News : POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Ian Smith's campaign wasted in Margaritaville

Friday, April 8, 2022

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Ian Smith's campaign wasted in Margaritaville

Apr 08, 2022

Good Friday morning!

We'll never know what congressional candidate Ian Smith's blood alcohol level when he was pulled over less than two weeks ago because he refused to take a breath test. But the release of police dash and body cam footage of Smith's DUI arrest should once and for all put to rest the conspiratorial nonsense he put out there about this being a result of his "persecution," with Cinnaminson police supposedly in league with Gov. Phil Murphy or sundry political enemies.

That's because the dash cam shows Smith weaving all over the road before he was pulled over, even forcing a car next to him to make an evasive maneuver. His campaign's excuse that wind blew his pickup around doesn't hold up when you look at the other cars driving normally, and anyway, Smith used a different excuse when he was pulled over, attributing the meandering to his 1997 Ford F250's "death wobble."

Regardless, anyone driving the way Smith was should be pulled over. Smith says he passed the field sobriety test. The cop says he failed. I watched it and frankly I don't feel qualified to judge. But the officer said he smelled alcohol on Smith's breath (Smith claimed he had consumed "one double margarita"), which obviously I can't verify, and that his eyes were bloodshot, which I can't make out from the video.

Ironically, if Smith really wasn't intoxicated, his persecution complex-driven decision not to take a breath test probably deprived him of any real shot at vindication. As it stands, we know he was weaving off the road and had consumed alcohol. The rest is the word of the police officer against his — someone who did several years in prison for killing someone while drunk driving 15 years ago.

Forgive me for paying so much attention to this case. But between Smith's history of vehicular homicide and his cultivation of media attention for the past two years as a martyr to Covid restrictions, it's a compelling story. He killed someone drunk driving when he was 20. If he's engaging in the same behavior at age 35, it speaks to his character and fitness for office.

DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 52

WHERE'S MURPHY? No public schedule

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I will frame that and hang it in my house. It will be the most ridiculous application of our local government in Trenton's history. And that is saying something." — Trenton Orbit blogger Michael Ranallo after he upset Councilmember Santiago Rodriguez so much that he sponsored a resolution, which the council passed, encouraging Congress to more tightly regulate free speech.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Former Bergen GOP Chair Bob Yudin, former Assemblymember Michael Patrick Carroll, Trenton's James Gee. Saturday for Assemblymember Cleopatra Tucker, NJ Chamber's Michael Egenton, SJPC's Jon Atwood, Sunday for former congressional candidate Roy Cho, Passaic County Administrattor Anthony DeNova, Mount Laurel Mayor Kareem Pritchett, lobbyist Eileen Kean, AFSCME's Rudy Orozco, Berkeley Heights' Stephen Yellin

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

MAYORS SAY THE DARNDEST THINGS — "With revelation of racist recordings, prosecutors face scrutiny over their handling of investigation," by NJ Advance Media's Riley Yates and S.P. Sullivan: "At the height of racial justice protests over the murder of George Floyd, Union County prosecutors seized control of Clark Township's police department, citing 'credible allegations of misconduct' by its leadership, and vowing to restore public trust. But in announcing the takeover in July 2020, neither county prosecutors nor the state Attorney General's Office said what they were investigating. Now, criminal justice experts and community advocates are asking: Why? The question follows revelations that Clark's mayor, police chief and an internal affairs sergeant were secretly recorded using racial slurs. The township quietly paid a whistleblower and his attorney $400,000 in a settlement to conceal the allegations. … Some policing experts are now criticizing how authorities handled the matter, saying state and county prosecutors had a responsibility to inform the public, and move more swiftly in their investigation … [T]he Attorney General's Office explicitly acknowledged for the first time that the investigation extends beyond the police department and also covers the 'township leadership' The office said it takes seriously its responsibility to ensure policing isn't done with bias."

—" State takes over probe of N.J. town's police, local government after racist recordings exposed"

WILL COLA GO FLAT? — " NJ pension dilemma: Spend billions or wait decades for increases," by NJ 101.5's Michael Symons: "Unless lawmakers bring back cost-of-living adjustments to public employee pensions sooner, it will be roughly a decade for local workers and two decades for state workers before their retirement checks get yearly increases to account for inflation. Legislation that would restore cost-of-living adjustments to New Jersey pensions has more than two dozen sponsors in the Legislature and rated a mention at this week's budget hearings – with the state treasurer cautioning it would come with a big price tag. State Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio said if the Legislature restores COLAs now, it would add $3.6 billion to what governments – and by extension, taxpayers – put into the system. But if it doesn't, it'll be many years until pensions are healthy enough to be raised, even with the state now finally making full contributions, as recommended by actuaries, for the first time in a quarter-century. 'On the state side, it differs slightly by fund, but it's 20 or more years to get to 80% funded,' Muoio said. 'You mean it will take another 20 years to get there?' Sen. Sam Thompson, R-Middlesex, said. '… My God.'"

SDA — " Former SDA employee publicly apologizes for 'untrue' claim against executive in scandal," by The Record's Dustin Racioppi: "A former employee of the Schools Development Authority has publicly apologized and recanted criminal allegations he made against an executive at the agency in the fallout of a patronage scandal in 2019. The apology from Sameer Shah, a former contract manager, is the result of a lawsuit settlement with Jane F. Kelly, a vice president of the school construction agency. Kelly, who is also the agency's head of ethics, sued Shah after he publicly accused her of tampering with his personnel file, a criminal offense. In a written letter to the SDA board chairman, Rob Nixon, Shah said he accused Kelly of tampering and made 'other negative comments' about her and urged her to be disciplined. 'I have determined that all the claims that I made regarding Ms. Kelly were untrue,' Shah wrote. 'My claims were widely reported in newspapers and online and I acknowledge that they were harmful to Ms. Kelly, both professionally and personally. I want to set the record straight and to recant my false allegations about Ms. Kelly.'"

PRINT RUN RAY RUN — Former state Sen. Raymond Lesniak has appeared in this newsletter a lot lately, and not always in the most flattering of contexts. So here's something positive about him: Lesniak just published a memoir called "Cultivating Justice in the Garden State" about his looooong time in politics. Bill Clinton wrote the forward. Honestly, I haven't read my promo copy yet because I didn't see my name in the index. But now Lesniak and state Sen. Richard Codey (D-Essex), the only longer-serving lawmaker, can compare book sales.

—Political contributions from public contractors increased by 12 percent in 2021

— New Jersey's school performance reports reflect national dips in graduation rates, college enrollment

—"At last, commuters will see construction of a new Portal Bridge from their train windows"

—"Murphy names Cari Fais as N.J. Consumer Affairs director"

—" Authorities don't need wiretap order to get some Facebook messages, court rules"

DON'T MISS ANYTHING FROM THE 2022 MILKEN INSTITUTE GLOBAL CONFERENCE: POLITICO is excited to partner with the Milken Institute to produce a special edition "Global Insider" newsletter featuring exclusive coverage and insights from the 25th annual Global Conference. This year's event, May 1-4, brings together more than 3,000 of the world's most influential leaders, including 700+ speakers representing more than 80 countries. "Celebrating the Power of Connection" is this year's theme, setting the stage to connect influencers with the resources to change the world with leading experts and thinkers whose insight and creativity can implement that change. Whether you're attending in person or following along from somewhere else in the world, keep up with this year's conference with POLITICO's special edition "Global Insider" so you don't miss a beat. Subscribe today.

BIDEN TIME

THEY'LL PREFER AN EARLY PRIMARY UNTIL IT CAUSES TRAFFIC — Poll: New Jerseyans want Democrats to remain in control of Congress, prefer early primary, by POLITICO's Ry Rivard: New Jerseyans prefer to keep Democrats in control of Congress, but their enthusiasm for President Joe Biden is waning, according to a Monmouth University poll released Thursday. Though Biden won New Jersey by 16 points in the 2020 election, his approval rating here is now at 45 percent, with 50 percent disapproval. Other New Jersey Democrats have higher approval ratings here, including Sen. Cory Booker (53 percent approval) and Gov. Phil Murphy (55 percent). Sen. Bob Menendez has a 42 percent approve to 38 percent disapprove rating, according to the Monmouth poll.

SCOTUS — Ketanji Brown Jackson confirmed as first Black woman on Supreme Court, by POLITICO's Burgess Everett And Marianne Levine: The Senate confirmed Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court Thursday afternoon, marking a historic moment for the high court and a massive victory for President Joe Biden. Jackson was approved, 53-47, on Thursday afternoon with the support of three Republicans. The vote makes Jackson the first Black female justice and delivers Democrats their first high-court seat in 12 years.

—" 'Today is a mountain of joy.' Booker presides over Jackson's confirmation vote for Supreme Court"

BRENDAN T. BYRNE JR. TRADEMARKS 'LET'S GO BRENDAN' FOR FUTURE SENATE CAMPAIGN — "GOP House candidate told he can use 'Let's Go Brand*n' as his slogan if he drops 'FJB' ," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "The New Jersey Division of Elections says it will allow Republican congressional candidate Robert Shapiro to use the slogan 'Let's Go Brand*n' on the June primary ballot, as long as he removes the portion that says 'FJB.' Shapiro, a South Jersey attorney challenging Rep. Christopher Smith (R-Manchester) in the 4th district, told election officials that 'FJB' were 'just letters of the alphabet,' rather than an acronym for 'Fuck Joe Biden.' 'We disagree with your assertion,' said Robert Giles, the director of the Division of Elections, in a letter to Shapiro. 'Those letters in that combination refer to the name of a person, which is prohibited.'"

—"A little more than half of NJ voters back a big change in the 2024 presidential election"

—" Mowers paid N.J. state income tax in 2016 after spending most of year in home state"

—"Primary elections 2022: Where things stand right now "

LOCAL

LAKEWOOD — "'We are women, not machines': Lakewood domestic workers seek better working conditions," by The Asbury Park Press' Juan Carlos Castillo: "Around 60 domestic workers and their supporters gathered last week at the Town Square to protest wage theft, extensive work shifts, lack of personal and sick days off, low pay and sexual harassment. 'We are women, not machines,' they chanted in unison at the march, organized by the New Jersey workers advocacy group, New Labor … There are two types of domestic [workers] in Lakewood: those who live in their own homes and those who live in the homes of their employers. Most domestic workers in Lakewood work 40 to 50 hours a week with wages ranging from $13 to $18 an hour. While many workers who live in their employers' homes work no less than 72 hours a week for $6 or less an hour, according to Claudia Martinez, domestic workers' committee leader at New Labor … 'Rents have gone up. Everything has gotten more expensive after the pandemic. We need $20 an hour so we can subsist,' Martinez said. In the past 17 years, Martinez said she has not been able to take vacation days. She was only off for a few days in 2017, when her employer terminated her for complaining about the food she was being provided."

GILMORE GRILLS — " A mystery meeting, a confidential memo: Will Ocean County commissioners force out Block?" by The Asbury Park Press' Erik Larsen: "Director Jack Kelly of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners said a discussion about whether to force the county administrator into retirement will take place behind closed doors during an executive session next Wednesday. A majority of the five commissioners have privately informed County Administrator Carl W. Block that they plan to withhold support for a new employment contract this year. Block has told the board he is not ready to retire and has requested a short-term extension so he may get his finances in order … 'I want to find out, are we reappointing Carl Block or not — once or for all — while the whole board is in the room, not one person at a time talking about it,' Kelly said … During public comment at Wednesday's regular meeting of the board, former Ocean County Republican Chairman George R. Gilmore questioned the legality of the process. Gilmore is a longtime political ally and personal friend of Block's."

BILLY JOEL WAS WRONG. PEOPLE DO NEED HOUSING THERE — " Booming Hackensack gets court OK on affordable housing plan, but some residents unhappy," by The Record's Megan Burrow: "As development transforms the downtown and boosts the population, the city will meet its remaining affordable housing obligations with the construction of an apartment building on a municipal lot just off Main Street that includes 60 units of low- and moderate-income housing, a Superior Court judge ruled last week. A settlement between the city and the Fair Share Housing Center was initially approved in 2020, but several projects that were part of that agreement have since fallen through or been delayed. The 60 affordable units, included in a redevelopment plan recently approved by the City Council for a 15-story, 268-unit residential building, will replace the loss of the other low- and moderate-income projects."

VAUGHFF THE RAILS — "Trenton councilman Harrison to Vaughn: Shut up with 'racist' diatribes," by The Trentonian's Isaac Avilucea: "In an ongoing political prize fight between dueling legislators, councilman Joe Harrison dropped the mic this week on West Ward leader Robin Vaughn, blasting her over her 'racist' and 'crazy' tirades belittling directors and fellow elected officials. The East Ward leader read some of Vaughn's text messages sent to colleagues in a 'dually elected' group chat. In one, she encouraged her Black council members to 'block all these racist white elected officials.' Harrison, who is white, said Tuesday that he had enough of Vaughn's antics."

—" Cuban American who arrived as a 15-year-old refugee is tapped for Paramus council seat"

—" Jersey City councilman urges state to study local 1% income tax to help fund $1 billion school budget"

—"Mayor, former mayors embroiled in Dover Democratic primary squabble"

—"Middlesex County chief touts progress: 'Sound business strategies' are paying off"

—"' I was not leaving without her': Ukrainian mom, daughter find refuge in Monmouth Beach"

—" Ramos & Giattino say Bhalla admin tried to horse trade for Hoboken municipal complex votes"

—"Jersey City police officer pleads guilty to hitting cyclist with marked vehicle while on duty"

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EVERYTHING ELSE

FREEDOM FRIES FOR LIFE — "'You saved our freedom': French bestow highest honor on Marlboro WWII veteran," by The Asbury Park Press' Susanne Cervenka: "Edward Chan proudly remembers his 18th birthday in March 1943, when his minister took him to the Whitehall Street Recruiting Station in New York City to enlist in the U.S. Army. Chan was motivated to fight by his love for his country and his horror over news coming from Europe about the Holocaust. But when it comes to calling him a hero, Chan waves off the label. 'If I am a hero, every G.I. who fought was a hero,' he said. 'I was just doing my job.' The French government — alongside Monmouth County commissioners, state and federal lawmakers — begged to differ. Chan, 97, of Marlboro was awarded Wednesday with the insignia of Chevalier dans l'Ordre National de le Légion d'Honneur — Knight in the Order of the Legion of Honor — by the French government in a ceremony at Brookdale Community College … First awarded in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, the Legion of Honor is the most prestigious award given by the French government."

A NIGHTMARE IS A TYPE OF DREAM — "Shooting reported at American Dream mall in N.J., officials say," by NJ Advance Media's Chris Sheldon: "A shooting occurred Thursday evening at the sprawling American Dream mall in East Rutherford, officials said. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said on Twitter that he was briefed on the shooting and that the New Jersey State Police had set up a command post at the 3.5 million-square-foot retail, entertainment and dining complex in Bergen County. "

— State Health Planning Board delays vote on CarePoint's partial sale of Bayonne hospital

—"N.J. girls gymnastics coach took inappropriate photos during events, cops say"

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