This week we feature a potpourri of political punditry at the national and local levels.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has taken a giant leap toward the Republican nomination for president of the United States.

Romney's razor-thin eight-vote win in the Iowa caucuses was huge.

This represented the closest finish in the history of the Iowa caucuses, as both Romney and Santorum received 25 percent of the vote.

It was just four weeks ago that the national media was reporting daily that Romney wasn't really competing in Iowa and that he might not even finish in the top three.

Romney confounded them all winning Iowa, and at this writing was poised for a big victory in the Jan. 10 New Hampshire primary election. No Republican candidate for president has ever failed to win the nomination after winning both the Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire primary. The 2008 Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain, endorsed Romney the day after Iowa.

Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum made an enormous move in Iowa. Just four weeks ago Santorum was a statistical blip. Two weeks before Iowa, he was at 10 percent of the vote. In the final two weeks he earned 25 percent of the vote in Iowa for a strong second-place finish.

It was impressive; however, Santorum basically lived in Iowa, appearing in all 99 counties. He made Iowa his Super Bowl, having spent more than 200 days in the state.

On the other hand, Romney has developed great organizations in every state. Santorum does not appear to have much political apparatus to go forward. He is hoping to parlay his great finish into the equivalent of a political royal flush.

Ron Paul finished third in Iowa with 21 percent of the vote. His support was impressive, but his campaign is going nowhere. He has been branded as too extreme and even called dangerous on foreign policy matters.

There are eight Republican debates over the next four weeks. Look for Santorum to receive his first round of criticism now that he has emerged as competitive. This has happened with each Republican who has made a move to challenge Romney's supremacy.

First it was Michelle Bachman, then Rick Perry. Next it was Herman Cain, then Newt Gingrich. Now it is Santorum's turn. He will face much scrutiny that had been ignored. You will be hearing about various stances he has taken over the years and that he lost his last election for U.S. senator in Pennsylvania by 18 percentage points.

Last week I mentioned that Hamilton Township Deputy Mayor Charles Cain would not be running for re-election this year. That declaration was premature.

At the present time, it is much more likely that Cain will run for re-election Nov. 6. Cain has been an outstanding member of the Township Committee and a positive difference- maker.

New Hamilton Township Committee member Aline Dix has disappointed many by her stubbornness and unwillingness to promptly leave her appointed position on the local Municipal Utilities Authority.

This has rubbed many people the wrong way. The MUA position pays a monthly salary and provides expensive taxpayer-provided health benefits. It is more than $20,000 a year in publicly funded compensation.

This blatant double-dipping is exactly the kind of public official excess that Dix would typically and vocally rail against. In a breaking news report, I have confirmed that the Hamilton Township Committee will introduce and adopt legislation to end this practice once and for all.

Other committee members such as Mayor Roger Silva left the MUA upon election to the governing body. Much political pressure is being brought to bear. Look for Dix to finally step down from the MUA within the next month or so.

After much public pressure being brought to bear from former Freeholder and Committeeman Joe Nickles, it now appears as though Dix will resign her MUA seat effective Feb. 4.

On a positive note, Atlantic County Freeholders Alex Marino and John Risley were sworn into office last week. Marino is a former Linwood City Council member and Risley is a former freeholder, Egg Harbor Township committeeman, Somers Point City Council president and a member of Mainland Regional High School Board.

Both Marino and Risley bring great experience and the proper temperament to serve the public effectively and honorably. Both are principled men who will work hard to protect taxpayer interests.

With their election last November, the Atlantic County Board of Chosen Freeholders returns to an 8-1 majority, after Democrats had closed the margin to 5-4 and for the past three years had maintained a 6-3 composition.

Harry Hurley is president of Harry Hurley Consulting and Communications LLC. He hosts the daily talk radio program "Hurley in the Afternoon" noon-4 p.m. weekdays on Longport Media, News Talk 1400 WOND Radio. He has hosted various programs for local television and is the editor and publisher of the news and information website www.HarryHurley.com.