By David Cruz
Correspondent
The 99th edition of the League of Municipalities convention comes at a critical time for Atlantic City. With only bad news coming out of the city over the past two weeks, the convention is a shot in the arm economically, for sure, but also politically.
“It’s a busy week that otherwise, in the middle of November, we wouldn’t have all this activity, but it’s also important thing for us to show so much of the leadership of our state is here and it lets them know, number 1 that Atlantic City is not dead. There’s a lot of problems but there’s still a lot of positive things taking place here,” said Sen. Jim Whelan.
In a state with over 500 municipalities, the League’s annual convention draws over 15,000 participants. That includes newbies and veterans like Hope Township mayor and former League president Tim McDonough, who hosts the panel targeting new members.
“It’s amazing all that gets covered here and what you can find out if you want to whether it’s in a setting like a seminar or — as I love to do — just walking the floor here and talking to mayors and finding out what they’re doing and using, if you will, best practices,” said McDonough.
Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick is co-chairing a panel called LOL, on using humor in government. The unofficial funniest man in New Jersey politics says the convention allows political opposites to sometimes attract.
“You know, if you have a beer with someone, I think Obama proved that, that’s probably a good thing. And that’s probably not what’s happening in Washington,” Bramnick said.
Bramnick is considered a GOP frontrunner for a gubernatorial bid in 2017 or before. He’s holding what he called the only GOP reception down here this week.
When asked if this is part of the process for someone who is considering a run, Bramnick said, “Someone once told me that every council person in the state of New Jersey when first elected probably thinks they’re gonna be governor. There’s probably 1,000 people here who think they’re gonna be governor, so I think it never hurts to talk to more and more people regardless of what your plans are.”
There is plenty to learn here if you are so inclined, hundreds of workshops and panel discussions, plus off-hour networking and elbow tipping, again, if you are so inclined. It’s all part of a well-rounded educational experience says consultant Stuart Koperweis.
“People have that perception about it being a big party but it really isn’t. It’s a lot of work and you work 9 to 5 but you also work 5 to 9 quite frankly, then you wake up tomorrow and do it again, so it’s like a 24-hour thing for the next 72 hours,” Koperweis said.
Highlights tonight include receptions featuring Democratic would-be gubernatorial candidates Steve Sweeney and Steve Fulop. The convention runs through Thursday.
Related: Executive Director Discusses 99th League of Municipalities Convention in AC