Atlantic City’s mayoral debate will start at 7pm.  Watch the live-stream via the Press of Atlantic City here.

Political heavyweights from Bergen County – and from around the state – came together in the drizzle this morning to join former Senator Bob Gordon at the ribbon cutting of a new senior living complex, named in his honor.

Among the dignitaries in attendance: Senate President Sweeney (who made a lighthearted comparison of the two: ‘he’s small, I’m not; he reads, I don’t; he’s smart, I’m not’), AG Grewal, former Governor Florio, former First Lady Ruthi Byrne, Rep. Gottheimer, Senator Menendez (with new bride, Nadine), former Senators Kyrillos and Otoole, Assemblymembers Swain, Schepisi, Sumter, Johnson, Vainieri Huttle, and Calabrese, Senators Pou and Lagana, County Executive Tedesco, NJGOP Chairman Steinhardt, former Assemblymembers Eustace and Angelini, former Bergen Dems Chair Stellato, Hasbrouck Heights Councilman Hillmann, and PPAG’s Dale Florio.

Numerous county and local officials were on hand.

Receiving one of the biggest rounds of applause at the event – the former Senator’s wife, Gail Gordon.

Sweeney released the following statement on the event:

Senate President Steve Sweeney today praised former Senator Bob Gordon for his leadership in the Legislature and on the Board of Public Utilities and NJ Transit at the ribbon-cutting and unveiling ceremony for the “Senator Bob Gordon Senior Living Complex” in Fair Lawn.

“I am pleased to be here today to honor my good friend, Bob Gordon,” said Senator Sweeney (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland). “When it came time to choose a Conference Chair for the Senate Democratic Caucus, Bob was the logical choice because he was one of the smartest people to serve in the Senate, and he pored over the details and policy in every piece of legislation.”

The new independent living facility named for Senator Gordon in Fair Lawn includes 84 one-bedroom apartments for adults aged 55 and older that offer ample living space accessible by stairs and multiple elevators that accommodate assistive devices. The community will be supported by an on-site superintendent.

Senator Sweeney praised former Senator Gordon for his work on the BPU and the NJ Transit Board.

“Bob has always worked across the aisle and has always demonstrated his independence, including going against his own party’s leadership,” Senator Sweeney said. “He is making a tremendous contribution on the board of NJ Transit.”

Former Senator Gordon thanked Senate President Sweeney for his friendship and support, and for giving him the opportunity to chair the Senate Legislative Oversight Committee.

The Hunterdon Republican Chairman wants the mayor of Flemington to resign.

“While I don’t quite know where to begin, I do know where to end: Mayor Driver, you should resign and you should do it now,” Chairman Gabe Plumer wrote on his party organization’s Facebook page. “Your statement is antithetical to the principles of representative democracy. It is further proof that you do not represent the people of Flemington, the character of Hunterdon County, and the values of at least a part of the Democrat party. While I trust Republicans agree with me, I also call on Freeholder Candidate Heller and all current Flemington candidates to join me and many others in a bipartisan call for Mayor Driver’s immediate resignation.”

The statement in question was the following:

 Gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli likewise jumped on the post with a tweet.

“We’re all with him in thoughts, prayers, and we are here to do whatever we can for him,” Governor Phil Murphy said of former Governor Chris Christie, who remains hospitalized with COVID-19 in Morris County.

Murphy reached out to Christie via text last night, and said Christie’s reply was gracious in return.

“He’s a Jersey fighter,” said Masschusetts liberal Murphy.

Mayor Steven Fulop raised $150,000 last night at an outdoor fundraising event attended by over 100 supporters as well as numerous elected officials from throughout Jersey City. The new fundraising haul brings Mayor Fulop’s total cash on hand to nearly $1.4 Million between his individual and team campaign accounts.

“Our team has been steadily raising money to prepare for next year’s campaign, and after this most recent event we’re very confident that we will have the resources needed to get our message out and run a strong operation across all six wards and in all neighborhoods of our city,” said Fulop. “We’re very proud of our record and want to continue seeing our city move forward and complete the many exciting projects we’ve begun that are improving quality of life, bringing more jobs and opportunities to our residents and setting Jersey City on a path towards becoming the best mid-sized city in America. I’m looking forward to next year’s race and to an even brighter future for Jersey City.”

The event was attended by Council members Joyce Watterman, Daniel Rivera, Mira Prinze-Arey, Rich Boggiano, Yousef Saleh and Jermaine Robinson, as well as Assembly members Angela McKnight, Raj Mukherji and Nicholas Chiaravalloti, Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis, Hudson County Clerk Junior Maldonado, County Register Diane Coleman, Freeholders Jerry Walker, Anthony Romano and Ken Kopacz, Freeholder candidate Yraida Aponte-Lipski, Jersey City Democratic Chair Barbara Stamato and more.

Former Congressman Mike Ferguson (R-7) was present at last week’s infamous Rose Garden event where multiple individuals evidently came down with the coronavirus.

In this Deadline News treatment of the event, a picture shows Ferguson (unidentified) as he holds a phone to take a selfie with former Governor Chris Christie.

Christie is in a hospital now after having tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.

Governor Phil Murphy today said reports suggest the Bedminister fundraising event for President Donald J. Trump did not comply with NJ rules and regulations.

The New Jersey Attorney General’s office will now start investigating.

While he wishes Trump, the First Lady and Christie well, he said …

“…it is clear … The President came to New Jersey recklessly and came to New Jersey after having come in contact with someone who tested positive…”

IRVINGTON – “I dont think anyone expected an October Surprise of a sick president,” Belleville Mayor Mike Melham. “Nobody wants harm or bad [for anyone]. It could go the other way. He could get a little sympathy from people.”

During his widely panned debate performance, President Donald J. Trump gave New Jersey a shout-out when he referenced a compromised vote-by-mail process.

Melham also felt strongly that a VBM election would not not serve the people.

“I was the one that came out very outspoken against an all-vote-by-mail election,” he told InsiderNJ today. “They were using our May election as a guinea pig. We went from May to June, and I’m not concinved the post office or the state or the county officials responsible for this are up to the task.

“I am still against the mandated all-vote-by-mail election,” Melham said. [If a disabled New Jerseyan can vote in person], why can’t a voter go to a polling location?”

President Donald Trump’s political adviser and the campaign manager for his reelection effort, Bill Stepien, has also tested positive for the coronavirus, according to CNN.