Campaign News Briefs

Waterfront: New Jersey Solicitor General Jeremy Feigenbaum returned to the U.S. Supreme Court today – he clerked for Justice Elena Kagan – to argue in New York vs. New Jersey, which is essentially New Jersey’s bid to get a divorce from New York and end their 70-year relationship at the bi-state Waterfront Commission.  Questions from justices are being viewed as good news for New Jersey, although it’s not over till it’s over.

“You’d have to think Feigenbaum is at least in the conversation for the upcoming New Jersey-based Third Circuit vacancy,” said GWU law professor John P. Collins.    Gov. Phil Murphy praised Feigenbaum’s leadership and arguments before the Supreme Court. “I am optimistic that New Jersey will prevail in this case and will finally be allowed to reclaim authority over its ports with a regulatory structure more suited for the 21st century.”

4th Legislative District: Gloucester County Commissioner Nick DeSilvio has filed with the Election Law Enforcement Commission for a State Senate campaign in the highly competitive 4th legislative district, confirming previous reporting from the New Jersey Globe. His likely running mates are Michael Clark and Denise Gonzalez, though only Clark has officially launched his campaign.

Mercer County Executive: Dan Benson smacked his Democratic primary opponent, five-term incumbent Brian Hughes, for not showing up at candidate forums in Pennington and West Windsor this week, as well as a Mercer Young Democrats mini-convention.  “Sadly, my opponent for the evening’s forum was… an empty chair. That’s because Brian Hughes had better things to do than answer questions from his Democratic constituents,” Benson said.

Burlington County: Joanne Schwartz will seek a second term as county clerk this year.  She unseated Democrat-turned-Republican incumbent Tim Tyler in 2018.

Hamilton Township: Republicans will run Marty Flynn for mayor of Hamilton against incumbent Jeff Martin.  Flynn was the township’s director of Economic Development and Director of Health, Recreation, Senior, and Veterans Service for seven years under a prior administration and also served as athletic director of the West Windsor-Plainsboro school district.   Gino Melone, a former four-term Trenton city councilman before moving to Hamilton, will run for council on a ticket with Flynn and former Hamilton Fire Commissioner Mike Chianese. Hamilton Democrats unanimously backed Martin and two incumbent councilmembers this evening.

Poll: Monmouth University will release their Garden State Quality of Life Index, which they call “a  resident-based indicator of the quality of life offered by the state of New Jersey,” on Thursday.

Medical Research: Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Wyckoff) will announce legislation to fund research and development to find cures for rare diseases at Valley Hospital on Thursday.  This is part of Gottheimer’s federal investment clawback strategy to bring federal dollars back to New Jersey.