Bowser to Joe D.: rethink Codey banishment now that GOP in charge of gov's office

East Orange Mayor Robert Boswer today said he believes Chris Christie's victory over Jon Corzine in the governor's race earlier this month should spark Democratic Party senators to reconsider their abandonment of support for Senate President Richard Codey (D-Roseland).

"I don't know what to expect at all from Chris Christie, and probably won't get any kind of clues until the transition team changes the guard, but I do believe Christie's win changes the dynamic for the senate presidency and the same thing for the speaker of the assembly," said Bowser.

At last public count, Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney (D-West Deptford) has 15 caucus votes to Codey's eight heading into their Nov. 23rd Statehouse confab and presumptive legislative leadership change.

In a North for South top-seat swap, Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver (D-East Orange) also has enough votes to win and to succeed Speaker Joe Roberts (D-Camden), according to Democratic Party sources.

"This whole needs to be thought about a little bit more with the governor losing," said Bowser, a longtime Codey ally. "I reach that conclusion based on the belief that there is a need for more experience, which Codey clearly exhibits, as well as an ability to work on both sides of the aisle.

"I've always thought that wasn't a done deal based on the outcome of the governor's race," added Bowser, whose town went for Corzine over Christie, 12,047 votes to 365. 

The veteran East Orange mayor's decision came even as Oliver's and Sweeney's key intra-party ally, Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo continues to call mayors and legislators in his home county to shore up support for a run next year for his third term in office.

Bowser is withholding a commitment of support for DiVincenzo at this time, with the hope that the county executive rethinks the Sweeney-Oliver deal and backs Codey for Senate President.

Bowser knows it's a long-shot request, mostly because it would require a lot of unravelling, chiefly at the expense of powerful party pooh-pahs like South Jersey Democratic Party boss George Norcross and North Ward Democratic leader Steve Adubato.

Asked if he had ruled out opposing DiVincenzo next year, Bowser, who overwhelmingly won his reelection bid on Nov. 3rd, said, "No, I have not ruled that out."