Bergen County Exec’s race: Tested on the issues, Donovan, Tedesco get testy at first debate
TEANECK – At the first Bergen County Executive candidates’ forum on Thursday, Republican incumbent Kathleen Donovan and her challenger, Democratic Freeholder Jim Tedesco, displayed both knowledge of the issues and a palpable degree of personal dislike. (Bonamo/PolitickerNJ)
CD3 race: During first official debate, a hawkish MacArthur tussles with Belgard on home turf
MOORESTOWN – Anyone looking to see sparks fly at the second meeting — but first official debate — between third congressional district candidates Aimee Belgard and Tom MacArthur tonight might have come away from the event somewhat disappointed, as the hawkish and aggressive Republican met a deflective and sometimes shaky Democrat. (Brush/PolitickerNJ)
Stockton CD2 Poll: LoBiondo 44%, Hughes 38% as challenger gets incumbent congressman’s attention
Incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-2) leads Democratic challenger William Hughes 44 percent to 38 percent in the 2nd Congressional District, with 18 percent undecided or not expressing a choice, according to a poll commissioned by The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. (Politicker Staff)
http://www.politickernj.com/83266/stockton-cd2-poll-lobiondo-44-hughes-38
Lt. Gov. Guadagno breaks wrist and elbow, will be hospitalized overnight
TRENTON – The governor’s office announced on Thursday that Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno was injured in a fall. (Bonamo/PolitickerNJ)
Bergen County Exec’s race: dueling resolution, legal notice attack partisan targets
HACKENSACK – A recent Bergen County Freeholder resolution and a cease and desist notice highlight that in the final five weeks before the Bergen County Executive election, both sides of the aisle are trying to inflict as many paper cuts as possible. (Bonamo/PolitickerNJ)
Somerset Republicans brace against demographic changes, Booker-Bell coattails with Franklin Mayor Levine in freeholder race
When five-term Somerset County freeholder Robert Zaborowski announced he’d be stepping down from his position earlier this year, county Republicans, seizing on an opportunity to strengthen the board, immediately set out to find a replacement for the November ticket. They settled on Franklin Mayor Brian Levine, a popular liberal conservative in a Democratic-leaning township who ran once for governor in 2009 and for state senate in 2013. (Brush/PolitickerNJ)
Pennacchio blasts Jeff Bell’s senate campaign: ‘He needs a message that resonates’
WHIPPANY – It only took state Sen. Joe Pennacchio (R-26) one quick sentence, muttered in between forkfuls of penne vodka pasta at his fundraiser in the Marriot Hotel here last night, to sum up what undoubtedly many Republicans in the state feel about U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Bell. (Brush/PolitickerNJ)
Despite tearful pleas, ‘Real Housewives’ stars Joe, Teresa Giudice sentenced to prison
Reality — in the form of a federal judge — hit Teresa and Joe Giudice hard Thursday when they were sentenced to prison for mortgage and bankruptcy fraud despite last-ditch, tearful pleas by the fallen TV stars. (Sudol, South, Harris/The Bergen Record)
Christie’s other traffic scandal could be the big one
When and if Chris Christie runs for president in 2016, he may have to answer not for one, but two transportation-related scandals. (Rubinstein/Capital New York)
Hudson River tunnel repairs to limit rail service
(Bloomberg) — Amtrak, the U.S. national rail operator, said the century-old commuter-train tunnels beneath the Hudson River need repairs from Superstorm Sandy that will require them to be taken out of service for extended periods.
Chris Christie campaigns for Doug Ducey
PHOENIX — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie swung through Arizona on Thursday to help campaign for Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Ducey. (Dillingham/AZFamily.com)
http://www.azfamily.com/news/election/Chris-Christie-campaigns-for-Doug-Ducey-277976831.htm
Jeb Bush, not Chris Christie, raises for Astorino
Jeb Bush today became the latest national Republican figure to try to help Rob Astorino raise money for his gubernatorial run against Gov. Andrew Cuomo. (Gannett/Spector)
Son of Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo lands $92K job on state payroll
TRENTON — The son of a key Democratic ally of Gov. Chris Christie is now on the state’s payroll. Joseph G. DiVincenzo — whose father is Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo — was hired in July as an “education program development specialist” by the New Jersey Department of Education at a salary of $92,528. (Friedman/New Jersey Advance Media for NJ.com)
Sweeney calls for doubling local road aid, won’t say how he’d raise the millions
State Senate President Stephen Sweeney is calling for a doubling of state aid to counties and municipalities for road and bridge projects, but isn’t saying how he’d raise the extra $150 million-a-year needed to do so. (Strunsky/New Jersey Advance Media for NJ.com)
Judge allows campaign to drop S. Plainfield candidate who allegedly mooned diner
SOUTH PLAINFIELD — A borough council campaign will be able to swap candidates after a judge OK’ed the move on Monday. Superior Court Judge Heidi Currier, sitting in New Brunswick, approved the Democratic campaign’s effort to drop Joseph Sorrentino from the ballot and replace him with former Board of Education president Jeff Seider. (Amaral/NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
http://www.nj.com/middlesex/index.ssf/2014/10/joe_sorrentino_candidate_swap.html#incart_river
Backroom
Christie Deputy Chief leaving the Governor’s Office Friday
Gov. Chris Christie is losing a key adviser this week. Dep. Chief of Staff Lou Goetting’s last day at the front office is tomorrow. (Politicker Staff)
http://www.politickernj.com/back_room/christie-deputy-chief-leaving-governors-office-friday
Opinion
Stile: Christie’s campaign trail points toward 2016
Terry Branstad is arguably the last Republican governor running for reelection this fall who needs another high-profile visit from Chris Christie. Branstad is sitting on top of a comfortable double-digit lead and more than $4 million in contributions, while Jack Hatch, his Democratic rival, has had to cancel television ads in several cities because he doesn’t have the money. (Stile/The Bergen Record)
http://www.northjersey.com/news/stile-christie-s-campaign-trail-points-toward-2016-1.1101745
This upcoming traffic apocalypse will be the end of Chris Christie
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R) is infamous as the guy whose underlings caused an epic traffic jam on the George Washington Bridge as part of some weird political punishment. In time, though, he will be known as the guy who caused the worst transportation snarl in the history of New York City. (Cooper/The Week)