News: Will Ed the Trucker face a primary?

Thursday, December 8, 2022

Will Ed the Trucker face a primary?

Dec 08, 2022

Presented by AARP New Jersey

Good Thursday morning!

State Sen. Ed Durr's toppling of then-Senate President Steve Sweeney in 2021, along with truck driver background, made him a celebrity on the right. Will that stave off a primary challenger?

There's chatter in South Jersey Republican circles that Assemblymember Beth Sawyer, who won that election along with Durr, is thinking about a primary challenge for his Senate seat. That's assuming Durr wants to keep it, of course.

I reached Sawyer yesterday and she declined to comment, saying she was too busy trying to finish out the year — trying to get Salem County's 911 system upgraded and stave off warehouse development in her district — to talk politics. "I do a lot of hard work and I'd just prefer not to have the conversation. Call me in January and we'll have it."

We'll see if it comes down to a race . My guess is it won't. But it's clear Sawyer and Durr don't get along. The fact that they've now established separate district offices — Durr in Glassboro, Sawyer in Swedesboro and Assemblymember Bethanne McCarthy Patrick in Woodstown — doesn't do much to dispel that notion.

One upshot of a potential Durr vs. Sawyer primary: If Sawyer's the GOP nominee in 2023, I'm told Sweeney — who's much more concentrated on a political comeback with a 2025 campaign for governor — would likely run against her. There's no love lost between those two either .

DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 305

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

WHERE'S MURPHY? — Nothing public.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Virginia Long went by that name judicially and professionally, notwithstanding that her legal name was Virginia Long Weiner." — Trenton South Ward candidate Jenna Figueroa Kettenburg arguing in a court certification that she should be able to use her maiden name on the ballot. She appears to have learned this fact from David Wildstein .

HAPPY BIRTHDAY – Mary Pat Angelini, Christopher J. Brown, Ethan Hasbrouck — all of whom I listed yesterday because I got my dates mixed up. Happy double birthday to them. Missed yesterday: Tahesha Way.

A message from AARP New Jersey:

Caring for a parent, spouse or other older loved one can be financially and emotionally draining. Every day, family caregivers struggle to assist older loved ones often using money out of their own pockets. The average family caregiver spends about a quarter of their income on caregiving activities. That's a huge burden. But NJ lawmakers can give family caregivers the relief they need by supporting the Caregiver's Assistance Act (A1802/S2021). Tell lawmakers: support (A1802/S2021).

WHAT TRENTON MADE

TESTA: DEMOCRATS ENGAGE IN HEAVY PETTING — " Time to redo budget pet projects? " by NJ Spotlight News' John Reitmeyer: "A package of bills introduced earlier this week by Sen. Michael Testa (R-Cumberland) calls for more than $675 million in state and federal funding to become available for redistribution, this time using a competitive grant process. Reopening the appropriations process for this purpose well after a budget has been adopted is unusual and it's unclear whether the funding flagged by Testa is even available for redistribution at this point in the fiscal year. But Testa suggested doing so would ensure the funding is distributed in a more 'transparent' and 'merit-based' … 'This is blatant favoritism based on how influential the recipients are and not on any fair or balanced process which governors of both parties traditionally advocate,' Testa said."

HIS BENCH IS THE HEIGHT OF A CHAIR UMPIRE'S — " A law clerk with a backhand. How a former tennis coach and his player became a N.J. judge and clerk ," by NJ Advance Media's Keith Sargeant: "There are approximately 360 Superior Court trial judges across New Jersey's 21 counties. But Judge Ben Bucca — appointed to the Middlesex County Superior Court bench in 2016 after a 13-year stint as the Rutgers University women's tennis coach — is pretty sure he made history in August. He's even prepared to testify to that fact. 'I'm willing to bet that I am probably the only Division 1 coach who went directly from coaching to the bench — certainly in New Jersey for sure,' Bucca told NJ Advance Media in his chambers on the fifth floor of the Middlesex County courthouse in New Brunswick. 'But then it really becomes interesting to have a former player be your law clerk.' In the summer, Bucca hired Mariam Zein, a Rutgers tennis player of his from 2012-16, to be that law clerk"

EDUCATION — New Jersey standardized test results show achievement gap widened during pandemic , by POLITICO's Carly Sitrin: Amid mounting pressure from education advocates and lawmakers, the New Jersey Department of Education released some statewide standardized test results Wednesday which showed how significantly students' scores declined from before the start of the pandemic. According to topline results from the 2021-2022 New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA), the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment (NJGPA) and similar assessments for students with disabilities and those learning English, a majority of students from grades 3 to 9 are not meeting grade level expectations in English or math. Achievement gaps for Black and Hispanic students increased, and students with economic disadvantages, those learning English and those with disabilities are the least "graduation ready," according to the DOE's data.

MURPHY ADMINISTRATION COUNTERS WITH 'BAT CONCILIATOR' — Public sector unions seek 'super conciliator' to bring what they say are cost-saving measures to SHBP , by POLITICO's Daniel Han: Public sector union representatives on the committee that oversees the plan design for the State Health Benefits Program are trying to revisit measures they say will result in long-term cost-savings for the health insurance program. The labor groups are requesting the intervention of a "super conciliator," a third-party tasked with brokering a settlement between labor and state government representatives on the committee, according to a letter sent to the state treasurer from public sector unions earlier this month. A super conciliator, which can force "24-hour-per-day negotiations" between the parties, has not been used since 2015, according to the Department of the Treasury.

—" Gov. Murphy's minor surgery 'went well,' He is now home recovering "

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—Snowflack: " Deflecting 2025 guv buzz, Sherrill says she's focused on CD-11 "

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BIDEN TIME

TURN OUT FOR WHAT? — " NJ midterms see low turnout ,' by NJ Spotlight News' Colleen O'Dea: "Turnout statewide in last month's midterm election was lower than every other midterm election but one in the past 20 years. The vote total was less than the turnout for the 2018 midterm by more than 600,000 votes. According to the official election results posted on the state Division of Elections website, almost 2.65 million people voted in the general election, close to 41% of the 6.5 million registered. The only turnout percentage for a midterm that was lower this century was in 2014, when about 36% of registered voters cast ballots … One bright spot noted by some political observers is that turnout this year surpassed 2014 even though a U.S. Senate seat, won by Democrat Cory Booker for his first full term, meant a statewide race topped the balloting that year."

LOCAL

TRANS PANIC — " School officials and students defend N.J. high school drag show after backlash ," by NJ Advance Media's Jackie Roman: " A drag show meant to foster a sense of community among Hunterdon Central Regional High School's LGBTQ+ students has become a point of controversy, with district officials and student organizers defending the show from backlash over whether it was 'fair and equitable.' The drag show was an invitation-only event put on Oct. 27 by the high school P.U.L.S.E (People Understanding Love Serves Everyone) club and it was meant to provide a safe space for students to be themselves, club members said during a recent board of education meeting. But the event has exposed underlying tensions at the school and community it serves … Critics of the drag show held at Hunterdon Central Regional High School compared it to lewd adult entertainment and argued it was a symptom of 'preoccupation with ideology and sexuality at the expense of academia.' But information about the student-led event has been 'twisted and demonized,' said [Superintendent Jeffrey] Moore."

CLIFTON'S COUNCIL IS IN A RUTT — " 'Such a travesty': Clifton council deadlocked on choice of city's next mayor ," by The Record's Matt Fagan: "Tuesday night's council meeting is indicative of things to come, expect some drama on Jan. 3, 2023, when the next mayor is named … Traditionally, except once in 1966, the City Council has appointed the highest vote-getter in the race to the post of mayor. November's highest vote-getter was Councilman Ray Grabowski, who received about 1,000 votes more than the second-place finisher, Bill Gibson, in a field of 17 candidates. At issue this year is a cabal among the elected council members who want to throw the city's tradition out the window and nominate and appoint Gibson as mayor, rather than Grabowski. Residents flocked to Tuesday night's council meeting to make their opinions heard on the issue. The majority of the crowd was there to support Grabowski."

AC — " An aging public housing complex in Atlantic City is in crisis as residents go without heat and hot water ," by The Press of Atlantic City's Amy S. Rosenberg: "Some people living in Atlantic City's historic but aging Stanley Holmes Village public housing have been without heat and hot water for weeks. On Tuesday, Mayor Marty Small Sr. said the city would inspect the development to determine how many people lacked these basic services and identify those with mold in their units. He said the city would provide blankets in the meantime, and hoped to have a timeline for other remedies by early next week. But Councilman Bruce Weekes has already been collecting donated space heaters for distribution and said Tuesday he would continue to do so."

A message from AARP New Jersey:

THE SACK — " Why Hackensack turned down $2.4M for 12 firefighters in favor of less money, fewer hires ," by The Record's Megan Burrow: "The city has been approved for a $1 million federal grant to hire five firefighters after submitting a revised application to FEMA. Hackensack was originally awarded a grant of $2.4 million to cover the salaries and benefits of 12 new firefighters, but, worried about the cost of paying for the new hires after the grant runs out in three years, the city went back to the agency and asked for a smaller grant … Rep. Josh Gottheimer, who held a press conference outside the fire headquarters on State Street last month and later spoke on the House floor to implore the City Council to accept the larger grant, said that although he's pleased the revised grant was awarded, he still has concerns."

SHELDON ON THE BIG BANG — " N.J. town wants to preserve and redevelop its historic Big Bang antenna ," by NJ Advance Media's Chris Sheldon: "An historic antenna that helped confirm the Big Bang Theory and the site in that Holmdel where it is located could become an area preserved and redeveloped by the town. At its Nov. 22 meeting, the Holmdel Township Committee approved a resolution which authorized the town planning board to investigate whether the property at 791 Holmdel Road may be designated an area in need of redevelopment … This property contains the decommissioned radio telescope known as the Holmdel Horn Antenna, a U.S. National Historic Landmark, among other structures … The designation would provide the town with numerous powers that could help it preserve the antenna such as giving it the ability to directly negotiate with a developer to acquire property, officials said"

24 HOUR GRAND OLD PARTY PEOPLE — " A Preview Of N.J.'S December 13 Runoffs In Trenton, Perth Amboy, And Manchester ," by New Jersey Globe's Joey Fox: " U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock (D-Georgia) may have won the nation's most important runoff election yesterday, but the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th-most important are all still to come – and they're all in New Jersey. Next Tuesday, December 13, voters in Trenton, Perth Amboy, and Manchester will head to the polls once again to decide a handful of local races where no candidate got more than 50% of the vote in November. The runoffs were initially scheduled for December 6, but they had to be pushed back after a voting machine glitch in Mercer County caused huge delays in counting Trenton's votes. All three runoff elections will be critical to the future of local government in the three mid-sized municipalities, although only a small percentage of registered voters are likely to show up at the polls."

A PREVIEW OF WHAT KANYE'S 2024 PRESIDENTIAL PETITIONS SIGNATURES WILL LOOK LIKE — " Nazi star found at Montclair train station in town's latest antisemitic incident ," by The Record's Julia Martin: "A gold Nazi star was found painted on a guardrail at the Upper Montclair train station Wednesday morning, according to Christa Rapoport of the Montclair Civil Rights Commission. It was the latest in a string of antisemetic incidents in town. Last week, seven different sections of the Edgemont Park playground were marked with 'vulgar images and phrases, including a swastika in black marker,' according to Montclair police."

—" Hoboken officials praise acquisition of Union Dry Dock for contiguous waterfront park "

—" High arsenic levels found at East Brunswick High School grounds "

—" [Nutley] volunteer fire chief investigated after YouTubers say he tried to meet child for sex "

—" Millville's police chief is retiring, and the next one will be a familiar face "

—" Bayonne sergeant accused of accessing data for personal use enters PTI and still on the force "

—" Jersey City school district business administrator's discrimination lawsuit dismissed "

—" South Ward run-off elections will continue as planned despite efforts to get them canceled "

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EVERYTHING ELSE

PARENTS COULD LOSE VICARIOUS LIVES — " Youth sporting events with no fans? Experts warn it's coming if bad behavior continues," by NJ Advance Media's Matthew Stanmyre: "Coaches are heckled mercilessly by parents. Pre-adolescent athletes have been the targets of taunts about everything from their jump shots to their waistlines. Officials are brutally attacked during and after games, leading 47% of officials to say they feared for their safety because of fan behavior at a game, according to a 2017 survey of more than 17,000 referees by the National Association of Sports Officials. Without immediate intervention, some experts are warning that youth sports, now a $19 billion industry, could be headed for a scene out of a science fiction novel, with games played before barren, empty bleachers … Assemblywoman Vicky Flynn (R-Monmouth) has spent months crafting a bill that she hopes will drastically discourage bad behavior at youth games. A mother of two athletes, Flynn has witnessed parents screaming at officials, coaches getting red cards from acting out and even referees escalating tense situations at games. 'The bad behavior is just not stopping,' Flynn said. 'I don't know if it's this pent-up angst from being locked up during COVID. I don't know what it is. But it's very angry out there still.'"

REPUGLIC BANK — " Trademark lawsuit is one for the dogs at Republic Bank ," by The Courier-Post's Jim Walsh: "[Vernon] Hill, ousted in July as Republic's chairman and CEO, has sued the firm over the ownership of 'valuable brand assets"'used in promotional campaigns. These include images of Hill and his Yorkshire terrier, Sir Duffield, as well as Republic's slogan, 'The Power of Red is Back.' … It says Republic continued to use the disputed slogan and other brand assets. 'Indeed, the bank has even continued to display images of Mr. Hill (and the Hills' dog, Duffy) in its marketing and advertising materials,' says the suit, which was filed Nov. 28 in Philadelphia federal court."

PUPPY HEARD ABOUT NEW BANK MASCOT OPPORTUNITY — " Miracle dog that jumped in Hudson River, swam to NJ gets reunited with NYC family ," by The New York Post's David Propper and Doree Lewak: "This pooch doggy-paddled to safety — all the way across the Hudson River! A puppy that got separated from his new family and jumped into the Hudson River from upper Manhattan miraculously made it to New Jersey and was then reunited with his grateful owners early Tuesday morning."

FINAL JEOPARDY — " NJ's Cris Pannullo ran into a tempest, ending his 21-game 'Jeopardy!' winning streak ," by The Courier-Post's Jim Walsh: "What might be the worst way to end a winning streak? Cris Pannullo found out the hard way on Tuesday's episode of Jeopardy!, when a wrong answer in Final Jeopardy doomed the Ocean City man after 21 victories and total winnings of $710,865 … The South Jersey man bet big in Final Jeopardy, wagering $11,201. But he stumbled over this clue: 'A 1609 story in which an exiled king of Bulgaria creates a sea palace with his magic may have inspired the plot of this play.' Pannullo guessed wrongly that the play was 'The Little Mermaid.' [Andy] Tirrell correctly recognized the play as 'The Tempest' by William Shakespeare. He ended the game with winnings of $15,399."

—" Bears aren't trophies. If you must hunt them, use all of the animal. | Opinion "

— " After holiday surge, N.J. pediatric hospital beds were 70% full with RSV, flu and COVID cases "

A message from AARP New Jersey:

Caring for a parent, spouse or other older loved one can be financially and emotionally draining. Every day, family caregivers struggle to assist loved ones often using money out of their own pockets. The average family caregiver spends about a quarter of their income on caregiving activities. Many take on debt or tap into savings to make sure their loved ones get the care they need. That's a huge burden. And their sacrifices save the state and taxpayers money by keeping their loved ones out of costly nursing home facilities. New Jersey family caregivers provide more than $13 billion a year in unpaid care. It's past time to give them some financial relief. NJ lawmakers can take action by supporting the Caregiver's Assistance Act (A1802/S2021). This bill would provide a modest tax credit for family caregivers who pay for expensive care out of their own pockets. Tell lawmakers: support (A1802/S2021).