2011 Power List and Year in Review - PolitickerNJ.com

the
Power
list2011
& Year in Review

PolitickerNJ.com
Power list 2011
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PolitickerNJ.com
Power list 2011
Editor’s Note
We are proud
to present
PolitickerNJ’s
2011 Power
List of the 100
most influential
people in New Jersey politics.
To compile this year’s list, we combed
through literally hundreds of names of
politicos from all corners of the state,
leaving out as usual elected officials,
former governors and U.S. Senators, as
well as sitting judges.
As always, the list contains some
familiar names and what we hope will
be some surprises.
It was a tumultuous year in Trenton
as Gov. Chris Christie continued to
dominate headlines with a presidential
dalliance and growing national
presence. But it was also a year that
saw Democrats score some important
victories. One victory in particular
stood out, as you’ll see from our choice
for the most influential politico of the
year.
Congressional redistricting is
winding down as this list goes to print,
and there’s no telling how the map
may change. With that in mind, we
left off congressional staffers, some of
whom could find themselves looking
for work in 2012. But recognizing the
importance of the new map and the
drama unfolding over it, redistricting
commission 13th member John Farmer
Jr. holds a prominent place on the list.
A last minute shake-up in the
governor’s administration had us
scrambling to make the necessary
changes to our list, but we got them
done and it now represents the most up
to date information out there.
The coming year is likely to be one of
turmoil in the state as the presidential
election moves into full swing and
the 2013 gubernatorial race begins
to crystallize. The governor has an
ambitious agenda but Democrats are
determined to make their voices heard.
We look forward to watching the names
on this list as they help shape the year
to come.
As always, this list is subjective and
ever changing. As this year’s legislative
leadership battle showed, today’s power
player is tomorrow’s back-bencher and
a power player can just be a deal and a
handshake away.
Governor Chris Christie
and Mayor Cory Booker
welcome President
Barack Obama at Newark
International Airport.
Governor’s Office/Tim Larsen
4 PolitickerNJ

PolitickerNJ.com
Power list 2011
PolitickerNJ.com
Power list 2011
The 100 Most Influential Personalities in New Jersey Politics
1Alan Rosenthal
Rutgers Professor and 11th member
of Legislative Reapportionment
Commission
This academic succeeded this year where
every Democratic politico in the state
failed; he checked the power of Gov. Chris
Christie. Rosenthal’s vote in support of a
map that favors Democrats was the most
talked about story of the mid-term election
cycle, as Republicans repudiated it and their
opponents embraced it. The vote will likely
reverberate for a decade as Republicans
struggle to gain control of both legislative
houses, a goal that has already eluded them
since the last map was drawn.
PolitickerNJ.com’s Previous #1s
2010
Bill Palatucci
SVP/General Counsel
for Public Affairs,
Community Education
Centers, Inc.
2009
Weysan Dunn
Special Agent In Charge,
FBI, Newark Office
2008
Brad Abelow
Chief of Staff
to the Governor
2007
Stuart Rabner
Attorney General
of New Jersey;
Chief Justice-designate
2006
No Power List published
2005
No Power List
published
2004
Christopher Christie
US Attorney
2003
Jamie Fox
Chief of Staff
to the Governor
2002
John Lynch
Democratic Lawyer and
Former Senate President
2001
David Halbfinger
Reporter,
The New York Times
2000
Jim Gearhart
Radio Personality
PolitickerNJ 5

PolitickerNJ.com
Power list 2011
2
David
Samson
Chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
As chairman of the Port Authority, Samson wields tremendous power and has the ears of governors in two states.
The multi-billion dollar bi-state behemoth has taken its share of dings in the past few months, but through it
all Samson has stayed out of the fray, in the process shepherding through an unpopular toll hike that will mean
billions in additional revenue to the agency. The former attorney general also helms one of the state’s top law
firms and acted as a confidante and advisor to the governor even before he took on his role at the Port Authority.
3
George Norcross
South Jersey Democratic Leader
In November elections, the state’s most powerful Democratic boss maintained control over his South Jersey
legislative empire and picked up a seat in the assembly. Not only will his close ally, state Senate President Steve
Sweeney (D-3), remain in power for another two-year term, but Norcross cut a deal with state Sen. Nick Sacco
(D-32) that increases South Jersey’s power in the Assembly, ushering in South Jersey Assemblyman Lou
Greenwald as majority leader of the lower house. Norcross remains one head in the state’s three-headed hydra of
power, alongside Gov. Chris Christie and number 10.
4
Kevin O’Dowd
Chief of Staff-Designate
5
Mary
6
Bill
7
Mike
In an 11th hour 2011 shake-up, Gov. Chris Christie promoted this loyal consigliere to chief of staff, which
caused a huge shakeup at Power List central. O’Dowd, who in the span of a week rose from deputy counsel to
chief counsel to chief of staff, has huge shoes to fill as he takes over the role vacated by Rich Bagger, who some
called the “glue” holding the administration together.
Pat Christie
Governor’s wife
Much was made over the first lady’s hesitance to see her husband run for president, a story-line Gov. Chris
Christie dismissed, telling reporters she had given him the green light. Still the governor made clear that it was
his wife’s counsel he sought in the end before finally shutting the door on a potential presidential bid.
Palatucci
SVP/General Counsel for Public Affairs, Community Education Centers, Inc.
This advisor and former law partner of the governor graced our pages in the premier spot last year, by virtue of
his relationship with Gov. Chris Christie and his national GOP connections. While his credit side of the ledger
remains the same, Palatucci, who was the governor’s man on the redistricting committee, drops five spots by
virtue of the vote cast by number 1.
DuHaime
Political Strategist
When the Chris Christie for president boomlet was in full gear, this political advisor, who engineered the
governor’s ascension to the statehouse, was the man all eyes turned to. If President Obama wins a second term,
Christie will automatically become the front-runner for a 2016 run and DuHaime will be the man in charge of
getting him to the White House.
8
Todd Christie
Brother of the Governor
When the aforementioned Christie for President buzz was spinning out of control, the governor’s younger
brother was the man in charge of slowing it down. When the Star Ledger reported that Todd was throwing
cold water on his brother’s presidential aspirations, the sound of reporters slamming on the breaks was audible
throughout the country. Todd remains an advisor to his brother and has the deep pockets to remain a player in
his own right should Christie decide that’s where he’s headed.
9
Jeff
Chiesa
Attorney General-Designate
One of the many among Christie’s inner circle who followed him from the U.S. Attorney’s office, Chiesa’s voice
is heard when all major decisions are made. Chiesa was a go-to advisor as chief counsel and will remain a
player when he moves to attorney general.
6 PolitickerNJ

PolitickerNJ.com
Power list 2011
10
Steve
11
Bill
12
Charles
13
George
Adubato
Newark North Ward Democratic Leader
The political animal’s blue ribbon charter schools give him something not too many can boast in
politics: results. A key driver on the question of alternative education, Adubato remains close to Gov.
Chris Christie, is the force behind state Senate Education Committee Chair M. Teresa Ruiz (D-29),
and remains the center of power in the Democrats’ biggest base county. Perhaps his greatest show of
power was convincing the administration to deliver NJN to his son.
Castner
Attorney
The veteran party legal brain played a critical role during both legislative and congressional
redistricting and remains a trusted and valued political advisor to number 3. Castner has shown the
smarts and ability to remain perennially near the top of this list regardless of which party is in power.
McKenna
Chief Counsel to the Governor
A last minute addition to the list by virtue of a huge administration shake-up announced in December,
McKenna will fill the role vacated by Jeff Chiesa. Yet another former employee of the governor during
his U.S. Attorney days, McKenna comes to the front office from his role as Director of the New Jersey
State Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness.
Gilmore
Ocean County Republican Committee Chairman
The most powerful county chairman in both parties, Gilmore controls the Republicans’ largest voter
base. Always in the middle of the GOP’s political decisions, he served as a member of the Republican
legislative redistricting team and is co-counsel for his party during congressional redistricting.
Roger A. Bodman
Harold L. Hodes
William J. Maer
Joseph A. Simonetta
Joseph DeSanctis
Tracie A. DeSarno
Matthew S. Halpin
Edward J. Mount
“Over two decades of excellence.”
Patrick A. Stewart
414 River View Plaza, Trenton, New Jersey 08611-3420 •Phone: 609.393.7799 •Fax: 609.393.9891 •www.njpsi.com
PolitickerNJ 7

PolitickerNJ.com
Power list 2011
14
Bill
15
Maria
16
Bill
17
roger
18
Donald
19
Paul
Stepien
Governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs
The Christie administration’s political weapon, Stepien’s importance can never be discounted in a
24/7 charged environment like New Jersey’s. But as his boss passes the midway point of his term
and Democrats grow emboldened, Stepien will become even more critical to Christie and his future.
Stepien was among the advisors Christie turned to during his brief flirtation with presidential politics.
Comella
Governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications
That figure in the back of the crowded room with the horn-rimmed glasses is inevitably brand-builder
Comella, coordinating the governor’s message. Her power increases this year by virtue of carefully
managing a gifted but decidedly challenging political figure, whose voice now projects across the entire
country as a GOP superstar. Comella is as good as anyone at saying “no” to national media outlets to
make her man an even more coveted commodity.
Baroni
Deputy Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey
The former 14th District senator with good relations among Democrats and Republicans alike remains
on short lists for future statewide office or a federal job in a Republican administration. Along with
number 2, Baroni is instrumental in the day to day workings of the Port Authority and has taken point
on several of the agency’s initiatives, including the completion of the Sept. 11 memorial in time for the
10th anniversary.
Bodman
Lobbyist
The longtime GOP insider retains special top-20 status as a lobbyist because of his close relations with
the Christie administration. The Public Strategies Impact agent had a 2010 rake-in of half a million
dollars.
Trump
Real Estate developer and T.V. Personality
All right, so national Republicans don’t want him to moderate any debates for their presidential hopeful,
but Trump still owns the brand name of three prime properties in Atlantic City and his brand is a
fixture along the Hudson River gold coast. He is the only New York Metropolitan area 2012 would-be
presidential contender whose East Coast attitude rivals Christie’s.
Fishman
U.S. Attorney for New Jersey
Christie’s successor at the U.S. Department of Justice hasn’t mounted that glamour public figure takedown
on his wall. But this year’s colossal federal bust of over 110 players, including members of La Cosa Nostra,
represents one of the largest single-day operations against the mafia in the history of the FBI.
Soliman
State Director for U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez
With his knowledge of suburban politics to balance the boss’s Union City-honed perspective, Soliman
20Mike
provides the perfect political complement to Menendez, say insiders, who underscore the statewide
director’s considerable Bergen knowledge as particularly valuable in an election year. With his boss 10
months away from an election, look for Soliman to be a fixture across the state in 2012.
21
Lou
Goetting
Cabinet Secretary
Goetting’s intimate knowledge of budget issues and his close contact with Bagger put him in a special
category within the administration. Highly respected by Christie and a long-time Trenton veteran,
nobody in the state knows more about the budget than Goetting.
8 PolitickerNJ

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Dale J. Florio, Esq.
Brad Brewster, Esq.
Senator John F. Russo, Esq.
William J. Pascrell, III. Esq.
David A. Smith
Sonia Delgado
Honorable Jack Collins, Esq.
Andrew Sinclair
Alfred J. Gaburo, Jr.
Lorna D. O’Hara
Patricia E. McGuire
Nicole D. Cole, Esq.
Paulina M. Grabczak
Fred D. DeSanti

PolitickerNJ.com
Power list 2011
PolitickerNJ.com
10 PolitickerNJ
22
Dale
23
Andrew
24
Ray
25
Andrew
26
Tom
27
Michael
28
David
29
Michael
Florio
Founder and Managing Partner of Princeton Public Affairs Group, Inc.
With a deep bench of lobbyists working for him on both sides of the aisle, veteran insider Florio
remains the state’s premier State Street fixture, a politically savvy former county party chair who
knows everyone and consequently has a big list of clients. As usual, among lobbyists Florio had one
of the biggest annual big dollar hauls.
Hendry
Executive Director of the Senate Democratic Majority Office
A veteran of the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services, Hendry has policy heft that no one else
around state Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-3) can match. Regardless of policy background,
staffers quickly become political experts in the presence of Hendry, who also has proved himself a
solid Sweeney loyalist.
Pocino
National Vice President and Eastern Regional Manager of the Laborers International
Union of North America (LIUNA)
This union boss built inroads to the governor this year and took an active role in pushing through
approval of the toll hike by the Port Authority board on which he sits. He represents 40,000
construction workers who figure to get much needed work when the PANYNJ ramps up its
construction efforts. Christie made his only union local visit since his election this year to Laborers
Local 472 and Pocino’s laborers were a top contributor to the legislative battles.
Sidamon Eristoff
State Treasurer
Even though he’s from New York, Sidamon-Eristoff’s background as a New York City councilman
gives him an edge while wading through the egos in Trenton. As the budget goes, so goes Trenton
and Sidamon-Eristoff is the man in charge of spending.
Martello
Trenton Bureau Chief, Star-Ledger
In command of the Statehouse Press Corps’ biggest bureau for the state’s paper of record, the
veteran Martello possesses what sadly today is too often a newsroom rarity: a combination of
reporting and editing skills and institutional knowledge. Martello also has the benefit of a newsman’s
perfect close range subject in political animal Christie.
Drewniak
Press Secretary to the Governor
The administration spokesman goes back to the U.S. Attorney days with his boss and over time
has taken on the same brashness and directness the GOP celebrates in Christie. Unlike many
spokesmen, Drewniak has near carte blanche to speak on behalf of the administration, a sign that the
veteran has the trust of a boss known for micromanaging.
Sciarra
Executive Director of the Education Law Center
Arguably no other single individual scored a victory over the governor as resounding as Sciarra did
when he challenged the administration’s education funding cuts this year and won on a decision
by the state Supreme Court. Worried about the impact of Christie’s education reforms on the
poor, Sciarra intends to stay in a forward position on the issue as the state wades further into the
turbulence of education reform. Count on him being visible and vocal.
Critchley
Defense Attorney
The powerhouse lawyer provided insiders with the best political analysis of the year when he received
his award at number 10’s annual event at the Breakers. There are no Republicans or Democrats anymore
in the era of the Christie-Norcross-DiVincenzo axis, Critchley declared. There are only “registered
opportunists.” Critchley remains the top level attorney to call if number 19 comes-a-knocking.

PolitickerNJ.com
Power list 2011
30
Deborah
31
Patrick
32
Jeff
33
Chris
Gramiccioni
Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Planning
Until late December, Gramiccioni headed the state’s Authorities Unit, where she was growing power
by virtue of the governor’s focus on so-called “shadow governments.” But a December promotion
puts her closer to the governor in the spot vacated by Wayne Hasenbalg. She’s another of the many
former Deputy U.S. Attorneys that continue to call the governor “boss.”
Murray
Monmouth University Pollster/Political Scientist
Murray called the map for Democrats at the outset on the strength of his understanding of number
1’s writings. But how many other pollsters showed up at the Heldrich Hotel to provide color
commentary on the backroom dealings of redistricting? Murray also called the legislative elections
well in advance of November and remains a strong voice against “cooked” polls.
Michaels
Political Consultant
The veteran lobbyist had a monster 2010, a year after partnering with power brother Philip Norcross
to create Optimus Partners, L.L.C. Michaels represented casinos, hospitals, utilities, and others to
pull in an all-time annual haul. His firm has the ear of the administration as well as number 3.
Cerf
Acting Commissioner of the Department of Education
The importance of education reform to Gov. Chris Christie’s agenda in the coming year cannot be
overstated, and Cerf stands at the forefront. As of this writing, he still could not convince state Sen.
Ronald L. Rice (D-28) to sign off on his nomination, but even in an acting capacity, Cerf has the full
confidence and support of the governor on a signature Christie issue.
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Power list 2011
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34
Charlie
35
Michael
36
John
37
Michelle
38
Dennis
39
Glenn
40
Anthony
41
Robert
Stile
Bergen Record columnist
Stile’s analytical insights into politics, and especially battleground Bergen politics, always have the
advantage of texture, which is vital in New Jersey. Tapping a big selection of insider contacts, Stile
reveals more than anyone the catacombs of Christie’s political network — and with finesse. He is
one of the only featured political columnists who works full-time out of the State House and his
columns reflect it.
Kempner
President and CEO of MWW. DNC Deputy National Finance Chair.
One of the top party fundraisers in the country, Kempner on a bi-weekly basis plays host to national
power players, including the president and vice-president. He also runs one of the world’s most
successful public relations firms in MWW. Kempner will play an especially important role this
coming year as President Barack Obama seeks re-election.
Farmer Jr.
Dean, Rutgers Law School – 13th member of Congressional Redistricting Commission
We know this list doesn’t include former governors, but Farmer’s stint in the chair of power
amounted to a 90-minute fill-in, served in his capacity at that time as attorney general. This year,
the dean of the Rutgers Law School was not only part of the Rutgers team charged to create a
new map for legislative redistricting, but he is the 13th, tie-breaking member of the congressional
redistricting commission.
Brown
Governor’s Appointments Counsel
Brown vets everyone who works for Christie, her boss going back to his earliest days at the U.S.
Attorney’s Office. Like others on this list, and most notably like Christie, Brown is a tough, veteran
prosecutor who has the governor’s implicit trust.
Bone
President of Verizon New Jersey
His power comes not only from his executive role at a mega company, but from the inroads he’s
made into the community. Newark’s North Ward Center honored Bone this year because of
what Steve Adubato cited as Bone’s commitment to Newark. Under Bone’s leadership, Verizon
donated more than $800,000 to Newark organizations, including The North Ward Center, as well
as $250,000 to Newark Public Schools. Bone drops this year by virtue of a big loss on telecom
deregulation, his biggest initiative of the year.
Paulsen
Attorney
The Burlington County power player taught his successor as Burlington County GOP Chairman,
Bill Layton, how to run the operation, but never faded from influence wielding in this key
Republican building-block county.
Coscia
Attorney
Though Coscia is gone from his power seat as Chairman of the Board of the Port Authority, he still
remains a frontline attorney in the state. Coscia has moved to the national stage as one of President
Obama’s appointees to Amtrak’s board of directors.
Grady
Chairman of the New Jersey State Investment Council
The former communications director for Gov. Tom Kean and current managing director of
Cheyenne Capital Fund LP, the well-connected Grady is in charge of guiding investment policy for
the state’s $68 billion pension fund
12 PolitickerNJ

PolitickerNJ.com
Power list 2011
42
James
43
Phil
44
Jon
45
Ed
Simpson
Commissioner of the State Department of Transportation
Simpson comes with federal level experience and all of those Washington, D.C. contacts, in
addition to being wired into New York, his home state.
Alagia
Chief-of-Staff to Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo
Alagia makes this list every year by virtue of his close-quarters relationships with both Essex
County Executive Joe DiVincenzo and North Ward powerbroker Adubato, who rely on his
consummate political insights and instincts. A close advisor to state Sen. M. Teresa Ruiz (D-29),
Newark, he is the most obvious heir to the Joe D./Big Steve political empire.
Hanson
Chairman of the Hanson Commission
Hanson spent this past year trying to cement the recommendations of his gaming report issued
over a year ago. As long as the power broker has anything to say about it, New Jersey will confine
casino gambling to Atlantic City and keeps horse racing a self-sufficient enterprise. The jury is
still out on horse racing. Hanson is part of the negotiations with Triple 5, the new developer of
American Dream, which has become an albatross to the Bergen GOP.
Deutsch
Attorney
One of the state’s most distinguished lawyers, Deutsch remains a close adviser to the governor since
chairing the Department of Banking and Insurance transition sub-committee and serving on the
Red Tape Commission. The law firm he heads is the third largest in the state.
1300 Mount Kemble Avenue
P.O. Box 2075
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(201) 445-6722
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(212) 483-9490
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(215) 557-2900
Wilmington, Delaware
(302) 300-4515
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(860) 522-5175
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(203) 319-4000
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(617) 748-5500
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(303) 293-8800
Congratulates our Managing Partner
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For Being Recognized in
PolitickerNJ’s 2011 Power List
as one of the 100 most politically
influential people in the state.
www.mdmc-law.com
PolitickerNJ 13

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Power list 2011
14 PolitickerNJ
46
Elnardo
47
Wayne
48
Tom
49
Matt
50
Bill
51
Brendan
52
Bill
53
Al
Webster
Attorney. Political Advisor to Newark Mayor Cory Booker
Wherever Newark Mayor Cory Booker goes he invites considerable speculation regarding his
statewide political future. Whether he runs for governor in 2013 or senator in 2014, assuredly his
friend and political confidant, Webster, will be at his side.
Hasenbalg
President and CEO of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority.
When you have the cell phones of John Mara, Steve Tisch, Woody Johnson and Jeff Vanderbeek
on your speed dial, you have power. Hasenbalg was at the point on all of the governor’s sports
related initiatives, including planning for the Super Bowl, Formula 1 racing and a push to bring an
NHL All-Star game to the Prudential Center. AS part of the governor’s administration shake-up,
Hasenbalg will now take those contacts to the NJSEA. Hasenbalg will be a popular man when the
state’s political elite begin looking for tickets.
Moran
Editorial Page Editor for the Star-Ledger
New Jersey’s resident thin-skinned one, at least by the reckoning of Gov. Chris Christie, Moran,
with his combination of editorials and columns, also occupies one of the strongest platforms to
counterpoint Christie and voice his progressive views on the issues.
Boxer
State Comptroller
As the state inches another year closer to Christie’s re-election bid and partisan politics rage, the
comptroller is arguably never more valuable - or powerful. Boxer isn’t afraid to use his independent
office to tackle contentious issues, like when he went after the state’s pay-to-play laws this year,
arguing they had done next to nothing to stem contract steerage to the politically connected.
Mullen
President, New Jersey State Building and Construction Trades Council
Mullen and the construction trades provided political capital and much needed public support for
the governor’s efforts to get the Revel casino and the American Dream mall back on the line. The
trade council he heads represents 150,000 rank and file members and he remains a close ally of
Senate President Steve Sweeney, who like Mullen is an ironworker.
Gill
State Director for U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)
A popular inside player, Gill runs an active U.S. Senate Office for Lautenberg. His strength is a
careful approach to choosing battles in which to engage the venerable U.S. Senator, most notably
on the ARC tunnel and education funding, where Lautenberg repeatedly defined himself in stark
contrast to Gov. Chris Christie. Now a freeholder-elect after winning the 4th District Essex
County Freeholder seat and apparently bound for a career in elected office, this may be Gill’s last
appearance on the power list, at least for a while.
Caruso
Executive Director of the Assembly Democratic Majority Office
The former chief-of-staff of U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D-1) ensures a South Jersey thumb print on
the workings of the Assembly Majority. This well-liked operative is a key go conduit between the
front office and Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-34).
Doblin
Editorial Page Editor, The Bergen Record
Just as he has not hesitated to fling tomahawks at Democrats, the Bergen County wordsmith
took aim at this year’s Republican candidates for freeholder as well as the GOP’s 38th District
legislative candidates. Post Election Day, the GOP railed against the Record’s editorials, fingering
Doblin as one of the prime reasons they lost. They sounded just like the Ferriero-era Democrats,
and that’s called cross-the-aisle power.

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Power list 2011
54
Steven
55
Al
56
Angelo
57
Lisa
Goldstein
Chair and CEO of Garden State Equality
Goldstein’s group owned the anti-bullying issue in the aftermath of Tyler Clementi’s tragic death. The
state’s prime gay marriage champion has also worked hard to get the legislature to revisit marriage
equality, and has the support of state Sen. Ray Lesniak (D-20), state Senate Majority Leader Loretta
Weinberg (D-37) and other Democratic Party power players, including possibly Senate President
Steve Sweeney who called his abstention from voting on gay marriage the biggest mistake of his career.
DeCotiis/Bob DeCotiis
Attorneys
The Democratic Party power brothers consolidate politics and law at one of the most sought-after,
politically connected firms in the state. Bob is the managing partner while Al carries political juice
by virtue of his former roles as an ambassador and Democratic national committeeman.
Genova
Attorney
Genova is the state’s go to legal mind on election law matters, at least for Democrats. He’s also served
four Democratic governors as a labor negotiator.
Jackson
EPA Administrator
Insiders acknowledge she does not have day-to-day power at the state level these days but the former
state DEP director is the only New Jerseyan with a cabinet position in the Obama Administration.
What it means is that Jackson will have considerable power whenever she decides to return to New
Jersey, and even now is always on power player short lists for Congress and statewide office.
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16 PolitickerNJ

PolitickerNJ.com
Power list 2011
drawing by makena hagan
58
Bari
59
Ken
60
Kevin
61
Steve
Mattes
Fundraiser for Newark Mayor Cory Booker
No, she doesn’t show up in the City Hall political meetings where Booker’s inner circle undertakes
the day-to-day ops. But Mattes charges up about 90% of Booker’s fundraising, no small feat when
you consider that her boss is a national superstar on the verge of big political decisions.
Kurson
Political Strategist
Kurson’s firm, Jamestown Associates, continues to carry weight with Republican candidates,
including the current governor who employed the firm for his run. Jamestown and Kurson promise
to be players in the upcoming senatorial battles nationwide.
Hagan
Chief of Staff to the Senate President
While number 23 manages the policy side of Sweeney’s operation, Hagan is the senate president’s
resident political animal, tasked with diving into the daily mechanical duties of the senate majority
office. The former staffer for Gov. James McGreevey and big-time lobbyist is a time-tested
Democratic Party insider.
DeMicco/Brad Lawrence
Political Consultants
These consultants maintain an A-list group of clients that includes both of the state’s sitting
senators, Newark Mayor Cory Booker, state Sen. Barbara Buono and at least two Democratic
congressmen.
PolitickerNJ 17

PolitickerNJ.com
Power list 2011
62
Bob
63
Ralph
64
John
65
Rev.
66
Mike
67
Karen
68
Bill
69
Reginald
Yudin
Bergen County Republican Organization Chairman
Weakened by county-level losses this year, Yudin still maintains possession of a majority on
the powerful freeholder board. He also still has enough weight within the party organization to
withstand any planned insurrections, which means he’ll likely have another term as BCRO boss if
he wants one.
LaRossa
President and Chief Operating Officer, PSE&G
It’s difficult to picture putting a power list together without LaRossa, whose business actually is
power. Wired into community board leadership positions with the New Jersey Performing Arts
Center and Montclair State University, LaRossa oversees the state’s largest investor-owned gas and
electric utility company. Compared to JCP&L, LaRossa’s company came out of this fall’s storm
cycle looking rosy.
Currie
Passaic County Democratic Committee Chairman
The GOP has tried to rough up the veteran Currie over the past two years with no effect. Regarded
as one of the most sure-footed political operatives in the state, the 20-year chairman would be
higher on this list but for the fact that Passaic County is small in the scheme of things. Still, he
controls it while maintaining close relations with Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-34), whose
legislative district includes Clifton.
John Myers
Archbishop of Newark
The Monsignor’s closeness to Gov. Chris Christie put him in a special category of clergy members
with Drumthwacket influence. His flock is enormous should he choose to call on it, adding to his
statewide pull.
Murphy/Raj Mukherji
Lobbyists
The lobbying team has deftly worked both sides of the aisle to build one of the top Trenton-based
brands in the state. The pair stands behind the mayors of the state’s two largest cities.
Kominsky
Director of Public Affairs at Wolff and Samson
A Democrat, Kominsky holds a key position at a powerful law firm run by number 2. The former
statewide director for Hillary Clinton is also married to Lambertville Mayor David Del Vecchio, a
longtime cross-the-aisle ally of the governor’s.
Layton
Burlington County Republican Committee Chairman
Having toyed with the opposition over the past two years, stripping their numbers away and
repackaging them complete with new party affiliation into the ranks of the GOP, Layton’s vaunted
county political organization finally squeezed the last life out of Democrats holding elected office
at the county level this year. Layton presided as incumbent Democratic Freeholder Mary Anne
Reinhart went down and out.
Jackson
The Rev. Pastor, St. Matthew AME Church
Whether it’s education alternatives, including the Opportunity Scholarship Act (OSA) or support
for Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-34), the Orange-based pastor is proving again to be a key power
player. Proving his heft and capacity to cover a broad range of alliances while keeping education
reform at the center of his political activities, Jackson endorsed both Oliver, and – in a tough
primary this past year - Oliver’s prime intra-party rival, Assemblyman Joe Cryan (D-20), a districtmate
of OSA-driver state Sen. Ray Lesniak (D-20).
18 PolitickerNJ

EXPERIENCE
INSIGHT
SUCCESS
Kaufman Zita Group extends
a warm welcome and best wishes
to the incoming 215 th New Jersey Legislature
and
Congratulations to our Friends
on the 2011 Power List
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Princeton, NJ 08540
609.452.9800
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www.KaufmanZitaGroup.com
Adam Kaufman • Patrizia Zita • Tom Wilson
Jeannine LaRue • Beth Dohm • Eric Orlando • Nina Popel • Elizabeth Ortiz • Kisha Howard
PolitickerNJ 19

PolitickerNJ.com
Power list 2011
70
Joe
71
Mike
72
Mo
73
Caren
74
Charlotte
75
Brian
76
Paul
77
Mark
Hayden
Defense Attorney
Elected officials haven’t required his assistance as often now that Chris Christie is governor and
not U.S. Attorney, but Hayden remains one of the state’s obvious super defense lawyers who is at
the top of a lot of people’s list for that one phone call they want to make once the FBI busts in their
front door. Hayden’s firm represents the judges in their suit over pension and benefit reform, not a
bad thing when your livelihood depends on the judiciary.
Muller
Executive Director at NJ Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee
Going back a decade now, Muller has put his political fingerprints on most of the legislative
battleground contests, and this past year was no different. A frontline player in both legislative and
congressional redistricting, Muller also provided key strategic input in districts 2, 7 and 38, where
Democrats went 7 for 9.
Butler
Chief of Staff, Newark Mayor Cory Booker
While much of the mayor’s attention inevitably requires him to look to big project funding out
of state, Butler charges up the nuts and bolts of Booker’s City Hall operation. He is the mayor’s
consummate on-the-ground guy in the state’s biggest city.
Franzini
Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority
Among other things, the veteran CEO’s authority has the power to determine whether or not
certain development projects receive tax credits, often times precisely the deal-maker or breaker
for some of the state’s prime real estate ventures.
DeFilippo
Union County Democratic Chair
Allies worried about DeFilippo when she appeared to be on the verge of losing her grip on local
politics, but the Union County political player scored victories in this year’s local races to maintain
a majority on the Hillside Council. She also helped stare down energized primary challenges to
her control of the freeholder board and to the LD 20 seats occupied by incumbent Democrats Ray
Lesniak, Joe Cryan and Annette Quijano.
Thompson
NBC News Correspondent
When reporters pack a governor’s press conference, someone from the Christie camp still always
manages to find a chair for Thompson, the always aggressive trench coat-garbed reporter whose
network television reports get a huge viewership.
Josephson
Attorney
Josephson still carries the connections from his days as attorney to the state Democrats and calls
them as a chief lobbyist for Hill Wallack. He’s a go to legal mind for politicos in need of strong legal
advice.
Sheridan
Attorney
Ubiquitous all year long for the GOP, Sheridan served as counsel for both legislative and
congressional redistricting, successfully argued for the elimination of Carl Lewis from the LD
8 ballot in a case that seemingly had no end and earned a spot as the Newark-based lawyer for
powerful law firm Patton Boggs.
20 PolitickerNJ

PolitickerNJ.com
Power list 2011
78
Jamie
79
Harold
80
Bob
81
Alan
Fox
Lobbyist/Political Strategist
The consummate Democratic Party insider worked for McGreevey, Lautenberg and Corzine,
served at the Port Authority, ran Obama’s Florida campaign and now is partner in Fox-Shuffler, a
powerhouse lobbying firm.
Hodes/Bill Maer
Lobbyists
The Public Strategies Impact lobbyists had another strong year representing a wide range of
entities, including the telecommunications and healthcare industries and public utilities.
Master
Political Director of CWA Region 1
The communications workers took a major kick in the teeth this past year with public sector
worker cuts, but where Master and his allies decide to place their forces and how they push back
will be a dominant storyline in the coming year and beyond.
Marcus
Lobbyist/Political Strategist
A ground-zero operative in a battleground county, the seasoned GOP political operative serves as
chief consigliere to Bergen County Executive Kathe Donovan. He’s caustic, which causes some bad
blood with those he deals with, but he’s effective.
STRAIGHTFORWARD SOLUTIONS
“Our attorneys get results . . . period.”
- Joseph DeCotiis, Managing Partner
DeCotiis is rated in the top quarter of one percent of the country’s law firms
based on the experience and judgment of its attorneys.
- Martindale Hubbell’s Top Ranked Law Firms for 2012
www.DeCotiisLaw.com
PolitickerNJ 21

PolitickerNJ.com
Power list 2011
PolitickerNJ.com
82
Maggie
83
Tracye
84
Julie
85
Keith
86
Steve
87
Charlie
88
Donald
89
Nick
Moran
Director of Business Development - Eastern Region at Laborers
International Union of North America
This former campaign manager and confidante to Gov. Jon Corzine has found new life with the
laborers. With as an astute a political mind as there is in New Jersey, she is a trusted lieutenant of
#24 and is consulted by politicos on both sides of the aisle.
McDaniel
President and CEO of Choose NJ.
This new addition to the list is part of the governor’s three pronged economic development attack.
She’s got the ear of the lieutenant governor and is well respected in business circles. In October,
she was named to the board of directors of the International Economic Development Council.
Roginsky
Democratic Party Operative
The party mainstay’s regular appearances on cable television as a Democratic Party strategist and
analyst of national politics haven’t diminished her ability to go micro in New Jersey district politics.
Party members credit Roginsky in part with the messaging strategy that helped re-elect state Sen.
Bob Gordon (D-38) in one of this year’s marquee races.
Davis
Atlantic County Republican Chairman
Largely lost under the glamour headline of state Sen. Jim Whelan (D-2) defeating Assemblyman
Vince Polistina (R-2) was the fact that Republicans won everything else in Atlantic County
elections, adding up to a clear advantage for Davis.
Ayscue
Political Operative for the South Jersey Democratic Organization
This political operative’s opposition research operation is legendary and it served him well this year
as all of his candidates won in legislative contests, further cementing Democratic control of South
Jersey.
Wowkanech
President, NJ AFL-CIO
Divisions within labor prevent the perennial top-100 player Wowkanech from being higher on the
list as leader of the million-person strong outfit. Going forward, Wowkanech will have to confront
the political schism between public and private sector workers, which in part has the Democratic
Party in disarray right now.
Scarinci
Attorney
The best friend of U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) going back to when the two of them grew up in
Union City, Scarinci will be a critical resource for Menendez in the 2012 election year and an inner
circle player as Democrats look ahead to future party-building.
Acocella
Editor and Founder of Politifax
The gritty, frontline Hudson County denizen still churns out the original insider’s political
pamphlet, delivered old school-style via a fax machine and prized by insiders statewide. His
political insight is unparalleled as are his “wags,” which provide him with the inside scoop.
22 PolitickerNJ

PolitickerNJ.com
Power list 2011
90
Tom
91
Michellene
92
Barbara
Wilson/ Jeannine Larue
Lobbyists
Wilson is a former Republican State Committee chairman and LaRue is a former Deputy
Chief of Staff to Gov. Jon Corzine and more recently chief lobbyist for Rutgers. LaRue also
served on the congressional redistricting committee that wrapped up operations this week.
Together, they represent a strong left right combo for top tier lobbying firm Kaufman Zita.
Davis
Sr. Vice President for Policy Development and Governmental Affairs,
Barnabas Health
A former acting state treasurer, Davis carried ultimate insider street cred into her current
job, where she serves as the political point person for the state’s largest healthcare system,
a 5,000-doctor, 18,000-employee-strong operation. In a former life, Davis was chief policy
counsel to former Gov. Jon Corzine where she developed strong ties to the legislature.
Keshishian
President of the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA)
It was obviously another tough year for Keshishian and the NJEA, as members watched
Christie and state Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-3) tag-team to undermine NJEA
and other union leadership and secure greater contributions by public-sector workers to
their pension and healthcare benefits. But with nearly 200,000 members, it’s still one of the
biggest unions in the state.
gibb_powerlist_2011f:Layout 1 12/16/11 10:58 AM Page 1
Congratulations
to the 2011 Power List
Gibbons is headquartered
at One Gateway Center
Newark, New Jersey 07102
973-596-4500
Newark New York Trenton Philadelphia Wilmington www.gibbonslaw.com
PolitickerNJ 23

PolitickerNJ.com
Power list 2011
93
Dave
94
Chris
95
Angela
96
Martin
97
Marcia
98
Adam
99
Harry
100
Shaquille
Filippelli
Attorney
Former Legislative Director for U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-8), Filippelli chairs the prestigious
Gibbons firm’s government affairs department. The Trenton-based arm of the operation in part
prompted the New Jersey Law Journal to rank Gibbons number 1 in lawyer-lobbying for the
second year in a row. Filippelli acted as counsel on several high profile issues including the drive to
eliminate the death penalty.
Russell
Republican Political Operative
In a congressional election year in which U.S. Rep. Jon Runyan (R-3) is up for re-election for the
first time, Russell, known for his meticulously packaged and devastating opposition research, will
be a key backroom player to ensure Republican victory.
Delli Santi
Associated Press Reporter
One of the longest serving veterans of the State House Press Corp, Delli Santi has the sourcing and
institutional knowledge to break stories and the reach to have them read worldwide.
Perez
Executive Director of the Latino Leadership Alliance
An old-school Puerto Rican college radical, Perez’s power comes in part from his uncanny,
pragmatic ability to straddle alliances as divergent as Gov. Chris Christie and U.S. Sen. Bob
Menendez (D-NJ). He unnerved Democrats with his testimony before the legislative redistricting
commission, basically arguing that the party was Latinos’ biggest stumbling block to greater
representation. But the respect from Menendez in an election year and his pull in the community
cannot be discounted.
Marley
Democratic Party Fundraiser
The Blue Wave operative from Essex County is increasingly an important player for Democrats,
gathering U.S. Senate incumbents and freeholder hopefuls alike to her home for progressive base
fundraising events.
Geller
GOP Pollster
The veteran GOP pollster had a good year, polling for several successful state and local campaigns.
Geller’s work will have an impact on the future and potential campaign strategy of state Sen. Joe
Kyrillos (R-13), who may challenge U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) in 2012.
Hurley
Radio Talk Show Host
The radio talk show host may have wailed on Whelan to no avail this year, but he is still the voice of
South Jersey radio. Hurley’s connections and his institutional knowledge regularly enable him to
break and break down the news.
O’Neal
Future NBA Hall of Famer
Now that his basketball career is over, Shaq wants to focus on team ownership, and he’s eyeballing
his home city of Newark for a venue once the Nets move to Brooklyn. O’Neal is also a comer on
the Newark business development front, where his Miami-based O’Neal group is partnering to
undertake a $7 million movie theater expansion project.
24 PolitickerNJ

Congratulations to the incoming class of the State Legislature,
as well as Attorney General-designate JEFF CHIESA
and Chief of Staff-designate KEVIN O’DOWD!
Those who do not know the plans of competitors cannot prepare alliances.
Those who do not know the lay of the land cannot maneuver their forces.
Those who do not use local guides cannot take advantage of the ground.
Sun-Tzu, The Art of War
Michael Murphy, Esq. • Raj Mukherji
John Inglesino, Esq. • Guy Gregg
Jason Orlando, Esq. • Cullen McAuliffe
Arthur Sypek, Jr., Esq. • Christopher Campos, Esq.
Nancy McCarthy • Steven Hanlon • Hugh Hall, CPA
PO Box 1 • Jersey City, NJ 07303
172 W. State Street • Trenton, NJ 08608
Tel (609) 394-2000
Fax (609) 394-3333
www.impactnj.com
PolitickerNJ 25

PolitickerNJ.com
year in review 2011
Editor’s Note
The year dawned with great anticipation as state Republicans
hoped to catch the tail end of the GOP wave that
had swept the country during congressional mid-terms
and once again take control of the legislature.
Nationally, Republicans wrested back control of
the House of Representatives — aided by a win in
New Jersey’s District 3 - and picked up six seats in the Senate. The
Tea Party movement had Democrats backpedaling and the GOP
hoped it would carry over into November’s legislative races.
But more than hope or change in the Garden State, 2011 was
marked by collisions.
The New Year did not ring in happily for Gov. Chris Christie as a late
December snowstorm that dropped nearly three feet of snow caught
him out of state and left him defending a family vacation to Disney
World.
In typical pugnacious style, Christie attacked critics of the state’s
response to the massive storm. Democrats made hay from the snow
and the governor ducked for cover, in the process making an uncharacteristic
misstep when he said he’d been in touch with acting Gov. Steve
Sweeney, who took on the role because Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno also
was absent from the state during the storm.
But Sweeney denied he’d spoken to the governor forcing Christie to
admit he’d misspoke. But despite attempts from Democrats to make the
snow stick to the governor, all thoughts quickly turned to the sewer.
In late January the governor axed six of seven commissioners at
the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission. The move once again put
Christie in the spotlight as a governor unafraid to take on the political
establishment.
The governor took on another long-sacred institution in February
with the proposal for sweeping changes to tenure and teacher
compensation, making good on his word that 2011 would be the year
of education reform and drawing fire from the teachers union.
The busy month culminated with Christie’s unveiling of the budget,
which he dubbed the “new normal,” proclaiming the state would no
longer continue to fund every program as it had in the past. Some
fuzzy math proved useful to Christie’s cost cutting narrative as a shuffling
of pension contributions allowed the governor to claim another
year of spending cuts.
The governor did restore much of the education funding he had
slashed in 2010 – funding he was forced to increase after a special
master ruled his school aid formula invalid.
Democrats said the new normal was nothing more than the same
old same old, accusing the governor of putting off pension payments
into the future and setting the scene for a major battle to come.
In April, state Republicans suffered one of the few defeats of the
Christie era when Rutgers Professor Alan Rosenthal, the tie-breaking
member of the state’s redistricting commission, voted in favor of the
map put forth by Democrats. The vote all but assured Democratic
control of the state legislature for the short term and possibly for the
next decade.
Republicans chastised the new map, calling it far too tilted toward
Democrats, but claimed it was at least better than the current one.
Christie had been heavily invested in the process and the party’s bitterness
toward the map was evident.
The biggest test of Christie’s political muscle took shape in early
spring as proposals to increase public worker contributions to pension
and health benefit programs began to pick up steam.
The push for benefit reform fomented massive discontent among
the unions and lead to several emotional outpourings on the Statehouse
steps. But Christie and legislative Republicans continued to
push alongside Senate President Steve Sweeney , long a champion
of the reforms and Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver, a convert to the
cause. With the aid of Democrats in both houses, Republicans bucked
the unions and rammed home a bill.
Support from Sweeney and Oliver sparked a near civil war in the
Democratic caucus. The fracture among pro-union Democrats and
pragmatic party members like Sweeney has not fully healed and may
carry over into the coming year as the governor attempts to push home
education reform.
Next up was the budget battle. Democrats were determined to knock
Christie off his perch, but remained disorganized after the dispiriting
pension benefits battle. In an attempt to stake their claim, the party
submitted their own budget using their own version of fuzzy math.
Using the full power of his office, Christie slashed the Democrats’
budget, cutting programs – such as transitional aid – that had been
included in his first submission. Petty cuts such as one to a residential
center for abused children had Democrats howling and even some
Republicans questioning the governor’s vindictive nature.
The budget episode led to one of the most candid public exchanges
in gold dome history as Sweeney went ballistic, calling Christie a
“bully and a punk” in an interview with the Star Ledger. The big men
patched things up but it was clear Sweeney felt used.
Christie’s flourishing national profile set the stage for a fall unlike any
other in Trenton’s recent memory. Pulled in by the siren song of national
Republicans, Christie once again flirted with a run for president.
The governor had many times declared he had no interest in the
job, but as October approached – and with it the deadlines for entering
state primaries – Christie was on the fence. A breathless week
followed as the media hung on the governor’s every word hoping for
a hint of his intentions. In the end, the answer remained the same as
Christie declared before a national audience that his work in New
Jersey is not yet done.
“You’re stuck with me,” he said.
With the unfavorable map lines adopted in April the GOP entered
November with little hope of altering the make-up of the legislature.
The governor and state GOP leaders worked hard to downplay expectations
and in the end they proved prescient as Republicans lost a seat
in the Assembly and maintained their 16 seats the Senate.
So what’s next for the governor with the affinity for the fight?
In nixing his presidential bid, Christie left the door open should
he get the nod for V.P. Many pundits say it’s unlikely given that the
governor’s chosen candidate, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt
Romney, is like Christie a northeast Republican and would likely go
for a more geographically suitable number 2. Christie himself said the
choice is unlikely citing his own penchant for the spotlight.
Rumors continue to surface that Christie has no plans to stand for
reelection in 2013, but so far they remain rumors.
26 PolitickerNJ

PolitickerNJ.com
year in review 2011
PolitickerNJ.com
Year in review 2011
Politician of the Year
gov. chris christie
This year’s award for “Politician of the Year” is a repeat for Gov. Chris
Christie, who also took the honor in 2010.
Whether you love him or hate him, agree with him or despise his
every move, you simply cannot ignore Christie’s prowess as a politician.
Like no other elected official in recent memory the Republican governor
has placed a stranglehold on the storyline that emerges from the capital,
bending and shaping it into a narrative of which he approves.
Granted, this year’s parade of W’s by the governor is not as impressive
as 2010’s round-up, but 2011 saw Christie become a national brand, as at
home at the Koch Brothers’ annual wealthy-Republican-donor fest as
he was at a fundraiser for a state senate candidate from Morris County.
The year started poorly for the governor as his absence during a late
December snowstorm had critics taking pot shots well into the New
Year. But a good politician learns from his mistakes. Not only did Christie
use the criticism as fodder for future laughs, but the administration’s
response during Hurricane Irene was spot on, allowing the Governor to
burnish his tough guy image with the now famous command to “get the
hell off the beach,” and erase doubts about his disaster preparedness.
At times it felt like the governor was warring on dozens of fronts with
skirmishes breaking out over jobs bills, toll rollbacks, affordable housing,
education reform and school funding. But despite repeated attempts
to knock him off course and a major setback suffered when a special
master ruled the state’s school funding formula was inadequate, Christie
continued to march on.
The big daddy of all battles began in February with the introduction
of legislation that would increase the contributions required of state
workers for their pensions and health benefits. What had been a contentious
relationship between the governor and the public workers unions
became downright nasty. Workers protested outside the statehouse
with vitriol, demanding the governor allow the unions to bargain their
benefits in time honored tradition.
The unions continued to howl when Democrats- including the leadership
of both houses – signed onto the measure, giving the governor
enough votes to make it law.
From a policy standpoint, it’s arguably Christie’s largest victory. From
a politics standpoint, it was a thing to behold. By wrapping up the backing
of Senate President Steve Sweeney - a union member who has long
championed benefits reform – and Speaker Sheila Oliver, Christie not
only ensured he had the votes necessary but sent the Democratic caucus
spiraling off into civil war.
Many members, including Majority Leader Joe Cryan, argued
vehemently against the measure as an abandonment of the Democratic
base. Union leaders vowed revenge against Democrats in the November
legislative elections and Republicans stood back to avoid the blood.
In the end, discord over the issue led to the ouster of Cryan – one of
Christie’s fiercest critics- from a leadership role.
The weak-kneed Democratic caucus fared little better in the annual
budget battle, making a half hearted attempt to back Christie into a corner.
But as his style, the governor punched his way out, in the end using
one of the most powerful perks of the most powerful governorship in the
nation - the line item veto- to get the budget he wanted.
In September, the dormant Christie for President rumors resurfaced
and quickly drowned out all other news. The speculation over the governor’s
intentions ramped up as anonymous “insider” after anonymous
“insider” added fuel to the flames. Christie himself fanned the inferno
when he gave a foreign-policy laced speech at the Reagan library and
refused to directly answer questions about his presidential aspirations.
Christie played the buzz like a political maestro, allowing it to go on
long enough to stock the state GOP coffers with money from donors
anxious to curry favor with the potential presidential contender. Just
as his indecision was beginning to draw ridicule from pundits and press
alike, Christie doused the flames in a press conference that was covered
live by a breathless national media.
By declaring his job in New Jersey unfinished, Christie left his now
golden brand intact and immediately put himself in the running for
a 2016 bid, becoming the immediate front runner should President
Obama prevail in November.
Christie did not escape the year unscathed and unlike in 2010,
Democrats scored some points. His loss at the redistricting table and
later during legislative mid-terms was devastating to his future agenda.
A host of slip-ups during the year – a helicopter ride to his son’s baseball
game, a reputation for vindictiveness created after the budget battle and
strengthened during his latest bout with state Senator and former Gov.
Dick Codey and a request to “take out the bat” on state Sen. Loretta
Weinberg – left his once Teflon shell scratched.
But despite the setbacks, Christie remains a dominant political force.
PolitickerNJ 27

PolitickerNJ.com
year in review 2011
Winner of the Year
George Norcross
South Jersey Democratic Leader
South Jersey political boss and insurance
executive George Norcross had a good year. As
if he needed it.
The power player with the loyal Democratic
following maintained his control of the Senate
via Senate President and childhood friend Steve
Sweeney and barged his way into the assembly
leadership structure by shoehorning Assemblyman
Lou Greenwald into the mix, in the process
ousting rival and resident pea under the King’s
mattress Joe Cryan.
His most critical victories started early in
the year when several loyalists ended up on the
redistricting commission that likely awarded
control of the legislature to the Democratic
Party for the next ten years. The Democrats’ use
of Norcross counsel Bill Castner as the caucus’s
legal brain proved an excellent choice when it
came to driving arguments with tiebreaking Redistricting
Commissioner Prof. Alan Rosenthal,
who decided in the Democrats’ favor.
Not only did the new map enable Norcross to
dominate on Election Day, as his entire South
Jersey stable of politicians won their races, it
also allowed him to strengthen his hand with the
pick-up of a seat in the 4th Legislative District.
Most impressively, Norcross also played the
lead role in securing the votes necessary for
Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-34) to return to her
chair of power for another two years.
Wobbling in the face of a determined challenge
from Assembly Majority Leader Cryan
(D-20), Essex County and Oliver looked
to Norcross for help. Democrats in Passaic,
Middlesex and Bergen counties waited for a
sign that the battle leaned toward Cryan or
Oliver before deciding who to back.
Wanting to preserve his alliance with Essex
County Executive Joe DiVincenzo in large part
to maintain South Jersey’s control of the state
Senate, Norcross prepared to deliver 13 South
Jersey delegation members to Oliver.
But the speaker would need more than the
Norcross contingent to make up for a divided
delegation in her home county of Essex.
Norcross went to powerful state Sen. Nick
Sacco (D-32), who in exchange for a Hudson
seat in Assembly leadership, agreed to lower
his heel on a Cryan-led insurrection that would
have supported the majority leader over Oliver
for speaker.
Sacco’s five Hudson votes for Oliver showed
strength for her return to the speakership,
swung the rest of the delegation into the Oliver
camp and doomed Cryan’s chances at unseating
his rival.
A relieved Essex County DiVincenzo wing
of the party made the case in the aftermath that
Essex remains king as a generator of Democratic
Party votes. But the stealth-like role Norcross
played on Oliver’s behalf enabled him at the end
of the battle to rightly declare the most definitive
backroom victory.
Loser of the Year
Joe Cryan
As the former state Democratic Party
chairman, Cryan built a fierce fan club among
Democratic rank and file, particularly the
“working men and women” of organized labor.
It would not overstate matters to say that
the Assembly Majority Leader was beloved
among his base political backers.
In June, Cryan very publicly denounced
his own party leadership, accusing them
of selling out their labor base. But Cryan’s
voice, while loud, went unheard as Democrats
joined Republicans in enacting pension
and benefit legislation that vastly altered the
labor relations dynamic in New Jersey.
The June legislative policy loss set Cryan
up for his inevitable last stand. Knowing
Democrats led by the Norcross/DiVincenzo
wing of the party would strip him of his assembly
majority leadership powers in part
for being on the wrong side of the pen/ben
issue, Cryan counter-attacked by challenging
DiVincenzo’s speaker, Sheila Oliver.
From the outset, Cryan knew the intersection
of public work and elected office was too
compelling, and Norcross’s and DiVincenzo’s
control of that crossroads too great, to win.
But rather than yield, he fought anyway,
contributing heavily to competitive campaigns
and relentlessly working caucus
members for their support.
His main pitch was that caucus Democrats
had to define their arguments more dramatically
against Christie rather than satisfy
themselves with the pre-brokered deals
handed down by Essex, South Jersey and the
front office.
Employed as a public sector Union County
undersheriff who once served as Jon Corzine’s
main attack dog, Cryan had little ability
from the beginning to work with Christie,
who stewed over the Democrat’s campaign
trail invective. As such, he knew he might
not be the best messenger for the overthrow,
and entertained the idea that one of his core
caucus allies - John McKeon, Valerie Huttle
or Jason O’Donnell - might prove a better
alternative speaker candidate.
But in the end, when Norcross and his allies
routed his forces, destroyed the rebellion,
and looked to mete out punishment, Cryan,
onetime statewide power player, headed wearily
for the back bench.
The most willing fighter, the highest level
and most vocal champion, fell the farthest
and bore the worst wounds of his fight.
28 PolitickerNJ

PolitickerNJ.com
year in review 2011
Quote of the Year
‘There are no Democrats or Republicans,
there are only R.O.— Registered Opportunists.’
—attorney Michael Critchley
on New Jersey’s political parties
Rising Stars
Jennifer Taylor
Michael Muller’s acolyte played a pivotal role in winning
all of the battleground contests in which her boss
was the Democrats’ major strategist. She has put herself
in a position now where Muller relies on her, and that
is a powerful position when you consider that Muller is this year’s
operative of the year.
Al Barlas
Schooled by state Sen. Kevin O’Toole (R-40), Cedar Grove,
the new Essex County Republican chairman is an inside
operator who buffed his political cred in Monmouth County
as a staffer of Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon (R-13). In
the backrooms for both legislative and congressional redistricting, he’s
just hitting his stride now as an up-and-coming Republican backroom
player.
Your voice in government. Your advantage in business.
Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies is a bipartisan government relations firm
with the people, experience, and credibility with policy makers to make sure
our client’s voice is heard in New Jersey and in Washington, D.C.
Jeffrey L. Nash
Suite 300, Liberty View | 457 Haddonfield Road | Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
856.910.5003 | jnash@cozen.com
www.copublicstrategies.com
© 2011 Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies
PolitickerNJ 29

PolitickerNJ.com
year in review 2011
Winner of the Year, Runners-Up
lou stellato
There were some muffled laughs when the
former mayor of Lyndhurst became the new
Bergen County Democratic Chairman. After
Joe Ferriero’s meltdown and the tentative,
winless tenure of Mike Kasparian, who in
his right mind could possibly want the job?
Stellato did. A local political animal who
loved executive power, Stellato threatened to
challenge state Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-36) until
Sarlo helped broker the deal to make the
former Lyndhurst mayor chairman. Alert to
the doubters, Stellato said wins at the county
level would immediately make him credible.
He ended up leading a team that swept: David
Ganz and Joan Voss for two freeholder seats
and John Hogan for the clerk’s seat.
John Wisniewski
Post Joe Cryan, Wisniewski took over
at the state Democratic Committee as a
less than foundationally secure and hardly
scintillating substitute. He scrapped with
the mayor in his home county’s biggest town
and appeared to do little in his time in the
Democratic Caucus to secure the hearts
and minds of his colleagues. But despite his
detractors, Wisniewski has won battles all
year long. As the chairman of the Democrats’
redistricting team he watched the party walk
away with a map that could keep them in
control for a decade. He also was victorious
in a Middlesex County war over the successor
to Joe Spicuzzo, and scored wins across
the board on Election Day. While some in his
party persisted in taking pot shots from the
shadows, this future gubernatorial contender
was consistently unafraid to publicly take on
Gov. Chris Christie.
Troy Singleton
Yes, we know he had the South Jersey
empire behind him, but the affable Singleton
used his long-worked contacts in the Assembly
office gained from his days as staffer there and
in labor from his role as an organizer for the
Carpenters Union, to catapult himself into the
Assembly in LD 7. Those connections – plus
his early popularity in the caucus – put Singleton
on a fast track to leadership at this early
stage of his career as an elected official.
felix roque
When Hudson County political hangers-on
watched Roque show up at events in combat
boots, all but snapping salutes at grunt level
recruits, they delightedly sized up the ex-Army
colonel as an ego maniac, greatly out of his
political depth. A doctor specializing in pain
management, the establishment gave Roque
little chance of putting the hurt on incumbent
Silverio “Sal” Vega. But Roque worked a consistent
change message, rode voter dismay over
the Hudson County Democratic Organization
and finally blew Vega out of office.
Jeff Chiesa
Schooled by Gov. Chris Christie at the U.S.
Attorney’s Office, Chiesa surprised no one
when he showed up in the cabinet as the governor’s
chief counsel. As potent as he has been in
that role, according to insiders, he stands now
to put his biggest indentation on New Jersey to
date as Christie’s choice to succeed Paula Dow
in the office of state attorney general. Unlike
Dow, who burnished the governor’s bi-partisan
credentials and was named to the post in a nod
to Essex County, Chiesa is a true insider. That
worries some Democrats who fear the close
tie between the front office and the state’s chief
law enforcement agency.
30 PolitickerNJ

EDUCATORS IN THE LEAD
for
GREAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS
THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
Joyce Powell, President
Barbara Barbara Keshishian, Keshishian, Vice President President
Wendell Steinhauer, Vice President
Wendell Steinhauer, Secretary-Treasurer
Marie Blistan, Secretary-Treasurer
Vincent Giordano, Executive Director
Vincent Giordano, Executive Director
Richard Gray, NJEA Assistant Executive Director/
Richard Gray, NJEA Assistant Executive
Research Director
Director/Research Director
PolitickerNJ 31

PolitickerNJ.com
year in review 2011
Pollster of the Year
Jeffrey Plaut
Global Strategies
Democratic Party insiders say the Global
Strategies operative was dead-on in his work
for the Assembly Democratic Committee.
Operative of the Year
Mike Muller
The veteran political consultant had his best
year yet interfacing with a wide range of Democratic
contests
around the state,
most critically
providing daily
strategic input
to battlegrounds
2, 14, 38, 7,
and the LD 20
Democratic
Primary, where
his candidates all won. Muller was also a backroom
player for the Ds in both legislative and
congressional redistricting.
Strategist of the Year
Nick Sacco
The only reason the
Hudson County Democratic
Organization (HCDO) didn’t
make it onto this year’s list as
a runner-up for loser of the
year is because we ran out
of room. The loss of HCDO
soldier Sal Vega in West New
York showed the weakness of the once vaunted
machine, exploited further when Sacco bucked
Chairman Mark Smith and went underground
himself to line up the votes for Speaker Sheila
Oliver. By personally taking action in the face
of a low bore and ultimately disorganized
insurrection, Sacco accomplished at least four
things. He secured a budget chairmanship for
Hudson County; presented himself as the face
of Hudson to George Norcross and delivered
on the deal; showed his own ability within the
HCDO to step forward at any given time and
take charge; and expanded his own power
against that of longtime neighboring rival
Brian P. Stack of Union City. Sacco took a hit
in December when a former employee came
forward with a sexual harassment claim, that is
likely to play out in the year to come.
Legislator of the Year
Steve Sweeney
It truly must have been unnerving for
Sweeney to stand in the shadow of Chris
Christie as the governor lapped up national
headlines for his work on pension and benefits
reforms. After all,
it was Sweeney
who first stood at
a podium back in
2005 and called
for the reforms.
Unsung on the
one hand, and
excoriated as a
Benedict Arnold
in the circles of
public worker
leaders on the other, Sweeney nonetheless
could quietly claim prime mover credit for the
legislation overhauling the state’s pension and
benefits system.
Do you want to help
Create Jobs
Decrease Courtroom Backlogs
Attract and retain the country’s top physicians
Reduce local governments’ tax liability
Get New Jersey working again?
Legal Reform: Be Part of the Solution.
Learn More at njlra.org
Facebook.com/NJLRA
Twitter.com/NJLRA
32 PolitickerNJ

PolitickerNJ.com
year in review 2011
Operative of the Year, Runners-Up
Loretta
Weinberg
Backroom Operator
The unsuccessful candidate for lieutenant
governor and veteran progressive legislator
teamed up with George Norcross and Nick
Sacco to help boot Barbara Buono and take
over the job of senate majority leader.
Adam Silverstein
Bergen County
Democratic operative
Silverstein was the brains behind unleashing
a damning ad against incumbent Bergen
County Clerk Lisa Randall. The YouTube
video showed the clerk running her own errands,
apparently during work hours. Behind
the scenes – and loud enough for PolitickerNJ.com
to hear – GOP leaders groaned at
the effectives of the ad while watching the
bottom drop out on their clerk candidate’s
chances.
Thom Ammirato
Veteran North Jersey
GOP operative
Ammirato made North Bergen Mayor Nick
Sacco’s life miserable over the course of a few
weeks last spring when he laid on a heavy barrage
of excellently researched dirt that bewildered
the long-serving incumbent. Trying to
be hip, Sacco cut a rap video for YouTube that
he thought would be his ticket to a walkover reelection.
But Ammirato dug into the mayor’s
dirty laundry, attacking with charges of triple
dipping, patronage and records of political
threats out of City Hall that brought Team
Sacco out of their arm chairs.
John Duthie
Bob Gordon’s
Campaign Manager
When the legislative map landed Sen. Bob
Gordon in a tougher district, the Democratic
Party enlisted campaign-tested Duthie to
manage the wonkish Democratic incumbent.
Duthie maintained a highly energetic work
rate for the willing Gordon and was able to
highlight the interconnectivity of the Dems’
ticket, which included newcomer Tim Eustace,
and Assemblywoman Connie Wagner,
both of whom brought complementary
strengths to Gordon’s candidacy.
Joe DeMarco
Campaign Manager,
Roque for Mayor
Jersey City born and bred, DeMarco had
spent enough of his adult life in Somerset
County to spur some Hudson County glee
when he showed up in West New York to
manage the campaign of outsider Felix
Roque. But throughout the campaign – one
in which DeMarco spent nights often curled
up in the bay window of campaign HQ to get
a few hours’ sleep in between salvos – the energetic
and street smart operative did what it
took to put his candidate in a position to win,
which Roque did.
congratulations
to Darryl and the
PolitickerNJ.com Team
on another great year.
CR
CHRIS RUSSELL Consulting, LLC
General Consulting &
Direct Mail for Republicans
Phone: 732 556-0717
Email: crussell@chrisrussellconsulting.com
Web: www.chrisrussellconsulting.com
CR ad4.indd 1
PolitickerNJ 12/20/11 7:51 PM 33

PolitickerNJ.com
year in review 2011
Loser of the Year, Runners-Up
Jon girgenti
It helps to have allies in politics, and
Girgenti had one in fellow veteran state
Sen. Dick Codey (D-27). But when Codey
lost his senate presidency, Girgenti had no
contingency plan. When it came time to cut
up districts and create room for Latinos in
elected office, Democrats had little difficulty
making a casualty out of Girgenti, whose
back was uncovered.
Domenick
DiCicco, Jr.
From the day in 2009 when he won election
to his 4th District Assembly seat, DiCicco
started vying with Assemblyman Vince
Polistina for the role of future South Jersey
Republican senator. Like Polistina, DiCicco
slapped his name on high profile legislation
as he attempted to make his mark with voters
in hopes of one day challenging state Sen.
Fred Madden (D-4). DiCicco never even got
an audition with voters as Democrats on the
redistricting commission secured a map that
dislocated DiCicco from his own district and
prevented him from mounting a challenge to
Madden that was two years in the making.
DiCicco, who was moved to the 3rd District,
went on to run for re-election to the Assembly.
He never stood a chance as the Democratic
incumbents there routed him.
The
Republican
Party
Anytime an entity works as
hard at lowering expectations as
the state GOP did this year, you
know things ain’t good. With a
devastating loss on the legislative
map, the GOP went into
legislative mid-terms downplaying
their chances of picking up
a seat – rightly so it turns out –
and quoting decades of statistics
showing mid-terms are not kind
to the sitting governor. Short of
another wave of public corruption arrests,
the GOP stands little chance over the decade
to come of picking up enough seats in either
house to take control.
Public sector
workers
It was Assemblyman Tom Giblin (D-34)
who stood outside the State House Annex
this year and told New Jersey’s legions of
public soldiers that they were getting kicked
in the ass. It was true. By the time Christie and
his Democratic colleagues finished, public
workers would pay more for their pension and
health benefits, despite months of angry back
and forth between the unions and the governor.
In losing the battle, the unions lost some
of their ferocity, with at least one member
lamenting that collective bargaining had been
reduced to “arguing over bathroom breaks.”
Barbara
Buono
The senate majority leader
proved a feisty foil to state Senate
President Steve Sweeney
(D-3), and paid for it, too, when
she was given the heave-ho out
of leadership. The stealth factor
made Buono’s plummet out of her
leadership chair that much more
shocking. One minute she was the senate majority
leader – and the next she was watching
fellow progressive state Sen. Loretta Weinberg
(D-37) eagerly bypassing her for the secondin-command
sash. The diss dropped Buono
at a time when she continues to try to build a
platform for a 2013 challenge of Christie.
34 PolitickerNJ

PolitickerNJ.com
year in review 2011
More Quotes of the Year
‘So when Christie announced the other day that
Adubato Jr.’s corporation will be taking over the task
of providing television coverage of New Jersey politics,
a reporter naturally asked whether the governor had talked
this over with Adubato Sr. Christie said no. I believe him.
No one ever gets to discuss anything with Adubato Sr.
You just sit and listen.’
—columnist Paul Mulshine
Congratulations
to all of those who are committed to making a difference,
whether on the battlefield, in the political arena, in the
classroom or in the boardroom.
National Research Inc.
732-817-1088
www.nationalresearchinc.com
PolitickerNJ 35

PolitickerNJ.com
year in review 2011
Best campaigns
Dick Codey
New Jersey’s Comeback Kid
Banished into back bench oblivion by George
Norcross and Essex County Executive Joe
DiVincenzo in 2009, Codey faced the unpleasant
possibility that his enemies would redistrict
him into an unwinnable legislative district. Well,
they couldn’t quite pull that off, but they did
manage to slot Codey in a more competitive
district that included a chunk of GOP-dominant
Morris County. With $2 million in the bank,
Codey started taking his swings early, sending
flowers to Morris County Democratic
Chairman Lou Candura, blanketing Morris
with Codey signs, then proceeding to schmooze
Republicans, removing whole sections of
GOP infrastructure from his opponent. His
challenger, by the way, was supposed to have
been a millionaire lawyer designed to drain the
political life out of Codey with his own bank
account. When that guy lost, the GOP had a Tea
Partier on their hands who drove the establishment
into Codey’s open arms. Codey ultimately
pulled in more than 60 percent of the vote. The
prospective 2013 gubernatorial challenger put
the perfect ending on his campaign courtesy of
the Star-Ledger when the front page headline
dealt the night’s loss to Chris Christie above a
four column photo of a beaming Codey.
Linda Greenstein
Planet Greenstein
The 14th Legislative District is now officially
Greenstein’s shooting gallery. For the second
year in a row, the Plainsboro product defeated
a serious challenger, in both cases a Hamilton
brand. After capsizing Tom Goodwin out of
office last year, Greenstein easily defeated
Richard Kanka in November, even more impressively
recording more votes than her GOP
challenger in his hometown of Hamilton. Part
of the key to Greenstein’s victory was her hairtrigger
response to Kanka’s campaign launch by
wrenching the backing of Kanka’s own plumbers
and pipefitters local onto her side before the
challenger could appeal to his union brothers.
Felix Roque
The Consummate Underdog
Only in New Jersey can an Army colonel be
laughed at as a political outsider and no-hoper
because he spent time in uniform defending his
country rather than strutting around the local
scene in shark skin suits and wing tips. But fed
up with high taxes, the public loved Roque’s
American success story and took pride in a
kid from Cuba growing up in West New York
and becoming not just an officer but a medical
doctor. When the opposition tried to write him
off as an elitist, Roque good-naturedly played
along, promising to keep the Bentley parked
and campaigning in a Smart car. Part of the
doctor’s success came from sheer persistence
in the face of public attacks. Fearing reprisals in
the event that incumbent Mayor Sal Vega won
re-election, many of Roque’s supporters stayed
underground while the candidate held low-key
fundraisers and delighted in the company of
former heavyweight champ Larry Holmes.
Carlstadt Mayor
William Roseman’s
Re-election
It’s a fairly competitive town to begin with,
yet Republican Mayor William Roseman not
only won re-election, but pulled his team in
with him despite battling official misconduct
charges for keeping his ex-wife on the borough’s
health plan for years after the couple’s
divorce. Bill Musto and Anthony Suarez would
have been proud.
3rd District Senate Challenger
Mike Mulligan
Democrats told Mulligan that if he wanted
to pick a fight with state Senate President
Steve Sweeney he ought to have at least
a bazooka in the trunk of his car. The Tea
Party-endorsed LD3 attorney had very few
resources to compete against a senator with
the second heftiest campaign war chest in the
state. But Mulligan worked the press, citing
Cumberland as the number one county where
residents complain about being unhappy, the
unpopularity of President Barack Obama,
Gov. Chris Christie’s positive poll numbers,
the implosion of former Cumberland County
Democratic Chairman Lou Magazine, and
the prospect of off-year, low voter turnout. He
eked out enough clippings and stayed focused
enough throughout not to make it a dogfight
exactly but to come closer to unseating the
senate president than most expected: 20,197 to
25,299 votes.
Quote of the Year Runner-Up
‘You have a bunch of legislators and lobbyists
packed together drinking at 11 in the morning.
What could go wrong?’
—Anonymous political insider on why
he doesn’t ride the Chamber train
36 PolitickerNJ

PolitickerNJ.com
year in review 2011
Worst campaigns
Phil Mitsch
for Senate
For future campaigns: You know something
has gone terribly, terribly wrong when your
candidate keeps repeating the words “whore
in the bedroom.” In another example of the
horrors of Twitter ending up in the wrong
hands, the hapless Mitsch dispensed an overcooked
Jerry Hall quote as if it were Confucian
profundity, then spent the rest of his 15
minutes trying to explain while simultaneously
imploding. It was very ugly by the end, with
the candidate attempting a mea culpa, which
the Camden County Republican Organization
interpreted as too self-serving before publicly
cutting loose the flailing 6th District challenger.
Of course, following the pummeling from
his own party, incumbent state Sen. Jim Beach
buried an already heavily lumped up Mitsch on
Election Day, 62.1% to 37.9%.
The Public Sector
worker effort
to stop Christie
They brought armies equipped with bullhorns
and State Street presence to confront
Christie’s proposed reform of pensions and
health benefits. Ultimately though, the unions
failed to capture the imagination and sympathies
of the general public. With the leaders
of the collective bargaining movement doing
their best Abbie Hoffman acts, desperately
reaching back into a 1960s grab bag of angry
oratory, the protests did little to sway the vote.
Christie must have been reveling with political
pals as the angry rhetoric ramped up, culminating
in a dreadful derailment when CWA
leader Chris Shelton likened the governor to
Hitler.
16th District
Democrats
The Democrats put themselves in striking
distance to have a shot at winning an assembly
seat here in the newly configured 16th. They
may yet succeed in a special election next
year. The candidates worked hard enough and
stayed aggressive throughout to come close to
meriting consideration for a runners-up slot
for campaign of the year. But it was a low-blow
mailer targeting Assemblyman Pete Biondi’s
attendance record that lands them on this list.
As the ad surfaced, Biondi told reporters he
was battling cancer. Somerset County Democratic
Chairwoman Peg Schaffer claimed she
had no idea Biondi was ill, but defended the
move once she found out.
“He has my empathy but I still think it’s
an issue for the voters to deal with,” Schaffer
told the Courier News. “I don’t want to sound
callous, but it’s a sad fact of reality. The voters
elected him to do the job (and) I think the
voter gets to decide.”
Voters did decide, electing Biondi to
another term. The Republican died three days
after the election..
Delany for
Assembly
State Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-37) used to
offer wise advice about keeping spouses away
from political campaigns. She learned the hard
way, apparently, with a husband who couldn’t
stand to see the feisty Jewish grandmother
attacked. More applicable words could never
have been more welcome than in the 8th Legislative
District, where Pat Delany couldn’t keep
his wife away from a computer keypad. He was
already out of the race, hobbled in part by family
woes and very likely thankful to have the
debacle behind him when news surfaced that
the Mrs. sent a racially tinged email to Carl
Lewis. It dragged Delany into an unforgiving
maelstrom went national.
Sullivan
for Senate
In the waning days of redistricting, Essex
Fells Councilman William Sullivan might have
had the same drape over himself the military
reserves for secret hi-tech weapons. He had
all the makings of the perfect candidate to
challenge Dick Codey in a newly rearranged
27th District: local success, establishment
backing, a big thumbs up from the front office,
and – huge plus coming up – money. Republicans
loved that matchup. Maybe Sullivan
couldn’t beat Codey – not yet. But a credible
effort could position the polished attorney for
a 2013 run. The trouble is Sullivan relied on
the establishment to put together his primary
campaign in precisely that district where the
most energized Tea Party contender in the
state happened to reside. Sullivan blew off debates,
put the primary on cruise control, didn’t
return calls from low level operatives – or the
press - and lost the primary to William Eames.
It was a rather embarrassing establishment
Republican episode that had Codey appropriately
cackling.
PolitickerNJ 37

PolitickerNJ.com
year in review 2011
Cage Match
Christie v. Codey
Keeping in mind that the two could face
each other two years from now in the battle for
gubernatorial supremacy, Gov. Chris Christie
brought the pain early to Sen. Dick Codey. In a
move that was equal parts Niccolo Machiavelli
and Macho Man Randy Savage, Christie went
straight for Codey’s jugular in nixing the former
governor’s state funded car and security
detail and firing two Codey allies from their
government jobs. The retaliation from the
Gov. was launched after the Guv demanded an
apology from the Gov. for a trademark tongue
lashing he delivered to the Guv.
Mark Sheridan v.
Bill Tambussi
The state’s biggest legal showdown featured
Democrat Bill Tambussi against Republican
Mark Sheridan. Tambussi represented LD
8 Senate candidate Carl Lewis against a suit
filed by the Burlington GOP, questioning the
Olympian’s residency status. Sheridan championed
Burlington County Republican Chairman
Bill Layton. It was a stamina test as much
as anything as each side appealed alternating
rulings until an appellate court reversed itself
and determined Lewis’s ineligibility to run for
elected office.
Kim Guadagno v.
Carl Lewis
When Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno
– acting in her capacity as secretary of state -
overruled a judge and removed state Senate
candidate Carl Lewis from the LD 8 ballot,
the Olympian fought back, arguing that the
Christie Administration directive was a politically
motivated decision. Guadagno stood by
her directive, setting in motion a dramatic and
prolonged legal brouhaha.
Buono v. Sweeney
They didn’t get along in caucus. Senate
President Steve Sweeney’s (D-3) allies said it
was because Sen. Barbara Buono wants to run
for governor. Buono’s people said the Senate
majority leader thought Democrats should
be tougher on Christie. In the end, Sweeney’s
allies cut Buono loose and replaced her with
state Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-37).
Cryan v. Norcross
South Jersey willfully embraced pension
and benefits cuts, while Assemblyman Joe
Cryan (D-20) became the Trenton face of the
public workers. There was already a history of
Cryan being discomfited by South Jersey political
boss George Norcross and the pension
battle only intensified the divide. It cost Cryan
his Assembly majority leader position and a
shot at the speakership.
Codey v. O’Toole
The ongoing turf war between the two senators
- one Democrat and one Republican - carried
on this year in the backrooms as Sen. Kevin
O’Toole (D-40) attempted to weaken Sen. Dick
Codey (D-27) during redistricting, and Codey
used the challenge to ultimately prevail on Election
Day, warranting redoubled GOP efforts to
debilitate the Democratic Party veteran.
Lesniak v. Cryan
Assemblyman Joe Cryan (D-20) lost his
bid to consolidate leadership in the Assembly,
but this past year he demonstrated considerable
local organizing strength and was the
backbone of the LD 20 re-election campaign.
He could very well be a 2013 candidate for
Senate against former running mate Senator
Ray Lesniak (D-20).
Wisniewski v.
Buono/Vitale
During the redistricting process Assemblyman
John Wisniewski (D-19) presented a map
that would have pitted Sen. Barbara Buono
(D-18) against Sen. Joseph Vitale (D-19) in a
Democratic Primary. When the pair found out
about it they doubled up against the Sayreville
Assemblyman. Wisniewski allies insist he was
simply offering a possibility based on Prof.
Alan Rosenthal’s requests for a minority majority
map. But the senators took it personally
and vowed not to forget.
Weinberg v. Buono
The caucus’s two most voluble progressives
faced off again this year, and the results
were the same as their first match two years
ago. Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-37) edged
Sen. Barbara Buono (D-18) for the lieutenant
governor candidate slot in 2009, and this year
supplanted her as Senate majority leader.
38 PolitickerNJ

PolitickerNJ.com
year in review 2011
You Read It Here First
Redistricting Commissioners choose
tiebreaking member Prof. Alan Rosenthal
Joe Kyrillos opens exploratory committee
to run for U.S. Senate
Joe DiVincenzo simultaneously receiving
public retirement pension and salary
Rosenthal selects a Democratic map
The backroom deal lining up Oliver,
Lou Greenwald and Vincent Prieto for leadership
Barbara Buono’s ouster from Senate leadership
In LD8, Delany derailed by wife’s email to Lewis
Christie’s dismissal of Cricco and Manzo
from the New Jersey District Water Supply
Christie forces out commission members
from Passaic Valley Sewerage Authority
The GOP’s Latino narrative
for a new legislative map
Sweeney’s press for a South Jersey power plant
Rice blocks candidacy
of Acting Director Chris Cerf
State to seek U.S. Attorney General’s guidance
on medical marijuana law
Congressional redistricting commission agrees on
John farmer Jr. as 13th member
Port Authority Losing Millions
on risky “Swaps”
New Jersey single room surgery centers
donated heavily to lawmakers before bill
increasing regulation is heard
Mountain Creek execs forked over campaign
cash days before favorable bill made law
Happy Holidays & Happy New Year
Congratulations to the
215th Legislature!
Contact Info: Michael C. Muller
Telephone: 609-332-8503
E-mail: michaelcmuller@gmail.com
PolitickerNJ 39

People to Watch
Anna Little
The former Highlands Borough mayor has
declared her intent to challenge Menendez.
Some in the GOP fear she will play the role of
spoiler, but the feisty Tea Partier says she’s in
it to win.
Sen. Bob Menendez
Menendez is up for reelection in the coming
year and is sitting on a huge and growing
war chest with which to run. To date, his
challengers are limited to a unknown primary
opponent and former Highlands Borough
Mayor Anna Little
Chris Bollwage
Will the 20-year mayor of Elizabeth run for
another term against a battle-tested opposition
that beat his allies this year on the mayor’s
home turf, or will he retire and set his sights on
a 2013 gubernatorial bid?
Dick Codey
Codey’s profile as a statewide candidate
reemerged with a convincing win in GOP
dominated Morris County. But the state
Senator from Essex County took a thrashing
from Gov. Chris Christie in the waning days
of 2011. It remains to be seen if the retaliatory
strike from the governor is enough to motivate
Codey to challenge Christie in 2013.
Carlos Cedeno
The Elizabeth City councilman is the
likely challenger to Elizabeth Mayor Chris
Bollwage. The 2011 Democrats for Change
candidate lost the LD 20 Assembly contest,
but in the process demonstrated the strength
of his organization as he and his allies carried
Elizabeth. If he runs, Cedeno would have to
fight through a potentially weakend portion
of his base: the Elizabeth Board of Education,
which is under investigation.
Joe Kyrillos
The Republican from Monmouth County is
the front runner to challenge Democratic U.S.
Sen. Bob Menendez in November. Kyrillos has
not officially declared but look for the official
announcement early next year.
40 PolitickerNJ

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year in review 2011
Lou Greenwald
The South Jersey Assemblyman leaves his
spot as chairman of the budget committee for
his new role as Assembly majority leader. He’s
a man with ambition and some see him as a
one day gubernatorial challenger.
Jonathan Jaffe
and Bruno
Tedeschi
The communications firm run by the
two former newspaper reporters has had
early successes in two areas: municipality
consolidation and charter schools. As Gov.
Chris Christie drives the public debate
over schools reform, Jaffe and Tedeschi are
positioned to play a bigger role.
Mike Doherty
The Senator from Warren County has all
but confirmed he will not challenge Menendez
in the upcoming race, but he has no plans
to fade away. Look for Doherty to continue
to champion his school funding formula
as sources say the governor has shown the
willingness to listen.
Bob Yudin
Most insiders believe the Bergen County
Republican Organization chairman can hang
on for another term given the depth of his
influence within the committee. But it still
won’t be a walkover and some wonder whether
Bergen’s importance in the 2013 gubernatorial
race could mean a change in leadership.
Chris James
Speaker Sheila Oliver’s (D-34) right arm is
in the room for the big decisions and just now
hitting his stride as a Statehouse up-andcomer.
Jeff Jones
2010’s underdog winner of the year will
face his first election test in 2012 as council
members seek re-election in ward races
citywide. Jones and the council struck an
oppositional stance after Hurricane Irene. If
the mayor can knock one or more of them off
he will have made a statement.
Mark Smith
After presiding over a disastrous year for
the Hudson County Democratic Organization
(HCDO), Bayonne Mayor Mark Smith, chair
of the HCDO, faces very real questions about
whether U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) will
want him at the helm in an election year.
PolitickerNJ 41

PolitickerNJ.com
year in review 2011
In Memorium
Peter Frelinhuysen
Peter
Frelinghuysen
The patriarch of the New Jersey political
family and father of U.S. Rep. Rodney
Frelinghuysen served from 1952 to 1975
in the U.S. House of Representatives. The
Republican lawmaker is remembered as a
leader in the battle to block an airport from
being built on the site of the Great Swamp in
Morris County. Today, the federally protected
area is a wildlife refuge, part of which is
the U.S. Department of the Interior’s first
designated wilderness region. Frelinghuysen
was 95.
John Adler
The long-serving, Harvard-educated
former state Senator from Cherry Hill made
his move in 2008 with the retirement of
U.S. Rep. Jim Saxton. Adler fought a tough
general election battle to win New Jersey’s
3rd Congressional District seat. Two years
later, he fought an equally difficult contest
and - in a bad year for Democrats - finished
on the losing end. He died in April after heart
surgery, leaving a wife and four sons, and the
memory of an eloquent, always prepared and
ever tenacious South Jersey Democratic Party
competitor. He was 51
Peter Biondi
The former mayor of Hillsborough built a
strong base in his hometown with a combination
Peter Biondi
of political savvy and engaging personal
qualities. The Republican served for 13 years
in the assembly where he built a reputation as
a bipartisan-minded veteran. Stricken with
cancer, Assemblyman Biondi competed in his
last race this year, won, and died two days after
Election Day. He was 69.
Frank McDermott
The Union County Republican served
in the state Senate, working his way up
to become senate president. He ran for
governor in 1969 as part of a Republican
Primary field ultimately overcome by future
GOP Gov. William Cahill. A highly respected
local political resource in the area of his
hometown of Westfield, Senator McDermott
was remembered as both a consummate
politician and devoted family man. He was 87.
Maurice
Fitzgibbons
The beloved local Hoboken Democrat
served four years on the Hudson County
Freeholder Board and until the end of his life
this year at the age of 57, remained actively
involved in Hudson County politics. To many,
he was Hudson County politics.
Dunstan McNichol
The Pulitzer prize winning reporter who
worked most recently for Bloomberg died
suddenly in January. McNichol was a fixture
with the Star Ledger’s vaunted State House
bureau and won the Pulitzer as part of the
team that covered the resignation for former
Gov. Jim McGreevey. McNichol, 54, left
behind a son Jake and a wife, Michelle.
Michael J. Herbert
The highly respected attorney made
his mark in New Jersey as a municipal
counsel and as counsel to the New Jersey
Interscholastic Athletic Association. Often
called the “Dean” of the state’s municipal
attorneys, Herbert died in September at the
age of 73.
Carol Murphy
The former 26th District Assemblywoman
and BPU Commissioner died in December at
the age of 78.
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year in review 2011
In Memorium
Joe Leo
The former Middlesex County Republican
Chairman died in August. He was 73.
Brian O’Toole
The brother of state Senator Kevin O’Toole
(R-40), of Cedar Grove, died in May following
a battle with pancreatic cancer.
Rose McConnell
The former Somerset County Freeholder,
women’s mentor and community leader died
in April. She was 87.
Richard j. Martell
The Mayor of Mahwah for the past 14 years,
Martel died in March at the age of 72.
P.J. Mac Donald
The Belleville councilman, Essex County
Democratic Party insider and Irish-American
historian died this year after a long illness. He
was 69.
Catherine
“Kay” McGrath
Founder and, for more than 20 years, the
executive director of the Mercer Council on
Alcoholism and Drug Addiction, she was the
mother of Senate Democrats staffer Richard
McGrath. She died in December at 87.
Frank Salvato
The former mayor and township
committeeman from Warren Twp. died in
October. He was the state’s longest serving
elected official having served since 1938. He
was 92.
Joel Sterns
He served as chief legal counsel to
Governor Richard J. Hughes in 1968 and 1969,
and helped establish Atlantic City’s multibillion-dollar
casino gaming industry. He died
in February at 76.
James Zangari
The former Essex County Democratic
assemblyman died in February after a yearlong
battle with cancer. He was 81.
William Bate
The Passaic County surrogate judge died in
January at the age of 76. His career in politics
spanned five decades.
Elizabeth
McDonough
A former third-grade teacher in Scotch
Plains and wife of former state Senator Peter
J. McDonough, she died in January at the age
of 83.
John Brown
The state senator, Lakewood mayor and
father of the New Jersey lottery died in
November at 84.
Patrick McNally
The former Essex County clerk from
Verona who started his two decade political
career as a member of the Irvington School
Board died in September. He was 50.
Joel Sterns
John Adler
PolitickerNJ 43

Annette Catino and QualCare congratulate the incoming
2012-13 State Legislature, and we thank the departing
members for your service.
Congratulations as well to Governor Christie for his
continued service and the new leadership team:
Senate President Sweeney, Majority Leader Weinberg,
Speaker Oliver, and Majority Leader Greenwald!
QualCare has one of the most comprehensive networks of
physicians and health care providers in New Jersey.
800-992-6613
www.qualcareinc.com