David Rebovich

Dr. David Rebovich, a leading political scientist in New Jersey, passed away last October.
The Rider Institute for New Jersey Politics will be renamed in honor of its late founder and managing director, David Rebovich.

Rebovich, a political scientist and prolific media commentator who wrote a column for PolitickerNJ.com, died suddenly of a heart attack in October.

The school also announced that the institute will be directed by veteran Democratic political operative Ben Dworkin, a Ph.D. candidate at Rutgers University. Dworkin has recently worked for several communications firms in New York and New Jersey, and started off his New Jersey political career as an aide and protégé of the late state Sen. Matthew Feldman.

Seton Hall Professor Joseph Marbach has joined PolitickerNJ.com as a weekly columnistPolitickerNJ.com is pleased and honored to welcome Professor Joseph Marbach as weekly columnist.  Dr. Marbach will replace the late David Rebovich, who wrote for this web site every week from 2002 until his death last month at the age of 58.  Click here to read Professor Marbach's first column on voter participation.

Dr. Marbach is the Chairman of the Political Science Department at Seton Hall University and an Associate Professor of Political Science.  He is also the Associate Dean for Associate Dean for Academic Administration and Outreach.  He has served on the councils of the American Political Science Association's Section on Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations and the New Jersey Political Science Association.

David Rebovich (1949-2007)Today, New Jersey said goodbye to Dr. David Rebovich, who is remembered as a shrewd, influential political analyst who knew just about everyone in state politics. But more than anything, if today’s funeral is any indication, Rebovich will be remembered as a teacher.

The appearance of Gov. Corzine, who Rebovich criticized in his final column, was testament to just how serious Rebovich’s following was amongst Trenton’s political elite. Corzine had earlier issued an official proclamation saluting Rebovich for his “profound impact on politics” and as “unafraid to criticize aspects of the political system” while maintaining faith in it.

Dr. David Rebovich, managing director of the Rider University Institute for New Jersey Politics and frequent media commentator, died this morning after suffering a heart attack while teaching class at Rider. He was 58.

Politicians, fellow political experts, students and family members alike today celebrated his powers of understanding and his ability to explain the confounding political dynamics of his native state.

Can’t get enough Max Pizarro and David Rebovich?  Then you can watch them on television tonight and over the weekend. 

Pizarro will be featured on Reporters Roundtable on NJN, hosted by Zachary Fink.  He’ll appear along with reporters Tom Hester of The Associated Press, Adrienne Lu from The Bergen Record and Michael Symons from Gannett New Jersey.  The show will air on Friday at 6:30pm and Sunday at 10am. 

There are great primary races for State Senate and Assembly in seven districts tomorrow. Some are about the candidates themselves, and others are about power struggles between party leaders and other key players.

Each of these districts – 24, 26, 28, 29, 31, 33 and 40 – are competitive only in primaries. That means a victory in Tuesday’s primary in tantamount to election.

PoliticsNJ.com asked four political science professors who keep a careful eye on New Jersey politics for their predictions in key races: Ingrid Reed, the Director of the Eagleton Project at Rutgers University’s Eagleton Institute for Politics; David Rebovich, the Managing Director of the Rider University Institute for New Jersey Politics; Montclair University Political Science Professor Brigid Harrison; and Seton Hall University Political Science Professor (and Acting Dean) Joseph Marbach.

President George W. Bush at the Evesham Recreation Center in 2004: Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Democrats seem to be publicizing President Bush’s fundraising trip to New Jersey next week with as much enthusiasm as the Republicans.

On Wednesday, Bush will be in Edison to raise cash for the Republican State Committee, with ticket prices ranging for $300 per-person to attend the main reception to $5,000 for a photo-op with the President.

Democrats quickly seized on the opportunity to score political points by associating their local opponents with a President whose approval rating in New Jersey is a horribly upside-down 25%-70%, according to an April Quinnipiac University poll.

Jon Corzine's 51%-36% approval rating his his best yet, according to a new Quinnipiac University pollDemocratic State Chairman Joseph Cryan said a new Quinnipiac University Institute poll numbers showing Gov. Jon Corzine's approval rating at 51-36 percent, represent good news for Democrats, while a skeptical Tom Wilson, the GOP State Chairman, said the numbers show nothing new, and still reflect voter discontent.

Sparked by increased approval for his property tax reduction plan, the poll results released today are Corzine's highest ever, and show "little apparent effect from his auto accident," according to Quinnipiac.