Douglas Forrester

There is some speculation among Republicans that former Jersey City Mayor Bret Schundler is thinking about a bid for Congress in the seventh district.  Schundler grew up in Westfield and several family members still live there.   Schundler did  not return e-mails seeking comment on his potential candidacy for Mike Ferguson’s seat.

Add Robert Colletti to the membership list of the Douglas Forrester Club: Republicans who were headed to the Senate, but were defeated when Democrats changed their candidates.  Colletti, a former Elmwood Park Councilman, looked like he would win the 38th district State Senate race last summer after incumbent Joseph Coniglio became the target of a federal criminal probe -- a Democratic poll confirmed exactly that.  But now, against Assemblyman Robert Gordon, Colletti doesn't have a chance.

It is more than a little ironic that the Asbury Park Press, the newspaper that effectively ended Republican control of the New Jersey State Senate in 2003 when they played a major role in the defeat of Co-Senate President John Bennett.  Since then, the Gannett-owned paper seems to have gone solidly Republican in the endorsement game.  So far this cycle, the APP has endorsed nine Republicans and one Democrat (Michele Rosen, who has virtually no chance of winning in a solidly GOP district).  In 2005, the APP endorsed twelve Republicans for twelve Assembly seats in Monmouth and Ocean counties – and Douglas Forrester for Governor.