Wake-Up Call: Friday, June 13, 2008

With the PolitickerNJ.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of New Jersey's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.

With the PolitickerNJ.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of New Jersey's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.

The mouth that roared stays relatively mum
CNN's Lou Dobbs last night said he would talk to people interested in seeing him run for New Jersey governor, but he did not confirm or deny that he wants to be a candidate.

The 62-year-old self-proclaimed "advocacy journalist" said he is "trying to figure out what the heck is going on" and would have more to say "after I talk with all the exploration committees that have been at work across the state." (Josh Margolin, Star-Ledger)

Getting down to business
John Sette stood before his Republican Party faithful Tuesday night and reminded them how good it is to live in Morris County. He talked of nice towns, a great park system, a good library, low county taxes and even a "great jail." When the laughter died down, Sette amended his comments to say a "great sheriff."

A few miles away at about the same time, Lew Candura was telling loyal Democrats that their time may be coming. He spoke of increased Democratic registration -- up about 50 percent since a year ago -- and said that the fall election offers a "historic opportunity" for the county's perennial second party. (Fred Snowflack, The Daily Record)

Opinions shaped by allegations
I admit that my opinion of Al Faiella, former Newark deputy mayor, chief city land-deal guru for 25 years and former president of the Newark Economic Development Corp., has been shaped by accusations about him. (Joan Whitlow, Star-Ledger)

Who said anything about too old?
In one way, Republican Dick Zimmer’s Senate campaign against Frank Lautenberg looks remarkably like Rob Andrews’s ill-fated Democratic primary challenge to the incumbent Senator. (Matt Friedman, PolitickerNJ.com)

Andrews’ new cause
WASHINGTON As U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews, D-N.J., enters his final months in Congress, he has joined a coalition of lawmakers pushing for gay rights.

The congressman from Haddon Heights is among the House members to organize themselves into a new, special caucus to advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, or LGBT, issues. (Jessica Coomes, Gloucester County Times)

Ethics on ice
BRICK — The legal opinion that pegged Democratic Councilwoman Kathy Russell's involvement with a petition campaign to halt the township's purchase of the Ocean Ice Palace as unethical is now being questioned by open government advocates and Democratic Party leaders. (Matthew McGrath, Asbury Park Press)

Preparing the raiding party
Charged up by the presidential race, Democrats believe they can storm GOP freeholder strongholds in at least three counties this year: Somerset, Burlington and Monmouth. (Max Pizarro, PolitickerNJ.com)

Meet the new guard, same as the old guard
A split among Mercer County Republicans surfaced this week as party members narrowly turned back an attempt by a self-proclaimed "new guard" to take over their leadership. (Meir Rinde, Trenton Times)

New leadership in Upper Pittsgrove
UPPER PITTSGROVE TWP. Democrats found new leadership to their party during a reorganization meeting here this week, while Republicans opted to offer a second year to their chairman. (Randall Clark, The Sunbeam)

Get it done
HOBOKEN - City Council members will be fined $25 a day - starting yesterday - until their budget is adopted, the state Local Finance Board announced yesterday. (Amy Sara Clark, Jersey Journal)

Public funding on the way?
TRENTON — An Assembly panel approved a measure Thursday that would publicly fund primary and general election legislative campaigns in up to eight districts next year. (Gregory J. Volpe, Gannett)

Jersey link to Client 9
NEW YORK -- The operator of a high-priced escort service that counted a former New York governor among its clients pleaded guilty Thursday after a criminal probe put the company out of business and Eliot Spitzer out of office. (Larry Neumeister, Associated Press)

Trump’s new plans
Donald Trump, spurned by state officials last month regarding the first phase of the EnCap project, still is thinking big with a proposed second phase in North Arlington — and a large mall is among the possible development plans. (John Brennan and Nick Clunn, The Record)

With the PolitickerNJ.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of New Jersey's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.

With the PolitickerNJ.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of New Jersey's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.