GOP wants Desiderio to run for Assembly
By Wally EdgeRepublicans think their best chance to pick up Democratic Assembly seats next year is in the first district, where incumbents Nelson Albano and Matthew Milam are expected to seek re-election. Democrats swept the district in 2007 when Jefferson Van Drew ousted Republican incumbent Nicholas Asselta in a hotly contested State Senate race. Milam won by 2,020 votes - one of the closest races in the state; Albano was re-elected to a second term by 5,319 votes. Without Van Drew on the ticket, the GOP is optimistic.
But first, Republicans have to convince their top choice, Cape May County Freeholder (and Sea Isle City Mayor) Leonard Desiderio, to run. Desiderio was sought out as a candidate in 2003, 2005 and 2007 and declined. The two '07 Assembly candidates, Michael Donohue and Norris Clark, are reportedly mulling a rematch.
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Let me get this straight
The Republicans, who savaged Stender in 2006 for this, think their best chance to win an assembly seat is with Double Dipping Pension Padder Leonard Desiderio?
May I please be the first to say...
"yay!"
Glad to see Commonsense is back
I would say this...Albano is a hardworking guy, although without Van Drew on the ticket he is perhaps the most vulnerable state leg member. Not to knock him completely, and he is getting better-that is to say a bit more polished, and seems to be getting an overall better understanding of where his money comes from, but he is rough around the edges and has not done anything out of the shadow of his mentor Van Drew. Milam is too fresh to completely judge, but he too has not done anything remarkable. Riding the popular (God only knows why) Van Drew's coattails is one thing, but Albano's are no where near as long. Nevertheless Lenny likes being the king of a small castle. In Cape May where the GOP has 100% control of the freeholder board, Lenny gets tons of taxpayer money and I doubt that he is willing to give that up for a spot in the minority of the Gen Assembly. Furthermore, on his own two feet he is not that impressive. I doubt he runs. In this race if Clark and Donahue run again it will be closer than last time.
Big Deal!
Albano and Milam will out work any Republican in the District. They will have the money and the manpower to continue the Democratic takeover of the South. There will also be a Governors race going on and a lot of effort will be put into keeping Corzine? Codey? Sweeney? Andrews? in that seat.
The Republicans got lazy and lost all of those seats in the past few years. The Democrats will not make that same mistake.
first
While I admire your optimism, I have to disagree. Albano and Milam have a huge mountain to climb. Cape May sill goes GOP in State wide contests, neither of them have ever run without Van Drew thats a big problem
Hard workers
Incumbency, hard work, and a LOT of money will make it very difficult for any opponent. Cape May has not been putting up the numbers in the past few elections. The Democrats will spend what they have to keep those two seats.
Tough race , yes, but hard work will keep them in office.