An InsiderNJ week after Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-19) dropped a bill to reduce the cost of healthcare for public school teachers, Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-3) said it was going nowhere fast.

Elsewhere…

WHO’S UP

Jeff Martin

In a competitive November election, the Democratic candidate for mayor of Hamilton was the most obvious beneficiary this week by the news (see below) of charges filed against incumbent Republican Mayor Kelly Yaede and Yaede campaign manager Dan Scharfenberger.

Geri Jannarone

Emerge NJ, the state affiliate of Emerge America, the premier training program for Democratic women seeking to run for office, picked Jannarone as the organization’s vice chair. She is the Campaign Manager and Political Director for Congressman Frank Pallone, Democratic Municipal Chair of Brielle, former Field Director for the Phil Murphy for Governor campaign and former Director of Advocacy and Special Campaigns at Parano and Associates.

Gurbir S. Grewal

The New Jersey Attorney General this sent a letter to the U.S. government calling on officials “to protect the longstanding practice of approving requests for medical deferred action, the process by which the federal government allows individuals to remain in the United States in order to receive necessary medical care not available in their home countries.”

Christopher Kuburiet

The veteran attorney and prosecutor with nearly three decades of experience assumed the oath of office this week as acting Middlesex County Prosecutor. Kuburiet takes over for Andrew Carey, who distinguished himself on the job.

John Hogan

The Simon Wiesenthal Center honored the Bergen County Clerk with its “HEROES FOR TOLERANCE” award at pre-game ceremony on the field at Yankee Stadium.

WHO’S DOWN

Arthur Barclay

The Camden City Council pulled a resolution on the agenda for its Sept. 10 meeting to appoint the former Democratic assemblyman as a commissioner on the city’s parking authority. The Murphy administration told council members prior to the meeting that it would veto the appointment of the former lawmaker who resigned from the assembly after admitting to punching his girlfriend. “Frankly, I don’t know if Barclay calling it ‘business as usual’ or the fact George Norcross referred to him as a ‘mentor to many children in the City of Camden’ is worse,” said Camden County Republican Committee Chairman Rich Ambrosino. “Nowhere else in New Jersey would a guy who admitted to punching his girlfriend be called a ‘mentor’ to anyone.”

Kelly Yaede

Oh, dear God, what a dreadful week. The Trentonian reported that authorities charged the mayor of Hamilton “for her alleged role in the release of expunged criminal records of hated opponent, GOP challenger David Henderson.” According to columnist Jeff Edelstein, “Not ideal for her, not ideal for the township, more than ideal for Jeff Martin (see above), the council president and Democratic challenger who is running the perfect campaign, mostly by sitting back in a rocking chair while sipping lemonade and watching Yaede step on rakes scattered about the lawn.”

Dan Scharfenberger

Yaede’s campaign manager also faces charges, according to Dave Henderson, the Republican candidate conquered by Yaede in the June primary, who this week told The Trentonian that detectives from the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office notified him of the scandal. For the record, Scharfenberger denied knowingly releasing Henderson’s expunged criminal records.

Thomas G. Kaiser

Law enforcement authorities arrested and charged the 55-year old South Plainfield man with one count of possession of a destructive device for an unlawful purpose in the second degree and one count of possession of a destructive device in the third degree. It is anticipated that additional charges will be forthcoming. The arrest occurred in conjunction with the South Plainfield Police shutting down the Labor Day Parade after tracing an explosive device from Sea Bright to South Plainfield.

Nelly Acevedo

The Elizabeth School District employee was one of four people (Faraj Assi, Mayra Rivas-Pozo, and Angelica Roman are the names of the others) charged by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office with “fraudulently enrolling their children in the district’s free and reduced-price lunch program,” according to Gannett. The foursome are charged with a single count of third-degree theft by deception, a scandal that prompted state Senator Steve Oroho (R-24) to go on offense here.

Englewood Cliffs

According to NJTV’s Julie Daurio, Bergen County Superior Court Judge Christine A. Farrington this week ruled against the town in an affordable housing lawsuit, claiming the borough has “acted in bad faith” and “made a concerted effort to avoid compliance with its obligation.” The decision, Daurio noted, “allows a private developer to sue the borough for the right to build a development with affordable units on the former Unilever campus.”

Roger Sobrado

The Marlton owner of two defense contracting firms received a sentence of 36 months in prison for providing non-conforming parts for military equipment, illegally sharing sensitive technical information and evading income taxes, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today. Sobrado previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Noel L. Hillman to an information charging him with one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to violate the Arms Export Control Act, and income tax evasion. Judge Hillman imposed the sentence on Sept. 4, 2019, in Camden federal court.