Brian Brown

May 19, 2008 - 9:12am

Where are they now?

Remember Brian Brown, the anti-gay marriage activist who moved to New Jersey in 2007 and spent more than $400,000 to oust Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein in District 14? Brown has seemingly dropped his interest in New Jersey politics and is now in California as the Executive Director of the National Organization for Marriage. Same sex marriage is a hot issue in California these days, and Brown seems to go where the action is.

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January 9, 2008 - 10:39am

PolitickerNJ.com's People to Watch in 2008

By Editor

Frank Lautenberg, who at age 84 will seek a fifth term as a United States Senator from New Jersey. If he wins, he’d become the oldest and longest-serving Senator in state history. But a sudden retirement could turn New Jersey politics upside-down.

Common Sense America Executive Director

Brian Brown and Garden State Equality Chairman Steven Goldstein go to battle over a likely vote next year on same sex marriage.

John Adler, the Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman who is seeking to become the first Democratic Congressman from Jim Saxton’s district since 1994. And watch Frank LoBiondo, if Jeff Van Drew decides he wants to be a Congressman

Kate Whitman

, the smart and talented daughter of former Governor Christine Todd Whitman, who is seeking an open congressional seat in the 5th district. Also, Whitman’s primary opponent, Sen. Leonard Lance, and the Democratic nominee, Assemblywoman Linda Stender. And note that in 2007, Whitman lost a convention for Somerset Freeholder, Lance was a PolitickerNJ.com Loser of the Year Runner-Up, and Stender ran the 11th Worst Campaign of the Year.

Charlotte DeFilippo, the veteran Union County Democratic Chair, had her records as Executive Director of the Union County Improvement Authority subpoenaed by the state Attorney General’s office.

Steve Ayscue, who has made George Norcross’ political jets arrive on time for years, has emerged as one of the most powerful political insiders in South Jersey, with considerable responsibility for Democratic wins in State Senate races and beyond.

Matthew Boxer,

who survived a contemptuous confirmation process to become New Jersey’s first State Comptroller, will be held accountable as the guy charged with making a government some view as out of control operate more efficiently.

Troy Singleton

, an aide to Carpenters Union leader Frank Spencer and a close confidante of Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts.

The Group

– the key fundraisers for Hillary Clinton’s New Jersey presidential campaign: John Graham, Alfred De- Cotiis, Michael Kempner, Bill Harla, Rev. Reginald Jackson, and Meryl Frank, have created a structure that will make them sought after by candidates in the future. Bill Layton, the newly elected Burlington County Republican Chairman, will now be held accountable for the success and failure of GO P candidates in Burlington.

Dennis Shulman

, a blind Rabbi/Psychoanalyst, is seeking the Democratic nomination for Congress in the fifth district. He wants to challenge Rep. Scott Garrett.

Two veteran New Jersey operatives get a chance to manage in the major leagues:

Brendan Gill, who has worked for Steve Rothman, Bill Pascrell and others, will manage U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg’s campaign. His possible rival will be Mark Duffy, who has worked for Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce and has run campaigns in Mercer and Monmouth counties, will be Republican Anne Evans Estabrook’s campaign manager.

Two of the state’s leading young Hispanic politicians are

Teresa Ruiz, who became the first Latina to win a seat in the State Senate, and Newark City Councilman Anibal Ramos, who could emerge as a mayoral candidate – especially if Cory Booker falters.

New Jersey AFL-CIO President

Charles Wowkanech took some flak from Democrats by supporting Nick Asselta and Phil Haines, and for staying out of the Whelan/McCullough race. Will Democrats punish him, or leave him alone? Read More >

Start the discussion

October 29, 2007 - 3:02pm

Lautenberg stands up with Greenstein

By Max Pizarro, PolitickerNJ.com Reporter

U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg in Monroe today

U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg today stood with the district 14 Democratic Assembly candidates in Monroe Township and lambasted a hard right group for continuing to run ads against Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein.

"I talk to John Kerry all the time, and he wishes he fought back harder," Lautenberg said of the failed 2004 Democratic Presidential nominee, who was Swift-boated by a right wing attack machine.

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October 21, 2007 - 8:41am

District 14 Republican on conservative group ads

By Max Pizarro, PolitickerNJ.com Reporter

Adam Bushman says Common Sense America should pull the plug on its advertisements that target his Democratic Party oponent, Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein.

Start the discussion

October 16, 2007 - 5:05pm

Goldstein welcomes opposition to New Jersey

By Max Pizarro, PolitickerNJ.com Reporter

Garden State Equality Chairman Steven Goldstein, the leader of the state's largest marriage equality advocacy group, today welcomed the presence in New Jersey of a group opposed to gay civil unions.

"If this group is going to spend time and money in New Jersey, arguably the country's bluest state, let them," said Goldstein, of Common Sense America, which is headed up by Brian Brown, the former executive director of the Family Institute of Connecticut. Read More >

Start the discussion

October 16, 2007 - 9:40am

Coming from the outside, Brown plays in 14th district race

By Max Pizarro, PolitickerNJ.com Reporter

Conservative activist Brian Brown didn’t back down this week from what he says is his Constitutional right to run ads against Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein, despite calls by both Democrats and Republicans in the 14th District for him to desist.

"It’s attacking the integrity of the clean elections program," said Greenstein’s Democratic running mate, Seema Singh.

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