Tag: Inverso

Gray beards and the 14th

I posted this as a comment on Blue Jersey, but thought it was worth posting here, as well:

An issue that keeps coming up — I’ll address it tomorrow in a column for the South Brunswick Post — is that the Dems may opt for what I’ll call a graybeard from Hamilton to lend gravitas to the ticket, someone like Gil Lugossy or Skip Cimino who allegedly have deep roots and a better shot at winning. Forget that neither would have a snowball’s chance in hell of beating Baroni (not sure anyone does, really), such a move has three main drawbacks:

1. It would replace a woman candidate, of which there are far too few in this state, with an white man with white hair.

2. It would replace an Indian-American with a white man with white hair at a time when Indian-Americans are a growing constituency in the district.

3. With the mess this state is in, we need candidates with a fresh perspective. Not sure how Cimino would qualify.

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Baroni’s statement

Sen. Peter Inverso has just made it official. He is stepping down. He also announced that he is endorsing Bill Baroni for his seat.

Public service is a privilege and an honor carrying with it the commitment to put the public interest before self-interest. I have always let that guide me in fulfilling my legislative responsibilities. I am immensely grateful that the people of my district have placed thier trust and confidence in me and permitted me to represent and serve them in the state Legislature for nearly 16 years. This was not an easy decision for me to make, The increasing demands of leading an outstanding community bank with public ownership into an exciting period of expansion and opportunity, and my desire to devote more time to my wonderful wife and growing family have converged and convinced me that, after nearly a quarter of a century of public service, this is the right decision for my family, my employer and me.

Here is the full statement from Assemblyman Bill Baroni:

I am saddened by Senator Peter Inverso’s retirement. I’ve known Pete Inverso since I was 3 years old, and he continues to serve as my mentor in politics. Senator Inverso leaves behind a legacy of honesty, ethics, good government, and independence. I am ready to continue Senator Inverso’s legacy.

So there you have it.

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Inverso out

Voters in South Brunswick, Cranbury, Jamesburg and Monroe will have a new face representing them in the state Senate this year. Sen. Peter Inverso, a Republican, is expected to announce today that he will not seek re-election to a sixth term, making him the 12th senator to announce his retirement.

Politics NJ is speculating that Assemblyman Bill Baroni, a Republican, will run in his stead, though the two-term Assemblyman just announced his reelection plans last week.

Assemblyman Bill Baroni is expected to seek the GOP nomination for State Senate. Senate Republicans say that Inverso will endorse Baroni for his seat.

On Saturday, Mercer County Democrats endorsed Seema Singh, the state Ratepayer Advocate, as their candidate for Senate. Baroni vs. Singh offers a contest between Baroni’s base in blue collar Hamilton and Singh’s appeal to a growing block of Asian American voters in the 14th district.

Ms. Singh, who lives in South Brunswick had been slated to be the state’s public advocate by former Gov. Jim McGreevey, but the McGreevey administration failed to reinstate the position.

As for Mr. Baroni, he told Gannett:

“I intend to carry on his legacy,” said Baroni.

We’ll see where this goes. More later.

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