TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Months after a wide-ranging federal corruption sting netted dozens of public officials and turned local political campaigns inside-out, 82 seats in the Legislature are up for grabs.
Since 2007, seven members of the Assembly have been arrested; six charged with corruption, one with possession of child pornography. Over the summer, federal prosecutors rounded up 44 people in a corruption sting, including some elected officials.
In District 31, which covers the cities of Bayonne and Jersey City, Democratic Assemblyman Anthony Chiappone is seeking re-election despite being accused of taking money from legislative aides' paychecks and putting it into campaign and personal accounts.
The other District 31 seat is vacant after L. Harvey Smith stepped aside to run unsuccessfully for mayor of Jersey City, then was arrested in July on suspicion of taking bribes from a federal informant. Chiappone and fellow Democrat Charles Mainor face Republicans Irene Kim Asbury and Marie Day.
In southern New Jersey's 9th District, covering Ocean, Atlantic and Burlington counties, the GOP's DiAnne C. Gove was recently appointed to complete the term of Daniel M. Van Pelt, who resigned after his arrest on corruption charges. She and incumbent Republican Brian E. Rumpf face Democrats Richard P. Visotcky and Robert E. Rue.
In the heavily Democratic 5th District, Donald Norcross, a union official and the brother of powerbroker George Norcross, and Camden City Council President Angel Fuentes face Republicans Brian Kluchnick and Stepfanie Velez-Gentry.
The state has 40 legislative districts, each electing two Assembly members. Two Senate seats — left vacant when Democrat John Adler and Republican Leonard Lance were elected to Congress last year — are also being contested in today's elections.
Democrats are expected to keep control of the Legislature; currently they have a 48-32 majority in the Assembly and a 23-17 Senate majority. Republicans haven't controlled a legislative house since 2001.
Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
___
On the Net:
Division of Elections: http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/index.html
