WINNERS
Mark Caliguire
After trying unsuccessfully for years, the sitting mayor of Montgomery finally succeeded this week in a plea to the Somerset County Republican Committee to be south Somerset’s newest freeholder. The committee backed Caliguire to take the seat vacated by Assemblyman-elect Jack Ciattarelli.
Jack Ciattarelli
Following the death of popular Assemblyman Pete Biondi, his running mate, Ciattarelli, assumed Mr. Biondi’s seat this week with the full backing of the Somerset Republican Party and Republicans in the 16th Legislative District. Ciattarelli will serve through lame duck in Mr. Biondi’s seat until he gets sworn in next year to the seat he won himelf in November. There will then be a districtwide GOP convention early next year to fill Mr. Bondi’s seat.
Ray Lesniak
The Senate State Government, Tourism and Wagering Committee this week released the Union County senator’s controversial bill allowing Atlantic City casinos and racetracks statewide to conduct wagering on professional and collegiate sports or athletic events.
The Star-Ledger
The Newark-based paper of record this week won an open public records decision involving the N.J. Sports and Exposition Authority. The newspaper battled for access to unredacted copies of contracts, and an appellate court ruled that “disclosure of the terms of the licensing agreements is mandated by OPRA.’’
Barack Obama
The national unemployment rate dipped to its lowest level in more than 30 months, falling to 8.6 percent in November. That rate is 1.2 percenatge points lower than a year ago and marks the first time the rate has fallen below 9 percent since March.
Herb Conaway
Strongly opposed by healthcare insurers, the Burlington assemblyman’s bill restricting health insurers from limiting access to pain medication passed in the Assembly Appropriations Committee this week. The measure governs the issuance of prescriptions for pain medication under coverage from health insurers, including the State Health Benefits Program and School Employees’ Health Benefits Program.
LOSERS
Glenn Rieth
The commander of the New Jersey National Guard resigned effective Dec. 15th as Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs after getting caught improperly touching a subordinate while on the job, according to the Associated Press.
Jeff Jones
He called it a kangaroo court and fed them his confidential aide as a four-hour human shield before his own testimony a night later, but the Paterson City Council’s public inquiry into why Jones put in for over $6,000 in overtime during the aftermath of Hurricaine Irene was the last kind of publicity the mayor wanted for either himself or his struggling city.
Jon Corzine
Congress today served a subpoena on the former New Jersey governor to testify about the bankruptcy of MF Global, the financial firm he ran.
Lori Serrano
A Newark grand jury this week charged the former Jersey City Council candidate with mail fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The charge arose from Serrano’s alleged acceptance of $10,000 from disgraced developer Solomon Dwek and failure to report the money as required on Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) forms.
Martin W. Starr and Stephen M. Gallagher
The owner of Starr Contracting and owner of East Commercial Construction respectively pleaded guilty this week to accusations charging them with third-degree false representations for a government contract before Superior Court.
Carlo St. Jean
A federal judge this week sentenced the Newark tax preparer to six months in prison for preparing numerous false individual income tax returns on behalf of his customers, resulting in a significant tax loss to the IRS, according to U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman.