WHO’S UP

Grace Power

Former BPU Chief of Staff Power joined McCarter & English as a partner in the firm’s Government Affairs practice. Led by Practice Group Chair Guillermo Artiles, Power joins ranks with Bill Palatucci and Mike Maitland at a time of significant growth for the group. In 2021, McCarter more than doubled its lobbying revenue in New Jersey, earning a spot among the top 10 lobbying firms in the state and ranking second among lawyer-lobbying firms.

Frank Pallone

Legislation by the veteran House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman from Long Branch would allow the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and attorneys general “to use civil penalty authorities against oil companies for gouging their customers.”

Amalia Duarte

The Mendham Township Committeewoman and Morris County Democratic Committee (MCDC) Electeds Caucus Chair this week announced her candidacy for MCDC Chair and by the end of it appeared to have the backing necessary to succeed Chip Robinson.

Allison Eckel

The Burlington County Democratic Committee selected Eckel to fill the vacant County Commissioner seat left open by the appointment of the Honorable Linda Hynes to the Superior Court.

Janet Linnus

The Somerset County Federation of Republican Women this week announced Linnus as the recipient of the 2022 Millicent Fenwick Award. The former executive director of the Somerset County Republican committee will receive the prestigious award at a dinner to be held in her honor on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.

Chris Donnelly

Kivvit this week announced that the veteran Donnelly will serve as the new General Manager of the firm’s New Jersey office.

WHO’S DOWN

Louie Weber 

The retired Newark police detective and candidate for the Newark East Ward seat on a ticket with incumbent Mayor Ras Baraka, was accused of a 2009 sexual assault by a fellow detective. Read the story in Politico. 

Alex Mendez

In the Paterson May 10th contest, incumbent Mayor Andre Sayegh “has nearly 20 times more money in his campaign account than his closest rival, according to 29-day pre-election reports mayoral candidates filed with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC),” according to the Paterson Times. Sayegh has $380,655 in his campaign account. Councilman Alex Mendez has just $19,543, according to 29-day pre-election reports filed by both men.

Exchange Place Development Plan

Unsatisfied that it meets parking and green space provisions and swayed by the backers of the Katyn Memorial, the Jersey City Planning Board this week rejected the Exchange Place Redevelopment Plan.

The Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission

Community members in Newark are pushing back hard against the commission’s plan to build a $180-million dollar gas powered generator to provide auxiliary power to it’s Newark Bay Treatment Plant. The plant processes the human waste generated by 1.5 million residents in 48 municipalities in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Union and Passaic Counties that comprise the Passaic Valley Service District.

Pine Valley Golf Club

Acting Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin this week announced the filing of a Division on Civil Rights (DCR) complaint against the club, located in Camden County, alleging a pattern of gender-based discrimination by the historically male-dominated Club.