I apologize, this story feel through the cracks but grant it the New Jersey U.S. Senate race has been pretty quiet. But if this isn't a sign of how nasty things could get in the Democratic primary between Congressman Frank Pallone (D. NJ-6) and Newark Mayor Cory Booker (D. NJ):
http://www.nj.com/...
U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone has fired the first volley in what could be a contentious primary battle with Newark Mayor Cory Booker for the 2014 U.S. Senate nomination.
Pallone sent a scathing letter to Booker last week accusing the city of failing to fund its obligations to the Hyacinth AIDS Foundation, a non-profit based in New Brunswick that helps house and treat patients with HIV/AIDS. Booker administration officials said they have not received the May 10 letter which was obtained by The Star-Ledger, but said the funding process is following its normal course.
"Since these contracts require a level of reimbursement from Newark, Hyacinth has been paying out bills on behalf of its patients, most of whom live in Newark, totaling $124,000 that the city now owes the organization," Pallone wrote to Booker. "That total will rise to $147,000 at the end of May. This is simply unacceptable."
Booker spokesman James Allen said funding for Hyacinth was on track to be approved earlier than last year.
"These contracts are moving through the same review process they go through every year. In fact, the Hyacinth funding is on track to be approved shortly — and months earlier than last year," Allen said in a statement.
Allen, the head of communications for the city, said the letter has yet to be received by City Hall.
In the letter, Pallone alleges that the program is being mismanaged by City Hall and accuses Booker of "shirking (his) responsibility." - The Star-Ledger, 5/14/13
That's quite a punch to throw. It's no secret that both Pallone and Booker are eying retiring Senator Frank Lautenberg's (D. NJ) Senate seat. Both men have stated they will announce their candidacies until after the New Jersey Governor's race. Both men have been campaign for State Senator Barbara Buono (D. NJ) as she tries to unseat incumbent Governor Chris Christie (R. NJ). Booker's record was always going to be under attack and Pallone's had a track record of waiting too long to run for a higher office. I don't doubt the legitimacy of Pallone's argument but again, this is one Hell of a punch to throw. Hopefully this primary won't get too nasty. Pallone needs to be careful to not go too negative because it could backfire.
Now Pallone has $3 million in the bank because he can legally transfer his funding for his Congressional campaign into his Senate campaign. But Booker has proven to be quite a fundraiser and can rake in the cash:
http://www.nytimes.com/...
Mayor Cory A. Booker has turned his office into a platform for national celebrity, and he has been richly compensated for it, taking in more than $1.3 million in speaking fees over the last four and a half years.
In disclosure forms filed this week in preparation for his campaign for a United States Senate seat, Mr. Booker, 44, reported being paid $1,327,190 for 96 speeches since 2008.
In documents released to the news media on Friday, he said he had paid $476,156 in taxes on the money he earned from speaking fees and donated $619,253 to charity, leaving him with about $232,000.
The amounts are somewhat higher than what Mr. Booker had disclosed previously.
In March, he told The New York Times that he had earned just over $1 million in the seven years since he took office, and kept “very little, if any” of the money. His disclosure forms do not indicate how much he took in during his first two years. - New York Times, 5/17/13
We'll see if there will be more jabs between Pallone and Booker before the New Jersey Governors race is over but both men want this seat and are going to fight for it. In other Pallone-related news, Pallone was at the grand reopening of the Asbury Park boardwalk:
http://www.nj.com/...
The ribbon is cut, the gates flung open, the waters are warm and the parties have started – altogether, that means the Jersey Shore is open.
The city’s boardwalk was officially reopened Saturday in a ceremony filled with the typical politicians’ pomp and razzle-dazzle, but also swelled with optimism and anticipation for a fantastic summer season.
“We are so proud to be one of the first to welcome visitors back to the shore,” Chamber of Commerce President Jacqueline Pappas said. “We’re pleased to be the light that leads the way.”
It wouldn’t be fair to call Asbury Park’s boardwalk, with its shops, music venues and eateries simply historic. Calling it iconic doesn’t capture its meaning to the people of the region, either – the Jersey shore has plenty of icons from Sandy Hook to Cape May.
Congressman Frank Pallone (D-6th) said the boardwalk is best described as a centerpiece, a focal point of the shore’s natural beauty and diverse cultural attractions.
“It’s like heaven – you can smell the salt air, see the convention hall, see the Stone Pony,” Pallone said. “When I talk about the area I represent, I always talk about Asbury Park because it epitomizes what the shore is about. The fact that you’re open today is a symbol that the shore is back.” - NJ.com, 5/18/13