Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

New Jersey election reflects reshaped political landscape
By Steven Williamson
Daily Targum (Rutgers)
12/13/2006

(U-WIRE) NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — The year 2006 saw one of the most important elections in recent history. On a national level, Republicans and Democrats fought a fierce battle over the control of Congress, with the Democrats coming out victorious by a single Senate seat.

New Jersey saw a series of political face-offs on both the state and local level. The candidates gave it their all, but in the end, as always, the decision was left in the hands of the people.

Making headlines the most in the state was the race for the Senate seat Bob Menendez had occupied since Gov. Jon S. Corzine vacated when he became governor. The two marquee candidates in the race were incumbent Sen. Bob Menendez and State Sen. Tom Kean Jr. Although the two candidates battled for who could represent the people of New Jersey in the Senate, the central issue was by far the pivotal War in Iraq.

Menendez was one of the few congressmen who voted against the war at its inception, and he made sure to communicate this with the voters. Kean said he was a supporter of the war, yet assailed the George W. Bush administration by saying they had definitely made mistakes in the planning process. The two candidates also debated over stem cell research, abortion and taxation.

As with the governor's race a year ago, both campaigns were characterized by partisan mudslinging. Kean accused Menendez of being in league with criminals from Cuba and said he was a friend of gangsters.

Menendez countered by saying Kean accepted money from certain pay-to-play firms, which he sought to abolish while in the State Senate. Kean, the son of former New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean, Sr., was also assailed by many for being politically inexperienced and was accused on running solely on his father's name.

In the end, however, New Jersey voters decided they preferred Menendez for their senator. The Democratic incumbent won by a margin of 8 percent.

In the sixth district, voters were able to select one person to represent them in the House of Representatives. Democratic incumbent Frank Pallone, Jr. sought to recapture his seat against Republican challenger Leigh-Ann Bellew. The self-described, "Mom on a Mission," was a strong supporter of the War in Iraq, and opposed abortion and stem cell research. Although she led a tough campaign against Pallone, the Democrat ended up winning by a considerable margin.

Mayor of New Brunswick, N.J., Jim Cahill was up for re-election this year. Cahill has served as mayor of the city since 1991. Democrat Cahill was opposed by independent candidate James Neal. Neal, a retired police officer, has been running against Cahill for years, but has never emerged victorious. As in years past, Cahill was re-elected to his position.

Democratic city council members Blanquita Valenti and James Egan were both re-elected to their positions, beating independent candidates Jerry Mercado and Anthony Gioia.

Cahill is already actively involved in many city projects, including the opening of the new Heldrich Plaza in downtown New Brunswick, as well as other ongoing redevelopment projects that are occurring in the city.

Menendez hopes to use his power in the Senate — coupled with a new Democratic majority in Congress — to try and get legislation passed that aids the state and betters the nation.

The state and the country should cherish the upcoming year because the 2008 elections are already looming in the distance, along with all the yelling, screaming and controversy they entail.

[ Back to Student Voices ]