Who’s Up

Frank Moran

The City Council President has the backing of the Camden County Democratic Organization to be the next mayor of Camden. Moran will in all likelihood succeed Mayor Dana Redd, who’s retiring this year after serving two terms.

Brian Stack

People hate politicians as a rule, but the veteran state senator from the 33rd District has an 84% job approval rating as mayor of Union City.

John Currie

The chairman of the state Democratic Party is pulling in Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez (and Deputy Keith Ellison) for events Friday in Newark and Monmouth County as part of the DNC’s national unity tour.

Craig Coughlin

The likeable assemblyman from Woodbridge had a fundraiser this week where he raked in $150,000 and basked as Assemblyman (and Union County Democratic Chairman) Jerry Green gushed at the front of the room about how Coughlin – rumored to be the Democrats’ choice for speaker – will be a great assembly leader.

Jose “Joey” Torres

The struggling, indicted Paterson mayor could at least high five his closest allies this week as the Paterson City Council failed to pass a no confidence resolution in his leadership of the Silk City. With pro-Torres forces descening on City Hall that night – led by Torres-minder Omar Rodriguez – the vote failed fairly resoundingly: 2-6.

Steve Oroho

The Republican senator from the 24th District scared away his Republican Primary Assembly challenger (see below).

Bobby Briant

The CEO of the Utility and Transportation Contractors Association, instrumental in getting Republicans on board with the gas tax, could celebrate Governor Chris Christie’s affirmation this week of $400 million for transportation projects in  the state of New Jersey.

Peg Schaffer

The Somerset County Democratic chair (and her Vice Chair, Zenon Christodoulou) had no trouble in the end generating support for Phil Murphy for Governor, as the former Goldman Sachs executive overwhelmingly won the Somerset line.

Who’s Down

Bill Baroni

Once the Republican rising star from Hamilton, the former senator turned deputy director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey ate a sentence of two years in  prison for his role in the Bridgegate scheme.

Bridget Kelly

The deputy chief of staff to Governor Chris Christie – a single mother – received a sentence of 18 months in prison for her role in the George Washington Bridge lane closures scheme.

Rolando Bobadilla

Appointed to the freeholder seat in 2011, the classy public servant from Newark’s North Ward failed to get the Democratic line toward his reelection bid, for a variety of reasons, some of them noted here.

Stanley Neron, Maria Carvalho and Daniel Nina

Judge Thomas Betancourt ruled that three Elizabeth Board of Ed members – all three city employees – should not have voted on Councilman Frank Cuesta’s hiring, and censured them.

Frank Cuesta

The judge’s recommendation (above) makes it difficult for the city councilman to keep the job that the board members created him with the Elizabeth Board of Education.

Gail Phoebus

The LD24 Assemblywoman was all in – until she was out. Phoebus this week slunk away from her challenge of incumbent state Senator Steve Oroho (R-24).

Rich Harron

Harry Hurley reported from South Jersey this week that Harron lost the Cape May County GOP nomination to Bob Nolan. A registered Republican for 23 years, Harron switched parties to run for sheriff as a Democrat in  the Republican county.

The Gubernatorial Candidates in Both Parties

A Fairleigh Dickinson University Poll this week shows little passion for any of the candidates in the contest for governor. Democratic front-runner Phil Murphy garners 23%, and Republican front-runner Kim Guadagno gets 24%, with most people (53% Dems and 54% Republicans) simply unsure about a candidate.

Chris Christie

The same FDU poll gave the Republican governor a 20% approval rating, statistically unchanged from the lowest ebb of his two-term tenure.