Report: Politicians Legally Hide Donor Names

A report after the Birdsall scandal shows that New Jersey law allows contributors who donate less than $300 to remain anonymous.

A published report Sunday revealed New Jersey’s current campaign donation system needs to be revised after it was disclosed politicians can receive more money while still keeping the names of their donors secret — as long as the contributions are less than $300. The NJ.com report said most states allow campaigns to keep only those donors who give $100, $50 or less private, but Garden State politicians don’t have to report any information about people who contribute less than $300. The report said because of the state’s secretive laws, candidates were able to hide about $12 million out of the $100 million donated. The state’s rule allowing campaigns to keep these donors anonymous could undergo a re-evaluation after one of the state’s most …

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Some Changes in Store for Township Council in Primary Race Lineups

The deadline for filing petitions for the June primary shows some interesting developments in Woodbridge ward council races this year.

One way or the other, there will be changes in the makeup of the Woodbridge Township Council come November, at least among the ward seats which are all up for grabs. Two longtime ward councilmen - Charles Kenny and Bob Luban - will not be returning to their council seats. Kenny is making a run for Middlesex County freeholder on the Democrat ticket, while Luban will be running on the Republican slate for the State Senate seat for the 19th District. Kenny has held his First Ward, which includes Woodbridge Proper and Sewaren, since 1998. Luban has represented Colonia in the Fifth Ward for 28 years. The challengers who will be running for the First Ward are Nancy Drumm, a marketing and membership director for the YMCA. Drumm, who is a …

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Tom Maras

8:46 am on Thursday, April 4, 2013

Is it Party time again? The voters in Woodbridge Township will, in a few months, have an opportunity to tell their elected government if they want chance or more of the same. For me, the answer is easy: CHANGE! But not for change sake alone. My feelings about the McCormac administration, its tactics, policies, bonds, taxing, SPENDING, more taxing, bonding and more SPENDING shenanigans are well …   more ›

Unemployment Emerging as Major Issue in Governor’s Race

NJ jobless rate higher than national average and neighboring states still a vulnerability for Christie.

With New Jersey’s governor’s race already in general-election mode, last week’s 0.2 percent dip in the state unemployment rate to 9.3 percent drew immediate partisan responses. Charles Steindel, Gov. Chris Christie’s chief economist, gushed that the “solid” month continued “the general, upward trend of growth and progress established under the Christie administration.” Meanwhile, Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex), Christie’s Democratic challenger, declared that “the fact that Gov. Christie’s administration calls this ‘another solid month,’ after losing 2,200 jobs in January, just shows how the governor is out of touch with reality." In actuality, the February drop continued a slow five-month improvement from a 35-year record-high …

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In Man-Bites-Dog Scenario, Christie Visits NJEA for Endorsement

Just by showing up for interview, governor demonstrates how his relationship with union has evolved.

The fact that Gov. Chris Christie didn’t win the New Jersey Education Association’s endorsement for governor this weekend wasn’t all that unexpected. The surprise was that he participated in the process at all. Four years after Christie sent a public letter rather than showing up for his pitch to the NJEA, the governor walked across West State St. in Trenton -- right on time for his 6:30 appointment. In what was described as a cordial back and forth, Christie spent 45 minutes in front of the 15 union leaders who make up the screening committee, responding to probing questions about everything from pensions to teacher evaluation. Ultimately, the union’s PAC picked the Democratic challenger, state Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex), by a …

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Buono to Kick Off Gubernatorial Campaign in New Brunswick

Sen. Barbara Buono will hold a rally at New Brunswick High School on Saturday.

Sen. Barbara Buono has picked New Brunswick High School as the site to begin her campaign for state governor. At noon on Saturday, Feb. 2, Buono (D-Middlesex) will host "Rally for New Jersey's Future" at New Brunswick High School, 1000 Somerset St. Buono, a resident of Metuchen, has been a senator since 2002.  In the last few years, she has locally campaigned for domestic violence victims, introduced legislation to transform foreclosed homes into affordable housing, and to approve charter schools through local voting, and voted in favor of a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in New Jersey. She is believed to be the Democratic candidate to face Gov. Chris Christie in this year's gubernatorial election after being endorsed by …

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Gov. Christie to be Featured Guest at County GOP Convention

The Republican governor will join Middlesex County Republicans at their convention to be held in Woodbridge March 23.

Gov. Chris Christie just can't stay out of Woodbridge.  Days after the announcement that the governor would be holding his kickoff re-election fundraiser in the township, word is now out that he will be the featured guest of the Middlesex County GOP's Convention in March. That will be held at the Royal Albert Palace on King Georges Post Road on the border of Edison and the Fords section of Woodbridge on March 23. The convention is held so Republican delegates can hear speeches, evaluate candidates, and nominate their choices for the 2013 elections. And the big one this year will be the gubernatorial campaign, where Christie, a Republican, will be running to retain his seat in Trenton. The list of possible Democratic candidates against …

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Donny

5:26 pm on Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Now you know how 50% of the country feels about Obama.   more ›

Hurricane Sandy

Gov. Christie Holding Kickoff Reelection Campaign in Woodbridge

Once again, the Republican governor picks Democratic Woodbridge to hold his campaign events.

Once again, Woodbridge is going to be the spotlight for Gov. Chris Christie. The Republican governor is going to hold his campaign kickoff fundraiser in Woodbridge next month. The event will be held at the Renaissance Woodbridge in the Iselin section of the township on Monday, February 4, at 6 pm. The announcement was made by the Christie for New Jersey campaign committee. Ticket prices range from $300 for the general reception all the way up to the $50,000 per person Founder's Club, which buys the donor and a guest an invitation to a photo reception with the governor. Always a colorful figure, Christie has grabbed his share of the national spotlight particularly in light of New Jersey's suffering from Hurricane Sandy. During the recent …

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Tom Maras

9:05 am on Wednesday, January 9, 2013

@Al McDorman. Thank you for pointing out slyfox1961 might benefit from a remedial reading course. Apparently, anyone who notices, and concurs with, the same or similar points in an article, blog or post that I have commented on automatically becomes my supporter. It's never easy being a free thinker, is it sly! Christie and McCormac are linked. It remains to see in who's favor that will work best…   more ›

Woodbridge Gets a New Congressman

Rep. Frank Pallone was sworn into his 13th term in Congress Thursday, but he'll be a new congressman for Woodbridge as the township joins the 6th District.

As the New Year passed, Woodbridge slipped into a new congressional district.  Because of the census redistricting, Woodbridge, which had been split between two congressional districts, is now reunited in the 6th District. Congressman Frank Pallone, who won reelection to his 13th term in the November elections, was sworn in to his term of office Thursday. The township had been divided between the 7th and 13th districts via gerrymandering. Rep. Leonard Lance (R-7) and Rep. Albio Sires (D-8) had represented Woodbridge in Congress before January 1. “I am deeply honored to represent the Sixth District of New Jersey in the 113thCongress,” said Pallone in a statement.  “I thank the people of New Jersey’s Sixth District for this great privilege…

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Congressman McCormac? Woodbridge Mayor May Be Considering Congressional Run

John McCormac may be thinking of running for the 6th District seat, says a NJ political website.

Woodbridge's 'Mayor for Life' may be moving on up to a Congressional job. Mayor John McCormac is one of several Middlesex County politicians that PolitickerNJ.com pointed out as possible nominees for the 6th Congressional District.  Woodbridge, which had formerly been split between two congressional districts by the fine art of gerrymandering, will be reunited into one district come January. That melding came about because of the most recent census redistricting. McCormac, who has said he will be "mayor for life" in Woodbridge, was the first in the list of county politicians PolitickerNJ put up as possible candidates for the seat, now held by Congressman Frank Pallone. McCormac could not be reached for comment. Pallone himself is …

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McCormac-backed BOE Team Wins Election; Leidner Returned to Office

A newcomer and incumbent on one team win handily, while another BOE member retained her seat in Tuesday's election.

The only election in Woodbridge Tuesday night was for three seats on the Board of Education, and although it wasn't a municipal election, it proved the strength of Mayor John McCormac in Woodbridge. That's because McCormac's BOE team - Daniel Harris, a legislative aide to Woodbridge Council attorney Craig Coughlin, and Board of Education incumbent Ezio Tamburello - were the top vote-getters in the election. Harris won big with 9,568 votes, followed by Tamburello with 7,520.  The third seat was retained by BOE incumbent Judith Leidner, who grabbed 6,550 votes.  Leidner ran with fellow BOE member Lawrence Miloscia, who came in fourth in the voting. Only 58 votes separated the team mates. Another big surprise was retired Woodbridge teacher …

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