George Zoffinger

Rick Malwitz’s column today in the Home News Tribune on George Zoffinger, the President of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, is a must read.  A sampling:  "(Dick) Codey's an idiot, and you can print that," says Zoffinger.  "In my 34 years in politics, I never met a more dishonest person than George Zoffinger," said Codey.

As one powerful political strategist put it, Pleasantville Democrats “just don’t get it.” The Democratic Party has nominated three candidates to replace Councilman Maurice “Pete” Callaway, who has pleaded guilty to charges that he took bribes to deliver contracts while serving on the school board.  The candidates for the seat vacated by Callaway are his wife, his daughter, and campaign aide, according to a Press of Atlantic City report.

And the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, which must be rolling in cash these days now that the Devils have moved to a competing arena in Newark, has hired John Samerjan to serve as their spokesman.  Samerjan was essentially fired (officially, he was not asked to keep the job he’s held for the last five years) from his post as Executive Director of the State Senate Republican Office by the new Minority Leader, Thomas Kean, Jr.  He had been with the Sports Authority since Kean’s father helped him get a job there in the 1980’s. 

Joe Ferriero vs. Loretta Weinberg; Brian Stack vs. Sal Vega; Glenn Paulsen vs. Diane Allen; Glenn Paulsen vs. Mike Warner; Vivian Stringer vs. Don Imus; James E. McGreevey vs. Dina Matos McGreevey; Anthony Coley vs. Ivette Mendez; Dick Codey vs. Ken Zimmerman; Dick Codey vs. George Zoffinger; Kevin O’Toole vs. Kevin Collins; Upendra Chivukula vs. Seema Singh; Karen Kominsky vs. Christie Davis Jackson; Bill Gormley vs. Sonny McCollough; Bill Pascoe vs. Maryannie Harper; Skip Hidlay vs.Ellen Karcher; Izod vs. Prudential; Guy Talarico vs. everybody.

READ THE POLITICKERNJ.COM 2007 YEAR-END REVIEW

Joshua Zeitz, a former aide to Governor Jim Florio and U.S. Senator Robert Torricelli, is expected to run against fourteen-term Republican Congressman Christopher Smith. Zeitz has raised $43,032, while Smith, a traditionally anemic fundraiser, has $204,161 cash on hand. Zeitz actually outraised Smith during the last quarter.

The son of one of the Meadowlands' founding fathers is among four candidates under serious consideration for George Zoffinger's job as President of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. Thomas Werblin, a sports marketing executive, was Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications for the New York City Off-Track Betting Corporation, and was the COO and General Manager of the Cosmos Soccer Club. His father, former Jets owner/Madison Square Garden President Sonny Werblin, was the first NJSEA President.

Other names reportedly under consideration: former Nets President/GM Michael Rowe and former NJSEA Executive Vice President (and interim President) Dennis Robinson.

GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES MEMBERSHIP OF NJSEA
PRESIDENT/CEO SEARCH COMMITTEE

TRENTON – Governor Jon S. Corzine today announced the membership of a search committee tasked with finding the next President/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority.

There is considerable speculation among political insiders today that Richard Codey, the Senate President and former Governor, could emerge as the leading candidate to replace George Zoffinger at the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. Codey, whose aides insist is seeking re-election to the Senate this year, has told friends in the past that he might find the NJSEA job very attractive.