Gilmore gone – Politico

Good Thursday morning!

Lizette Delgado-Polanco is out as state Democratic vice-chair, one day after leaving her post as SDA chair. Now in her place is Peg Schaffer, chair of the ascending Somerset County Democrats.

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State Chairman John Currie plans to run with Schaffer for a full term in the election this November. Currie, of course, is facing an as-yet unannounced challenge from Essex County Democratic Chairman LeRoy Jones, who so far has been leading in the endorsement race. Read more about it here.

I doubt this will ever get to an election. But Somerset County has been neutral, so this likely puts its committee members in the Currie column. The Murphy camp has been trying hard to get Ocean County Democrats, who do exist and in this case actually have a chance to make a difference, into Currie’s column. Could this make them jump? Team Murphy/Currie hopes so.

Max Pizarro quotes party sources speculating that Schaffer could ultimately be the compromise choice for the chairmanship itself. But that is, again, speculation.

Remember, the big prize here isn’t the chairmanship. It’s the appointments to the state legislative redistricting commission that come with the chairmanship. Because that, more than anything, will influence how state politics plays out for the next decade.

DAYS SINCE MURPHY-ALIGNED GROUP INTENTIONALLY BLEW OFF SELF-IMPOSED DEADLINE TO DISCLOSE ITS DONORS: 115

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Mr. Christie, you are a bully and the days of you calling me a liar and destroying me life are over.” — Bridget Kelly, who on Wednesday was sentenced to 13 months in prison for her role in the Bridgegate plot

WHERE’S MURPHY? — In Trenton for a noon “student loan affordability” bill signing

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — CLB’s Karen Kominsky, Springfield committeeman Alexander Keiser

BRIDGE & TUNNEL — New York, New Jersey governors cut deal on congestion pricing, by POLITICO’s Ryan Hutchins and Dana Rubinstein: New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has reached a conceptual agreement with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo that will ensure the state’s three Hudson River crossings will be treated the same way under a new plan to toll drivers entering Manhattan’s central business district, according to two people familiar with the conversations. Transit advocates interpret the deal to mean all three crossings will be exempted from so-called congestion pricing, which will take effect in Manhattan, south of 60th St., sometime after December 2020. The agreement was struck last week through several discussions between the governors and their staffs, the sources said. Read more here

FOYLED AGAIN! — Cuomo’s MTA chief denies two-state agreement on Manhattan tolling, by POLITICO’s Ryan Hutchins: The head of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is denying that New York and New Jersey have reached an agreement about how three Hudson River crossings will be treated under a new plan to toll drivers entering Manhattan’s central business district. Patrick Foye, the chairman and CEO of the MTA, said in a statement late Wednesday that he was not aware of an agreement announced earlier in the day by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. “With all due respect to Governor Murphy, we have no idea what he is talking about,” Foye said. Read more here

LIZETTE: THE BEST A GOV CAN GET? — “Why Lizette Delgado-Polanco had to exit NJ SDA and Phil Murphy’s orbit,” by The Record’s Charles Stile: “The schools agency was a headache that caught the Murphy administration flat-footed and defensive. It was completely unrelated to the tax incentive debate. But in his way, Christie’s attack helped clarify the dilemma Murphy was facing as he made his case to rein in the business tax incentives. As long as Delgado-Polanco remained on the job, Murphy would never be able to make a credible case for reform at the EDA. Murphy’s dilemma was framed this way: How can Murphy call for cleaning up a tax incentive program, greased to reward politically connected pals and companies, as long as Delgado-Polanco presided over a patronage pit stocked with about three dozen people with personal and political connections to her, including some with questionable qualifications?” Read more here

TAX INCENTIVES — “Two N.J. heavyweights, Jingoli and Holtec, square off in court over Camden technology campus,” by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Cathleen Dunn: “When Joseph Jingoli & Son built Holtec’s new technology campus in Camden, the ribbon cutting in September 2017 was a day of triumph. Jingoli even finished construction ahead of schedule, giving Holtec a sparkling new campus that came with $260 million in state tax incentives. A year and a half later, the two firms, both prominent in New Jersey, are embroiled in a lawsuit over the high-profile project. The claims center largely on money from an insurance policy — brokered by a third Jersey behemoth: Conner Strong & Buckelew, the brokerage headed by political powerhouse George Norcross III, who sits on Holtec’s board of directors and who has championed the program that has approved $1.6 billion in tax incentives for businesses going to Camden. Jingoli is suing Holtec, alleging it was denied a $1.1 million insurance bonus, after Holtec ordered a change to the insurance policy that it never put in writing … Conner Strong is not a party to the suit. The firm’s name appears on an insurance balance sheet submitted as an exhibit in the case, which lists the brokerage fee as $200,000 on the $5.5 million policy. ‘The allegations have nothing to do with Conner Strong’ said spokesperson Dan Fee.” Read more here

A STRONGER AND FAIRER NJ — “State tax-revenue growth in NJ lags well behind most other states,” by NJ Spotlight’s John Reitmeyer: “A new, independent analysis of state tax-collection figures puts New Jersey among a handful of states with budgets that have still not made up all of the ground lost to the Great Recession, while in the rest of the country revenues have surged well beyond pre-downturn levels. The 50-state revenue analysis by The Pew Charitable Trusts listed New Jersey with eight other states where inflation-adjusted tax collections remained behind pre-recession peaks as of last fall.” Read more here

SPORTS BETTING — “New Jersey gov: We could be top US sports bet market by 2020,” by The AP’s Wayne Parry: “Speaking Wednesday at the Betting On Sports America conference, Democrat Phil Murphy predicted New Jersey’s fast growing sports betting market could surpass that of Nevada by next year. In the 10 months that New Jersey has allowed legal sports betting, gamblers have wagered more than $2.3 billion, a pace that would put it in the same conversation as Nevada, which took in more than $5 billion in bets last year. ‘Nevada is clearly in our sights,’ Murphy said. ‘We can overtake it as early as next year.’” Read more here

—“Some NJ sports books stumble over ban on in-state collegiate wagers” Read more here

STILL VOTED YES — How 2 BPU commissioners nearly derailed PSEG’s nuclear subsidy, by POLITICO’s Danielle Muoio: Three days before the five commissioners on the state Board of Public Utilities were to vote on whether to approve a $300 million nuclear subsidy to benefit Public Service Enterprise Group, two of the regulators remained on the fence. Commissioner Diane Solomon said she had prepared two statements — one for a “yes“ vote and one for a “no“ — because she remained unsure of her final decision until the day before the BPU’s April 18 hearing. She ultimately voted in favor of the subsidy. Commissioner Bob Gordon said he was ready to cast a “no” vote entering the week of the final vote, before ultimately changing his mind just a few days before the hearing. Had Solomon and Gordon voted “no,” they would have joined Commissioner Upendra Chivukula in killing the subsidy on which PSEG had spent to push through the Legislature. Their interviews with POLITICO after the vote highlight just how controversial the issue remained in the days leading up to what would be the BPU’s biggest vote in years.” Read more here

? MARKS — New Jersey GOP hopes to head off independent challenge on Bramnick’s right, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: The announcement mystified New Jersey Republicans. Former Scotch Plains Mayor Martin Marks and insurance broker Harry Pappas announced in March that they would run against Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick and Assemblywoman Nancy Muñoz (both R-Union) as unabashed conservative supporters of President Donald Trump taking on the more moderate incumbents … But Marks and Pappas — who was a longtime Democrat before becoming a Republican in the 1990s — aren’t challenging Bramnick and Muñoz in the June Republican primary. Rather, they plan to challenge the two incumbents from the right in the November general election. The chances of Marks and Pappas winning such an election are virtually nil … Even with a tiny showing at the polls, Marks and Pappas could become spoilers, potentially ousting one of the top elected Republicans in the state. But for all the potential damage they could do, Republicans — including Bramnick — aren’t saying much about them. Read more here

—“Which NJ ports could be offshore-wind industry hubs? Edge for Paulsboro?” Read more here

BOOKER LOSING SLEEP OVER THIS — Hirsh Singh is running for something again: U.S. Senate in 2020. That would be against Sen. Cory Booker if he’s not on the presidential ticket. Here’s his Facebook page. As you may recall, Singh ran for the Republican nomination for governor in 2017. He wanted to challenge Bob Menendez last year but opted instead to run for Congress in the 2nd District with the support of a lot of Republican bigwigs who were under the impression he was going to put a ton of money into the race (Singh denied he told them he would). Bill Palatucci supports Singh’s Senate run. “I support Hirsh to be our Republican candidate. He’s grown up the last two years and so he deserves not to have a primary,” he told me via text message. Singh had significant resources to spend on his gubernatorial bid thanks to a $1 million loan from his father.

—“Trump says the country is ‘full.’ But that isn’t true, data shows”Read more here

—“Booker tax returns show income drop, high charitable giving” Read more here

—Tax attorney who runs political advocacy group considering run for Congress Read more here

BYE GEORGE! — Gilmore resigns as Ocean County Republican chairman, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: “George Gilmore, a lawyer who has served as the powerful chairman of the Ocean County Republican Organization for 22 years, stepped down from that post on Wednesday after being convicted last week on three federal tax-related counts. Gilmore submitted a letter of resignation, which took effect at 4 p.m. Wednesday, according to a press release from the Ocean County GOP. He made no public statement.” Read more here

—Murphy laments that Gilmore’s firm doesn’t have to give up its contracts, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: Former Ocean County Republican Chairman George Gilmore’s law firm will not have to forfeit all of its public contracts in the wake of his conviction last week on federal tax-related charges, the Attorney General’s Office said Wednesday. Gov. Phil Murphy wishes it wasn’t that way. “Governor Murphy believes that forfeiture of public office with a conviction should be enforced equally, and that high powered law partners should not be treated with more leniency than the rest of the people of New Jersey,” Dan Bryan, a spokesman for the governor, said in a statement. Attorney General Gurbir Grewal’s office is requiring Gilmore to leave all his public positions, though the only known one was his position as chairman of the Ocean County Board of Elections, which he reportedly left this week. Read more here

— “Fall of a Boss: Leaders scramble to make sense of Ocean in the coming aftermath of Gilmore,” by InsiderNJ’s Max Pizarro: “He used federal connections to draw national-level luminaries to Ocean, and during stretches of his political lifespan appeared to be the most powerful Republican in New Jersey — the man to talk to if a presidential candidate wanted a New Jersey fundraising beachhead. That changed when former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie became governor and assumed full control of the party apparatus in his own state … While his control over county government in the overwhelmingly Republican county never appeared in doubt and nourished the base of his political power, Gilmore in the post Christie era seemed to obviously lose a step. A group of so-called young gun chairs, among them Bill Layton of neighboring rival Burlington County, Somerset County’s Al Gaburo, and Essex County’s Al Barlas, bucked the Ocean general on a 2017 gubernatorial candidate. Gilmore picked LG Kim Guadagno, while the others threw their weight behind Jack Ciattarelli. The party rift was ugly.” Read more here

PHONE, LAPTOP WERE LAST FUNCTIONING THINGS IN ROCKAWAY — “Rockaway Twp. late mayor’s phone, laptop still missing, police no longer ‘investigating’,” by The Daily Record’s Gene Myers: “Even though the late mayor’s township-issued laptop and iPhone are still missing seven months after his death, police are no longer ‘actively investigating.’ The missing devices do not pose a security or information ‘risk’ to the township, and police said they will be concentrating on more important matters. Shortly after the Aug. 15 death of Mayor Michael Dachisen, township detectives were asked to look into the missing devices.” Read more here

SAME PEOPLE, NEW PARTY — “Burlington County Bridge Commission chair contributed to county Democrats,” by The Burlington County Times’ David Levinsky: “The Burlington County Bridge Commission is technically still under Republican control, but it may seem hard to tell. The commission recently hired the Burlington County Democratic chairman to a top job at the agency, and campaign finance records show the commission’s longtime chairman, Moorestown attorney John Comegno contributed $2,000 to the Burlington County Democratic Committee last month … Comegno, a longtime Republican, has served as the bridge commission’s chair since 2007 … Earlier this month the commission hired Burlington County Democratic Committee Chairman Joe Andl to become the agency’s deputy executive director, a position that pays a $185,000 salary and had been unfilled since 2012 … Earlier this year, the bridge commission also contracted with the Cherry Hill law firm of Malamut and Associates to serve as its legal counsel, replacing Mount Laurel-based Capehart Scatchard. Malamut’s principal, Adam Malmaut, has strong ties to both the Burlington County Democratic Committee and [state Sen. Troy] Singleton.” Read more here

—“Hindus claim assault on NJ Priest Is a Bias Attack” Read more here

—“Reply to anti-Semitic tweet has Brick Mayor John Ducey at center of Twitter storm” Read more here

—“Jersey Shore mayor says his town will take the Kate Smith statue removed by Flyers amid racial controversy” Read more here

—Snowflack: “Dinsmore’s uphill fundraiser” Read more here

—“Trenton cop, ex-colleague plead not guilty to federal civil rights charges” Read more here

—“Paterson Board of Education pays $675k in speech therapy contract dispute” Read more here

—“The end of Airbnb in Jersey City? City council proposes to limit short-term rentals” Read more here

Kean faculty union alleges retaliation after lecturers’ contracts aren’t renewed, by POLITICO’s Linh Tat: A decision by Kean University not to renew the contracts of more than a dozen full-time lecturers — the majority of whom spoke out earlier this school year after losing their private office spaces — has the faculty union accusing the school’s administration of retaliation. Also an issue for the union is the fact that the majority of the affected employees are women or people of color — a concern also highlighted by Assemblywoman Mila Jasey, the chair of her chamber’s higher education committee, in a letter to university officials. A university spokesperson said she could not discuss individual personnel decisions but provided a statement that said administrators “fairly and equitably review each lecturer’s contributions in teaching and service” in deciding whose contract to renew. Read more here

NEW JERSEY AND YOU: FUCT TOGETHER — “The Supreme Court just got FUCT: The case of a Phillipsburg native’s interestingly named clothing line,” by LehighValleyLive’s Rudy Miller: “His trademark battle took him from California to the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. But his roots remain here in the Lehigh Valley. Erik Brunetti is fighting for the right to trademark his FUCT streetwear brand. The federal government has denied him a trademark due to a ban on ‘immoral’ or ‘scandalous’ language. The taint of obscenity was such a part of the hearing April 15 that none of the high court justices would say FUCT in court … His lawyer told the Associated Press the brand could be viewed as an acronym for ‘Friends U Can’t Trust.’” Read more here

MENAGE ARSON TROIS — “NJ woman turns to arson after becoming odd one out in threesome, police say,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Sheri Berkery: “A woman who felt she got second-class treatment after a threesome retaliated by trying to burn down her boyfriend’s home, police said. Tasia Young, 33, showed up at Woodbury police headquarters Tuesday to confess she set the April 7 fire on the unit block of East Centre Street, according to a probable-cause affidavit. Young told police she agreed to a threesome with her boyfriend and another woman on April 6, but seethed with anger after her boyfriend sent her home in a cab while letting the other woman stay.” Read more here

—“NJ child predator sting: Cop, priest among 16 arrested for trying to lure children for sex” Read more here