The Races are Set for Decision 2019
By HARRY HURLEY
Political Columnist
The Hurley Line:
The various Counties have now held their annual Party Conventions. The races are now all set. The General Election Decision 2019 contest is on!
In District 2, John Risley nailed down the Republican Nomination on the first ballot. Former Brigantine Mayor Phil Guenther took the second Nomination on the second ballot. This left Somers Point City Councilman James Toto on the outside looking in for the second year-in-a-row.
Toto lost, but, as usual he refuses to be outworked by anyone. He’s ambitious, but, not in a bad way. He sees upward mobility in his future. He wants to serve the public. That should never be held against anyone. It’s hard to find good people willing to run for office. Toto is very good “people.”
Don’t be surprised if Toto takes a look at the Atlantic County Sheriff election, or, a Freeholder seat should either Risley win a seat in the New Jersey Legislature; or, if Freeholder at Large Amy Gatto should lose her re-election bid this year on November 4, 2019.
Democrat Nick Polito will face Gatto in the at large contest for Freeholder. With the Craig Callaway organization growing stronger with each election; Gatto may not be able to survive the upcoming vote-by-mail effort in Atlantic City and Pleasanvtille.
Both Risley and Freeholder at Large Frank Formica barely survived it over the past two election cycles. The Callaway vote-by-mail machine is real. Gatto may be sent packing.
Gatto is very fortunate that Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson is on-the-ballot this year. He is the most prodigious Republican vote-getter and fund-raiser in Atlantic County.
Another significant disadvantage for Gatto and all the Republicans down ballot is that the legislative seats are also on-the-ballot this year. Millions of dollars that will benefit the entire Democrat column will flow into the district this year.
Especially because Risley and Guenther will be viewed as a serious threat to Democrat incumbents Vince Mazzeo and John Armato.
Every election cycle I talk and write about the importance of the “Likeability Factor.” Sometimes I call it a “Quotient.” Those who have it, usually win. Those who don’t, usually lose. Levinson, Risley, Guenther, Mazzeo have it. Gatto doesn’t have it. Polito could be an upset victor waiting to happen.
Gatto was first carried into local office by the late, great Joe Nickels, who ran a masterclass campaign; whereby Nickels and Roger Silva strategically placed Gatto in the middle of the ticket and all three won in Hamilton Township.
Good news for Republicans in Hamilton Township, former Mayor Charles Cain will be running for his former position in Hamilton Township. Cain is an outstanding candidate. No one can outwork or outsmart him.
If Polito pulls off the win versus Gatto, the Republican lead would shrink to a scant 5-4 majority regarding the Atlantic County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Democrats have gotten as close as 5-4 a few times over the past 20-plus years.
Republican incumbent 4th District Freeholder Rich Dase is not unlikeable; he’s just sort of invisible. It’s like he’s not really there. Dase will face Democrat Steve Light, an Absecon Councilman. Dase should win, because he will not face the vaunted Craig Callaway juggernaut. The composition of the district favors a Republican, especially with Levinson on the ballot.
Let’s talk about Levinson, the long-time, popular incumbent Atlantic County Executive. He will face Northfield City Councilwoman Susan Korngut, Esquire. Korngut was elected to the Northfield City Council in 2017. Korngut’s theme is that “County government is stuck on cruise control for too long.” Korngut believes that bold leadership is required and that a change is necessary.
Korngut should also directly benefit big time from the Callaway vote-by-mail machine. Korngut is a graduate of American University and the Dickinson Law School; whereby she practices family law and owns her own legal practice.
Full disclosure, I hired and supervised Korngut’s Brother more than 30 years ago. I’ve never met or spoken with Susan Korngut.
Susan Korngut appears to possess many positive quality characteristic traits; including: sticking-up for those being bullied and she appears to be a tenacious fighter on behalf of the underdog.
However, Levinson has a record of accomplishment that is really hard to attack. From perfect audits year-after-year, to one of the lowest tax rates and best debt-to-equity ratios in the country.
By any standard of measure, Atlantic County government is run very effectively. Levinson is frugal with the taxpayers dollars. My friend, the Honorable New Jersey State Senate President Stephen Sweeney has called Levinson the finest County Executive in the state of New Jersey. That’s high praise coming from the highest elected official in the New Jersey Legislature, who just happens to be a Member of the opposite political party.
Where in America have you seen County government finance a major University project like Stockton University Atlantic City campus? It’s unprecedented. However, the state of New Jersey is broke as a joke, and, Stockton was rocked an in no position to finance it’s own project due to poor real estate decisions made before Dr. Harvey Kesselman became President and Chief Executive Officer of Stockton University.
Kesselman effectively addressed and solved the disastrous Showboat purchase and sold The Seaview Hotel and Gold Course. Kesselman has successfully positioned Stockton University for greatness.
Neighboring District 1 is also set and ready to go. Michael Testa, Esqyire is the Republican Nominee for the Senate. He will face a likeable, popular, however, appointed State Senator Bob Andrzejczak.
This race could go either way. Testa has the best chance to win this seat since Nick Asselta won in 2004.
The Assembly Republican ticket will be Lower Township Mayor Erik Simonsen and Ocean City Councilman Antwan McClellan; who will face Democrat incumbent Assemblymen, Bruce Land and Matt Milam.
Two titans will play a big role in how this is all decided. Levinson on the Republican side and United States Congressman Jeff Van Drew on the Democrat side. And, it must be noted that Van Drew is not even on the ballot.
Yet, the power of his well established brand; The Van Drew Team has been a force of human nature; growing each year for the past 27 years. It’s hard to vote against Van Drew. His slate has consistently won, even when he’s not on the ballot.
This will be his biggest test, yet. Van Drew has done a great job keeping his word in Washington, D.C. However, he has cast votes both with and against President Donald Trump. It remains to be seen how this will affect his vaunted cross-over appeal that he has mastered by his honesty and integrity.
I find this election season to be fascinating for so many reasons. There are many factors; some we don’t even know yet how they will ultimately play out.
You’ll hear me say this and write this a lot over the next seven months; All roads will lead to Levinson and Van Drew. It will be an epic election season. Stay close. This space will provide you with a front row seat to all of the action and analysis that you won’t be able to get anywhere else except here at Shore Local Newsmaga zine and the “Hurley in the Morning” radio program on WPG Talk Radio 104.1 and the WPG Smart Phone app.
The General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2019. The stakes are very high.
Harry Hurley is the president of Harry Hurley Consulting and Communications, LLC. He hosts the daily talk radio program “Hurley in the Morning” 6-10 a.m., weekdays on Townsquare Media, WPG Talk Radio 104.1 FM & 1450 AM, where he also serves as the senior programming consultant. Harry was elected to both the Philadelphia (2013) and New Jersey (2015) Radio Broadcasting Hall of Fame. Harry Hurley has also been selected (2015-2018) as one of the Top 100 Most Important Talk Radio Hosts in America by Talkers Magazine. Hurley is also doing national fill-in, on-air talent work for FOX News Radio on their nationally syndicated platforms. He has hosted various programs for local television and is the editor and publisher of his news and information website, www.harryhurley.com. Send comments to HarryHurley@aol.com
