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Kaufman Zita Group Reaches 10 Year Milestone!
KZG will be commemorating our 10th Anniversary this year. Be sure to look out for updates on our anniversary celebration. We look forward to celebrating this milestone with all of you!
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Senate & Assembly Legislative Schedule
The Senate and Assembly are meeting regularly through the end of March.
To view the schedules,
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Kaufman Zita Group to Host
Annual Beer & Wine Reception
Celebrating Our 10th Anniversary at the N.J. Chamber of Commerce
"Walk to Washington" Trip in Washington, D.C.
The Kaufman Zita Group is excited to host its Annual Beer and Wine Reception in Washington, D.C., during the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Walk to Washington Trip on Thursday, February 16th. The Reception will be held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, and will begin at 4:30 p.m. in Maryland Rooms A and B near the hotel lobby.
This year's event will be particularly special, as KZG is celebrating its 10th Anniversary. Throughout our firm's history we have had the honor of working with outstanding clients, legislators, and policymakers, and we look forward to celebrating this milestone with all of you.
The event will once again feature New Jersey's craft brewing industry, highlighting beers of the Garden State Craft Brewers Guild, a KZG client. Comprised of microbreweries and brewpubs throughout New Jersey, the Craft Brewers Guild strives to promote innovation in NJ's craft brewing industry and expand New Jersey's reputation as a home to quality craft beers. Included in this year's beer selection, is a commemorative craft beer that was commissioned by KZG Founders and Principals Adam Kaufman and Trish Zita to celebrate KZG's 10th Anniversary. Please come and raise a toast with us!
The Kaufman Zita Group would like to extend its thanks to our Reception Sponsors, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, Fidelity Investments, T-Mobile, the NJ Society of Optometric Physicians, DONG Energy, CHA Consulting Inc., and others.
Please join us for a night of beer, wine, and distinguished company in our nation's capital. Be sure to check for updates on social media by liking us on Facebook, following KZG on Twitter, and using the #KZG10YearBash. We hope to see you there!
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KZG's Eric Orlando Selected
by Lead New Jersey
for its 2017 Class
Lead New Jersey
(LNJ)
, a prominent organization who for over 30 years has brought together a highly select group of individuals from the public, private, and social sectors in order to foster the development of the next generation of leaders, selected KZG Vice President Eric Orlando as a Fellow for its 2017 class. LNJ's decision to admit Eric into the Fellowship program was the result of a stringent evaluation of his prior achievements and future prospects.
LNJ's year-long program provides in-depth education on numerous issues facing the State, connecting participants with policy and leadership experts, and training Fellows with the leadership skills necessary to effectuate change.
LNJ educates their Fellows by holding monthly seminars around the State to provide participants with direct experience of the issues, and combines site visits, case studies, debates, and simulations with presentations from a wide variety of policy and leadership experts in New Jersey. In addition to the educational experience that the Fellows receive from the program, they also gain access to LNJ's vast network of more than 1,500 leaders from New Jersey's most prominent companies, non-profits, and government agencies.
Eric recently spoke about this unique opportunity, "I am excited to have been chosen for LNJ's Class of 2017. The program will allow me to gain new and diverse perspectives on the many public policy issues impacting our State and I look forward to applying the benefits of the program to all of KZG's clients."
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Campaign Fever
A Preview of the 2017 Legislative Elections
2017 is a critical election year as voters will be electing not only the next Governor, but also their State representatives. This election cycle is particularly interesting because of the numerous legislators either retiring or not seeking re-election, as well as the key races that are expected to be competitive.
Several longtime members of the Legislature are set to retire this year, including State Senators Joseph Kyrillos (R13), Kevin O'Toole (R40), Ray Lesniak (D20), and Jim Whelan (D2). Sen. Lesniak, however, has announced he will run for Governor, joining Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D19) in the Democratic Primary and opening both of their seats to emerging candidates. The elections to fill these open seats will indeed be very intriguing.
The race to replace Sen. Kyrillos, in a district that is a Republican stronghold, will be fought at the primary level between two members of the General Assembly, Amy Handlin (R) and Declan O'Scanlon (R). The campaign for Sen. Whelan's seat is expected by many to be one of the most expensive and competitive in the State, with Assemblymen Vincent Mazzeo (D) and Chris Brown (R) vying to fill the vacancy left by the veteran Senator. To replace Sen. Lesniak, support has coalesced around former Assemblyman and Union County Sheriff Joe Cryan (D), who has received endorsements from Union County Democratic leaders and Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D).
Additionally, decisions by State Senator Kevin O'Toole (R40) and Assemblyman David Russo (R) to not seek re-election will thrust their district into political flux. In the upcoming election, incumbent Assemblyman Kevin Rooney (R), who won a highly contested special election race last year, will be running on a slate consisting of State Senate candidate Kristin Corrado (R) and Assembly candidate Chris DePhillips (R). This ticket, which has been endorsed by Sen. O'Toole, could face a strong challenge in the Republican primary led by
County Chairmen John Sette, John Traier and Paul DiGaetano.
In what is likely to be one of the most competitive and contentious campaigns this year, Senator Jennifer Beck (R11) will be challenged by Monmouth County Democratic Chairman Vin Gopal (D), who is considered by many to be a rising star in State Democratic politics. Both candidates have already begun attacking each other, thus setting up what could be an epic battle.
Democratic Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker (D16) will face a strong challenge this election after State Senator Kip Bateman (R) announced that he will be running on a ticket with former Assemblywoman Donna Simon and Assembly candidate Mark Caliguire, who is taking the place of current Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli (R) as he focuses on his candidacy for Governor. Before Zwicker (D) defeated Simon (R) in 2015, the district was solidly Republican, therefore setting up what could be a very spirited campaign.
Of course, every race will play out under the umbrella of the Gubernatorial campaign. Amongst the many candidates vying for their Party's nomination, Democratic and Republican hopefuls, such as Phil Murphy (D), Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D), Sen. Ray Lesniak (D), Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno (R), and Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli (R), will all try to garner the support of New Jerseyans as they prepare for the June primary and general election in November.
The political stakes are high this election season as the results of 2017 will have implications on New Jersey's government for years to come.
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