| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | | Presented by |  | | | Looks like I spoke too soon Monday about LaMonica McIver averting disaster in her fledgling 10th District congressional campaign. Following complaints by rival Brittany Claybrooks’ campaign and others about an administrative law judge’s decision to keep McIver on the ballot, not allowing evidence to be admitted that more people than acknowledged gathered her petition signatures, Secretary of State Tahesha Way reminded it to the administrative law judge, Kim Belin. But wait, there’s more! Way also remanded an administrative law judge’s decision to keep Claybrooks on the ballot over allegations of fraud from the Democratic State Committee. Daniel Han has been tracking these developments. More on that below. Well, at least there are, what, seven other candidates waiting in the wings if those two get booted from the ballot? Politically, it would have been easy for Way to go with the administrative law judge recommendations and let both candidates on the ballot. It’s pretty clear from where I sit that there are serious questions, and it serves the democratic process to air them out. That’s the way Way chose. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at MFriedman@politico.com. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “HUDSON COUNTY DEMOCRATS ENDORSE JOE BIDEN … ROB MENENDEZ” — Campaign signs in Jersey City spotted by The AP’s Ryan Dubicki that put U.S. Rep. Rob Menendez’s last name in a much smaller font than his first name, for some reason. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Sean Kean, Alaine Williams, Mollie Binotto, Brigid Harrison, Joshua Henne, Michael Gartland, Melissa Pollitt. Missed Monday: James Treffinger WHERE’S MURPHY? — in cyberspace at 10 a.m. for a virtual press conference announcing “Unemployment Insurance application modernization with U.S. Department of Labor Acting Secretary Julie A. Su, New Jersey Department of Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo, and New Jersey Chief Innovation Officer Dave Cole.”
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WAEL-CONNECTED — Wael “Will” Hana, the Egyptian-American businessperson accused of bribing Sen. Bob Menendez, appears to be well-connected in his home country. Federal prosecutors say Hana used proceeds from a meat monopoly granted by Egyptian officials to bribe Menendez into acting as a foreign agent. Though Hana denies bribing the senator, he has argued he got the monopoly in part because of his contacts in Egypt.
Two of prosecutors’ early witnesses hint at who those contacts may be. Hana talked about knowing or having spoken with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, according to testimony from a former in-house counsel for Hana’s company and a USDA official formerly stationed at the American embassy in Cairo. The in-house counsel, John Moldovan, also testified that he’d heard Hana talk about a daily call with someone said to be an Egyptian general. The trial may give more clarity to whether Hana really had such high-level connections. A lengthy list of names that could come up in the trial includes Abbas Kamel, the head of Egypt’s intelligence service, and Sameh Shoukry, the country’s foreign minister, though it’s unclear in what context they could be discussed. Another connection emerged during testimony from the USDA official, Bret Tate, who said Hana sent some of the money from his meat monopoly, which was granted by Egypt, to a company that American officials believed was linked to Egyptian security services. — Ry Rivard —“Businessman saved Nadine Menendez’s home from foreclosure, testimony at senator’s trial says” —“Menendez trial focused on business of halal meat” | | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
ASK HIM IF HE’S RUNNING AND HE’LL PLEAD THE FIFTH — NJEA puts $2M into group promoting Sean Spiller, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: The New Jersey Education Association has so far this year poured $2 million into a group promoting its president, Sean Spiller, who’s considered a potential candidate for governor in 2025. Campaign finance records filed last month show Garden State Forward, a super PAC funded exclusively by the NJEA, in January gave $2 million to Protecting Our Democracy, a nonprofit organization formed in 2022. Protecting Our Democracy has been sending out mailers around the state promoting Spiller, who’s also the outgoing mayor of Montclair, as well as running cable and internet video ads. … Spiller’s time as mayor is ending in controversy, with the town settling a whistleblower lawsuit this month for $1.25 million. One allegation in the lawsuit was that most members of the township’s governing body, including Spiller, received either health insurance or opt-out payments for health insurance benefits they weren’t entitled to as part-time employees.” THE OPAQUE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT — “If Murphy signs OPRA 'reform,' he abandons his progressive ambitions — and legacy,” by The Record’s Charles Stile: “Progressives have taken note of Murphy's evolution into a far more transactional Democratic leader. Last year, Murphy collaborated with the party and signed the Elections Transparency Act … Murphy also became a defender of the largely discredited county-line ballot design … And last week, the state attorney general was in court defending a two-decade-old loophole that has allowed gamblers to smoke inside Atlantic City casinos … Now, some fear, Murphy will give his seal of approval to a new revision of the Open Public Records Act that effectively restricts the ability of journalists, citizen advocates, lawyers and residents of any standing to obtain taxpayer-funded records that offer insight on how the governments and public agencies spend their money and conduct their business.” ELEC DOESN’T HAVE TO WAIT TO GET ITS HAINES ON IT — “Longtime ELEC lawyer will be new executive director,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission is expected to select Amanda S. Haines, a 19-year veteran of the campaign watchdog agency, as its new executive director. She will become the first woman to lead the 51-year-old commission, the New Jersey Globe has confirmed. Brindle announced his retirement last summer after fourteen years as executive director. That came five months after Gov. Phil Murphy had sought to oust him over an email sent to a staffer last fall that mocked National Coming Out Day. Haines joined ELEC in 2005.” LOOPHOLES — Speaking of ELEC, the agency on May 1 made some recommendations, including closing the loophole that allowed the shady group “Jersey Freedom” to promote fake candidates to draw votes from Republicans while not disclosing who its actual donors were (South Jersey Democrats and their allies) until well after Election Day. Assembly Minority Leader John DiMaio and Assemblymember Greg McGuckin, both Republicans, just introduced a measure to close that loophole by requiring frequent reporting by independent expenditure groups, like the current requirement for other types of political committees. The bill, NJ A4431, would also enact two other recommendations from ELEC: increasing the statute of limitations for prosecuting campaign finance violations from two years to four, and exempting ELEC from Daniel’s Law redaction requirements. But this is, of course, a Republican bill, and it’s far from clear whether Democrats have an appetite to move it. I asked the Assembly Majority Office but didn’t hear back. “This measure makes it clear where lawmakers stand — either with their constituents or with corruption. Are they public officials with principles or political cronies? It’s time to find out,” McGuckin said in a statement.
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SCHOOL FUNDING — Fulop education plan would confront segregation, revise funding formula, by POLITICO’s Dustin Racioppi: Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop would update the state's school funding formula, "reimagine" the Schools Development Authority and confront school segregation, among other education measures if he's elected governor. In his latest policy plan rollout, Fulop broadly committed to building on Gov. Phil Murphy's education agenda, such as expanding universal pre-kindergarten and increasing access to mental health services. But there are key areas he'd try to reform and improve, he said. "The goal of this education policy is to create greater transparency, efficiency, and support for students, parents, educators, and administrators in the State of New Jersey," Fulop said in a statement.
— “N.J.’s judiciary is an effective system. The Legislature must not hijack it | Opinion” — “Measure ending basic skills tests for teachers goes to governor’s desk” — NJ pharmacists can start to dispense prescription-free hormonal contraceptives — “NJ property-tax relief: Is there a better way?” — “Officials signal NJ ready to preserve more farmland slated for warehouse development” — “Tents, canopies banned at Island Beach State Park this summer” — “Dozens of groups thank Murphy, remind him of the importance of a free and open Liberty State Park | Opinion” | | | | A message from Uber:   | | | | | BIDEN TIME | |
I WANT YOU TO SHOW ME THE WAY — Secretary of State Way sends petition challenges for Payne Jr.'s seat back to judges, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: Secretary of State Tahesha Way on Monday instructed state judges to take another look at two separate challenges that seek to kick two leading Democratic candidates for Congress off the ballot. Way, the state’s chief elections official, was expected on Monday to certify who could be on the ballot for the July 16 special primary election to fill the remainder of the late Rep. Donald Payne Jr.’s term. However, Way pushed back the state certification date to Thursday as she remanded petition challenges to administrative law judges to review again. Way's decision in the two separate petitions challenges — by Newark City Council President LaMonica McIver and former East Orange Councilmember Brittany Claybrooks, who recently worked for Rep. Andy Kim’s Senate campaign — could result in them being kicked off the primary ballot. New Jersey administrative law judges in recent days dismissed the challenges that sought to get them off the ballot.
TRUMPING LOGIC — Republicans want Menendez’s Senate seat. Trump devotion is getting in the way, by POLITICO’s Katherine Dailey: New Jersey Republicans should have their best chance in decades to win a Senate seat with Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez on trial, but the leading candidates are mired in a losing strategy: supporting Donald Trump. It’s become a ritual for Republican candidates nationwide, and tends to lead to success in party primaries. But backing Trump hasn’t worked yet for anyone seeking statewide office in New Jersey. The party’s conundrum is on stark display in the Senate primary: Christine Serrano Glassner, a Trump-endorsed mayor, is all in on 2020 election denial while the moderate hotelier Curtis Bashaw is now backing Trump with no substantial record of supporting him in the past. Chris Russell, a longtime top Republican strategist in the state not affiliated with either campaign, sees this as a liability. “Anytime that a Republican in New Jersey gets into a position where they are identified solely by the national brand, it just doesn’t go well.” ALT REALITY — “Altman hits Kean for anti-police vote he didn’t take,” by New Jersey Globe’s Joey Fox: “Over the weekend, Democratic congressional candidate Sue Altman took to Twitter to criticize her prospective Republican opponent, Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield), over a vote congressional Republicans took against funding the Capitol Police. The problem: that vote took place in 2021, before Kean took office. The specific bill Altman’s tweet references is the Emergency Security Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 … Every single House Republican voted against the bill, as did three Democrats, so Altman’s criticism could apply to the Republican caucus at-large — but Kean wasn’t elected to Congress until 2022, more than a year after the vote took place … But Altman hit back that even if the specific vote she referenced didn’t happen when Kean was in Congress, there have been other votes since then targeting federal police funding, and Kean did vote for several of those.” — “New Jersey’s ‘uncommitted’ campaign will look different from Pennsylvania’s. Here’s how” — “Rep. Sherrill pitches $100M a year to boost mental health care with Re-Entry Act” | | | | 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 | |
RENDERING UNTO CAESAR — “Ocean Grove surrenders on allowing Sunday morning beach access, at least for now,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Charles Daye: “The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, which governs much of life in a place that has been nicknamed 'God's Square Mile,' has been forced to allow access to the beach from its boardwalk on Sunday mornings, at least for now. Last fall, the state Department of Environmental Protection ordered the association to allow access to the beach on Sunday mornings or risk a $25,000 fine each day. The association has been fighting the ruling in court, but an April 17 hearing was adjourned, so that no resolution was likely before this coming Sunday, May 26, on Memorial Day weekend, the first Sunday that the beach access closure would have gone into effect this year. The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association released a statement to the Asbury Park Press on Monday, May 20, stating that while it is still fighting the ruling, it is complying for now.”
QUI PRO QUOBOKEN — “Did NJ assemblyman say he'd withhold support for Hoboken Business Alliance?” by Patch’s Caren Lissner: “The head of the Hoboken Business Alliance said at last Wednesday's council meeting that a town official ‘intimated’ in a phone call that local Assemblyman John Allen ‘would not be supportive’ of the group if the group did not support his wife's appointment to their expanding board … During Wednesday's Hoboken City Council meeting, the council was set to vote on a preliminary $3.195 million budget for the HBA … Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher … asked Roxanne Earley, the executive director of the body, if she got a phone call from Councilman Phil Cohen … telling her Allen might not financially support the HBA if his wife wasn't added to the board. Earley first said they were asked to consider all candidates. After another question, she elaborated, saying she did get a call from Councilman Cohen. She responded, ‘What was intimated to me was that if Tara Mullins wasn't given a fair shake, it may be difficult for the assemblyman to support the HBA.’ Cohen jumped in to say he wasn't on the board when the vote was taken, and that the board is all volunteers.” —“On the hook for $21 million? JCRA to consider putting up additional $6.5 million for Loew’s Jersey overhaul” —“Woman awarded $1.6M in sex abuse lawsuit against [Camden] school board president” —“See which 8 NJ towns filed new lawsuits to stop offshore wind developer” —“Bergen County cop sues again, says campaign of retaliation tarnished his reputation” —“Paterson police investigate allegations a Moody Academy teacher had sex with student” —“Which Jersey Shore schools called police the most?” —“Former Jersey City school board president’s sentencing in federal case postponed again” —“Residents ask to testify in lawsuit vs. Atlantic City Housing Authority” —“Sussex commissioner candidates debate school aid, COVID relief, bad cell service at forum” | | | | A message from Uber: How Uber reduces drunk driving
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LONG-TERM CARE — “'I'm stranded': NJ leaves man stuck in Manchester nursing home with no motorized wheelchair,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Jerry Carino: “Larry Lindstrom spent a career helping people with disabilities learn how to get around. Now he can’t go anywhere. The 69-year-old former instructor with Rutgers University’s NJ Travel Independence Program is paralyzed from the chest down due to a car accident three years ago … He’s a resident-patient at AristaCare at Whiting, a long-term care facility in Manchester. ‘I figured at some point I would be guided back into the community,’ Lindstrom said. ‘I didn’t think it’d be stuck in a nursing home forever.’ He’s stuck because although Medicaid normally would cover the cost of a motorized wheelchair for a paralyzed 69-year-old (a cost that can run from $30,000 to $60,000), he fell into a not-so-small crack in the system. If you’re in a long-term care facility, New Jersey’s labyrinthine health care laws give that facility discretion over providing a motorized wheelchair. Often, the facilities don’t do it. And so, the teacher is learning a harsh lesson. 'It’s a huge insurance-coverage desert,' disability advocate Jonathan Sigworth said. 'Larry did everything right (throughout his career), and this is how New Jersey is repaying his work.'” UNITED VAN LINES — “'It's a brave new life': How an intrepid New Jersey couple survived the Alaskan wilderness on a homestead” —“World’s 1st grad degrees in ‘happiness’ handed out to joyful students at N.J. university” —Audio: “The sport of cricket is mostly played by men — that's changing in New Jersey” —“Dog that spent 7 years walking around world with owner dies in N.J.”
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