Watson Coleman plans to run for Speaker
Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman says she'll run for Assembly Speaker

Watson Coleman plans to run for Speaker

By Matt Friedman | September 2nd, 2009 - 12:03pm
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Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Trenton) is candid about her hope to succeed Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden), who will announce his retirement at a press conference this afternoon.  

“Having had the opportunity to serve the caucus in a leadership position in legislature, I believe ascending to the speaker’s position is a natural extension based on the work I’ve already been doing,” Watson Coleman told PolitickerNJ.com in a conference call.

Watson Coleman said that she was still waiting for official word of Roberts’ retirement, and that she would support him for another term if he wanted to run again.  

“Whatever he does I’m going to be happy for him. It’s just been a real honor and pleasure to be a part of his leadership team,” she said.

Watson Coleman said that her Trenton-based district is “like Switzerland” – neither north nor south Jersey, which traditionally split control of the two houses.  

“I believe that the legislators from the Mercer area have consistently looked at the needs of the state from north to south, east to west. We’re not north Jersey localized or south Jersey localized, and I think people appreciate that and understand that,” she said.  

Her district is Switzerland alright

There the part she represents and the part she ignores because it isn't really part of her "base."

Support Asm. Watson Coleman

Minority leaders not just African American minority leaders should follow Rev. Soaries lead and support Asm. Watson Coleman. Women need to get out support Asm. Watson Coleman. White, male leadership does not represent the majority population of the state of NJ. We are a very diverse state and our next governor whether it is "D" or "R" will be a white male. The lower house has traditionally been referred to as the "people's house" so this is a great opportunity for the house leadership to reflect the people of NJ.

Is this for real?

First off, the GOP is ahead by six points on the generic Assembly ballot. It looks likely the Christie wave will bring in a Republican-controlled Assembly, so the assumption that Democrats own this position is utterly ridiculous. Number two, why would Democrats pick such an extreme-left speaker when many of their seats are held by winning over moderate and semi-conservative voters? This makes no sense.

where, sewaren, where?

Where will the GOP pick up seats, besides District one (maybe)?

Watson Coleman for MINORITY

Watson Coleman for MINORITY LEADER. lol!

I like Bonnie, but...

I like Bonnie, really I do. She tows the Party line, she says the right things and she is a hard worker. However, I just don't think she is Speaker material - she is radically liberal and a bit disorganized. Say what you want about Joe Roberts, but he was public policy driven, and middle of the road and pursued excellence. I fear Bonnie would pursue mediocrity.

She doesn't have a chance

Next year, the Assembly will either have a Republican majority or a decreased Democratic majority. If it's the latter, Watson Coleman is too liberal to become Speaker of the Assembly. I agree with RealityUnderstood; Joe Roberts was public policy-driven and pursued real results. But Watson Coleman is far too partisan achieve real results.

And of course, if the Assembly has a Republican majority, that's all moot.

Alan: The GOP will pick up the two LD1 seats for sure. If LD19 voters are fed up enough with corruption etc., Republicans may have a chance there. I wouldn't be surprised if the GOP picked up the LD36 seats as well, and maybe even the LD14 and LD4 seats.

My district...

the 19th will be a pick up. The party won't coalesce behind a candidate. And Sayreville and Woodbridge are definitely the kind of towns Christie will win.

Watson Coleman is the worst possible choice

Anyone who has ssen this woman on NJN will realize how truly inept and unqualified she is to serve as speaker.

She is a terrible choice and the chances of the caucus nominating her are low.

The problem for Democrats is that they will lose six, maybe even eight seats in this cycle which is the reason Roberts is baling out now.

Having said that, a smaller Democratic caucus means the urban legislators have more clout and the African-American members could force Watson-Coleman down the throats of this reduced majority.

Cryan is another terrible choice as well as Wisnieski(?).

This just shows how weak the bench is for Democrats in the lower house and a clear indication of the impending landlslide for the GOP.

It seems to me the Democrats are imploding.
Vote Column "A" - All the way!

Dems and Donts what?

"The problem for Democrats is that they will lose six, maybe even eight seats in this cycle which is the reason Roberts is baling out now."

What polling have you seen that shows this? Have you personally been on the ground in these un-identified districts? And, with DAAC having close to four times as much money as the Republican Assembly Committee, how will this message of change and Republican redemption get out?

I look forward to your (hopefully) data filled analysis.

Bonnie al the way....

go go go go go ... nothing could be better for Republicans (except maybe Wisniewski who gives Codey slush funds to towns not in his own district that employ him as their attorney. The statute of limitations may or may not have run on that.

Democrats will lose in several competitive districts

Vote Column "A" - All the way!

Well, let's review:

The generic ballot questions favors Republicans by 6-10 points conisering which poll you read for months. The "right track, wrong track" question has New Jerseyans as high as 70% in the wrong direction. Corzine has an unfavorable rating as high as 68% in some polls.

This will all resonate to the legislative races.

* Albano & Polistana are gone.

* Lampitt could have a problem

* DeAngelo & Greenstein are gone

* 19 will be the upset of the state. Wisniewski will lose outright.

* Green & Stender could have a problem

* Chiappone & Smith are both under indictment running for re-election (a first for New Jersey) refusing to resign. Probably will still win, but it will be unusually close.

* Scalera & Schaer are in huge trouble. They will lose 9 of the 11 towns in 36

* Voss & Wagner are complete unknowns with no base.

Minorities are completely unmotivated to vote for Corzine. Suburban Democrats are under seige.

Daggett will register in the high teens when this is over. He could finish second in Morris when all is said and done....

This race is shaping up to be Virginia in 94 or Minnesota in 2002.

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