May 10, 2008 - 12:12am
Schaer gets by ban on dual officeholding on a technicality
By Wally Edge
The resignation of Passaic Mayor Sammy Rivera following his guilty plea on federal bribery charges means that City Council President Gary Schaer will become the Acting Mayor. That could mean an interesting test to a law passed last year that bans dual officeholding because Schaer is also an Assemblyman. Dual officeholders elected before February 2008 are grandfathered under the new law, allowing Schaer to serve as an Assemblyman and Councilman. But now that Schaer has the powers that come with being Acting Mayor of Passaic, could he be violating the spirit of the ban on dual office holding?
Two other issues worth noting: Schaer abstained on A-4326, which prohibits newly elected public office holders from simultaneously holding more than one elective office; and the city attorney who ruled that Schaer can become Acting Mayor is the law partner of Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero.
Contributors
Wally Edge
Besides giving a shout out to Wally Edge at Wednesday's New Jersey Legislative Correspondents Association Dinner ("As Wally always says, ... >
Bob Torricelli
Everything that I admire and fear about the Democratic Party was on display this week. The compassion for creating affordable housing and the ... >
Michael Patrick Carroll
McCain announce his intention to appoint real judges, and both teh Times and the Journal muff the story. >
Debbie Holtz
Let’s get this straight. Does U.S. Attorney Chris Christie think he only has a role to play when there’s a violation of US federal ... >
Steve Lonegan
FOR 190 YEARS, New Jersey had no income tax and no sales tax. As recently as 1966, it had only the third-highest property taxes in the nation.
>
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
NATIONAL CARTOON: Bush sacrificed golf for the troops >
Michael P. Riccards
With her victory by ten points in Pennsylvania, Hillary Clinton has re emerged as a very viable candidate for the Democratic nomination. It is ... >
Carla Katz
A hugely misguided attempt to eliminate the Department of Agriculture is the spark which has lit an angry fire which took over West State street ... >
Poll
PolitickerNJ Partners
Top Tags
Most Active Stories
- Does Lautenberg have an Unanue problem?
- Election Results: Vas defeated in Perth Amboy, Barse loses in Vineland, Orechio upset in Nutley
- Updated: Handicapping the Senate & House primaries
- Gov. Corzine’s powerpoint presentation at the Legislative Correspondents dinner
- Upset of the night: Vas loses re-election in Perth Amboy
- Will Bennett replace Puharic?
- The future of Joe Vas
- Alleging retaliatory harassment, Katz sues CWA officials
- Hawkins and Codey celebrate big win
- Menendez picks O'Brien to replace Zapien
- 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
- Two N.J. super delegates go to Obama; Norcross backs Obama; key Clinton supporters endorse Obama
- At energy policy meeting, Rose fights with cabinet and walks away
Quote of the Day
May 16, 2008
"The saying about Dominicans is that we have two things in our blood — baseball and politics. We are passionate about politics, and just about getting involved."
-- Cid Wilson, a Leonia resident and past president of the national Dominican American National Roundtable, on the growing influence of Dominicans in New Jersey politics.
-The Record, 5/16/08
Recent Press Releases
In the News
Read the expanded Wake Up Call, our summary of today’s news media coverage.
Today’s Must Reads:
Passaic freeholder breaks ranks to back Andrews― The Record
Republican primary bloodbaths leave Democrats smiling― PolitickerNJ.com
Dominicans flex their political muscle― The Record
Zimmer spells out a McCain-like health care plan― Star-Ledger
Are Democrats making peace with the'burbs?― Star-Ledger
Where GOP rivals stand in New Jersey's Third― Philadelphia Inquirer
Labor leader sues union officials for retaliation― Star-Ledger
Hawkins and Codey celebrate big win― PolitickerNJ.com
Romano and slate sweep Team Barse― The Daily Journal
PolitickerNJ.com Jobs
Syndicate
Interesting point!
Will our legislature get into action with its own hearing, investigation? Will they refer this matter to their ethics committee?