| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | In his farewell speech in January, ousted one-term state Sen. Ed “The Trucker” Durr said he’d be back. Now we know how. Durr wants to drive his furniture truck to Drumthwacket. Yes, he’s apparently set his sights on running for governor. David Wildstein first reported this yesterday afternoon. This isn't coming out of nowhere. I wrote about the possibility back in January, when Durr acknowledged he’d entertain running for governor if people wanted him to, “but nobody with a checkbook has asked me.” A flier for a conservative school board recruitment event on Monday at the New Life Assembly in Egg Harbor Township promises a “surprise announcement” by Durr. It’s possible, though not probable, that this could set up a rematch between Durr and former Senate President Steve Sweeney, who's running for the Democratic nomination and who lost to Durr in a 2021 shocker. Could Durr win a primary? He’s already pretty well-known in conservative circles and has a compelling story as a giant slayer. So far, you have three main names circulating for the Republican nomination for governor, declared and undeclared: Jack Ciattarelli, Jon Bramnick and Bill Spadea. Ciattarelli and Bramnick are running in the more mainstream lane, or at least what was mainstream pre-Trump. Spadea is running in the ultra-Maga far-right Tucker Carlson-light lane. If Spadea does wind up declaring, Durr would probably be more likely to appeal to his voters than the other two. The general election is of course another story. Durr’s old Facebook post that “A woman does have a choice! Keep her legs closed” may not spell death in the primary, but it certainly contributed to his 2023 loss in a district that’s more conservative than the state as a whole. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at MFriedman@politico.com. QUOTE OF THE DAY: Adrian Mapp HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Ravi Bhalla, Nicole Sutterley, Jeremy Julis. Saturday for Brian Rumpf, Shannon Natale. Sunday for Jack Barnes, Frank LoBiondo, Viri Martinez. WHERE’S MURPHY? — “I, like most of you, like probably everyone in this room, believe that sunshine is the best disinfectant. But I, like everyone, also know that too much exposure to the sun results in consequences, such as skin cancer,” Plainfield Mayor Adrian Mapp testifying in support of the OPRA bill. | | | | THE GOLD STANDARD OF POLICY REPORTING & INTELLIGENCE: POLITICO has more than 500 journalists delivering unrivaled reporting and illuminating the policy and regulatory landscape for those who need to know what’s next. Throughout the election and the legislative and regulatory pushes that will follow, POLITICO Pro is indispensable to those who need to make informed decisions fast. The Pro platform dives deeper into critical and quickly evolving sectors and industries—finance, defense, technology, healthcare, energy—equipping policymakers and those who shape legislation and regulation with essential news and intelligence from the world’s best politics and policy journalists.
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PUBLIC RECORDS BILL WOULD BAR DISSEMINATION OF PUBLIC RECORDS — Controversial public records bill is back on the fast track, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: Changes to an overhaul of New Jersey’s Open Public Records Act did not win over advocates and the press, who once again packed a Trenton committee room Thursday to speak out against the bill they successfully stalled two months ago. Nevertheless, the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee approved the legislation, NJ S2930 (24R), 9-3. It’s scheduled for a hearing in the Assembly Appropriations Committee on Friday and could be voted on by the full Senate and Assembly as early as Monday. State Sen. Paul Sarlo said the amendments were made after the Legislature's two top staffers convened meetings with numerous officials and advocacy groups. “When both sides are potentially not thrilled, you maybe have a good compromise,” Sarlo said at the beginning of the hearing … Some of the proposals advocates had decried in March were excised by the amendments, such as exempting email logs and officials’ calendars from public records requests. But the bulk of the most controversial provisions remain largely in place, most notably the elimination of fee shifting, in which governments who deny OPRA requests must pay “reasonable” attorneys fees to requesters who successfully appeal their denials … Support and opposition to the bill by senators did not break down cleanly along party lines, with seven Democrats and two Republicans voting yes, and two Republicans and one Democrat voting no. The new version of the bill incorporates a proposal by Senate Republican Leader Anthony Bucco to bar disclosure of disseminating "any indecent or graphic images of the subject’s intimate part” they’ve received from a records request, which may help garner Republican support. “In my four-plus years in office, it has become very apparent to me that the public is starving for more transparency and accountability in government, not less,” said Republican state Sen. Michael Testa. HIGHER ED — “Rutgers president questioned over handling of pro-Palestinian protests,” by NJ Spotlight News’ Joanna Gagis: “Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway on Thursday testified before the Assembly Budget Committee about the financial pressures his school is facing and why the university needs more help from the state. But the conversation quickly shifted to the recent protests on Rutgers’ and other university campuses, with state legislators focused on the agreement Holloway made with pro-Palestinian student demonstrators to end their encampment. ‘They issued 10 demands, the most significant of which were … to divest from companies doing business in Israel and to sever our ties with Tel Aviv University,’ Holloway said. ‘I’ve made my position on divestment clear, and it is consistent with the policy of the state investment funds. I think the boycott, divestment and sanction movement is wrong, and I believe in engagement, not isolation.’ Holloway’s actions outraged many Republican members of the state Legislature, who are also calling for separate hearings into the university’s handling of protests.” — Two House Democrats call on Rutgers to address concerns of Jewish students and faculty — “Bergen student sues Rutgers for antisemitism, saying she was bullied for defending Israel” CORRECTIONS — ”Shadow prison: Their prison sentences are done, but N.J. is still holding 416 men indefinitely,” by NJ Advance Media’s Matt Gray: “While they are no longer technically prisoners, detainees are held in the Special Treatment Unit, located next to East Jersey State Prison in the Avenel section of Woodbridge. The men, called ‘residents,’ wear their own clothes and can vote in elections, but they’re guarded by corrections officers and can’t leave. Some expect to die there. New Jersey’s Sexually Violent Predator Act allows the state to indefinitely detain sex offenders who complete their prison sentences but are deemed too dangerous to release. Advocates say the system is keeping the state safe. But, some detainees say they spend years, or even decades, in a Byzantine-like system with a convoluted therapy program and no clearly-defined rules for getting out. The process is vague from the start. There is no clearly-stated criteria for who gets put in the Special Treatment Unit or exactly what detainees need to do to be released, advocates say. For some detainees, there may never be a way out, said Dr. Steven Simring, a veteran New Jersey psychiatrist who has testified in sex offender civil commitment proceedings. ‘The end result was always the same,’ Simring said. ‘The individual did not get out and they stayed there — until they got out feet first.’” — “Peter Andreyev is new state PBA president” — “NJ Gov. Murphy: We can get seniors a big tax break and plug NJ Transit's $1B hole” — “Shared services save taxpayers, state official says” — “Bill ending residency requirement could address NJ teacher shortage” | | BIDEN TIME | |
IF YOU’RE GONNA BUY CHEAP TRASH IT’S GONNA BE *OUR* CHEAP TRASH — “Trump vendors won’t be allowed to set up shop in Wildwood during his rally,” by NJ Advance Media’s Eric Conklin: “Expecting thousands of people in Wildwood for former President Donald Trump’s rally on Saturday and to celebrate Mother’s Day, city officials have paused the granting of mercantile licenses, planning to have police tell those selling without a license to pack up and leave. Traveling merchants routinely tour with Trump, setting up near his events … Wildwood Mayor Ernie Troiano told NJ Advance Media on Thursday the city plans to be strict over the weekend to fend off price gouging and protect tax-paying businesses in town. The mayor has received several phone calls from outside vendors interested in coming to the event, he said. 'You’ve got to protect the people that live here and do business here, and on top of that, you’ve got to make sure you don’t start a trend where every time there’s an event here, you got somebody setting shop up,' Troiano said.”
— “The Case of the Developer, the Halal Exporter, US Senator Bob Menendez, and His Wife” — “3 in 10 New Jerseyans say abortion is primary factor in 2024 vote, poll shows” — Gottheimer: “Red 'moocher' states prey on federal dollars, so where's NJ's slice? We need clawback czar” — Kelly: “Sleaze and stupidity: Trump and Menendez are their own worst enemies” | | | | JOIN 5/22 FOR A TALK ON THE FUTURE OF TAXATION: With Trump-era tax breaks set to expire in 2025, whoever wins control of Congress, and the White House will have the ability to revamp the tax code and with it reshape the landscape for business and social policy. Join POLITICO on May 22 for an exploration of what is at stake in the November elections with our panel dissecting the ways presidential candidates and congressional leaders are proposing to reshape our tax rates and incentives. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | LOCAL | |
LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX, MAYBE — “North Hunterdon-Voorhees book banners lose again; board prez says other work to be done,” by MyCentralJersey’s Cheryl Makin: “The North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District Board of Education has again defeated an effort to remove a book on adolescent relationships and sexuality from the school district's libraries. The effort to ban 'Let's Talk About It, The Teen's Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human (A Graphic Novel)' by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan was defeated Tuesday by a 7-4 board vote … At Tuesday's meeting, several community members said the issue centered on a child's right to read, standing up to censorship, protecting democracy, honoring student input, and respecting a librarians' professionalism. ‘Our library should be a place where all of our students get access to materials to help them gain knowledge to aid them in navigating around’ said Phillip Trager of Annandale. ‘But make no mistake. This is not only about sex ed books. The same people looking to stifle access to these books are also targeting books that don't present the American experience in a way that aligns with their preferred interpretation. Their goal is to modify or hide historical fact.’"
MIND THE GAP — “Toms River schools chief: $26.5M NJ aid gap could make September reopening impossible,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Jean Mikle: “Toms River Regional schools remain in budget limbo as the deadline for adopting a 2024-2025 school spending plan rapidly approaches. The Board of Education held a public hearing Tuesday night on the $290 million budget, but took no action on the spending plan, which Superintendent Mike Citta said still has a $26.5 million hole. The state-mandated deadline to adopt a spending plan is May 14, although Citta said it's possible that timeframe could be shifted this year. ‘We are $26.5 million short to provide a rock bottom, thorough and efficient education for our students,’ Citta said … Last month, Citta said that the district would have to cut 368 positions, and raise class sizes by dozens of students, if no further aid was forthcoming. The superintendent said he would never present a budget with such deep cuts, and noted that the district will run out of money by next April if it does not receive more state aid. Citta has previously noted that a budget with that magnitude of cuts would preclude him from opening schools in September, and has stressed that the district must find a way.” — “Lakewood school budget approved, but it hinges on asking NJ for $104M loan” POMPIN’ AIN’T EASY — “In defense of the Pompidou: The value of an art museum is worth the cost,” by Eric Allen Conner for The Jersey Journal: “There’s been much ado of late about the proposed Pompidou satellite in Jersey City. There is value in the public having access to art that goes beyond economics — art for art’s sake as it were. Since everyone at least pretends to acknowledge the cultural value of art museums, attacks on the Pompidou have focused on the project’s finances. Jersey City mayoral hopeful Jim McGreevey has led the most recent calls to cancel the project on financial grounds. Now, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) is threatening to pull its pledged $34 million in support unless financial projections are revised to make up for a projected $19 million annual deficit from operating expenses. For context, the projected operating costs of the museum are comparable to the city’s current expenditure (over $15 million) on its public library system — another public good that provides immense societal benefits … By focusing only on costs, these critiques have missed the broader economic benefits that should have been included in the decision to bring Pompidou to Jersey City from the start.” MARRIED … WITH CHILDREN — “Prosecutor sexually harassed me and bosses did nothing, [Rahway] cop says in lawsuit notice,” by NJ Advance Media’s Anthony G. Attrino: “A Rahway police officer plans to sue the city for $1.5 million, claiming the municipal prosecutor sexually harassed her and superiors did nothing about it. Prosecutor Carlos Jimenez allegedly called the officer — who is married with children — ‘mi amore’ and made other comments that left the woman feeling ‘uncomfortable and mentally/sexually harassed,’ according to a notice of tort claim filed Wednesday. The officer alleges Jimenez called her to his office Jan. 8 to discuss a case. When she arrived, Jimenez allegedly said, '“Come into my office and make love to me.' 'This was both appalling and shocking, not to mention unethical and disgusting,' the woman wrote in the notice.” UN-AMERICAN WOKESTERS WANNA TURN IT INTO ‘THEYVILLE’ — “New documentary depicts Manville's struggle to remain a quintessential American town,” by MyCentralJersey’s Mike Deak: “Joe DeVito III hopes his film, 'The Asbestos City,' a documentary about Manville, will eventually have a happy ending. DeVito, a Manville borough councilman and a digital arts teacher at Immaculata High School in Somerville for two decades, says the 85-minute documentary that will be shown three times next week at Reading Cinemas Manville, will bring to a wider audience the story of Manville's struggle to remain a quintessential American town that gets knocked down by man-made or natural calamities, but always manages to get back on its feet. But if nothing is done to protect the borough from floods that have become a recurring nightmare, Manville may be on the endangered list.” HOWELL: I SAW THE BEST SIGNS OF MY GENERATION DESTROYED BY SOMEONE, STORY’S HYSTERICAL — “'All they did was give me free publicity': Who stole 130 Howell mayor candidate's signs?” by The Asbury Park Press’ Jenna Calderon: “Over 100 mayoral campaign signs were stolen from around the township and thrown in dumpsters in April, and police need help finding the thief. Around 130 political posters belonging to the ‘Leggio for Mayor’ campaign were stolen from various locations on or about April 23, according to Howell Township Police. The signs were later discarded in dumpsters … John Leggio, one of the three candidates for the Republican nomination for mayor in Howell Township, along with current Deputy Mayor Ian Nadel and Councilman Fred Gasior … ‘This hurts me because I paid eight bucks a sign,’ he said. ‘[But] all they did was give me free publicity, pretty much. … They made a crucial mistake.’” TRENTON STARBUCKS UPDATE — Sign down and windows papered over, per a tweet by Brent Johnson. I texted Mayor Reed Gusciora asking if that's the end. "Not necessarily," he wrote. "But closed for now." There had been talk about the store filling a smaller space in the same building. Gusciora said that's not the plan "for the immediate future" but the landlord — former Sen. Bob Torricelli and the CWA — is "still in discussions with [Starbucks]." — “Family sues [Wyckoff] school district over photo of daughter shared by other students” — “South Brunswick schools facing 'significant losses', more than 60 jobs cut” — “[South Orange-Maplewood] school district slashes 28 jobs after ‘significant revenue loss’” — “DEP to host open house on Liberty State Park redesign plans Saturday, May 11” — “Atlantic County Democrats want faster mailing of vote-by-mail ballots, samples on website” — “Paterson teen allegedly brought loaded semi-automatic to his elementary school” | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
ENTHUSIASM STRONGER IN NORTH JERSEY — “Poll finds one-third of NJ residents are aware of the state hosting games in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. How they feel,” by The Record’s Katie Sobko: “Only one-third of New Jersey residents are aware that the state is hosting games in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to a poll released Thursday by Monmouth University. The poll found residents in northern New Jersey are more engaged and excited than those in South Jersey. Those New Jersey residents who are aware of the tournament believe the state will reap an economic benefit from hosting the event, but New York will probably profit even more, the poll found.”
— “Pregnant with pancreatic cancer: How a NJ mom endures a devastating diagnosis” — “Latinx students in public schools face barriers to college, access to counselors, report finds” — “Amid protests, commencement ceremonies on track at Rutgers, Princeton, other NJ colleges”
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