WHO’S UP

Bob Gordon

Suddenly, it’s cool to be Bob Gordon. Actually, it was always cool. Now we get the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) version as the most policy-centered senator in Trenton ends a decade long run in the upper chamber, leaving behind an intellectually diminished governing body.

Joe Lagana

The Bergen County Democratic Committee backs the LD38 Assemblyman for the state Senate seat vacated this week by former Senator Bob Gordon (D-38). COme next Thursday, the former Paramus Council President is going to be the new senator.

Jack Zisa

Attorney Fernando Alonso dropped out of the race for the Bergen County Republican Organization chairmanship, and New Milford Councilwoman Kelly Langschultz decided not to run. That leaves Zisa, the former mayor of Hackensack, positioned to succeed BCRO Chairman Paul DiGaetano.

Arvin Amatorio

Sources say the Bergenfield Council President is in a strong position to get the nod to replace Joe Lagana in the Assembly after Lagana moves up to claim the senate seat left behind by retiring Senator Bob Gordon.

Carol Bianchi

The former Bernards Twp. Mayor and sitting Committeewoman will next month formally receive the Somerset County Federation of Republican Women’s prestigious 2018 Millicent Fenwick Award.

WHO’S DOWN

Tim Eustace

It was too bad there had to be a lone victor in the LD38 assemblymen’s quest to succeed alpha male Gordon. In the end, Lagana got the nod over Eustace. What that means is Eustace likely won’t want to linger in the assembly. Sources told InsiderNJ to watch for a departure sooner than later by the former mayor of Maywood.

Robert Merriken

The Spring Lake Councilman faces up to six months in jail on charges that he possessed drug paraphernalia and, specifically, possessed or intended to sell a hypodermic syringe for use with a controlled dangerous substance after being stopped at 1:42 p.m. Wednesday by Neptune City police, according to a story in The Asbury Park Press.

Fernando Alonso

The affable Hispanic attorney – who lost to Bob Gordon by about two-thousand votes in 2013 – ended his bid to succeed Bergen County Republican Organization Chairman DiGaetano when it became obvious that Zisa commanded too much support. Maybe Alonso, who ran for the assembly in 2011 and the senate in 2013, will return for a crack at Senator Lagana.

Geoffrey Santini

The North Bergen Housing Authority terminated the authority’s security director in the middle of an investigation by a law firm investigating Santini’s side job running an animal control business.

Alex Mendez

It wasn’t the best of weeks for the At-Large Paterson Councilman, already dogged by a narrative that he can’t raise money for his mayoral campaign. This week he ate an uncomfortable Paterson Times headline about numerous bounced checks. But there’s still time before May 8th.