Matthew Rinaldo Archives - New Jersey Globe

Ray Liotta, actor, nephew of 1971 N.J. Senate candidate, dies at 67

May 26, 2022 1:30 pmMay 26, 2022 4:58 pm

Actor Ray Liotta, a New Jersey native known for his portrayals of Henry Hill in the crime-drama Goodfellas, has died, according to published reports. He was 67. As a teenager, Liotta volunteered on a campaign for New Jersey State Senate. His...

Anthony Amalfe, giant in Union County politics, dies at 95

May 15, 2022 4:01 pmMay 15, 2022 7:15 pm

Anthony Amalfe, who served as a Union County freeholder, mayor of Roselle and Democratic county chairman, died on May 10. He was 95. He was elected mayor of Roselle in 1971 and re-elected in 1975. Amalfe became a Democratic candidate...

Trailblazer: Mildred Barry Hughes

February 9, 2021 12:10 amFebruary 7, 2021 8:21 pm

Mildred Barry Hughes (1902-1995) was the first woman to serve in the New Jersey State Senate. She was elected in 1965, 45 years after women won the right to vote. Hughes, a Union Township Democrat, was elected to the State...

The history of Malinowski’s congressional seat

November 23, 2020 12:01 amJanuary 3, 2021 1:51 pm

The re-election of Tom Malinowski marked the third time in more than 100 years that New Jersey’s 7th district elected and re-elected a Democrat. Before Malinowski unseated five-term Rep. Leonard Lance (R-Clinton Township) in 2018, Republicans had held the 7th...

New Jersey’s longest-living congressional candidate ran with LBJ in 1964

August 18, 2020 10:22 am

With the passing of Paul Porreca on Friday evening, the longest-living New Jersey congressional candidate is Richard J. Traynor, who ran as a Democrat against Rep. Florence P. Dwyer (R-Elizabeth) in 1964. Now 91 and living in Maine, Traynor is...

Frank Blatz, former Plainfield mayor, dies at 84

February 3, 2020 12:45 pmFebruary 3, 2020 1:53 pm

Frank H. Blatz, Jr., who served as mayor of Plainfield from 1969 to 1974, died on February 1. He was 84. Blatz was a 33-year-old lawyer and retired Marine Corps captain when he was elected mayor in 1968. That was...

When congressmen shop for new districts

January 19, 2020 3:59 pmJanuary 20, 2020 12:02 pm

Congressional candidates changing their minds and moving to a different district is not unusual in New Jersey Republican Mike Ferguson, then 27, lost a 1998 race against Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-Long Branch) in the 6th district by 17 points...