WINNERS
Betty Lou DeCroce
The widow of Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce defeated Kinnelon attorney Larry Casha by a 2-1 margin at this week’s LD26 special convention.
George Norcross
Rowan University taking over Rutgers-Camden provides a good shield for Norcross’s endgame, which is greater consolidation of power for Cooper Hospital.
John King
The Raritan Twp. Mayor appears poised to make a run for Hunterdon County Freeholder with the support of incumbent Freeholder Matt Holt and the GOP establishment.
Bruce Harris and Philip Kwon
Gov. Chris Christie this week nominated the first openly gay candidate to the NJ Supreme Court in Harris and the first Korean American in Kwon.
Chris Christie
The governor was the sole speaker and dominant figure at this year’s annual New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Trip, scattering Democrats for parties in the hinterlands of NW Washington, D.C.
Michael Aron
The dean of the New Jersey news media was back in force at this year’s Chamber event, anchoring the return of Reporters Roundtable on Friday morning for NJTV and wearing gravitas boots on the porcelain-clinging train junket. In the words of one traveler, “It’s great to have an adult on TV.”
Mitt Romney
After a wobbly month and a loss in South Carolina, the former Massachusetts governor rebounded with a strong debate performance Thursday night and a Monmouth University poll showing him leading former House Speaker Newt Gingrich by seven points.
LOSERS
Larry Casha
The former Kinnelon Council President is 0-3 against the current LD26 lineup, having lost in challenges to then-Assemblyman Joe Pennacchio, Assemblyman Jay Webber and now Assemblywoman-designate Betty Lou DeCroce.
Ronald Sworen
Hunterdon County Freeholder Matt Holt’s anticipated public alliance with Raritan Twp. Mayor John King puts the incumbent out in the cold and his re-election bid in doubt, according to Republican sources.
Joe DiVincenzo
The powerful Essex County executive took a body blow this week when PolitickerNJ.com reported that reports he filed during his 2010 run for office as well as reports filed in advance of the 2014 primary do not itemize nearly $175,000 in credit card charges, in violation of state campaign finance laws.
The AFL-CIO
The powerful labor organization lost a champion with the news that President Emeritus Charles Marciante died on Jan. 20th. The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce honored Mr. Marciante at Thursday night’s dinner.
Marriage Equality Activists
They got Bruce Harris as a nominee, but Gov. Chris Christie dashed any hopes they had of him signing a marriage equality bill when he called for a ballot question this week.
The Democrats’ Congressional Delegation
The New Jersey Chamber’s decision to have only one speaker at the podium this year gave a power platform to the GOP governor and left Dems brusied and feeling homeless at the Marriott this year.
Newark
Gov. Chris Christie’s Rutgers overhaul includes folding a portion of the Brick City-based University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) into Rutgers-New Brunswick.
