As we wait for the written draft of the bill that will eventually reorganize higher education in New Jersey yet again, I thought some fun speculation might be in order.
Over the last few months I have been seeing more and more admittedly circumstantial evidence that 1st District Congressman Rob Andrews may be among the likely candidates to take over the “New Rowan” from its current interim President once the University begins to take over certain aspects of the Rutgers Camden campus.
As with all things in the Rut-Row narrative, my reasoning is rooted in political history, political machines, and powerful interests.
So let’s go through each point…
Machines Ain’t What They Used to Be
Political machines only work if there is upward mobility for cogs in that machine. Without the ability to obtain promotions, what would be the incentive for participating in a political alliance where one knowingly cannot reach past certain heights? The South Jersey Democrat Machine controls almost every seat up and down the ticket in Camden and Gloucester Counties. Every cog is currently in place, and unless someone moves on, no one can move up.
Under normal circumstances this would be a big problem for all political machines in New Jersey at some point. Like ponzi schemes, they simply cannot support themselves forever. They take on almost infinite cogs at all levels of government, and yet have only finite places to put them. That has never been more true than now. As site like Save Jersey get more and more exposure, so do the actions of those in power. And as budgets continue to contract at the county level, it becomes harder to invent new positions for loyalists. So what is the solution? Why, publicly funded higher education of course!
Education in this state gets a tremendous amount of money, and if Senator Norcross is right, South Jersey is likely to see a lot more relatively soon. The possible expansion of public universities are essentially limitless, which is perfect for a political machine.
Steve Sweeney Wants a New Job
Senate President Sweeney is one of those cogs. He has been a State Senator for quite a while now, and has made it quite clear that he wants a promotion, one that would then open his seat to move someone else up.
In early January Sweeney opened a federal PAC, presumably for a run at Senator Lautenberg’s seat. Unfortunately for Sweeney, the likelihood of him winning a statewide seat at any level becomes less by the day, and Lautenberg has been as lively as I have ever seen him, which is saying something since he is nearly 90 years old.
With the tensions heating up between Norcross and Lautenberg, the possibility of Lautenberg stepping aside while the possibility of someone from the south taking the seat is near zero. Sweeney also will not likely run for Governor in 2013. Again, he is not the most popular Democrat up north, and the fact that he is constantly working with Governor Christie would not play out so well in a left wing primary.
So where does Sweeney go? What can he run for that doesn’t require him to appeal to a wide array of New Jersey voters and would likely be an easy campaign? Running for Congress in the new 1st District, of course!
There is just one problem. Rob Andrews, while originally a cog in the machine, is no longer a cog that really needs the machine. In his 22 plus years in Congress, Representative Andrews has built up quite a base for himself through constituent services. Since taking office in 1990, Andrews has won every year with at least 63 percent of the vote. He is in a seat that the new map made even safer this time around. Even if the entire machine pulled its support, he could just put in some actual campaign work and still come away with a win.
So if he doesn’t need the machine, and presumably likes his job, why would he just move over for Sweeney? That is the problem: He won’t.
The Machine May Be Working Against Andrews
Everyone by now has seen the news about Congressman Andrews and his questionable campaign spending. It has been consistently reported in the Courier Post this year, and the constant barrage of questions on his campaign spending has caused Andrews to reportedly retain a powerful law firm to protect himself. No polling has been done to my knowledge, but this type of news on a Congressman rarely evokes positive opinions and feelings from constituents. These attacks have been damaging for sure. But the question is, who is orchestrating it?
As Matt Rooney suggested last month when this story began to blow up, it seems likely that the smear job on Rob is coming from Democrats, or perhaps from within the Machine itself. They could very well be laying this information at the feet of journalists and political opponents in order to literally scare Andrews out of running for re-election for fear of his own reputation and legacy. No one wants to be known as the Congressman who may have spent campaign funds improperly.
Andrews has tried to move on from his safe seat once before, taking a shot at Lautenberg in 2008 and losing quite badly. I doubt that Norcross or anyone else could make a case to him to try again. He is also unlikely to run for Governor against Christie next year. So where would he go?
Rowan’s Own Documents All But Name Him
Remember that “secret” Rowan document that was put together by consultants in 2011 to help with the messaging of the merger that they apparently knew would be unpopular? If not, you can read my analysis of it here. The consultants felt that a well known person must be made the President of the “New Rowan.” The report states,
One of the first tasks of the New Rowan University will be to complete the choosing of a new President as quickly and as judiciously as possible. Choosing a president with a broad national reputation who can, immediately upon selection, become the New Rowan University’s principal spokesman and cheerleader, ought to be an important consideration in the selection process.”
How many people in this state really fit that profile? Andrews certainly has a somewhat national reputation as a Congressman who frequently appears on cable news. He is also a skilled speaker and politician. He knows how to be persuasive and could easily cheerlead on this issue.
And considering George Norcross and Steve Sweeney are such huge proponents of the merger, why wouldn’t Andrews be at the top of the list if they suggested it?
Andrews Has Been Silent on the Merger Thus Far
Has anyone heard from Rob Andrews on the Rutgers Rowan Merger? Ground zero is right in his district, thousands of constituents are quite vocal in their disgust at the way the Rut-Row events have played out over the last few months, and yet not one peep out of the Congressman.
Can I really be the only one who finds that particularly strange?
Some might say that Andrews is being quiet because his wife is a popular Dean at the Rutgers Camden Law School. To that I say her employment at the school makes Andrew’s absence even more suspicious. It would have made a tremendous statement to come out with his former rival, Senator Lautenberg, and denounce the half baked merger that hardly anyone supported. Those who supported it least include the Rutgers Camden Law School faculty.
In fact, a significant portion of my own graduation ceremony from that law school last week focused on celebrating the fact that the merger plan, at least in its initial form, had been stopped. To this day I have not heard Dean Andrews say anything positive about the merger, or anything that would suggest that she is the reason Rob has been so mum on the subject.
It is my opinion that Rob Andrews is simply hedging his bets. If we accept the premise that the job has already been offered or at least suggested, and that the Machine is using the bad press to coerce him into accepting it, then Andrews would want to remain quiet so as not to disturb this potential new position if he chooses to leave the Congress.
Being a College President Ain’t Half Bad
According to a report by the Star Ledger in 2011, Rowan University’s President makes $300,000 per year, receives a yearly $150,000 bonus, and also gets a new car every 2 years and gets to live in a “Presidential house.” While it is not the highest paid President position in New Jersey (that belongs to Rutgers), it certainly would be a tempting proposition for almost anyone, even a Congressman. Being in charge of a major university that is technically about to grow significantly in both land and enrollment once some form of merger goes through could also be seen as an opportunity to solidify a positive political legacy.
So is it certain? Of course not, but far crazier things have been suggested in 2012. Honestly I hope it’s not true; I really would prefer that Senator Sweeney not become my representative in Congress.
However, I feel that the evidence is compelling, and the events of the last few months are just too perfect to be pure coincidence. As the July 1 deadline approaches we will obviously learn more, but remember that you heard it here first, keep your eye on Congressman Andrews.
Congressman Andrews addressed potential students at Dean's Law day and came out against the plan, saying that there will always be Rutgers Law in Camden that is part of Rutgers, and not Rowan
We'll see.
He also ran unsuccessfully for Governor against McGreevy in 1997. You can lose once but not twice.
Haven't we been hearing that line often lately from the people who were originally for the merger?
Also speaking at some admitted students day is hardly a public display of support…
I don't care who moves up or down in NJ politics. But I love to see failed Rutgers-Camden is liquidated and the incompetent faculty and administrators are terminated or retired saving millions of state tax dollars. Creation of a new university with great undergraduate teaching and research would be a great bonus for all parents in South Jersey from Chris Christie.
You are grossly misinformed if you think that any merger will save any money in any way. Higher education costs are going to increase under any of the proposed plans. No faculty are being terminated either.