Bob Franks

Gov. Jon Corzine has named former GOP Rep. Bob Franks, his opponent in the 2000 U.S. Senate race, to serve as Chairman of a grass roots effort to build voter support for his Financial Restructuring and Debt Reduction Plan outlined in yesterday’s State of the State address.

"A little over seven years ago Congressman Franks was my opponent in the race for U.S. Senate and today he joins us in what could prove to be our most important fight," Corzine said.   "Bob's extraordinary leadership skills in this endeavor to help right New Jersey's financial ship is a shining example of the fact that our financial challenges do not know party lines and that our solutions shouldn't either."

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Manville Mayor Angelo Corradino lost his bid for re-election to a fifth termA bowling alley named Tenpin Lanes stands in the center of Manville, between a pair of Superfund sites that are the remnants of the town’s bulldozed factory era.

The alley for years has been a source of entertainment and relaxation for the hard luck blue collar work force here, and for Angelo Corradino, the borough’s longest serving mayor who straddled the transition Manville made from factories to shopping malls, and who earlier this month lost by 78 votes in his bid for a fifth term in office.

An old high school linebacker and longsuffering Jets and Mets fan who spent 19 years as an elected official in Manville, the past 16 of those as mayor, Corradino says rumors that he wanted to go full time with an annual salary of $95,000 sank his chances of re-election.

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Former Rep. Bob Franks won't seek a return to the 7th district House seat being vacated by Mike Ferguson.

 "Representing the people of Central New Jersey in the House of Representatives from 1993 to 2001 was one of the important and rewarding experiences of my life, however I find my work at the HealthCare Institute of New Jersey very fulfilling and I'm enjoying nights and weekends with my family," Franks said. "I have no desire to run for Congress next year."

Franks held the seat for four terms before mounting a nearly successful bid for U.S. Senate in 2000. Outspent by nearly $57 million, Franks lost to Jon Corzine by a 50%-47% margin. Ferguson won a hotly contested primary to replace him. more >

Warren Township Mayor Victor Sordillo is a possible candidate for Congress, says Somerset GOP Chairman Dale FlorioDale Florio, chairman of the Somerset County Republican Party, said he was still stunned by the news today that 7th district U.S. Rep. Mike Ferguson would not pursue re-relection in 2008.

Nonetheless, "I respect his decision to care for a growing family," said Florio, who credited Ferguson with being a good watchdog of taxpayers' dollars and a strong advocate for homeland security.

"He is a good friend and a good congressman," Florio added.

The Somerset County chairman said he's sure there will be some horseplay in the coming days as the party considers its stable of would-be successors.

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Former Hillsborough Deputy Mayor Chris Venis became the first Republican to enter the seventh district House race following Rep. Mike Ferguson’s retirement.

“Every person at some point in their lives has come to a crossroad. A road that will take them to an unknown place: a place full of challenges, and sometimes a place full of huge responsibility. Today it is my turn to choose a path,” Venis said. “Mine is quite simple, to ensure that our children and families have the best opportunity to prosper and live safe healthy lives."

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Rep. Mike Ferguson won't seek re-election in 2008Rep. Mike Ferguson will announce today that he will not seek re-election to a fifth term in 2008. The 37-year-old Republican, who won re-election last year by just 1% against Democratic Assemblywoman Linda Stender, wants to spend more time with his four young children.

Senate Minority Leader-designate Thomas Kean, Jr. becomes one of the most likely GOP candidates for the seat. Kean, the Republican U.S. Senate in 2006, was among the candidates who ran against Ferguson in the 7th district Republican primary in 2000, when Bob Franks gave up the seat to run for the Senate.

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