
With South Jersey’s rolling ten-year headline to finally take over the state diminished somewhat by U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews’s (D-Haddon Heights) doomed run for the Senate, then redeemed when U.S. Rep. John Adler (D-Cherry Hill) won later the same year, a lot of establishment eyes turned to state Sen. Majority Leader Steve Sweeney (D-Bridgeton) as the most likely South Jersey Democrat to make a statement this year, and in the process, further embolden the South Jersey Democratic Organization.
Amid ongoing cloakroom chatter about Sweeney – who also serves as Gloucester County freeholder director - and his South Jersey colleagues teaming across the aisle with state Sen. Kevin O’Toole (R-Cedar Grove) to banish Senate President Richard Codey (D-West Orange), Sweeney today said he wouldn’t rule out running for lieutenant governor, if Gov. Jon Corzine offered him the job.
“I would never say never,” Sweeney told PolitickerNJ.com. “I would have to consider it if it was offered. I’m not pursuing it.”
He likes the names he hears most often for that role.
Of state Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Metuchen), his colleague on the Budget and Appropriations Committee, he said, “She’s a bright, talented, and not afraid to mix it up. She would be a great choice.”
Flattered when he heard Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer mention himself as good choice, Sweeney reciprocated, saying he believes the veteran Palmer would serve Corzine well.
His foes brand Sweeney as a George Norcross Doppelganger who ultimately lacks a team player temperament outside the auspices of South Jersey, but the Senate Majority Leader, an ironworker union leader who says he entered government to help his disabled daughter, noted his work on key Statehouse successes, including the Paid Family Leave Act and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
Today, he defended the record of the incumbent governor.
“He listens,” Sweeney said of Corzine. “He does some things that are very dangerous politically. A case in point was his turnpike plan. His intentions were very strong. But his strength is his willingness to recognize that his position is not right all the time. Look at the pension reforms last year. He wasn’t excited doing them, but he did them. A leader has to be flexible, and Jon Corzine has been an honest and straight-forward communicator, an honest broker.”
Based on his record and in this case his receptivity to mayors, Sweeney said he is convinced the governor will make substantial revisions to the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) rules. As for the demand made yesterday by public employees leadership to the governor to negotiate, Sweeny said, “If there can be a positive outcome, I don’t see a problem with talking. But things have to change. There has to be the realization from the public employees’ leadership that people are losing their jobs around the country. These are tough times.”
Confronted with the potential deflating effect of two white males on the same ticket, Sweeney said, “I don’t think it’s fair to rule someone out based on race or gender. It should be the best candidate. If the governor thought that was me, I’d have to really look at it. You could argue he’s weakest in South Jersey.”
Of course, he’s also studying the possibility of an opening in the Senate President’s position, but wouldn’t comment on the degree to which he and O’Toole are personally trying to create an opening.
Sources close to Codey say the veteran lawmaker is alert to the implications of the corruption trial of former state Sen. Joseph Coniglio (D-Paramus) and mindful of political connections to South Jersey aligned to dethrone him, but Codey also believes he still commands the political clout necessary to put down an insurrection.
Of the strong relations between former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie – the Republican frontrunner for governor – and South Jersey Democratic Party boss George Norcross III, which have led to rumors of Norcross playing his gubernatorial support down the middle this year, Sweeney said there’s no doubt Norcross and the machine will be with the governor.
“George’s support is going to be solidly behind Corzine,” said Sweeney. “Look, I grew up with this guy (Norcross). He is the American Dream. He grew up in a blue collar, working class home. He’s the hardest working guy I’ve ever known, who started his insurance business off of a card table. He’s going to support Jon Corzine.”
As he watches his rivals battle on the other side, Sweeney does not think Christie is a lock to win the Republican nomination, and believes movement conservative Steve Lonegan, the former mayor of Bogota, could spring an upset.
“The GOP base is very conservative,” said Sweeney. “Steve Lonegan has fielded candidates in every contest. He submitted 11,220 petition signatures. Anybody counting him out right now has got to be nuts. I wouldn’t be surprised if (Steve beats Chris).”
Garden State Equality fires new broadside at Dems Smarting over the state Senate's refusal to pass marriage equality and disillusioned at the moment with the Democratic Party majority, Garden State Equality’s 85-member Board of Directors unanimously decided against giving financial contributions to political parties and their affiliated committees. ...
“We will work harder and smarter to protect consumers, to preserve civil rights, to effectively regulate the alcoholic beverage industry, to ensure that the integrity of New Jersey’s casino gaming industry continues, to keep drives, passengers and pedestrians safe on our streets, to assist victims of crimes, and to remember always the importance of juvenile justice on issues affecting the state." -- Attorney General-designate Paula Dow, at her Senate confirmation hearing.
- PolitickerNJ.com, 02/08/10Press releases are submitted by PolitickerNJ users, not by staff. They do not represent the viewpoint of PolitickerNJ.com.
Give up Senate Seat?
Would Sweeney have to give up his Senate seat to run?
If not then why not run and get the exposure?
If Corzine wins , he wins. If Corzine loses he still wins.
He would definitely help Corzine in the South.
ugh
Sweeney is a thug and a Norcross cronie hack. He brings nothing to the ticket
Of course Lonegan can win!
With the ethics problems that Christie faces, its amazing that he is running for governor and not trying to keep himself out of jail. Go to www.christieiscorrupt.com to learn the whole story and sign the petition urging Christie to drop out.
like him, but...
Sweeney, along with Buono, has made real progress for the state in pension reform, often at odds with the unions he represents. His unyielding support of paid family leave, which eventually saw passage because of his good work, is a thing to be admired. His change of his original position on the death penalty to the correct one, that is, its abolition, was one of the best arguments against that draconian institution.
But Sweeney needs to get his house in order before/if he becomes Lieutenant Governor. This would entail two progressive moves: dropping his post as GlouCo freeholder (no dual officeholding) and coming out in support of marriage equality.
Sweeney is correct that Corzine is a thoughtful politician who offers solutions to the state's problems but is also flexible enough to alter his positions, when necessary.
But who is the AG investigating?
"They seem to be fishing all over Bogota. Maybe they are going to try to claim I stole something. It's extremely disturbing."
According to this story, it is Lonegan and not Christie that may have legal troubles.
According to the article:
"The investigation, according to a copy of a subpoena given to reporters by a Lonegan operative, seeks official documents and specific records from the Department of Public Works. Dated Oct. 23, the subpoena was signed by a deputy attorney general in the public corruption section."
My speculation is that DPW employees may have been working on Lonegan's house, hopefully off hours. Maybe the AG was trying to find out if they were and if they were on town time at the time they were, if they were.
It's time to vet Lonegan, for the good of the party, of course.
This article mentions someone being asked whether Lonegan illegally removed an oil tank from one of his two Bogota houses. Sounds like a fair question to me. I hope and think the GOP won't be watching Lonegan answer that question in the fall as part of an election campaign. That is a better question for a jury.
t7b.com
Sweeney is a thug and a Norcross cronie hack. He brings nothing to the ticket
دردشة ,
شات ,
Well, well...
A classic Reagan Democrat like Sweeney only confirms the tide that is turning in NJ politics.
A proven winner and political heavyweight, Senator Sweeney seems to understand the importance of a statewide network that Mayor Lonegan has developed.
All good politicos respect an organization despite party standing.
For years ago Jon Corzine filed nearly 11,000 signatures himself. You know how many he filed this year?
2,800.
Doesn't that tell you something?
That Corzine's workers are not motivated and know a losing effort and candidate when they see one?
The next governor will be a Republican. The only question before NJ is will it be a liberal like Corzine in fatso or Mayor Steve Lonegan, fighting for our conservative values?
Any reasonable Democrat or Republican who understands this process knows Lonegan is on a roll and he could win the primary. He is on Christie's shoulder and he's a far better debater than the Michelin Man!
He has a greater command of the issues and Christie knows that too.
This former one-term freeholder who was rejected by his own party for re-election is in big trouble. Senator Sweeney is smart enough to see the handwriting on the wall and Republicans who want real conservative chnage better start realizing the only choice is Mayor Lonegan, putting taxpayers first!
Vote Column "A" - All the way!
"For years ago Jon Corzine
"For years ago Jon Corzine filed nearly 11,000 signatures himself. You know how many he filed this year?
2,800.
Doesn't that tell you something?"
Yeah. It tells me Governor Corzine and his supporters have more important things to do.
"The next governor will be a Republican. The only question before NJ is will it be a liberal like Corzine in fatso or Mayor Steve Lonegan, fighting for our conservative values?"
I prefer liberals like Dr. Christie to Looneygan whackjobs.
"the only choice is Mayor Lonegan, putting taxpayers first!"
No. Looneygan puts his campaign first and uses taxpayers to pay for it.
"He is on Christie's shoulder and he's a far better debater"
He may be on Christie's shoulder now but Chris will powerbomb him on June 2.
“If you’re unwilling to compete for these votes, and if you’re unable to win these votes, then you’ve got to wonder if you belong on the ballot at all." -- Chris Christie on Steve Lonegan's decision not to attend the Bergen County Republican c
The Kelly deal reeks...
I have to admit I was deeply influenced by Paul Mulshine's column and started to see Christie and campaign inc in a whole new light.
It smacks of heavy handed duplicity -dangerously. Plastic.
Too slick and slippery for me -Chris "Cristo" Christie.
I cannot vote in Nov given the choices that we got.
Not this guy AGAIN
Drunks, Crooks, liars and old dried up white men. Here we go again. The same faces. The same good ole boys. Recycling each other through the Machine politics. Over and over and over and over. It’s all about us. We run the show. We are so important. We have our own clicks. We do what we please, say what we want. We are New Jersey and everybody bows down to us. That was then and this is now.
nice targets
Reporters would have field day if they took a look into the business dealings of the two in the photo in their respective counties.....
Chris Christie is Corrupt
To learn the truth about Chris Christie, go to www.christieiscorrupt.com. We have to stop him before he destroys our party.
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