| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | | | Good Monday morning! Assemblymember Beth Sawyer's potential Republican primary challenge to state Sen. Ed Durr never materialized, but "Ed the Trucker" faces a new threat: East Greenwich Mayor Dale Archer. I have to admit that, while I knew that things were tense in the Gloucester county GOP, I didn't quite grasp how tense until I spoke to Archer on the phone Friday after hearing a tip that he was considering challenging Durr, who ousted Democratic Senate President Steve Sweeney in 2021. "The bottom line is we shouldn't even be having a discussion about someone primarying Ed Durr. He's unqualified, controversial and proven that he cannot even handle the position of senator," Archer told me. "He should gracefully step aside for a more qualified candidate, because that's what's best for the people." Archer also offered some scathing criticism of Gloucester County's GOP Chair, Jacci Vigilante. This internal fighting follows the Gloucester Republicans' failure to build on their 2021 successes last November, when they didn't win a single county-wide race, missing an opportunity to take control of the county board of commissioners. It also reminds us that the Gloucester County Republicans don't have the kind of well-oiled machine that their Democratic counterparts have honed for years, even if Republicans managed to catch the Democrats in 2021 for the biggest political upset most of us can remember. Read more here. DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 338 TIPS? FEEDBACK? HATE MAIL? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com WHERE'S MURPHY? — Nothing public. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Daniel Goodman, Alex Roarty QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I am pleased that this embarrassing, frivolous lawsuit is over, and I congratulate Chairman Gilmore for coming to his senses at the very last minute." — Assemblymember Greg McGuckin on the dismissal of Ocean County GOP Chair George Gilmore's lawsuit against him and others
| | | | A message from the New Jersey Charter Schools Association: Support the more than 20,000 students on public charter school wait lists! | | | |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | | STATE ISSUES TAX BREAKS FOR COMPANIES IN POOR CITIES FOR WHAT REASON EXACTLY? — "NJ scales back plan to limit work-from-home. Here's how it could affect your job," by The Record's Daniel Munoz: "New Jersey is reworking several subsidy programs that threatened to curtail companies' work-from-home policies, despite concerns about declining business in local downtowns. Under a measure that passed the state Legislature with bipartisan support last month, more than 800 private employers can maintain tax breaks and other incentives as long as workers show up in the office one day a week. "It grants a for-now one-year reprieve to companies after state officials had proposed a three-day-a week requirement that businesses said would be hard to meet. Gov. Phil Murphy signed the bill into law on Dec. 22, among a slew of last-minute legislation passed before lawmakers began their winter break. In July, the state Economic Development Authority, which oversees more than $8.7 billion in taxpayer subsidies, said it would resume enforcing a requirement that recipients bring workers into the office at least three days. The agency argued the tax breaks were meant to help boost restaurants and other establishments that benefit from an on-site workforce." ACTUALLY, NJ HAS HAD A DESIGNATED SURVIVOR SINCE 2016, WHEN THE STATE SENATE FORMALLY HONORED GLORIA GAYNOR — "No designated survivor when Murphy delivers State Of The State address," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "When Gov. Phil Murphy delivers his State of the State address on Tuesday – his first in-person since the start of the pandemic and the protest at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 – he'll do so without a designated survivor. A cataclysmic event at the statehouse would make Senate President Pro-Tempore Sandra Cunningham (D-Jersey City), who hasn't been in Trenton since June after a prolonged hospitalization for cognitive health issues that led to a Superior Court judge appointing a guardian, would be the acting governor. Cunningham becomes the de facto designated survivor simply because she's the first person in the line of succession who won't be at Murphy's speech … 'It is unlikely. It is incredibly unlikely,' said Micah Rasmussen, the director of the Rebovich Institute of New Jersey Politics at Rider University. 'If one thing history has taught us is that we absolutely have to pay attention to the line of succession.'"
—"With eye on the White House if Biden doesn't run, Murphy makes big speech Tuesday. What to expect"
—"Cape Democrats to appoint new leader Monday" —"Murphy, Booker, Scutari, & Menendezes join HCDO in backing 7 candidates for June primary" —"Assessing NJ individual school district NJSLA test scores: See how your district performed" —"N.J. schools got millions in COVID relief funds. Most hasn't been spent yet, list says" R.I.P. — "Bill Kohm, fabled N.J. political insider and lobbyist from 1950s until the 1990s, dies at 92" R.I.P. — "Serena Perretti Benson, former federal and state judge, dies at 94"
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IMMIGRATION — "Booker and Menendez slam fellow Democrat Joe Biden's immigration plan," by NJ Advance Media's Jonathan D. Salant: "Count New Jersey's two U.S. senators among the critics of President Joe Biden's new immigration policy. They joined fellow Democratic senators Alex Padilla of California and Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico in opposing Biden's decision to use a public health immigration policy known as Title 42, invoked by then-President Donald Trump during the coronavirus pandemic, to make it easier to expel immigrants entering the U.S. without authorization."
—"Estate of Capitol Officer Brian Sicknick files lawsuit against Donald Trump" —How McCarthy got here: From Young Gun to Trump ally
| | | | A message from the New Jersey Charter Schools Association:   | | | | | LOCAL | | OCEAN COUNTY — "Gilmore's lawsuit against previous Ocean County GOP leadership dismissed," by The Asbury Park Press' Erik Larsen: "A state Superior Court judge in Freehold on Friday dismissed Ocean County Republican Chairman George R. Gilmore's lawsuit against its previous leadership. After his upset win to become chairman on July 7, Gilmore accused certain senior Republicans in the county ― who were displeased with his return as the county's political boss ― from preventing his team from accessing the county GOP's headquarters in downtown Toms River, after his win. Gilmore said he also witnessed a subsequent late-night cleanout of the office …. Gilmore [said] ... he asked the judge to dismiss the case was because the defendants agreed to key demands made in the suit, which he said he is satisfied with." THE SMOKING GUNN — "Fired Matawan administrator sues, claims he blew whistle on lawyer payments," by The Asbury Park Press' Jerry Carino: "Former Matawan business administrator Scott Carew has filed a lawsuit against the borough for allegedly firing him in retaliation for his objection to what he calls a misuse of public funds. Carew, who served as the administrator from June 2020 until last month, claims in his filing in state Superior Court in Monmouth County that the borough 'paid fraudulent billings my Marmero Law, LLC and its predecessor, Grace, Marmero & Associates, LLP' … In the complaint, Carew claims that on multiple occasions, starting in March 2020, he expressed concerns to fellow Matawan officials about the billing practices of Marmero Law … 'Marmero Law's principal, Albert Marmero, has been a large Democratic Party campaign donor to political allies of Democratic Party affiliated members of defendant's governing body, contributing nearly $50,000 between 2018-2021, as well as directly contributing to Matawan Councilwoman Deana Gunn,' the claim alleges. Gunn, a Democrat who has held a seat on Matawan's council since 2018, disputed Carew's assertions and motives in an email to the Asbury Park Press." CAMDEN HINDERING — "Judge grants Camden two-week stay as NJSIAA accuses Panthers of delay tactics in recruiting probe," by NJ Advance Media's Kevin Armstrong: "A superior court judge in Camden County granted a two-week stay to Camden High's powerhouse boys basketball team on Friday afternoon regarding its pending appearance in front of the NJSIAA's controversy committee that was scheduled for Monday. Justice Steven J. Polansky issued the temporary restraining order in response to the school district's appeal for a ruling from the commissioner of education on what access the NJSIAA, which oversees high school athletics in the state, can have to its students' records. The NJSIAA opened a probe of Camden's roster-building strategies in June immediately after NJ Advance Media published a report that detailed how Camden pieced together a state championship with players from six towns spread across five counties. The non-residents were funneled through a Nike-sponsored travel team and enrolled in two magnet schools … In all, the hearing before the controversy hearing has been postponed three times at Camden High's request." THAT'S THE SPIRIG — "For Mendham Dems, hope spirigs eternal, but…," by InsiderNJ's Fred Snowflack:" Democrat Lauren Spirig took the oath Thursday evening, said she was humbled to win her seat, and expressed hope that the township 'would grow together as a community.' That sentiment is normal for reorg meetings, but there's nothing normal these days about politics in Chris Christie's hometown. Spirig's three-vote victory is being challenged in court by Republican Tom Baio, the losing candidate. As of now, Spirig's win narrows the Republican advantage on the township committee to 3-2. And that, said fellow Democratic Committee Member Amalia Duarte, better represents the township. 'We are not a red town. We are not a blue town. We are a purple town,' she said." —"Westfield art teacher charged after drug overdose in classroom" —"Funded or not, no real move to eliminate Jersey Shore lifeguard pensions" —"Plans are to try again on Atlantic City grocery. Is that the best option to fix a food desert?" —"NJ judge says atty not an employee for whistleblower suit" —"Judge says Long Branch councilman must stay out of former rival's building proposal" — "Court hearing for Amy DeGise's hit-and-run delayed two weeks" CARTOON BREAK — "Steve Fulop is probably, maybe, almost certainly running for governor," by Drew Sheneman
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I REMEMBER WHEN CAREPOINT'S FOUNDER SET UP AN OPAQUE TRUST IN DELAWARE TO HIDE A $1 MILLION DONATION TO FULOP'S SUPER PAC — "Public officials turn out for CarePoint Health at Department of Health hearing," by The Jersey Journal's Ron Zeitlinger: "A who's who of Hudson County politicians turned out in force to support CarePoint Health's bid to transition its ownership to a non-profit organization Tuesday at a public hearing of the state Health Planning Board. The hearing, held at CarePoint Health's Christ Hospital, concerned the hospital system's pending certificate of need applications that would allow it to fully complete its transition to a non-profit if approved by the Department of Health … Speakers at the meeting who testified in favor of the CarePoint Health application included mayors Steve Fulop of Jersey City and Jimmy Davis of Bayonne, as well as Jersey City Councilman Richard Boggiano, Hoboken City Councilman Jim Doyle, Hudson County Board of Commissioners member Anthony Romano, Bayonne City Council President Gary La Pelusa and Second Ward Councilwoman Jacqueline Weimmer."
HI, I'M KATE MCCLURE. YOU MIGHT REMEMBER ME FROM SUCH SCAMS AS 'NOFUNME: MY YEARS IN STATE AND FEDERAL PRISON' — "Kate McClure sentenced to New Jersey prison for role in GoFundMe scam about helping homeless vet Johnny Bobbitt," by The Philadelphia Inquirer's Robert Moran: "Kate McClure, one of the three perpetrators involved in the notorious GoFundMe scam that raised $400,000 based on a bogus story about helping a homeless veteran, was sentenced Friday to three years in New Jersey State Prison, Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw said. McClure, 32, of Burlington Township, was not present in the courtroom in Mount Holly because she is serving a one-year and one-day sentence at a federal prison in Connecticut for the same scam, Bradshaw said. McClure pleaded guilty in New Jersey Superior Court in April 2019 to second-degree theft by deception, but her case was put on hold while federal authorities pursued their prosecution. Bradshaw said McClure's state prison sentence will run concurrent with her federal sentence. Superior Court Judge Christopher J. Garrenger also barred McClure, a former state employee, from holding another public job in New Jersey" —"Machete wielding man harassed people outside Jewish school, witnesses tell police" | | | | A message from the New Jersey Charter Schools Association: Join thousands of families calling on the NJ DOE to support public charter schools and their ability to help more students reach their full potential. | | | | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
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