May 1, 2007 - 1:04pm
Bramnick prepares for new role
By Max Pizarro
Jon Bramnick wants to succeed Frank Blee as the Assembly Minority WhipRunning for Assembly Minority Whip, Jon Bramnick says he would like to reflect the diversity in his caucus by understanding and properly representing ideas from across the GOP spectrum to all members of his party and to his party’s leadership.
The Westfield attorney, who is completing his third term in the Legislature and now serves as Assistant Whip, believes he has the votes to succeed Assemblyman Francis J. Blee the the third-ranking Assembly GOP leadership post, behind Minority Leader Alex DeCroce and Minority Conference Leader Peter Biondi.
"The whip tries to communicate to the members of the caucus why leadership has gone a certain way on an issue," said Bramnick. "Then he gets information from the members on why or why not they’d support party leadership. He’s a liaison between leadership and the caucus, and I like that because I think I’m fair enough to different people’s positions."
Bramnick is generally seen as a moderate in the party.
"It’s not to twist arms," he said of his prospective role. "It’s to understand different wings of the party, and communicate and come to a consensus. I hope to do so in a way that gives me credibility with both leadership and the members."
Contributors
Wally Edge
One of the classic stories of the New Jersey Legislature in 1968 were allegations that a Newark Assemblyman wanted to cancel a hearing on organized ... >
Bob Torricelli
The Record announced yesterday that it was closing its Hackensack offices and "reinventing"itself. It was actually announcing its own ... >
Michael Patrick Carroll
NJ STARS, while failing in its intended purpose, nonetheless demonstrates the need for fundamental reform in NJ's high schools. >
Debbie Holtz
Another fiscal-cutting measure still lies on the Governor's desk -- it's the one that reduces spending by way of statutory tweaks to the ... >
Steve Lonegan
The 2009 New Jersey State Budget is not the stunning tribute to sound fiscal policy The Trenton insiders would have you believe, but just a ... >
Dr. Joseph Marbach
The budget proposed by Gov. Jon Corzine has produced myriad negative reactions, featuring various interests seeking to limit the impact of the cuts ... >
Rob Tornoe
Michael P. Riccards
Recently, I walked into a large movie theatre with my wife Barbara to see "Sex and the City," the long, long rendition of themes that ... >
Carla Katz
As the Presidential election draws closer and closer, we tend to focus our attention on the daily horse race between the candidates and lose sight of ... >
Top Tags
Most Active Stories
- Torricelli on The (Bergen) Record
- Is Murphy on the short list to be Crowley's L.G.?
- Corzine and Christie meet on the campaign trail
- Obama state director choice comes down to Decheine, Mueller and Chicago
- Is Bret Schundler the next Thomas F.X. Smith?
- O'Toole assumes lead role of GOP chairmen
- Garrett consultant hits back on lobbyist staffers
- A thumbnail New Jersey guide to Obamaland, Part III
- Van Drew '08?
- Round 2: Doblin takes on Torricelli
- Dr. Bones goes to Washington
- PoliticsNJ.com Power List 2007
- Eleven arrested in bribery scandal
- Lyndhurst GOP, nearly all of them, switching parties
- Lobbyist arrested
- Governor Paralysis
- Who is the best State Party Chairman in New Jersey
- KYRILLOS, BECK, KEAN & HANDLIN VOW WORK TO KEEP SEASTREAK FERRY UP AND RUNNING
- Torricelli on COAH
- Two N.J. super delegates go to Obama; Norcross backs Obama; key Clinton supporters endorse Obama
Quote of the Day
July 6, 2008
"I do not." -- James Laurie, an 18-year-old Brookdale Community College student, asked if he knew who Dick Zimmer was.
-Star-Ledger, 07/06/08
Recent Press Releases
- Jul 4 2008
In the News
Read the expanded Wake Up Call, our summary of today’s news media coverage.
Today’s Must Reads:
Trump wonders why Corzine left the Senate ― CHARLES STILE
Bob Torricelli is Mad at the Big, 'Mean' Bergen Record― THE MEDIA MOB
Sweeney-Buono alliance shakes up N.J. Senate― JONATHAN TAMARI
Stile: Pay to play helped to quell party insurgents ― CHARLES STILE
Newark’s Mayor Cory Booker at Midpoint ― DICK BENFIELD
MUCHAS MARGARITAS― ANDY UNANUE
NJ Economic Growth chief leaves office― Gary Rose
Candidates spend plenty of their money― Philadelphia Inquirer
News anchor sizing up run for governor― Star-Ledger
Political parties get right down to business― Daily Record
PolitickerNJ.com Jobs
Syndicate
Good move by the GOP
Bramnick is a good guy and if all Republicans were like him, they'd be in the majority today. Thankfully for us Dems, for every Bramnick, there are 100 or 200 Doherty/Schunder/Lonegan lunatic fringe types. When will the GOP learn?
GroverCleveland is blind (Not the President, the nut blogger)
"there are 100 or 200 Doherty/Schunder/Lonegan lunatic fringe types. When will the GOP learn?"
 I'd rather have "lunatics" who reform cities, cut taxes, and cut crime than the morally bankrupt crooks your party has. When will the Democratics learn corruption is bad? when will idiots stop voting for politicians who end up in jail?
VOTES
Don't know that much about Joe Bramnick, but I do know some of his votes, and he voted for Civil Unions and for the Public Funding of EMBRYONIC Stem-Cells. I can see why "Grover Clevelan" is happy with this choice, another RINO vote like a democrat is in the GOP Leadership. Hey, maybe he will follow Senator Lance's lead and hire democrats to craft his message as well.
And so it goes
Once again, the great right wing of the GOP has spoken. Memo to Republicans: who was the last genuine conservative to win statewide office in New Jersey? It never happens. You've got to get back to the days of Kean/Whitman/Bramnick GOP candidates. Otherwise, all will be lost.
Grover Cleveland: Smoke and Mirrors (again not the President)
Memo to Democrats: Who were the last corrupt statewide officials to resign in disgrace?
Bob "the Torch" Torricelli and Jim "Gay American" McGreedy
Should we go back to those good old days??? What kind of lesson are you teaching your children if you support criminals in public office. No wonder this state takes so much abuse.
how do you know it's not the president?
Dead politicans aren't an uncommon sight at PNJ...
Memo to GOPUSA-NJ
To be elected in New Jersey unless your from Warren County it's smart to be in support of Civil Unions and Stem Cell Funding considering the state tends to be more than socially liberal. Deal with it, or move to the south, because it's not changing. Candidates like Jon Bramnick are the future for the Republicans in this state.
THAT EXPLAINS IT
In response to MEMO TO GOPUSA-NJ; EARTH TO BACKWARDSJERSEY:
Candidates like Jon Bramnick are the future for the Republicans in this state.
That explains the quickly diminishing number of elected republicans in Trenton. I mean why vote for a republican when you can get the real thing from a democrat.
Try Conservatism, you'll like it. It's a winner!
Hey Grover, how about the Gipper?
I guess Ronald Reagan winning NJ TWICE doesn't count?
Bramnick is a Democrat
Come on people, take a look at who Bramnick cozies up with. People like Linda Stender, Neil Cohen and Ray Lesniak. Weren't we trying to get away from the backroom handshake deals that corrupts Trenton. And this is what the republican leadership is putting into their top post. Shame on them. Assembly republicans might as well throw in the towel. It's a spy in their midst.
scottinNJ is probably right,
scottinNJ is probably right, I bet Grover Cleveland voted for Menendez in November.
In Response to That Explains It
"Try Conservatism, you'll like it. It's a winner!"
What state are you from?
Where is the proof of "backhanded" deals with Linda Stender?
Realistically, this is New Jersey, and while conservatives may win in some old school Republican towns and areas like Warren County, in district 21 I don't think it would work too well. While it is surrounded by Republican districts to one side, it is also surrounded by heavily Democrat districts on the other. I'm willing to bet Assemblyman Munoz is a Moderate, and we all know that State Senator Kean Jr. is one as well.
Shouldn't the party be uniting under good legislators like Bramnick? Does supporting Stem Cell Research and Civil Unions (a lil different then Gay Marriage by the way) mean that much of a difference? While the 21st district isn't as competitve as the 12th or the 14th, it's still going to be a Moderate district. Who would you rather see as Assembly Minority Whip? Does the position really mean that much? The Republican Assembly would be making a positive move by giving him the position. I think the Conservatives and Moderates really don't have too many differences, New Jersey is a very socially liberal state, I don't think that will change anytime soon. Maybe it's just a really smart move to be a supporter on social issues like Stem Cell Research because it has crossover appeal to the incredible amount of independents in the state. That is how you win elections statewide and in some cases, district wide, and I think the 21st is just like that.
I'm sure this will start the Tom Kean Jr. was a horrible candidate because he was a moderate and lost because of that debate..but look past a horrible year to run and the lack of a really good campaign based on issues, and you will see it would have been ten times worse if a radical conservative ran.
This debate will all be solved if the conservative choice for US Senate next year, Mike Doherty, gets the nomination. If he does then finally will all the people who say "A true conservative could win New Jersey" could wake up and smell the coffee. That will be a really sad day, because I will be supporting anyone over the dinosaur, but New Jersey independents will be scared away by the 100% conservative candidate.
Instead of dividing the party between Moderates and Conservatives shouldn't the party be unifying under legislators that could not only win district wide raises but will be well respected throughout the state among Independents. Those are the candidates who win. And for all those who point to Ronald Reagan, remember that was 23 years ago..Jersey's changed since then.
Grover Cleveland
Like Elvis - He's Dead.
conservative
A person who favors maintenance of the status quo or reversion to some earlier status. By earlier status I think GOP-USANJ means women barefoot and pregnant and whites in control of everything. He longs for the days of ol Dixie...where the cotton was picked and whitey was king!!!
Jon Bramnick is a good and funny man...not many people know that he is a multiple winner of NJ Bar Assoc's funniest lawyer!
Funniest lawyer
"Jon Bramnick is a good and funny man...not many people know that he is a multiple winner of NJ Bar Assoc's funniest lawyer!"
I think a lot of people know it, doesn't he make a point to tell everyone he meets?
who cares
Most politicians repeat things in their speeches...and use it for quite some time. I'm pretty sure almost all of them do..it's just nature to come up with a few good things and use it and if it works..rinse and repeat. Outside of us political nuts who actually hears these guys speeched more than once in a given few months, even years?