DeCroce/Bramnick flex overwhelming support in face of Biondi faction

Claiming to have short-circuited a rebellion before it mobilized - in fact denying there's anything there except a tiny - and stalled -minority of malcontents, the allies of Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce (R-Parsippany) and Assembly Minority Whip Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield) last night released a list of overwhelming support.

DeCroce and Bramnick released the signatures of 26 assembly people or prospective members who back DeCroce for another two-year term as minority leader and Bramnick for conference leader.

That efectively bounces Assemblyman Pete Biondi (R-Hillsborough), who now serves as conference leader, out of contention for caucus leadership, Bramnick and DeCroce argue.

The names include everyone except Assemblywoman Alison McHose, Assemblyman Mike Doherty, Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll, Assemblyman Richard Merkt (who adamantly wants DeCroce gone and supplanted with Biondi), and Biondi.

Supporting DeCroce and Bramnick: Assemblywoman Dawn Marie Addiego, Assemblyman John Amodeo, Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini, Bramnick, Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande, Assemblyman Gary Chiusano, Tony Bucco, Assemblyman Ron Dancer, DeCroce, Assemblyman John DiMaio, Assemblyman Jim Holzapfel, Assemblywoman Amy Handlin, Assemblyman Joe Malone, Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz, Assemblyman DeClan O'Scanlon, Assemblyman Vince Polistina, Assemblyman David Rible, Assemblyman Scott Rudder, Assemblyman Scott Rumana, Assemblyman Brian Rumpf, Assemblyman David Russo, Robert Schroeder, Assemblyman Sam Thompson, Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk, Assemblyman David Wolfe, and Assemblyman (and State GOP Chairman) Jay Webber.