N.J. Democrats try to cope with how primary is shaping up – Politico
One thing I’ve learned about New Jersey political bosses is that they don’t like uncertainty. So the race for the Democratic presidential nomination has to be really frustrating for them.
Now a second county Democratic chair is publicly raising the prospect of not having her party endorse anyone for president, and instead starting the coveted “party line” with Cory Booker at the top and presidential candidates somewhere else on the ballot.
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“We’re going to start with Cory and then do an open presidential spot,” said Somerset County Democratic Chairwoman Peg Schaffer.
Of course, the county clerk — not Schaffer — draws up the ballot. But Schaffer’s party decides who they want to bracket with. Still, Schaffer says she couldn’t stop, say, Senate candidate Larry Hamm from deciding to bracket with Bernie Sanders and forming a rival “line.”
Schaffer said there are other county chairs who also want to leave their party’s presidential endorsement open. Hudson County Democratic Chairwoman Amy DeGise is already on record considering it. (The “line” is formed by Senate or freeholder candidates, Schaffer said, not presidential ones).
“I know there’s been some discussion on it but that seems to be the way we’re going,” Schaffer said.
Oh, and there was a primary in New Hampshire last night. For more on that, go here.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “As a father of four, my remedy is I’d like to see them all burned. The devices, that is.” — Gov. Phil Murphy when asked about studies on tablets and phones potentially exacerbating teen depression
DAYS MURPHY HAS SPENT OUT OF STATE SINCE BECOMING DGA CHAIR: 16
HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Bloomberg’s Stacie Sherman, Burlington County Freeholder Linda Hynes
WHERE’S MURPHY? — In Whippany at noon to speak at a Morris County Chamber of Commerce lunch
— “N.J. Senate president engaged in ‘gross misogyny,’ labor activist tells sexual harassment panel,” by NJ Advance Medai’s Susan K. Livio and Kelly Heyboer: “In emotional testimony, a labor official came forward at the public forum in Fort Lee to accuse state Senate President Stephen Sweeney of intimidation, including verbally threatening her in public several years ago after she opposed his efforts to cut state pensions … Fran Ehret, a staff representative from the Communications Workers of America … said the Democratic leader’s comments were made during a heated exchange at a union meeting in 2010 … Ehret said Sweeney ‘stood up, pointed his finger at me and he said, ‘If you were a man, I would take you outside right now and kick your ass,’ Ehret said … Ehret also described an instance in which she spoke out against Sweeney during a Gloucester County Freeholder meeting, which Sweeney ran as freeholder director. When she left the meeting, she said five large men from the building trades followed her onto the elevator and crowded around her … Reached by phone Tuesday night, Sweeney said Ehret often organizes protests against him. ‘This is in individual who has attacked me day in and day out for many years,’ Sweeney told NJ Advance Media. ‘Anything she says, it should be taken into account the way she handles me.'”
TWEET OF THE DAY — @NJSenatePres: Sometimes in Trenton people are too quick to make enemies, today, of all days let’s try to make friends instead! #NationalMakeAFriendDay
2021 — Murphy says next campaign will be ‘a model of a respectful workplace’, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: Gov. Phil Murphy, who has been battling allegations by women who say they were mistreated during his 2017 campaign, promised Tuesday to do better when he runs for reelection, and to introduce new reforms at the campaign and state level. “Over the past few weeks, we’ve heard disturbing allegations about the mistreatment of women in New Jersey. This time has also been one of deep personal reflection and that reflection must, in turn, lead to meaningful action,” Murphy told reporters at an unrelated event. “Some focused on my 2017 campaign. We built that campaign based on the tenets of equity, justice, fairness and respect for all New Jerseyans, and we know that those ideals must be achieved in both word and deed, both externally and internally. To those we failed in that mission, I apologize. We absolutely must get better moving forward, and we will.’”
—Hundreds respond to survey, women line up to tell stories of harassment in politics.”
FEEL THE HEARTBERN — “NJ Democrats are splintered over who gets their support and nervous about Bernie,” by The Record’s Charles Stile: “The strong possibility that Sanders could emerge as the party’s nominee has stirred excitement among his Jersey devotees and quiet dread among rank-and-file. The fear is that a Democratic Socialist nominees will make an easy target for Trump, scare off independents, and drag down other Democratic candidates on the ticket. ‘You want to put your best fighter forward for this battle and you still have some people not convinced that Bernie is going to resonate out in places that aren’t as diverse as ours and that he won’t be able to win on a national level,’’ said Amy DeGise, the Hudson County Democratic Organization chairwoman.”
EDUCATION — State Supreme Court to hear arguments in Newark charter school expansion case, by POLITICO’s Carly Sitrin: The New Jersey Supreme Court has agreed to review the decision by former state Education Commissioner David Hespe allowing several Newark charter schools to expand their enrollment. The court granted a petition filed by the Education Law Center as part of its TEAM Academy Charter School case, which stems from a 2016 decision by Hespe, who approved close to 8,500 new seats and several satellite campuses for seven charter schools in Newark. The ELC challenged Hespe’s expansion approvals, arguing that increasing charter school enrollments would drain funding from the local school district and exacerbate school segregation. An appellate court in May 2019 upheld Hespe’s decision. At the time, the charter applications were decided by the state because Newark public schools were under state control.
BUT GANNETT IS ADEQUATELY INFORMING THE CITIZENRY OF HOW MANY TENNIS BALLS A DOG CAN FIT IN ITS MOUTH — “State antes up funding for local journalism project after long delay,” by NJ Spotlight’s Ron Marsico: “When Gov. Phil Murphy released the first $1 million last month for a project to support local journalism by seeking an increased flow of information and boost to civic engagement, it was a relief to supporters. Their goal of journalism in the local public interest — funded by public dollars from New Jersey’s state coffers — had been stalled since 2018 by budget issues and spending priorities in Trenton. While some dreamed of $100 million or more going to the nonprofit New Jersey Civic Information Consortium following the state’s $332 million take from a 2017 nationwide auction of broadcast airwaves, the state outlay is for a far more modest sum: $2 million.”
THE RED FLAG LAW HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PARKER SPACE’S CONFEDERATE FLAG TATTOO — “See where guns have been seized in N.J. under new ‘red flag’ law,” by NJ Advance Media’s Joe Atmonovage: “Nearly 50 people have had their guns seized in a Jersey Shore county, under New Jersey’s red flag laws, which went into effect last year, according to data obtained by NJ Advance Media. Under the Extreme Risk Protective Order Act, which went into effect Sept. 1, 48 people in Ocean County have had their guns seized at least temporarily, while 25 have had them taken indefinitely under one of the latest gun control measure enacted by Gov. Phil Murphy, according to the New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts. The law, which is similar to ‘red flag’ laws used in other states, has been implemented in Ocean County more than twice as often as any other county, according to the data. The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, gun rights advocates and attorneys representing gun owners said it is unclear why Ocean County tops the list.”
HORIZON — Conlin stepping down in April as Horizon president, CEO, by POLITICO’s Sam Sutton: Gary St. Hilaire will replace Kevin Conlin as president and CEO of the state’s largest health insurance company in April, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey announced today. St. Hilaire will join Horizon from Capital BlueCross, a health insurance company active in 21 counties across central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley, where he’s been CEO since 2012.
—CarePoint: RWJBarnabas weighing our offer to sell Christ Hospital
—New Jersey ranks 12th in toxic chemicals released from industrial facilities
—Murphy: Parents should not be able to exempt their kids from LGBT curriculum.
STUART LITTLE CHANCE — Meissner drops out of GOP Senate race, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: An attorney who hoped to challenge U.S. Sen. Cory Booker this year has dropped out of the race. Stuart Meissner, a former Democrat who ran unsuccessfully for Senate in 2018 as an independent, decided against running after failing to secure party support from several county Republican organizations. Rik Mehta, an entrepreneur with a background in the pharmaceutical industry and at the FDA, has emerged as the Republican frontrunner to take on Booker, winning the support of several county organizations.
—“How Trump’s budget cuts could slam New Jersey”
—Struggle over college athlete pay hits the Hill
—“Parents running for NJ office could pay for childcare with campaign cash”
ACDC ALLEGES DIRTY DEEDS — “Court challenge filed to stop Atlantic City change of government,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s David Danzis: “An injunction seeking to stop the March 31 special election and dismiss the submitted petition that forced the ballot referendum was filed Tuesday in Atlantic County Superior Court on behalf of the Atlantic City Democratic Committee. The three-count complaint, filed by attorney Samuel Lashman, of Margate, alleges that the petition is deficient, that certain signatures were fraudulently obtained and that the proposed form of government would violate residents’ civil rights … Atlantic City Residents for Good Government has proposed a council-manager form of government, as opposed to the current mayor-council form.”
MARCIA MARCIA MARCIA! — “Jersey City BOE settles federal lawsuit with ex-Superintendent Lyles for $398k,” by Hudson County View’s John Heinis: “The Jersey City Board of Education settled a federal lawsuit with former Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marcia Lyles for $398,225 just before a pivotal school board election in November, according to a copy of the agreement … The agreement was obtained via an Open Public Records Act request after multiple requests for comment from the school district were ignored … She alleged the board had created a hostile work environment and created ‘tortious interference’ that prevented her from doing her job.’”
EXPOSED TO RELIGIOUS FREEDOM — “Lakewood police officers screened for possible measles exposure,” by NJ 101.5’s Dan Alexander: “Five police officers stayed home on Tuesday after learning that a suspect they arrested and booked may have the highly contagious measles. Chief Gregory Meyer told New Jersey 101.5 that the Ocean County Jail notified him about the inmate. As a result, all officers involved with the arrest, transport and booking were sent to Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus for screening. The officers were then sent home for 48 hours before returning to the hospital for another screening, Meyer said.”
“Holmdel officials: Committeeman should return nearly $10K in storm repair money,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Joe Strupp: “Township Committeeman Thomas Critelli, already under scrutiny for voting to give his company nearly $10,000 in township funds for work done on his property after Hurricane Irene, is now being asked to return the money. Several fellow committee members urged Critelli to give back the funds last week and plan to raise the issue in private session at Tuesday’s regular Holmdel Township Committee meeting.”
—“Morris County freeholders introduce $315 million budget, no tax rate increase for 2020”
—State Supreme Court to hear arguments in Newark charter school expansion case
—“Union City employee awarded nearly $559k by jury in age discrimination case”
—“Sussex-Wantage BOE adopts transgender policy”
—“Two to Pursue the Montclair Mayoralty in May”
SEXUAL HARASSMENT — “PNC Bank employee awarded $2.4M after alleged sexual harassment by wealthy customer,” by NJ Advance Media’s Kelly Heyboer: “A former PNC Bank employee should get $2.4 million in damages after a customer with a troubled history at her bank branch grabbed her and grinded into her buttocks, an Essex County jury said earlier this week. Damara Scott, a wealth manager at the Glen Ridge branch, filed a civil lawsuit against her former employer alleging the bank knew the wealthy customer had a history of harassing behavior aimed at African-American women at the bank and did nothing about it … The lawsuit, filed in 2015, took years to get to trial and raised questions about when and how a company is legally responsible for protecting an employee from possible sexual harassment by clients.”
LITTLE RED BLUNT — “‘I have a card, man’: Communist card-carrying medical marijuana user arrested after lighting up,” by The Courier-News’ Nick Muscavage: “Brian Powers is proud to be a Communist … He’s also a proud card-carrying medical marijuana user. It was the combination of these two things that led to his November arrest outside the Middlesex County Courthouse in New Brunswick, when Powers was charged by Middlesex County sheriff’s officers with smoking marijuana. And that led to more charges, including resisting arrest and spitting in the face of a law enforcement officer … Being a medical marijuana patient in New Jersey, he is permitted by state law to possess and consume the drug — even in public places … Powers was in New Brunswick for a business meeting for his radio station … He took a break from the meeting and stepped outside onto Patterson Street … This cop right away was apparently mad and was like, ‘What are you doing?’” Powers said. ‘I have this running joke when people ask me what I’m doing. I look at them and go, ‘It’s OK, Phil Murphy says I can do this.’ The sheriff’s officer ‘didn’t find the humor in it,’ Powers said.”
INFAMOUS RAY — “N.J. man who moved into daughter’s dorm at elite college charged with sex trafficking, extortion,” by NJ Advance Media’s Joe Atmonovage: “A New Jersey man who moved into his daughter’s dorm at Sarah Lawrence College was indicted Tuesday on charges that he subjected a group of her friends ‘to sexual and psychological manipulation and physical abuse,’ according to an indictment unsealed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of New York. Lawrence Ray, also known as Lawrence Grecco, was charged with extortion, sex trafficking, forced labor conspiracy and trafficking, two counts of use of interstate commerce to promote unlawful activity and money laundering, according to authorities.”
R.I.P. — “Manatee washes up dead in NJ; its presence here baffles experts,” by The Record’s Dan Radel: “A manatee that washed up dead on the Delaware Bay shoreline in Cape May County is puzzling marine experts who are curious why the mammal was this far north in winter. The warm-water mammal known more for grazing the shallow, marshy water around Florida was deceased for possibly two weeks when it was found Sunday at a bay beach in Middle Township. The animal was 11 feet in length and experts estimate it weighed 900 pounds.”
SUCK IT NAPLES — “NJ is the pizza capital of the world, according to official state government Twitter account”
—“Oscars betting level falls by half in New Jersey in 2020”
—“Ex-trooper convicted in fatal drunk-driving crash can’t get pension, appeals court rules”
—“After years of being led by nuns, N.J. university gets its first male lay president”
