WHO’S UP

Matt Moench

In his bid for mayor of Bridgewater against incumbent Dan Hayes, the Bridgewater Council President collected the backing of the local Republican Committee.

Pat Colligan

The larger-than-life president of the New Jersey State Police Benevolent Association (NJSPBA) ran unopposed to secure another term as head of the powerful law enforcement organization.

Eddie Donnelly

His peers elected the President of the NJFMBA as the first chairman of the Board of Trustees that will manage the Police and Fireman’s Retirement System (PFRS).

Phil Murphy

His critics continue to swing away, Katie Brennan among them, and jeers ensued over his administration’s new guidelines for how to handle allegations of sexual misconduct and the Verniero Report (see below), but the Governor this week signed into law an incremental, five-year pathway to a $15 minimum wage in the State of New Jersey. It was, as Murphy said, “a big deal.”

Josh Gottheimer, Andy Kim, Mikie Sherrill, and Jeff Van Drew

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) this week announced the addition of the Democratic Party members from the New Jersey Congressional Delegation to its Frontline Program. Here’s the story about Sherrill’s particular elevation.

WHO’S DOWN

Edward Gore

Hamilton Mayor Kelly Yaede said the Hamilton public defender would resign after sharing a Facebook image comparing Democrats in white at Tuesday night’s State of the Union address to Ku Klux Klansmen.

Chris Campos 

The state Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) this week zapped the already prison-bound former Hoboken Councilman with a $22,000 fine.

The Verniero Report

Peter Verniero’s tepid type-up of the Katie Brennan-Al Alvarez mess met mostly with derision, typified by this assessment offered by Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin (D-29), co-chair of the Select Committee on Investigations: “It boggles the mind that after months of interviews and investigation, Mr. Verniero and his team cannot identify the person who hired Al Alvarez to be the Chief of Staff at the Schools Development Authority. It is unacceptable and wholly inappropriate that such a fundamental question cannot be answered. This should not be an unsolvable mystery.”

Sam Davis

The former Chesterfield committeeman lost to challenger Shreekant Dhopte by a margin of 116 votes in the Nov. 6, 2018 general election, then took to Facebook on Jan. 31st accusing Dhopte of winning because Indian Americans “illegally voted” for him. Dhopte wants an apology.

Michael Silvestre

A woman who worked for the Mercer County Republican Committee before the November election says Silvestre, at the time a candidate for freeholder, sent her obscene, sexual text messages — including a picture of his genitalia.