ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS HERALD
New Jersey's 1st Official Electronic Newspaper
Atlantic Highlands - Fair Haven - Highlands -  Keansburg - Little Silver
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BODY POLITIC by Jack Archibald, Atlantic Highlands Councilman

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THE FALL LINE-UP

The fall lineup is set and the battle lines are being drawn. In one corner is mega millionaire Senator John Corzine while the Republican corner is manned by multi millionaire Doug Forrester. These gladiators have bought the right to slug it out to be New Jersey’s next Governor.

It should be an interesting race. Republicans are already tagging the Democrat Senator as part of the Trenton mess and no significant difference from Jim McGreevey. Meanwhile, Democrats are painting Corzine as the CEO needed to clean up our state and the one man who can manage a bureaucracy the size of our state government. The only guarantee for the coming months is that our mailboxes, phone lines and televisions will be overrun with messages from both camps. With the fortunes of these two guys, getting exposure won’t be a problem.

Locally, the voters rendered a tough decision on Assemblyman Joe Azzolina. The big blow came from his hometown of Middletown, where opposition to the town center far outweighed the many good deeds that the Assemblyman has done throughout the years. For a few moments on Tuesday night, Azzolina held a slight lead over Freeholder Amy Handlin but eventually, the town center dragged him down. Whether Republican foes Azzolina and Handlin can mend fences prior to November, could go a long way towards determining if the GOP will continue its hold on the seats.

Finally, the most encouraging election sign came from Atlantic Highlands. In the Democrat primary, where there was no opposition to Senator Corzine, Acting Governor Richard Codey received a single write in vote in the town’s third district. One person took the time to write in a vote for an outcome that was predetermined. That is what our soldiers have died for and what democracy is all about; the right of each individual to cast their ballot for a candidate of their choice. Every vote does count.