LEGISLATIVE REPORT
NIXON CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13
District 2: Current GOP Assemblyman Chris Brown is looking
to
reclaim the Atlantic County-based State Senate seat from re-
Clifton, held back an intraparty fight that stemmed more from lo-
tiring
Senator Jim Whelan. The race will likely be one of the most
cal and personal issues than any major philosophical differences.
expensive and competitive in New Jersey. With that will come a
Republican Senator Steve Oroho easily survived a challenge in
race to succeed Brown in the Assembly while Democratic Assem-
the 24th Legislative District despite his leadership on funding the
blyman Vince Mazzeo will look to pull his running mate across
Transportation Trust Fund through an increased gas tax.
the finish line in one of the few split districts in New Jersey.
Another gas tax fight erupted in the 26th District in Morris
District 11: Both parties have set their sights on the Mon-
County as incumbent GOP Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce
mouth County-centric 11th District. Democrats are desperate to
was assailed for her vote for the tax by her running mate, Assem-
New Jersey
audience,
and he Jennifer
is not at Beck.
all concerned
if the still
Star-
Now that Chris Christie has announced he is a
take out
GOP Senator
Republicans,
stinging
blyman Jay Webber and Morris County Freeholder Hank Lyon. In
Republican
candidate
for
President,
the
question
Ledger
editorial
board
approves
of
him
or
whether
public
employ-
over
losing
two
GOP
assemblywomen
in
2015,
will
be
focused
the end, DeCroce and Webber, running as incumbents but not
that
is most
often
obviously asked is, “Can he win?”
ees picket
his on
appearances.
heavily
defeating Democratic Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling
with each
other,
both
prevailed.
and
Assemblywoman
Downey. who
There
may
not be is a more
There
are plenty District
of scenarios
that site
can of
lead
to starkly
Jersey
residents need Joann
to remember
Chris
Christie
The 40th
Legislative
was the
a he ated
primary New
expensive
or
heated
race
in
all
of
New
Jersey
this
election than
different
answers.
The
second
question
that In tends
race to replace
retiring
GOP
Senator
Kevin
O’Toole.
a battle on
trying to impress. GOP primary voters tend to be more conserva-
in the
personal,
county
lines,
Passaic County
to philosophical
follow is “Will and
he step
down
as governor?”
That Clerk
tive than
the 11th.
average New Jersey voter, and they were not paying
16: the
The governor
once-reliably
Republican
16th District
Kristin Corrado
handily
defeated
former
GOP
Assemblyman,
question
appears
to have
been
answered.
But and
attention District
to whether
called pensions
a “sacred
trust” was
dramatically
altered
by
redistricting,
which
led
to
the
loss of a
current unless
Bergen something
County GOP
leader,
Paul
DiGaetano
and
retired
seismic occurs, in the state or in
or whether he intentionally underfunded the pension system. So
ROB NIXON
GOP
Assemblywoman
in
2015.
The
pressure
builds
for
the GOP
police officer
Ed
Buttimore.
On
the
Assembly
side
of
the
district,
the race, New Jersey is in for an unprecedented and
a protest
from
New district
Jersey employees
is only
going to set Jack
the gov-
again
in the
as incumbent
Assemblyman
Ciattarelli
Corrado’s
running
mates,
Assemblyman
Kevin
Rooney
and
Chris
complex time for at least the next eight months.
ernor will
up nicely
roll
into
his stump
“telling it
not be to on
the
ballot
due to speech
his run about
for governor
in like
the it prima-
DePhillips, cruised to victory over DiGaetano’s slate in the safe
To win the nomination, an individual needs to rely on a number
is”
and
“making
hard
decisions.”
And
that,
quite
honestly,
is
going
ry. Democrats will aggressively work to defend freshman Assem-
North Jersey Republican district.
of fleeting
factors:
money,
personality,
determination,
to drive
New Jersey
public
employees
to the
brink
of open
insanity.
blyman
Andrew
Zwicker
and hope
to take
the
seat. Leading
The
primary
battles
weren’t all experience,
on the GOP
side of the ledger as
message,
timing and
luck.
It would in
take
far more than
a magazine
the is GOP
ticket is regardless
popular Senator
Kip Bateman,
no question,
of how one
feels about and
him, Republican
that
Democrats
faced
primaries
a combined
14 Senate
and Assem- There
article bly
to properly
analyze none
how Christie
up to ever
these in factors.
leaders are
his public
record speaking
in the district
have coattails in
races. However,
of those shapes
races were
doubt.
the governor
has hopeful
a gift for
and will
for conveying
So let’s November’s
take a few key
points that districts
lie ahead of the campaign.
the Assembly.
competitive
authority
and conviction. That doesn’t mean what he says is accu-
38: Considered
a swing is
district
despite than
being
held by
The Christie
haters
and
the New Jersey
press
have races
obviously
While there
was
competition
in the
primary
for Senate
rate, but District
in Presidential
politics accuracy
less effective
the
Democrats for more than a decade, the Bergen County based
Assembly,
number
of seats Many
in play
in November
made and
up their
minds the
about
his chances.
articles
following will fo-
delivery and the message itself. Compared to the field of more than
38th District will once again be a priority for both parties. The
cus on just a few
legislative
districts.
Coming
out of outlets,
the Novem-
his announcement,
including
some
from national
media
a
dozen
GOP candidates,
Chris
Christie
not going
lose as a low as
Democratic
margin of
victory
in the is district
has to
been
ber
the as Senate
Assembly
have
at least
refer to
the election,
campaign
a “long and
shot”
or “four will
years
too late.”
But 11 new
debate 25 on
style in unless
he
decides
to Bob
mock,
ridicule
or Assemblymen
personally Joe
votes
2013,
but
Senator
Gordon
and
faces
due
to
retirements
or
Assembly
members
moving
up
to
the
in the bright light of political reality, that may be a bit premature.
attack Lagana
a fellow and
candidate.
Other candidates,
he can
Tim Eustace
have been however,
furiously know
building
their de-
The Senate.
most important factor, outside of the candidate themselves,
be baited
to attack
and some
The races to watch in November include:
fenses
since then.
d of them are likely dreaming for a sit-
is money. Candidates will raise, and spend, tens of millions of dol-
down-and-shut-up moment. That may work, to some effect, in
lars each the next few months. But candidates who lose in early
Jersey but it simply won’t be viewed as Presidential in a primary
primaries will see that that their donors will move on to give to oth-
campaign.
ers they perceive can win. When the money dries
up, candidates
All FIRST
RESPONDERS….…
“Thank You!”
Christie’s opponents have lots of ammo. The economy here lags
quickly drop out.
You are always the first to respond. You behind
protect us
and states.
we appreciate
you his
do. positions on some core
other
He has everything
fluctuated
There is little doubt Christie will be able to raise significant sums
Now it is time we conservative
serve and protect
you!
GOP
issues.
He
is
far
too
close to Democrats for
of money to stay in the race well into 2016. A negative story, a bad
some,
and
I
am
sure
the
picture
of
him
hugging
President Obama
Finally,
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benefits
You
Need
and
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debate performance or a loss in an early primary tends to dry up
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its
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into mailboxes
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That
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even
before you
their
Members with
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Christie is a great fundraiser and
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mention the “Bridgegate”
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Police
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Medical Professionals
bara
Buono
this
time
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so rest assured if opposing ca ndi-
will not run out of money during his race. Firefighters
Access to campaign cash
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to
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their
opposition
research on him, they will hit
means he will continue to travel, run ads Paramedics,
and push his
message
EMS
& EMT’s to
Military & Veterans
the governor where it hurts.
compete with his negative polling numbers.
When
you
injured,
how will
you chances
pay to
your
monthly
bills?
Christie’s
win the
GOP nomination
hinge in many
The current polls seem
to indicate
that get
Christie
is a second-tier
ways
winning an early primary, notably New Hampshire. If he
WBA members
can and
enjoy often
benefit options
that on
include:
candidate, but they are in reality a snapshot
in the past
gets blown out there, the national media will immediately write
• Health,
Fitness
and oppo-
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they teach candidates how to fix themselves
or hurt
their
• Guarantee
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Total and
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him off
voters
in other
nents enough to move up. Plus, polls on Christie’s
duties
in New Temporary
•
Option
A;
up
to
$1000
per
week,
for
up
to
52
weeks
Which means he will probably be in New Hampshire, and other
Jersey take into account Democrats and independents who have
• Option B;
up to $750
for up
to 52 weeks
early
primary
states, as much as he is in New Jersey. That is neces-
soured on their prior acceptance, and they represent
a group
that per week,
• Option C; Flat $500 per week, for up to 52 weeks
sary for his run for office but probably not conducive to governing
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month
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that he has no intention to leave office early. Nobody, therefore,
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and that he is just what the country
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be looking for him to call it a day in Trenton and move on.
We are AS
far too
close
to
the
situation
to
see
the
entire
picture.
The
With
so many
candidates
the race
there BEST
is a great
deal of
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we are really
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INFO@PINNRISK.COM OR CALL 973-284-0100
COPS COPS
JULY ■
2015
NEW JERSEY
JUNE 2017
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14 JERSEY
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