News: POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Why isn't Jack Ciattarelli tired of this?

Monday, November 15, 2021

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Why isn't Jack Ciattarelli tired of this?

Nov 15, 2021

Presented by Thrive New Jersey

Good Monday morning!

We all knew Jack Ciattarelli was going to concede Friday. We also knew his strong showing in this heavily Democratic state would keep his name in circulation for future runs at office. But I, at least, didn't expect him to declare his 2025 campaign for governor immediately after giving his concession speech.

"That's exactly my plan. I'll be running for governor," Ciattarelli said when asked by a reporter.

It's somewhat refreshing to hear someone just say it instead of making all their moves behind the scenes. We can speculate all we want about who else is lining up to run, but that seems silly when you look at how quickly the political environment can change. Remember just a few months ago when Steve Sweeney and George Norcross were touring the state to position him to run in 2025? Hey, maybe Sweeney will still run, but that idea sure seems a little premature now, doesn't it? Remember how before the 2013 election was even over, the talk of Trenton was Steve Sweeney vs. Steve Fulop in the 2017 Democratic primary?

My main question regarding Ciattarelli's run, though, is this: How? He's been running for governor almost non-stop since his first run in 2015. And he wants to keep doing it for another four years? I was so exhausted just from covering election night that it took me a week to recover. To the politicians who read this: I don't know how you people do it. Don't you just want to go out to dinner? Maybe see a movie?

WHERE'S MURPHY? In Trenton for a 1 p.m. coronavirus press conference

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Every poll I had showed I was up 16 points, every one." — Senate President Steve Sweeney

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Assemblymember Aura Dunn, PPAG's Christina Zuk, former Gottheimer aide who probably gets a lot of hate mail intended for someone else Matthew Fried

TIPS? FEEDBACK? HATE MAIL? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com

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WHAT TRENTON MADE

FRIDAY WAS THE DAY THE SENATORS HAD THEIR PICK NICK — Democrats pick Scutari for Senate president, by POLITICO's Carly Sitrin: State Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Union) will be the next New Jersey Senate president, Democratic leadership announced on Friday. In a voice vote behind closed caucus doors, Scutari clinched the presidency with 21 votes in favor and one abstention from Sen. Nia Gill (D-Essex), who said she will continue to campaign for the second most powerful political position in New Jersey government. "This is nothing that I was looking for or seeking. This was a surprise to me as much as anyone else," Scutari told reporters in Trenton on Friday. "I hope that I can lead the caucus of these great leaders in a way that is best for the people of New Jersey... I hope to be able to bring people together."... The caucus also voted to select Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex) to serve as majority leader, replacing current Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen), who is retiring in January. Sen. Sandra Cunningham (D-Hudson) was selected to be Senate president pro tempore.

WEAKER AND LESS FAIR — "N.J. Dems are still debating what the election results mean. What does this hold for Murphy's 2nd term?" by NJ Advance Media's Brent Johnson: "Ask two Democrats what they think about the head-spinning results of New Jersey's latest elections, and you're bound to get two different answers. Some see Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy's closer-than-expected win over Republican Jack Ciattarelli and Republicans' ability to flip up to seven seats in the Democratic-controlled state Legislature as a sign the Garden State isn't as blue as once thought. Others say Murphy's victory and the fact Democrats have kept their grip on Trenton shows the party's strength because it was able to withstand a wave of Republican turnout that allowed the GOP to take the governor's office in Virginia and key seats in other states. And now there are other questions on the horizon: Does Murphy use his win as a springboard to enact more progressive policies in his second term? Do Democratic lawmakers have an appetite for it? And what does this mean for the possibility of Murphy installing COVID-19 vaccine mandates? The lack of clarity over the message voters sent has been at the center of conversations about New Jersey politics the last two weeks, with the moderate and progressive wings of the Democratic Party largely seeing different stories. State Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen, said voters really sent 'a series of messages,' depending on where they live. 'I think the wins in some parts of the Legislature show New Jersey is still a true-blue state,' said Weinberg, who is retiring in January. 'I think the losses in other parts show there are many voters who are upset bread-and-butter issues — taxes, that kind of thing. There isn't an overall in the way I look at this.'"

—Mulshine: "With Steve Sweeney gone, Phil Murphy can feast on the taxpayers"

—"Friendly Fire: Gottheimer's rise and Sweeney's fall"

CARTOON BREAK — Sheneman: "New Jersey's Dems moving on from Murphy"

PARISIANS URGED TO SEE WHAT A REAL FRENCHTOWN LOOKS LIKE — "Lawmakers want ad campaign to boost international tourism to NJ," by NJ Spotlight News' Brenda Flanagan: "A trickle of international tourists flying into Newark Liberty International Airport say they've waited months for the United States to relax COVID-19 restrictions and let them back in. Most head to New York City for shopping and entertainment. But tourism advocates want to lure international travelers back to the Jersey side, especially Canadians, who generate 20% – 25% of the southern Shore's tourism revenue. Tourism officials support proposed state legislation that would appropriate $25 million for a new ad campaign aimed at the international and national tourism markets. It would target the hardest-hit industries including hospitality, lodging and restaurants."

YOU DARE SPEAK ILL OF WESLEY LANCE? — "Odd-year elections are disastrous for Democrats. So let's do what Republicans would do," by Kabir Moss for NJ.com: "In the real world, it's 2021 and people were just dragged through a multi-year presidential campaign with a constantly chaotic president (Trump) that was capped off by COVID-19 and an endless pandemic. The urgency to vote out Trump and to address the global crisis was met with real turnout and a big win for Democrats. But when your average voter finally felt like they could take a deep breath and turn off all the noise, the Democrats were turning right around and begging them to show back up, to maintain that urgency, stay engaged, keep volunteering, keep knocking on doors, and keep donating to the cause. That's a tall task that is only getting taller. In an off-year election only the most concerned, agitated voters show up. In New Jersey that resulted in the Democrats barely holding on to the governorship and their majorities in both the Assembly and the Senate were reduced. Would a Republican-held state roll the dice like this if they had a million voter buffer? Would they keep a system that they knew, for a fact, makes it harder for them to win elections? Would they take their advantage and throw it out the window because a few white guys 70 years ago were intimidated by the popularity of the president?"

AND SURELY THE CASINOS WILL CUT THEIR COVID-STRICKEN CUSTOMERS A BREAK BY IMPROVING THEIR GAMES' ODDS' — "Sweeney PILOT bill would cut casino payments to $110M in 2022," by The Press of Atlantic City's Michelle Brunetti Post: "A bill to remove sports and internet gaming figures from casino payment in lieu of taxes calculations and to cut the 2022 PILOT payment to $110 million will be discussed in a Senate committee Monday. Sponsored by state Senate President Steve Sweeney, it is the Senate version (S4007) of a bill sponsored by Assemblyman John Armato, D-Atlantic, introduced in May to great concern from Atlantic County officials who said it would hurt taxpayers. 'We will obviously end up back in court,' County Executive Dennis Levinson said in response to Sweeney's bill moving in the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee. 'I'm going to fight for the taxpayer.' According to the bill text, the changes are intended to prevent financial difficulties for casinos as they rebound from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic."

—New North Jersey park and trail gets going

—"Piperno, Eulner win Assembly weats in Monmouth in pickup for GOP"

—"Redistricting hearing set for Tuesday at Stockton"

—Opinion: "A cautionary tale of missed opportunities"

DON'T MISS POLITICO'S SUSTAINABILITY SUMMIT: Join POLITICO's Sustainability Summit on Tuesday, Nov. 16 and hear leading voices from Washington, state houses, city halls, civil society and corporate America discuss the most viable policy and political solutions that balance economic, environmental and social interests. REGISTER HERE.

BIDEN TIME

I'LL COME TO YOUR EMOTIONAL[LY ABUSIVE] RESCUE — "Chris Christie wants the post-Trump G.O.P. to move past 2020," by The New York Times' Maggie Haberman: "Chris Christie wants to be very clear about something: He was with Mr. Trump throughout a tumultuous presidency, a fact that Mr. Christie's critics say makes his critiques too late to be meaningful. Mr. Christie argues that his support for Mr. Trump, and their 15-year friendship before that, makes him a credible critic … Mr.. Christie places Mr. Trump in the historical context of a political strain in the country that is centuries old. The QAnon conspiracy theorists of the last several years are in many ways the descendants of John Birch Society members, Mr. Christie writes, and he contrasts how Ronald Reagan handled extremist voices in his party with how Mr. Trump has. He faults Mr. Trump for spreading' 'the birther campaign' about former President Barack Obama's birthplace in 2011 … Mr. Christie reveals how worried he and others were for his survival when he became infected with the coronavirus after being at the White House around the same time that Mr. Trump and several other aides contracted Covid-19. Mr. Christie writes that his priest arrived in the hospital and rubbed oils on his forehead in the sign of the cross, praying over him. He got a call from a hospitalized Mr. Trump, who had one main concern: 'Are you gonna say you got it from me?' Mr. Trump asked him."

AS PER CHRISTIE'S POINT — "Menace enters the Republican mainstream," by The New York Times' Lisa Lerer and Astead W. Herndon: "At a conservative rally in western Idaho last month, a young man stepped up to a microphone to ask when he could start killing Democrats.'"When do we get to use the guns?' he said as the audience applauded. 'How many elections are they going to steal before we kill these people?' The local state representative, a Republican, later called it a 'fair' question."

—"Could Chris Christie and Liz Cheney take Trump Down?"

THE ISEMANN COMETH — "Isemann joins race to unseat Malinowski," by The New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "John Henry Isemann, a 27-year-old Long Valley resident who left his Wall Street job to head up a humanitarian effort in Guatemala, today launched his bid for the Republican nomination for Congress in New Jersey's 7th district. Isemann wants to challenge two-term Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-Ringoes) in a race that could help determine which party controls the U.S. House of Representatives mid-way through Joe Biden's presidency. 'I got tired of wondering why we can't find better candidates, so I decided to become that candidate,' he said."

SUB FEATURES STATE OF THE ART PROFANITY-BASED SONAR SYSTEM — "Newport News Shipbuilding christens newest Virginia-class submarine," USS New Jersey," by WKTR: "Newport News Shipbuilding [christined] the U.S. Navy's newest Virginia-class submarine, the USS New Jersey, Saturday morning. The submarine is the fifth ship of the Block IV submarines built under a unique teaming agreement between the shipyard and General Dynamics Electric Boat. It's the third Navy vessel named in recognition of New Jersey."

—Golden: "Christie tries to stand at the front of the parade"

—"Kean named New Jersey's first urban research university, gains access to federal money"

—"[Elmwood Park] Zoning officer who said he was fired for refusing to overlook violations settles lawsuit for $12,500"

A message from Thrive New Jersey:

LOCAL

CONSPIRACY THEORISTS, START OUR KEYBOARDS — Mercer County officials grappling with vote count discrepancies, by POLITICO's Matt Friedman: Mercer County elections officials are trying to get their arms around a problem: The number of voters who checked in on electronic polling books on Election Day in many cases doesn't match the number of votes cast on machines. Anthony Conti, the chair of the Mercer County Board of Elections, said that while officials have not gotten to the bottom of the problem, he has no reason to believe it springs from anything intentional. "We're trying to figure it out without making matters worse and creating some sort of panic," Conti, a Republican, said in a phone interview. ... Even if all Mercer votes were thrown out, though, it would not overturn the governor's margin of victory over Ciattarelli. But it could complicate local races.

I'M STARTING TO THINK THE LIONIZING AND LOCAL CELEBRITIZING OF CHILDREN FOR THEIR ATHLETIC PROWESS COULD BE PSYCHOLOGICALLY DAMAGING — "Another hazing scandal rocks N.J. football. Why does this keep happening?" by NJ Advance Media's Adam Clark: "Sayreville War Memorial High School canceled the remainder of its season in 2014 amid a hazing scandal so violent it sent shockwaves through the football world. Now, seven years later … Wall Township, one of the state's most successful programs, withdrew last week from the state playoffs as school officials investigate another disturbing report. Six older players swarmed and attempted to pin down a younger teammate in the locker room as pleas to stop echoed in the background, according to two parents of students who observed a video clip of the alleged incident. One of the players involved in the attack is holding a mop or broomstick, the parents said. It's too soon to put Wall in the same category as Sayreville. But the nature of the claims leaves observers wondering: How could this happen again? 'It's just a real shock that this kind of thing still happens,' state Sen. Declan O'Scanlon, R-Monmouth, told NJ Advance Media on Thursday. 'We can't ever let our guard down to make sure these things never happen to our children.' In some ways, that might be exactly what happened after Sayreville. Despite the national headlines, a candlelight vigil for the victims, the removal of coach George Najjar and criminal charges against seven players, the 2014 scandal failed to prompt sweeping reforms or mandates for athlete safety. And as much as adults don't want to believe it, hazing remains prevalent throughout athletics and beyond, said Susan Lipkins, a psychologist and expert witness in hazing cases."

—"Wall superintendent blasts 'misinformation' around high school football hazing allegations"

NA-BIS-CO (KA-CHING!) — " Fair Lawn's landmark Nabisco factory will be torn down after $146.5 million sale," by The Record's Shayla Brown: "The iconic Nabisco property in Fair Lawn has been sold to a development and construction company in a $146.5 million deal. The sale was confirmed by Mondelēz Global Senior Director Laurie Guzzinati … The Nabisco factory closed down production for good in July after more than six decades in the borough. About 600 workers lost their jobs when owner Mondelēz made the decision to close the plant. A deed recorded with the Bergen County clerk shows that CLPF Greek Fair Lawn LLC purchased the property in early October. It lists the buyer's address as 33 Cotter's Lane, East Brunswick, the address of a company called Greek Development. It specializes in industrial design and previously developed distribution centers, manufacturing sites and food storage for companies including Wakefern Food and PharMEDium … 'We're really excited,' said Mayor Kurt Peluso. 'I think that it shows a lot about the community of Fair Lawn that we had such a large company leave and the property never went dormant.'"

SAYEGH NOTHING — "Paterson educator and former interim appointee may run for City Council," by The Paterson Press' Joe Malinconico: "Gilman Choudhury, an educator known for his work helping Paterson students get into top colleges, says he is considering running for an at-large set on the City Council. Choudhury, 34, served on the council for four months in 2020 as an interim appointee filling the 2nd Ward seat after a tied election. During his brief stint on the city's governing body, Choudhury never engaged in the personal confrontations that frequently erupted among council members during public meetings. But he said so little during the public meeting sessions that some activists criticized his silence and accused him of being a rubber stamp for Mayor Andre Sayegh's political agenda. 'It is my desire to continue my public service and work with my colleagues to create a Paterson that will make us proud,' Choudhury said in statement announcing his possible candidacy. 'The next phase will be for the voters to determine if I am worthy of representing them.'"

VAAD NEWS – @OneJerseySchorr: "How many votes did the Lakewood Vaad actually deliver for New Jersey @GovMurphy in the 2021 gubernatorial election? My analysis in this week's issue of @themishpacha."

—"Last 15 ICE detainees removed from Bergen County Jail"

—" Hate-crime retrial opens for former South Jersey police chief Frank Nucera Jr."

—"Nutley plans to condemn portions of former Roche property as feud escalates"

—" Woodbridge schools hires new food service provider after rotten complaints"

—"New Jersey grant will help fund new Bergen County technical school"

—" Morristown, NJ H.S. goes remote after spike in COVID-19 cases"

—"Damp [Bay Head] ponders a fix for 'sunny day' floods"

A message from Thrive New Jersey:

New Jersey: pass the Reproductive Freedom Act to protect and expand abortion access now! It's not just about rights, because legality alone has never been enough. It's about improving access, advancing equity, and racial and economic justice. The Reproductive Freedom Act is long overdue. New Jersey legislators need to step up and ensure that everyone who needs abortion care can do so without unnecessary barriers. Learn more!

EVERYTHING ELSE

JOHNSON & JOHNSON TO SPLIT INTO JOHNSON AND JOHNSON — "Johnson & Johnson plans to split into two public companies," by The Wall Street Journal's Jonathan D. Rockoff and Peter Loftus: " Johnson & Johnson plans to break up into two companies, splitting off the $15-billion-a-year division that sells Band-Aid bandages, Tylenol medicines and Johnson's Baby Powder in a shift indicating just how much healthcare has changed since the company helped pioneer the industry. The world's largest health-products company by sales will separate its high-margin but less predictable prescription-drug and medical-device business from its storied but slower-growing consumer group, creating two publicly traded companies. J&J will shed its consumer division in 18 to 24 months, Chief Executive Alex Gorsky said. J&J decided to make the change, he said, because the businesses, their customers and markets have diverged so much in recent years, including during the pandemic. Lawsuits that alleged use of Johnson's Baby Powder caused cancer didn't play a role, he said. 'The best path forward to ensure sustainable growth over the long term and better meet patient and consumer demands is to have our consumer business operate as a separate healthcare company,' Mr. Gorsky said in an interview."

R.I.P. — " Man who went to space with Shatner dies in N.J. plane crash," by The AP: "A man who traveled to space with William Shatner last month was killed along with another person when the small plane they were in crashed in a wooded area of northern New Jersey, according to state police. The one-time space tourist Glen M. de Vries, 49, of New York City, and Thomas P. Fischer, 54, of Hopatcong, were aboard the single-engine Cessna 172 that went down Thursday. De Vries was an instrument-rated private pilot, and Fischer owned a flight school. Authorities have not said who was piloting the small plane."

WOMEN RULE: JOIN US WEDNESDAY FOR A TALK ABOUT THE NEW WORLD OF WORK: The way women work, including what is expected and demanded from their workplaces, has been upended. How should businesses, governments, and workers take advantage of this opportunity to rethink what wasn't working and strengthen working environments for women moving forward? Join the Women Rule community to discuss with leading women and explore how they are seizing the moment. REGISTER HERE.