Who’s Up This Week in NJ Politics

Holly Schepisi

The Bergen Republican assemblywoman took a strong stand against her party organization’s bear-hugging of disgraced former Bergen Sheriff Mike Saudino, that guy kicked to the curb by Democrats after he was caught on tape making racist slurs.

Jen Mancuso 

The new head of the Women’s Political Caucus succeeds Chrissy Buteas.

Alyana Alfaro

The former PolitickerNJ reporter this week took over as press secretary for Governor Phil Murphy. This is a great development for that huddling handful of people left in the state who prize integrity and competence in government.

Gabe Rodriguez

The West New Yorker formally assumed the oath of office. At 40, he’s the youngest mayor in udson County right now.

Tom Moran

The Star-Ledger veteran editor in recent days has put together several important columns on the ongoing investigation into the activities of the Legislature and the boss who runs it, related to the Economic Development Act of 2013 and the aftermath, including this one.

Who’s Down This Week in NJ Politics

Mike Saudino

In the words of Don Rickles: “Mike, you shouldn’t have come. You made a fool of yourself, I’m a friend.” But if you ever doubted the unerring inability of New Jerseyeans to find another way to repent of their sins other than in the public arena of politics, take a look at the former Bergen sheriff this week.

Jack Zisa

The Bergen County GOP chairman enabled Saudino’s return, and now he has not only principled movement conservative Senator Mike Doherty (R-23) chastising him, but the Bergen slate of his own party led by Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi (R-39).

Cory Booker

The junior senator from New Jersey continues to limp across the presidential landscape. A Monmouth University Poll this week show Booker one digit removed from former Alaska Senator Mike Gravel at one percent.

Eileen Shafer 

In intimidation mode, the Paterson superintendent threatened The Paterson Times with a lawsuit for exposing the school district’s data breach, then backed off.

Chris Fox

He ate the largest ethics violation fine in state history, and, as a consequence, lost his Wildwood administrator job.