Torricelli Ballot Battle OK'd (State Supreme Court Accepts)

11 Alive ^ | 10/1/02

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

The state Supreme Court decided Tuesday to hear arguments over whether Democrats can replace Sen. Robert Torricelli on the November ballot, a day after the senator abruptly dropped out of the race.

The court issued an order saying it would hear the case directly instead of waiting for a lower court to act. The high court hearing is scheduled for Wednesday morning. As a result, a hearing set for Tuesday afternoon in Middlesex County Superior Court was canceled.

The Democrats, who hold a one-seat majority in the Senate, had asked the high court to hear the case directly because of the urgency involved.

Torricelli's end to his scandal-tainted re-election campaign forced Democrats to scramble for a candidate. Democratic officials said Monday they had hoped to announce a new candidate within 48 hours.

A top choice, Rep. Robert Menendez, took himself out of the running Tuesday morning. Menendez, the fourth-ranking Democrat in House leadership, said he wants to remain in the House and continue to help Democrats fight for a majority.

Party officials also were considering such possibilities as former Sens. Frank Lautenberg and Bill Bradley and current House members Frank Pallone and Rob Andrews, according to sources in Washington and New Jersey.

Pallone said Tuesday he would consider replacing Torricelli, but added that he had not been asked. Lautenberg said he would "seriously consider serving again if asked." An associate said it was unlikely Bradley would accept. Calls to other potential candidates were not immediately returned.

Angelo Genova, a lawyer for state Democrats, said party officials would meet Wednesday night to decide on a replacement. Genova also said a judge has signed a temporary restraining order barring clerks from making or mailing any ballots until the case is decided.

Torricelli dropped out after his campaign was severely damaged by allegations he improperly accepted expensive gifts from a campaign contributor. The senator was admonished over the summer by the Senate ethics committee.

Under New Jersey law, a party can replace a statewide nominee on the ballot if the person drops out at least 51 days before the election. But only 35 days remained as of Tuesday.

Republicans vowed to block any attempt to replace Torricelli this close to the election.

"In 36 days, decency, fairness and the rule of the law will trump this desperate attempt to retain power," said Douglas Forrester, Torricelli's GOP opponent. "The people of New Jersey have had enough of playing politics with the fundamental tenets of democracy."

Democratic Gov. James E. McGreevey said that placing a new candidate on the ballot would be a fair way to resolve the issue and would "give New Jersey voters a chance to speak."

The Democrats are defending their one-seat advantage in the Senate in midterm elections.

"I will not be responsible for the loss of the Democratic majority of the United States Senate. I will not let it happen. There is just too much at issue," Torricelli, 51, said in abandoning his re-election bid Monday.

Torricelli was elected in 1996 to replace Bradley, the former basketball star who later ran for the 2000 Democratic presidential nomination and lost to Al Gore. Torricelli and Lautenberg, who retired in 2000, served together in the Senate but often were at loggerheads.

Torricelli was always a powerhouse fund-raiser: He helped raise more than $100 million for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee as its chairman in the last election cycle. He was awarded a seat on the powerful Senate Finance Committee, and helped defend President Clinton against impeachment.

But Torricelli's career began to unravel as the public learned more about his relationship with businessman David Chang, who told investigators he gave the senator Italian suits and an $8,100 Rolex watch, among other gifts, in return for Torricelli's intervention in business deals in North and South Korea.

Seven people pleaded guilty to making illegal donations to Torricelli's campaign in 1996.

Torricelli denied any illegality or violations of Senate rules but was admonished anyway. Federal prosecutors investigated but decided against filing charges against him.

The incumbent launched an effort to apologize to the state's voters, but last week a memo in the Chang case was released publicly. In it, prosecutors said Chang's efforts had "greatly advanced" the investigation into the senator's actions, despite Chang's "credibility problems."

Forrester, a wealthy businessman, has harped on ethics throughout the campaign and it worked: A poll released over the weekend showed him with a 13-point lead over Torricelli. The same poll showed the incumbent with a 14-point lead in June.

"I pride myself on a strong voice. My colleagues in the Senate would tell you that it is often heard above all others but it doesn't matter if you can't be heard at all in a campaign," Torricelli said. "I'm in a debate with a faceless foe that I cannot find, minds I cannot change."

Tuesday morning, Forrester said Torricelli's move "means we can talk about the issues." In an interview on WABC-TV in New York, Forrester said, "Whenever I tried to bring up another issue like the environment, it somehow always got back to being about" Torricelli.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

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[Travis McGee]

Once again, our military serving overseas will be screwed out of their vote.

(The absentee ballots have already been sent.)

[for-q-clinton]

But this is a special circumstances. The RATs were going to lose a critical seat in the Senate! This cannot be allowed to happen and we must do all that is within our power to stop the evil repukes.

Just look at it like this. If the RATs weren't so corrupt they would have won anyways, so no harm no foul. [/sarcasm]

[Pistolshot]

There is not one post on DU on this, not one.

Another indication of where the Dumocraps have their heads.

[copycat]

Does NJ have any of those silly "right of the voter is tantamount" laws like FLA did?

[for-q-clinton]

I actually saw one yesterday. They acted as if it would only hurt the RATs because only the torches votes would be worthless and all Forrester's votes would be counted either way.

[Travis McGee]

Yes, after all, the 'rats are for the children, and Republicans want to starve old people.

[Question_Assumptions]

Democratic Gov. James E. McGreevey said that placing a new candidate on the ballot would be a fair way to resolve the issue and would "give New Jersey voters a chance to speak."

Uh, the New Jersey voters were going to speak. You just didn't like what they were going to say. There wouldn't be an "issue" to resolve if you would just take the will of the voters like a man.

[Wissa]

Democratic Gov. James E. McGreevey said that placing a new candidate on the ballot would be a fair way to resolve the issue and would "give New Jersey voters a chance to speak."

Seems to me that leaving the Torch's name on the ballot would be the best way to "give New Jersey voters a chance to speak."

[Puppage]

Not to mention poison the air and water.

[StarFan]

The misleading title all but made my dinner come up. For a moment I thought they okayed the right to put another candidate on the ballot. Whew

Pallone said Tuesday he would consider replacing Torricelli, but added that he had not been asked. Lautenberg said he would "seriously consider serving again if asked." An associate said it was unlikely Bradley would accept. Calls to other potential candidates were not immediately returned.

Latest from Fox is that Pallone never checked with his wife and has now rescinded his offer which only leaves Lautenberg (The Torch's arch rival and someone he does not want to replace him, as if he has veto power).

[Howlin]

But this is a special circumstances. The RATs were going to lose a critical seat in the Senate! This cannot be allowed to happen and we must do all that is within our power to stop the evil repukes.

You forgot this part (courtesy of Bill Press today):

"And the Republican are doing it again -- in 2000 they went to court to stop the vote counting, but this time they want to stop the voting for a candidate of our choice BEFORE the election!"

[Howlin]

and would "give New Jersey voters a chance to speak."

It seems to be that when the polls showed Torricelli 13 to 20 points behind that the citizens of New Jersey WERE speaking.

[Southack]

Oh, did I mention that James Zazzali is one of those 7 New Jersey Supreme Court Justices??

Results: Individual Donors Search

32 records found in 4. seconds. SEARCH CRITERIA: Donor name: Zazzali Donor state: NJ Election cycle(s): 2002 2000 1998 1996 1994 1992 1990 Start another search

Sort by Name Sort by Date Sort by Amount

Contributor	Occupation	Date	Amount	Recipient
ZAZZALI, ANDREW NEWARK, NJ	ZAZZALI ZAZZALI	6/30/1999	$500	Byrne, Brendan Thomas Jr
ZAZZALI, ANDREW OCEAN, NJ 07712	ATTORNEY	4/3/1993	$200	Participation 2000
ZAZZALI, ANDREW F JR EGG HARBOR, NJ 08215	COLLECTIVE FEDERAL	7/8/1992	$200	Clinton, Bill
ZAZZALI, ANDREW F JR WAYSIDE, NJ 07555	LAWYER	6/1/1992	$1,000	Applegate, Grace C
ZAZZALI, ANDREW F JR WAYSIDE, NJ 07712	ZAZZALI, ZAZZALI, FAGELLA, NOWAK	3/2/1993	$500	Bradley, Bill
ZAZZALI, ANDREW MR , NJ	ZAZZALI ZAZZALI FAGELLA NOWAK	2/18/1999	$1,000	Bradley, Bill
ZAZZALI, EILEEN RUMSON, NJ 07760	HOME MANAGER	12/29/1989	$410	Bradley, Bill
ZAZZALI, EILEEN RUMSON, NJ 07760	SELF-EMPLOYED	1/19/1999	$1,000	Bradley, Bill
ZAZZALI, EILEEN RUMSON, NJ 07760	HOME MANAGER	12/29/1989	$590	Bradley, Bill
ZAZZALI, EILEEN F NEWARK, NJ 07102		4/26/1996	$500	New Jersey Victory '96
ZAZZALI, JAMES NEWARK, NJ 07102	ATTORNEY	2/27/1996	$1,000	Torricelli, Robert G
ZAZZALI, JAMES NEWARK, NJ 07102	ZAZZALI ZAZZAIL FAGELLA & NOWAK	7/26/1999	$250	Participation 2000
ZAZZALI, JAMES NEWARK, NJ 07102	ZAZZALI ZAZZALI FAGELLA & NOWAK	12/9/1996	$250	Participation 2000
ZAZZALI, JAMES NEWARK, NJ 07102	ZAZZALI ZAZZALI FAGELLA & NOWAK	5/26/1998	$250	Participation 2000
ZAZZALI, JAMES NEWARK, NJ 07102	ZAZZALI, ZAZZALI, FAGELLA & NOWAK	1/13/1994	$200	Participation 2000
ZAZZALI, JAMES NEWARK, NJ 07102	ZAZZALI ZAZZAIL FAGELLA & NOWAK	12/28/1999	$300	Participation 2000
ZAZZALI, JAMES NEWARK, NJ 07102	ZAZZALI ZAZZALI FAGELLA & NOWAK	6/12/1998	$500	Participation 2000
ZAZZALI, JAMES NEWARK, NJ 07102	ZAZZALI ZAZZALI FAGELLA NOWAK	9/9/1992	$500	Hughes, William J
ZAZZALI, JAMES NEWARK, NJ 07102	ZAZZALI, ZAZZALI FAGELLA & NOWAK	6/1/1993	$200	Participation 2000
ZAZZALI, JAMES RUMSON, NJ	ZAZZALI, ZAZZALI, FAGELLA & NOWAK	5/20/1995	$254	Participation 2000
ZAZZALI, JAMES RUMSON, NJ 07760	ZAZZALI ZAZZALI FAGELLA	6/22/1995	$1,000	Clinton, Bill
ZAZZALI, JAMES MR RUMSON, NJ 07760	ZAZZALI ZAZZALI FAGELLA NOWAK/ATTOR	1/19/1999	$1,000	Bradley, Bill
ZAZZALI, JAMES R NEWARK, NJ 07102	ZAZZALI ZAZZALI FAGELLA & NOWAK	2/5/1999	$250	Participation 2000
ZAZZALI, JAMES R NEWARK, NJ 07102	ZAZZALI, ZAZZALI, FAGELL & NOVAK	4/26/1996	$1,000	New Jersey Victory '96
ZAZZALI, JAMES R RUMSON, NJ 07760	ZAZZALI ZAZZALI EAGELLA	12/28/1999	$1,000	Florio, James J
ZAZZALI, JAMES R RUMSON, NJ 07760	ZAZZALI ZAZZALI ET AL	2/12/1999	$1,000	Torricelli, Robert G
ZAZZALI, JAMES R RUMSON, NJ 07760	ZAZZALI ZAZZALI FAGELLA NOWAK	4/8/1994	$500	Bradley, Bill
ZAZZALI, JAMES R RUMSON, NJ 07760	ZAZZALI, ZAZZALI, FA	5/11/1994	$500	Lautenberg, Frank R
ZAZZALI, JAMES R NEWARK, NJ 07102	SELF-EMPLOYED	9/29/1992	$2,500	New Jersey Gala '92
ZAZZALI, JAMES R NEWARK, NJ 07102	ZAZZALI ZAZZALI FAGELLA & NOWAK	12/14/1998	$500	New Jersey Democratic State Cmte
ZAZZALI, JAMES R RUMSON, NJ 07760	ZAZZALI ZAZZALI AND KROLL	5/10/1995	$500	Lautenberg, Frank R
ZAZZALI, JAMES R RUMSON, NJ 07760	ZAZZALI, ZAZZALI, FAGELLA, NOWAK	2/25/1993	$500	Bradley, Bill

[Don Munn]

So let's see if I have my score card correct.

The RATS are trying to keep a dead person on the ballot in Hawaii and get a politically dead one off the ballot in New Jersey.

Hey Rocky watch me pull an election out of my hat.

Is it a honest election?

Nope.

[Southack]

Ummmm, Barry Albin is ALSO on the New Jersey Supreme Court...

Results: Individual Donors Search

9 records found in 5.67 seconds. SEARCH CRITERIA: Donor name: albin Donor state: NJ Election cycle(s): 2002 2000 1998 1996 1994 1992 1990 Start another search

Sort by Name Sort by Date Sort by Amount

Contributor	Occupation	Date	Amount	Recipient
ALBIN, BARRY EAST BRUNSW, NJ 08816	WILENTZ GOLDMAN & SPITZER	5/12/1998	$500	Committee for Working Families
ALBIN, BARRY EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ 08816	WILENTZ GOLDMAN & SPITZA	5/22/2000	$1,000	Lapolla, Michael J
ALBIN, BARRY WOODBRIDGE, NJ 07095	ATTORNEY	10/28/1996	$1,000	Torricelli, Robert G
ALBIN, BARRY WOODBRIDGE, NJ 07095	ATTORNEY	3/26/1996	$500	Torricelli, Robert G
ALBIN, BARRY T EAST BRUINSWICK, NJ 08816	WILENTZ GOLDMAN & SPITZER	2/23/1999	$1,000	Torricelli, Robert G
ALBIN, BARRY T EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ 08816	WILENTZ ET AL	5/17/1995	$500	Lautenberg, Frank R

[A Citizen Reporter]

<>"but this time they want to stop the voting for a candidate of our choice BEFORE the election"

Huh? Whose choice is this candidate.....who is apparentely still un-named as we speak.

[Vidalia]

" David Chang, who told investigators he gave the senator Italian suits and an $8,100 Rolex watch, "

That's a half-assed Rolex, which shows just how much real weight the corrupt bastard carried...

[Peach]

And don't forget the Iowa Harkins (name?) deal - Democratic Senator who bugged his opponents offices. Any mention in the press? Nope. It was another Watergate and not a word.