Governor

Gov. Jon Corzine: Politicker photo

No sitting statewide Democrat enjoys what might be called popularity in public office here in New Jersey, according to a Friday Strategic Vision poll.

But Republicans continue to carry the dead weight numbers registered by President George W. Bush.

Up for re-election next year, the poll shows Gov. Jon Corzine with an upside-down job approval rating of 39/47%, and 14% undecided.

It also shows Bush running out of room before he bottoms out, with just 15% of voters approving of his job performance, 70% disapproving, and 14% undecided.

Former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan said he is finalizing the lawsuit he intends to file in Bergen County Superior Court against the State of New Jersey next week, attacking Gov. Jon Corzine’s decision to borrow $3.9 billion to build new schools.

"We’re going into court and we’re attacking the facts," said the Republican. "First, the schools are not crumbling. The Oliver School (in the Ironbound, where Corzine signed the borrowing bill) is a beautiful building.

"Second," he said, "we’re going after the assertion that these towns can't afford to pay anything for schools. They can afford taxes."

The lawsuit would be Lonegan’s fourth against the State of New Jersey since 2000.

U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-8), right, (with U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg).: Politicker photo 

Two New Jersey congressmen intend to announce tomorrow their plans for legislation to regulate how U.S. attorneys award federal monitoring contracts.

Their Washington, D.C. news conference comes as part of the fallout from U.S. Attorney Chris Christie’s having awarded his former boss, former Attorney General John Ashcroft, a federal monitoring contract in which Ashcroft could make up to $52 million.

As part of their investigation, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-8) and U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-6) requested full disclosure of 85 deferred and non-prosecution agreements and lists of corporate monitors selected in 41 agreements.

Governor Jon S. Corzine is scheduled to travel to Israel this week, where he plans to foster trade, investment and commercial relationships between New Jersey and Israel, according to a release issued this afternoon by the governor's office.

The governor intends to focus on stem cell research, alternative energy, green technologies, and research and development in other high technology fields, according to the release. Corzine will meet and open dialogue with high-level government officials and key business leaders.

"New Jersey's unique position as a gateway to the nation's major markets offers us a tremendous opportunity to forge new economic relationships that will be beneficial to all concerned," the governor said. "Israel has emerged as one of our state's most important partners in terms of both economic and cultural

Former Republican U.S. Senate candidate Murray Sabrin said today that he won’t run for Governor next year.

Towards the end of his Senate campaign, Sabrin said that, if he didn’t win, he would consider running for Governor to keep U.S. Attorney Chris Christie, the establishment Republicans’ favorite prospective nominee, from getting the nomination.

Reached on vacation in Alaska today, Sabrin said that he would devote his energy towards advancing his philosophy of limited government and laissez faire economic policy.

Gov. Jon Corzine today in Newark: Politicker photo

NEWARK - It’s less than four months until Election Day and the presidential campaign of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Il) still does not have a New Jersey state director.

"It’s not a problem," Gov. Jon Corzine insisted today in the Ironbound, a sentiment echoed by Obama backers who point out that there are nine paid staffers operating in New Jersey right now, and that fewer than six states are equipped with directors at this point.

"I’ve been in contact with the Obama campaign," the governor told PolitickerNJ.com. "They can make up their minds and come to their decision. Until (last) Friday they hadn’t talked to the people (candidates)."

The favorites for the New Jersey job remain Bob Decheine, chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman (D-9); and Patricia A. Mueller, chief of staff for the New Jersey Regional Council of Carpenters, whose interfacing entrenchments unavoidably suggest that old political divide between north and south Jersey.

Gov. Jon Corzine signs the new schools construction bill at the Oliver Street School: Politicker photo 

NEWARK - Gov. Jon Corzine returned to the Ironbound this afternoon to sign a bill authorizing $3.9 billion in borrowing for new schools construction, which he said would fulfill the state’s constitutional duty to provide a thorough and efficient education, and create construction and other jobs.
    
Of an estimated 27 school projects statewide, six of the targeted schools are in the East Ward Ironbound, where the governor in late May announced his commitment to the legislation.

The six Ironbound schools were built before 1900 and are all overcrowded, according to the governor.

“We are doing what is right under the law and doing what is right for the state,” said Corzine, who praised the work of Assemblyman Albert Coutinho (D-Newark), Assemblywoman L. Grace Spencer (D-Newark), and others who banded together to pass the borrowing measure, which passed by one vote above the threshold in the Senate and three votes in the Assembly.

Judge Michelle Hollar-Gregory swears in Mayor Eldridge Hawkins, left, as Senate President Richard Codey (D-Essex) looks on. 

ORANGE - The son of a former beauty queen and crusading Civil Rights attorney, Eldridge Hawkins, Jr., took the oath of office today as Mayor of the City of Orange in a well-attended and star-studded ceremony in the Middle School auditorium.

"On Day One of our new administration, I don’t say to you, 'Just watch what I can do in City Hall,'" the new mayor challenged the crowd. "Instead, I say, 'Get involved in every way that you can.' Together we will create new ways for you to participate in the building of a better and more prosperous Orange.

"And I say, 'Come with me to City Hall, and together, we’re going to turn our city around!' The future is now!"

Elected two months ago to replace the now convicted Mayor Mims Hackett, Hawkins literally walked up a red carpet rolled out onto the concrete in front of the school, and faced a sea of Orange residents and luminaries that included singing star Dionne Warwick.

Gov. Jon Corzine "On the Record."In advance of a signing today, Gov. Jon Corzine tried to defend his administration’s $32.9 billion budget in a Sunday broadcast with NJN’s Michael Aron.

Corzine admitted the state is looking at a projected $1.7 billion budget shortfall in the coming year, but noted, "We were projecting a $2.8 billion shortfall."

While he boasted that this "very tough and painful" budget contains no new taxes and pays down $650 million in debt, his critics cite reductions in state aid for smaller towns as a tax inducer at the local level.

In his interview with the governor, Aron kept on Corzine over the issue of borrowing, pointing to the $3.9 billion the governor wants for school construction

A Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind poll released today shows Gov. Jon Corzine’s approval rating at 40-41%.

In the school’s April poll, the governor stood at 44%-45% and in February 42%-43%. In early January, before the legislative session began, he stood at 48% approving to 32% disapproving.

"The twists and turns of the budget process are under the radar of most voters," said poll director Dr. Peter Woolley. "In the end, it's the taxes they pay, the services they receive and the value of their homes that voters care about."