.S. Senate
The Ramapo College professor is a
nice guy, but his third statewide campaign came off as just plain mean. His
claim to be the front runner was just
plain crazy. His press releases, while
entertaining to political insiders, were
divisive. He was unable to replicate
at a local level the enthusiasm his
friend Ron Paul generated nationally,
although his third place 14% of the vote was still better
than anything Paul received. Sabrin joined PolitickerNJ.
com as an unpaid columnist in December.
5. Rob Andrews for U.S. Senate
For the 10-term Congressman from Camden County,
a last-minute primary challenge against Frank Lautenberg must have seemed
like a good idea at the time.eivm3or ha at the ti10(H)10(e)10( )10(w)25(a)10(s)10(d)10(e)10tJ
0 tc t*i0(m)10(u)10(s) 0( )10(w)n

PolitickerNJ.com

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BEST Operative
of the Year
Brendan Gill
Dwight Brown
The veteran Democratic operative from
Montclair managed Frank Lautenbergs 2008
re-election campaign. Lautenberg beat Rob Andrews by 24 points in the Democratic primary
and Dick Zimmer by 13 points in the general
election.

Runners Up
Best Operatives of 2008

Dwight Brown, Campaign Manager, Charles Bell for Newark City Council
Joe Colletti, Field Staffer, John McCain for President
Nicole Davidman, Republican fundraiser
Tim Del Monico, Field Staff, N.J. Obama Campaign
Amanda Gasperino, Campaign Manager, Scott Garrett for Congress
Christy Gleason, Executive Director, Camden County Democrats
Lynne Hurwitz, Campaign Manager, Bergen County Democratic Organization
Frank Luna, Ocean County Republican operative
Samantha Maltzman, Finance Director, Frank Lautenberg for U.S. Senate
Jennifer May, Finance Director, John Adler for Congress
Tricia Mueller, N.J. State Director, Barack Obama for President
Michael Muller, Director, New Jersey Democratic Coordinated Campaign
Jason ODonnell, Campaign Manager, Mark Smith for Mayor of Bayonne
Donna Robinson, South Jersey Democratis fundraiser
Julie Roginsky, Spokesperson, Frank Lautenberg for U.S. Senate
Chris Russell, Campaign Manager, Chris Myers for Congress
Raiyan Syed, South Jersey Democratic Operative
Adam Steinberger, Field Director, Monmouth County Democrats
Mark Warren, Campaign Manager, John Adler for Congress
Amanda Woloshen, Campaign Manager, Leonard Lance for Congress

Joe Colletti

Samantha Maltzman

Tricia Mueller

Michael Muller

Jason ODonnell

Julie Roginsky

Mark Warren

Amanda Woloshen

Tim Del Monico

Amanda Gasperino

Christy Gleason

Yogi Berra-ism of the Year

Chris Christie declares in April thatillegal immigrants
arent breaking the law while being here illegally.

IN MEMORIUM
The political community lost a good man on March 15 with the

Assembly Speaker William Dickey; former Assemblyman

death of GOP political consultant Tom Blakely. He collapsed

Arthur Albohn; Salem County Freeholder Chuck Sullivan;

during a 5k race at the age of 46. Democrats and Republicans

former Stafford Mayor Wesley Bell; former Mt. Holly Mayor Jim

admired him for his tenacity, his integrity, and his intensity, and

Smith; former Atlantic City Mayor Joseph Lazarow; Democratic

he is missed.

pollster Don Herche; former Jersey City Council President

Bobby Jackson; reporter Russ Flannagan; former Essex County
GOP powerhouse Joseph Intile; Gloria Bontempo, the widow

Other New Jersey political figures who passed away in 2008

of former New Jersey Democratic State Chairman Salvatore

include: former U.S. Rep. Matthew Rinaldo; Middlesex County

Bontempo; and Marian Pallone, the mother of U.S. Rep. Frank

Freeholder David Crabiel; former State Senators Walter

Pallone.

Kavanaugh, Anne Clark Martindell and Ned Parsekian; former

PolitickerNJ.com

page 9

Happy Holidays
CONGRESSMAN
FRANK PALLONE
Chairman, Health Subcommittee
Energy and Commerce Committee

www.pallonefornewjersey.com
Paid for by Pallone for Congress

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page 10

PolitickerNJ.com

page 11

Best Practical Joke of the Year

Gov. Jon Corzine never returned the phone
calls of Michael Kravitz, a local GOP candidate
in West Deptford. They would never put me
through, Kravitz complained. So last October,
Kravitz called the Governors office again, but this
time he said he was George Norcross.

Kravitz: Is Jon there?

Lady answering the phone
Who is calling?
Kravitz: George
Lady: George who?
Kravitz: George Norcross
Right away I was talking to Jon Corzine, Kravitz
says. I asked him, How can you take a call and
talk to George Norcross but not the average New
Jersey citizen. The State Police were apparently
investigating the call, but no word yet.

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page 12

people to watch in 2009

John Ashcroft
The former U.S. Attorney General, who
received a $50 million federal monitor
contract from Chris Christie, is sure to be an
issue in the 2009 campaign for Governor.

marriage and conservatives for his views

on school funding, is up for reappointment
in 2009.

Steven Goldstein
All eyes will be on the Garden State Equality
leader as the New Jersey Legislature considers a marriage equality law.

Rick Perr
The Burlington County Democratic Chairman will have two Freeholders, a County
Clerk and a Surrogate in 2009 and the
opportunity to take control of county
government.

Ralph Marra, Jr.

The Acting U.S. Attorney could hold the second most powerful position in New Jersey
for most of 2009.

Bonnie Watson Coleman

The Assembly Majority Leader is the front
runner to be New Jerseys first Lieutenant
Governor.

Bill Caruso
The former Chief of Staff to U.S. Rep. Rob
Andrews succeeds Bill Castner as the
new Executive Director of the Assembly
Republicans.

Christine Roz Samuels

One of the first superdelegates to switch
her support from Hillary Clinton to Barack
Obama. She lost her bid for re-election
as New Jerseys Democratic National
Committeewoman in June, calling the vote
retaliation for February.

Rick Shaftan
The veteran conservative strategist is
leading Steve Lonegans campaign for the
Republican nomination for Governor.
Patrick Murray
The Director of the Monmouth University
poll has increasingly emerged as the new
David Rebovich.
Wilda Diaz
The new Mayor of Perth Amboy, who upset
incumbent Joseph Vas, seems to be emerging as genuine reformer. Some Democrats
say Jon Corzine should pick her for Lieutenant Governor.
Barry Albin
The Associate Justice of the New Jersey
Supreme Court, who has annoyed liberals
for writing the decision against same sex

Frank Pallone
The Democratic Congressman helped
Henry Waxman oust John Dingell as House
Energy & Commerce Chairman, making
his Health Subcommittee Chair even more
powerful.

John Ashcroft

Barry Albin

Steven Goldstein

Christine Roz
Samuels

Bonnie Watson
Coleman

Ralph Marra, Jr.

Richard Codey

Bill Palatucci

Frank Pallone

Richard Codey
The Senate President and former Governor
is still New Jersey most popular Democrat,
and that matters if the race for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination changes
suddenly.
Bill Palatucci
The lawyer/lobbyist/GOP strategist who
ran campaigns for Ronald Reagan and Tom
Kean is Chris Christies closest friend and
top advisor.

The line that defined the protest and made NJ101.5 mega money
Pigs will fly over the Statehouse before there is a
realistic level of new taxes or spending cuts that can
fix this mess.
Gov. Jon Corzine, on New Jerseys fiscal woes.
(Star-Ledger, 01/09/07)

Charlie Stile explains it all: The Flying Pig Flap captures the paradox of Jon Corzine. After spending
more than $100 million of his own money to become
an elected politician, he remains the anti-politician -struggling to master the salesmanship side of his new
profession. He sees the problem and can articulate it
through pie charts, bar graphs and phrases like unfunded liabilities and other Wall Street wonk words
that spell fiscal disaster. (The Record, 02/12/08)
PolitickerNJ.com

page 13

Happy Holidays
Cape May County Regular Republican Organization
David I. Von Savage, Chairman

Ordered and Paid for by the Cape May County Regular Republican Organization

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page 14

Overstaying
his welcome

Most Likely to
Lose their Jobs in 2009

Carmen Orechio lost his bid for

re-election to an eleventh four-year
term as a Nutley Commissioner in
May 2008, ending a career in local
government that began in 1968. A
former Senate President, Orechio
was a State Senator from 1974 to
1992.

William Clark, the Director of the state Division of

Investments. The state pension fund he manages lost a
reported $25 billion over the last six months.

Best free press

of the year

Tom Wilson, the Republican State Chairman, whose

term is up in June.

Steve Lonegan got arrested during a peaceful demonstration outside Gov. Jon Corzines town hall meeting
in Atlantic County. The story of Lonegans opposition
to toll hikes became front page news. The Records
Alfred Doblin explains it: In the game of media oneupmanship, Lonegan is winning. He took a handful of
lemons and made himself a very nice whiskey sour.
(The Record, 01/25/07)

Joseph Ferriero, the Bergen County Democratic Chairman.

Worst Jingle of the Year

Hey, ho. Hey, ho. Its Jersey Joe Pennacchio. For some
unexplained reason, Pennacchio passed on a more
effective radio ad to use the jingle in pre-primary robo
calls.

Worst Tip of the Year

The one spoon fed to Pulitzer Prize winning Star-Ledger
reporter Josh Margolin, who reported the morning after
Barack Obamas election that Gov. Jon Corzine was being vetted for U.S. Secretary of the Treasury.

Worst advance work of

the year
Standing next to Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joe Ferriero at her campaign rally in Hackensack,
Hillary Clinton said: Lets reform the government so
it ends the no-bid contracts and the cronyism and the
incompetence.

Best fight of the year

between friends
The exchange between U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman and
Surrogate Michael Dressler in a closed door meeting of
Bergen County Democratic leaders following the indictment of Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph
Ferriero:
Rothman: F-ck you, f-ck you, f-ck you.
Fressler: F-ck you too.

Things we wish were on

YouTube

And the best quote about the arrest came from State
Sen. Gerald Cardinale, talking about Corzine: Who
does he think he is Joe Stalin? (PolitickerNJ.com,
01/22/08)

Most effective
endorsement of the year
Six Democratic Congressmen from New Jersey endorsing Frank Lautenberg for U.S. Senate over their House
colleague, Rob Andrews.

Least effective
endorsement of the year
Democratic State Sen. Raymond Lesniak announcing
six weeks after the election that he was secretly backing
Republican Leonard Lance for Congress.

Strongest
statement of 2008
U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, stating with
complete certainty, that Karl Rove
was going to hell. Dantes Inferno
laid out very specifically the very
levels receding into hell. And the hottest place is reserved for those who
distort the truth, who manipulate
our minds, or who attempt to do it,
anyway. So I dont think Bush and
Cheney will be at the hottest point
in the inferno, but I sure as hell know
that Karl Rove will be, Pascrell told PolitickerNJ.com at
the Democratic National Convention last summer.

U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez singing Tora Lora Lora during

a party for New Jersey delegates at the Democratic
National Convention in Denver.

And dont forget Pascrells motto: This is serious business, this democracy. (The Record, 01/31/07)

What if conservative Assemblyman Mike Doherty takes

Garden State Equality chair Steven Goldstein up on his
offer to be in his wedding party?

Welcome Home

PolitickerNJ.com

Former Hudson County Executive Bob Janiszewski was

released from prison in April. We fall down, but we get
up. There are reasons there are erasers on pencils, and
thats because people make mistakes, said former

Hudson County Freeholder Bill Braker, who served 41

months in a federal prison on corruption charges. (Jersey Journal, 04/25/08)

Now it all makes sense

When Assembly Deputy Speaker Alfred Steele was
arrested in 2007 and charged with taking bribes, his
Republican opponent sounded surprised. Al Steele is
a great guy, said Chauncey Brown, a Paterson Board of
Education member. Nearly ten months later, Brown was
also charged in the same bribery scandal.

Columbo Award
GOP State Chairman Tom Wilson was able to trace a
prankster who was impersonating him in e-mails to
Republican County Chairmen to Patrick Donohue, a
consultant to Murray Sabrins U.S. Senate campaign.

Best line on the biggest

pre-Blagojevich scandal
of the year
Now, what I want to know is: what kind of whore costs
$5,500? I mean, thats even more money than lawyers
get, for essentially the same service. Assemblyman
Michael Patrick Carroll (R-Morris), on New York Gov.
Eliot Spitzer. (PolitickerNJ.com. 03/10/08)

Im Not Ray Lesniak Award

Democratic State Chairman Joe Cryan stuck with the
sinking ship known as the S.S. Linda Stender, becoming
one of the few Democrats willing to beat up on Leonard
Lance: Hes not independent. Hes as partisan as they
come. Independent my ass!, Cryan told PolitickerNJ.
com in October.

Stupid is as stupid does

Atlantic City Councilman George Tibbitt alleged that
Mayor David Evans offered him city jobs in exchange for
help with his re-election campaign: This guy is either
wired or incredibly stupid Tibbitt, alleging told The Press
of Atlantic City a month before Evans lost the Democratic primary to Lorenzo Langford.

Poll of the Year

The one that former Democratic State Chairman Tom
Byrne put in the field to test his chances in a primary
against U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg. Byrne bailed on the
race, but some of the numbers encouraged U.S. Rep.
Rob Andrews to get in.

Only in New Jersey

Former Passaic City Councilman Marcellus Jackson,
who had already pleaded guilty to federal corruption
charges and was awaiting sentencing, was the master
of ceremonies at a campaign rally for Passaic mayoral
candidate Vinny Capuana, and was spotted at the door
taking cash contributions. Another former Passaic City
Councilman involved in the same scandal, Jonathan
Soto, was hired by the county Board of Elections as an
official challenger last June.|
page 15

Word of the Year:

Manifesto
A 94-page manifesto written in 1991 that called for the
creation of a new Nationalist Party was one of the main
reasons the author, Joseph Pennacchio, was unable to
win party support in his bid for the U.S. Senate despite
considerable turmoil in the GOP field. Now a State
Senator, Pennachchio had proposed housing the homeless in military-run camps, and suggested a conspiracy
theory in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Second Best Illinois

Scandal of the Year
Gov. Jon Corzine returns from a June 2008 visit to his
home state of Illinois only to find that the Senate Majority Leader had proposed eliminating Abraham Lincolns
birthday as a state holiday.

Harshest intra-party
comment of the year from
someone not named Lautenberg or Andrews
I dont get a god damn thing for our city. So far this
administration has not done a whole hell of a lot for
the citizens of Jersey City. -- Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy, on state government. (PolitickerNJ.com,
01/04/08)

Car of the Year

Most politically incorrect

Prediction of the Year
Rick Merkt: The odds are even money that (Frank)
Lautenberg wont live out his term.
(Daily Record, 06/05/08)

Feud of the Year

Dick Codey and George Zoffinger.

Zoffinger: (Dick) Codeys an idiot,

and you can print that.
Codey: In my 34 years in politics,
I never met a more dishonest person than George Zoffinger.

The interpretive statement to Ballot Question #2,

defeated by voters, sponsored by Assemblyman John
Wisniewski.

The very quotable

Ronald Rice

Alumni of the Year

Runners-up
Hudson GOP Chairman Jose Arango didnt even realize
he was being slapped when U.S. Attorney Christopher
Christie told a radio audience: Those who hold the
power and corrupt the power are the ones that were
after. You know in Hudson County, is it shocking to know
that most of the people weve indicted and convicted
were Democrats? A Hudson County Republican would
love to be indicted. It would show they were relevant.
(WGBO, 11/21/08)

Tom Wilson:
New Jersey is
going to love Sarah Palin.
(PolitickerNJ.com, 08/29/08)

PolitickerNJ.com

Thats what happens when

Bill Baroni moves to the
Senate
Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein, overhead on the
floor of the State Assembly, saying Can somebody
please get over here and tell me how to vote?

Slap down of the Year

Worst Prediction
of the Year

I do not. -- James Laurie, an 18-year-old Brookdale

Community College student, asked if he knew who Dick
Zimmer was. (Star-Ledger, 07/06/08)

The Egyptian
Hieroglyphics Award

Attorney General Anne Milgrams 1994 Honda Accord.

How did it even reach 69 mph? And Milgram gets the
Shes no Zulima Farber Award for taking the $176
speeding ticket and the four points that come with it,
without seeking special consideration. She didnt even
give up a PBA card.

Three people who arent from New Jersey but their

ties to Garden State politics are worthy of recognition:
David Plouffe, who managed Bob Torricellis 1996 U.S.
Senate race against Dick Zimmer, ran Barack Obamas
campaign for the presidency arguably one of the
best races in American political history; Jill Hazelbaker,
who was Tom Kean, Jrs communications director in
the 2006 Senate race, became John McCains national
communications director after the first staff cutback
and handled the job extraordinarily well; and the multitalented Matthew Miller, who worked for Bob Menendez
before becoming communications director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and if Politico
is right, could be headed for the Department of Justice
as spokesman for the new Attorney General.

Three words that explain

Dick Zimmers campaign

Senate President Richard Codey wasnt taking any crap

from GOP State Sen. Jennifer Beck. I respect your right
to speak. However, respect the chamber, Codey told
Beck during a Senate session.

Convicted ex-GOP operative Allan Raymond, on thencongressional candidate, now U.S. District Court Judge,
Bill Martini: What a con artist the man was! His mistruths came in layers - they came in thirty-one flavors!
Raymond, who served as Martinis Chief of Staff in
Congress, made the comments in his book, Confessions
of a Republican Operative: How to Rig an Election

Most Comical Lie Detector

Scenario since DeNiro &
Stiller in Meet the Parents
Senate President Dick Codey and Assembly Minority
Leader Alex DeCroce.

Bonnie Watson Colemans a good choice. So is Nia Gill.

So is Shirley Turner. So are all the other Legislative Black
Caucus Nubian queens. -- State Sen. Ronald Rice, on
who Jon Corzine should pick for Lieutenant Governor in
2009.(PolitickerNJ.com, 01/31/08)
Steves a guy who wants his epitaph to be, I controlled
everything in my life, but hes just a guy with a big ego,
who wants everyone to kiss his behind like were out
here picking a bunch of cotton bales, black, white and
Latino, all of us. To hell with Steve. -- State Sen. Ronald
Rice, on Newark Democratic leader Steve Adubato.
(PolitickerNJ.com, 05/31/08)

Scandal to Watch
in 2009

During his testimony in the federal trial of former

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman
Wayne Bryant, Democratic budget staffer
George LeBlanc revealed the existence of a
secret slush fund where individual legislators
designated which entities would receive amounts
of money from the state account.
page 16

A special section on Rob Andrews

The thing is, he didnt keep his
word. He reneged on it, and people are going to remember that.
Rep. Frank Pallone, on Rep. Rob Andrews

commitment not to challenge Frank Lautenberg in the Democratic U.S. Senate primary.
(Washington Post, 04/13/08)

The senator has said hed be willing to have debates if they were
sponsored by legitimate organizations, and weve received nine
offers of debates from legitimate
organizations. Rep. Rob Andrews, on
debating Frank Lautenberg.

He just sat upstairs in the rocking chair and thought through

what he wanted to do. He literally
sat and you could see the wheels
turning in his head. Democratic con-

gressional candidate Camille Andrews, on her

husband, Rep. Rob Andrews, deciding to run
for the U.S. Senate. (Star-Ledger, 05/02/08)

As far as Im concerned, hes kind

of sunk now. Hes sunk by his past
record of support for the war, of
working with Newt Gingrich on
Contract with America. Hes sunk
because he doesnt represent
the views of the people of New
Jersey.U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg on the
Senate candidacy of U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews.
(PolitickerNJ.com, 04/27/08)

Im really humbled by the fact that

so many people asked me to run
again, and Im flattered. But I have
not changed my position. I have
made up my mind. Rep. Rob Andrews,

You ought to tell the truth, you

were the cheerleader for the war.
Frank Lautenberg to Rob Andrews, in their NJ
101.5 radio debate. (Star-Ledger, 05/30/08)

I wouldnt enjoy it because I think

his behavior has been contemptuous. U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, on debating with Rep. Rob Andrews, his opponent in the
Democratic primary.
(Philadelphia Inquirer, 05/06/08)

A bare-faced liar. Rob Andrews

lied. Plain and simple. A Philadelphia
Inquirer editorial on Andrews decision to seek
re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives.
(Philadelphia Inquirer, 09/05/08)

If they ever make a movie about

Rep. Rob Andrews, there is only
one actor to play the South Jersey
congressman: Jim Carrey. In fact,
the comedian already has done
the needed research for a previous
film: Liar, Liar. The Records Alfred
Doblin. (The Record, 09/08/08)

Dishonest politicians arent hard

to find. But Rep. Robert E. Andrews
(D.,N.J.) has managed to distinguish
himself in a crowded field. Philadelphia Inquirer, endorsing Rev. Dale Glading
for Congress in the 1st district. (Philadelphia
Inquirer, 10/20/08)

on seeking re-election to Congress in 2008.

(Gloucester County Times, 07/07/08)

PolitickerNJ.com

page 17

On the state of the media

In previous elections, Id have Jim Goodman just bugging the hell out of me from The Trenton T

PolitickerNJ.com

page 18

The Dana Rone Award

Yes, he is

Its a tie between Trenton City Councilwoman Annette

Lartigue and Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy.

What a creep. -- Mike Beson, on John Edwards. Beson

was his 2008 state campaign director. (PolitickerNJ.
com, 08/11/08)

Latrigues daughter was stopped by a police officer for

speaking on a cell phone while driving. She handed
the phone to the officer, who heard from the Councilwoman on the other end: Officer, stand down until your
sergeant gets there. (Trenton Times, 07/18/08)
Healy was convicted of resisting
arrest and obstructing justice
during an incident outside a
Bradley Beach tavern in 2006.
Heres what the police officer
says Healy said: You are going to be sorry for this whole
incident. Do yourself a favor
and get your chief down here
before this goes any further
because I cant believe you dont know who I am. I
cant believe you maced me. You had no reason to do
that. I wasnt resisting. I wasnt fighting you. I didnt do
anything wrong. I am the mayor of Jersey City. I was a
judge, I was a lawyer, I am a good personal friend with
your Chief (Lenny Guida). Call the chief and lets get this
rectified without any charges. For the good of your town,
for the good of your department, for the good of my city,
we need to resolve this without charges. Can you sweep
this under the rug? -- Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah
Healy, speaking to Bradley Beach police after his arrest
in 2006, according to a police report. Healy denies these
quotes. (Jersey Journal, 09/03/08)

Wally Edges
favorite moments
Gov. Jon Corzines shout-out at the New Jersey Legislative Correspondents Dinner last May: As Wally always
says, Hold Me Accountable.
Matt Friedman and Max Pizarro calling Andy Unanues
parents home in Alpine and getting a housekeeper to
confirm to them that the U.S. Senate candidate didnt
live there, he lived in New York.

Something
going on
The best cross examination
of the year came during the
testimony of Francine Pruitt in
the federal corruption trial of
former Sharpe James, who addressed the relationship
of the former Mayor of Newark and his co-defendant,
Tamika Riley:

Sherron, we hardly knew ye

Sherron Rolax, who has a place in New
Jersey political trivia as the teenager
Gov. Christine Todd Whitman patted
down while accompanying State Troopers
in a late night patrol in 1996, was killed in
a knife fight in Camden in May. The photo
surfaced in 2000, after Whitman was
nominated to serve as Administrator of the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Pruitt: They had something going on.

Gerald Krovatin, Rileys defense attorney: Something
going on of what nature.
Pruitt: Sex.

Best Wishes for a

Happy New Year
State Senator

BILL
Baroni

Paid for by Friends of Bill Baroni,

P.O. Box 3205, Hamilton, NJ 08619Not Paid for at Taxpayer Expense
PolitickerNJ.com

page 19

On Andy Unanue:

If you can work for Steve

Rothman, do it
Three of U.S. Rep. Steve Rothmans former District
Directors have enjoyed much success: Adam Zellner,
a top aide to Gov. Jon Corzine, served as Deputy to
soon-to-be EPA Director Lisa Jackson when she ran the
DEP; Brendan Gill managed Frank Lautenbergs awardwinning campaign for re-election; and Michael Soliman
is now State Director for U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, now
the DSCC Chairman.

Work hard, play hard. That was

my motto. U.S. Senate candidate Andy

Unanue, in testimony during a legal battle over

control of his family business, Goya Foods.
(Star-Ledger, 03/26/08)

LOYALTY AWARD
When key South Jersey Democrats, like George
Norcross, Dana Redd and Donald Norcross, endorsed
Barack Obama on February 20 -- at criticial juncture
in the Democratic presidential campaign, Assembly
Speaker Joe Roberts held firm on his endorsement of
Hillary Clinton. Roberts promised to stay with Clinton
until the end, and he kept his word.

I was spending more time in New

York so I moved there ... most of
my cars are in New Jersey. U.S.
Senate candidate Andy Unanue
(The Record, 03/28/08)

Lets be candid: The introduction

of Andy Unanue to the people of
New Jersey did not go as well as I
would have liked.
Atlantic County GOP Chairman Keith Davis
(Philadelphia Inquirer, 04/03/08)

I declined to endorse Andy whatever-his-name-is. In my opinion he

did not have the fire in the belly to
want to be a candidate.
Hunterdon County GOP Chairman Henry
Kuhl, on Andy Unanue
(PolitickerNJ.com, 04/10/08)

Jon Corzines re-election

Its not that I dont want to be reelected. I do, -- Gov. Jon Corzine (The Record, 02/29/08)
Gov. Jon Corzine is in trouble. Since most New Jersey voters say they dont know a lot about
Christopher Christie, Gov. Corzines record and inability to unscramble the states budget mess
is pulling him down. -- Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling
Institute. (PolitickerNJ.com, 08/12/08)
He has alluded to (Woodrow) Wilson and said, if it takes being a one-term governor to get it
fixed, hes willing to do it. Its a noble sentiment about re- election. But politicians do have to be
aware of it. If youre not concerned about re-election, youre not going to be re-elected. -- Seton
Hall University Political Science Professor Joseph Marbach (Star-Ledger, 02/27/08

PolitickerNJ.com

page 20

Goldilocks and the three Republicans

There are some in the Republican leadership who
think Joe Pennacchios porridge is too hot. Then you
have Murray Sabrin, who says Joe Pennacchio is definitely not conservative enough thats just too cold.
Well, you know something? Maybe Joe Pennacchio is
just right. Maybe Joe Pennacchio is about where the
average person in New Jersey stands and thinks, sort
of right in the middle, a little bit right of
center, pragmatic.
State Sen. Joe Pennacchio, a candidate for the
Republican nomination for U.S. Senate
(The Record, 03/20/08)

Depending on whom you ask, this is a

story about Maverick Murray, Jersey Joe and the
Liberal Loser Lobbyist. Others regard it simply as
the Republican primary to choose a candidate for the
United States Senate in New Jersey. All would agree
that it has not been the neatest, nor the most electrifying, of affairs.
The New York Times David Chen, describing the GOP primary
between Murray Sabrin,
Joe Pennacchio and Dick Zimmer.
(New York Times, 06/27/08)

In television, its called jumping the shark. A plot device designed to bolster declining ratings, the phrase
refers to an episode of the sitcom Happy Days.The
sitcoms popularity was waning, so the character
Fonzie jumps over killer fish in his motorcycle. Republican Murray Sabrin is running for U.S. Senate.
His self-determined moniker is Maverick Murray.
If thats a stretch, calling Sabrin The Fonz is practically Gumby-esque. But Sabrin, sans hog and leather
jacket, is jumping the shark.
The Records Alfred Doblin
(The Record, 05/09/08)

Rising Star of the Year

Damian Bednarz
While earning his Masters Degree in international relations from Seton
Hall Universitys Whitehead School of Diplomacy, Damian Bednarz of
West Paterson co-founded the grassroots NJ for Obama organization
in an Edison coffee shop. As a volunteer committed to the presidential
campaign of Barack Obama, he ran the operation here for five months growing support to 500 members.
The Obama campaign hired him in the lead-up to the primary season to
work in its New Hampshire office. Over the course of a long primary season, Bednarz organized for the campaign as a paid staffer in a multitude
of states before moving to the head office in Chicago where he served on
the campaign staff for the 2008 general election and helped secure his
candidates general election victory over Sen. John McCain. Now hes in
Washington, workingfor the Obama Inaugural Committee.
Runners Up:
Mike Burke, Salem County Democratic operative
Jenny Davis, Hudson County Democratic operative
David Glass, Field Director, Leonard Lance for C ongress
Jay Lassiter, Blogger, John Adler for Congress
Matt Mowers, Building a New Majority PAC
Mitch Seim and Alex Habib, Ocean County Democratic operatives
PolitickerNJ.com

page 21