Stanley to kick off 28th District campaign tomorrow in Payne family push-back

NEWARK – In what is more than a one-man crusade, even if its most significant political implication may be a test of the fighting shape of a respected political dynasty, and the future of an aging congressman, former 28th District Assemblyman Craig A. Stanley intends to launch his off-the-line election campaign tomorrow at noon at the corner of South Orange Avenue near the Garden State Parkway.

The nephew of U.S. Rep. Donald Payne (D-Newark), Stanley served for six consecutive terms before the alliance of Mayor Cory Booker and North Ward Democratic Party leader Steve Adubato backed an alternative district slate that included Assemblyman Ralph Caputo (D-Belleville) and Cleopatra Tucker (D-Newark), both of whom are now seeking reelection with Booker’s and Adubato’s backing.

Denied his party’s backing by County Chairman Phil Thigpen, Stanley’s off-the-line bid to take back his assembly seat enables Adubato, Booker, and state Sen. Ronald Rice (D-Newark) - all of whom have endorsed the 28th District incumbents – to take another measure of the Payne family’s strength in this district.

In addition to being the nephew of Congressman Payne and former Assemblyman Bill Payne (D-Newark), Stanley is the cousin of Freeholder/Councilman Donald Payne, Jr.

Aligned with the West Ward-based Rice and going up against the combination of the North Ward-based Adubato, Central-based Booker and East Ward-based Joe Parlavecchio, Stanley and Bill Payne lost their elections in 2007 – in Stanley’s case only after a recount.

The Paynes have fought back since, mostly successfully.

In a 2008 Booker Team versus old school Payne fight for district leader seats in the South Ward in 2008, the Paynes mopped up Booker, proving to the mayor that he’s organizationally in no shape to single-handedly take down the Paynes. 

Even more punishing to Booker as a solo act, Rice and Adubato tag-teamed later that same year to defeat Booker’s candidate in the Central Ward Council race.

Booker and Adubato made peace earlier this year. 

Publicly, Rice always remains a wildcard, but for the purposes of this race, Rice is with the Booker-Adubato team. Sources speculate that the veteran senator may be making nice even as he positions his son, Councilman Ronald C. Rice, to challenge Congressman Payne in 2010 – or beyond.

In any event, now it’s the Paynes’ turn to fight, alone.

“During his tenure, Stanley so successfully embraced the causes of education and senior citizens’ rights that he served as the chairman of the committees for these issues,” said spokeswoman Jacqueline Andrews. “His noted, ardent advocacy for our children helped paved the way for the completed and ongoing construction of new schools in urban communities.  An experienced, effective legislative leader with an extensive record of accomplishments, Stanley is ready to confront the increasingly critical challenges facing our state as the next assemblyman representing District 28.”