Assemblywoman Nellie Pou (D-North Haledon) in early fall at a "Latinos for Corzine-Weinberg" rally in Newark.
Pou won't rule out bid for Democratic State Party chair
By Max Pizarro | November 24th, 2009 - 11:52amIn a conversation today with PolitickerNJ.com, Assemblywoman Nelllie Pou (D-North Haledon) would not rule out running for the chairmanship of the State Democratic Committee, but stopped short of saying she definitely plans to pursue the office.
"That would be a great opportunity for me and a great honor," said the veteran legislator and appropriations committee chair who serves Paterson and that city's suburbs in the 35th Legislative District.
"I would need to consider it and, no, I would not rule it out. We have a state chair currently who has done an incredible job. I also know my great friend and colleague, Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville) is interested. ...It's still being discussed, but if I have ever had the opportunity to serve, it would be a great honor and an opportunity to show how our state party is reflective of what is important statewide."
The sitting chairman, Assemblyman Joe Cryan (D-Union Twp.), will finish his term at the end of this year. Sources close to the chairman say he's ready to focus on his new role in the party as Assembly Majority Leader and does not intend to seek re-election to the state chairman's job.
Reflecting on Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine's four-point loss earlier this month to Republican Gov.-elect Chris Christie, "The one and most important thing we need to do is reconnect with our Democratic base and work closely with urban communities and continue to deliver and speak on behalf of our state," said Pou.
"I think we have to get back to basics and back to the grassroots, inclusive level of Democratic Party politics," added the assemblywoman. "The voters have sent a message all throughout the State of New Jersey and there is a lot of work cut out for all of us."
Pou refused to badmouth Christie or publicly worry about any of his prospective policies. "I think we need to give the governor-elect the opportunity to take office," she said.
A staunch ally of U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez's (D-Hoboken), the assemblywoman's name surfaced in Democratic circles as a party chair option in the days following Corzine's Nov. 3rd defeat.
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Wisniewski a Better Choice
Although I have a favorable opinion of Pou, I believe John Wisniewski would be the better choice for State Chairman of the Deomocratic Party. He has 14 years experience in the Legislature and has demonstrated strong leadership skills as Chairman of the Department of Transportation. Without a doubt,John Wisniewski can raise more money for our party than Pou. As a strong opponent of the plan to sell the Parkway and N.J. Turnpike he has shown that he can be the fighter we need to run the Democratic party.
Is it April Fool's day already?
That's a joke right?
"Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little."
- Edmund Burke
Breathing is
well above Pou's pay grade. This vacuous intellect would be an early Xmas present for the GOP. At least Cryan had some residual spinal cord that extended in his malevolent cranium that controlled his lower functions.
Vaya con Dios Nellie!
Perhaps you’re right. Nellie Pou can’t be the state chair because … oh yeah! She’s not a guy. She’s just a Latina.
Oh and another thing … she’s only been in the Legislature since 1997! Geez. Only 12 years. Imagine the nerve!
And she heads an insignificant little committee called – oh what the heck is its name? Oh yes! The Assembly Appropriations Committee.
And she can’t really raise much money. Just ask the hundreds and hundreds of women who pack her annual fundraiser where governors and other top officials and powerbrokers throughout the state can be seen.
And goodness knows she didn’t help Corzine or the STATEWIDE Democratic Party very much in this past election – after all, only a paltry 10 percent of the electorate was Hispanic.
Yes perhaps you’re all correct. She has no qualifications whatsoever. What a pity.
Pou comes over as a bag of rocks
on the interview shows. Even lifeless turds float to the top. She makes Caputo look bright.
Time for change
Pou is energetic and passionate. Thats what our party needs for the next four year battle. Its time to get back to bassics strengthening our urban base and making those suburban inroads we need to stay on top. Nellie go for it!
Great candidate.
UNP is a people person....She can get along with any ethnicity and does. Nellie has helped run many campaigns in Passaic County. But more importantly, she is honest and reliable. PS: Nellie doesn't take any shit from the dirtbags in our party. Case closed.
I noticed
that not one person said Pou was intelligent. Half attractive bookmark with an ethnic twist. Voters may be attracted like flies on dung.
And?
It is unfortunate that I must say something that was a given, however, "Nellie is intelligent." But let's see....how many of the elected, appointed, and annointed convicted felons in NJ were "intelligent"? If you get "caught" guess what, you're not too freaking smart now are you? And.....I'll take loyalty, honesty, and reliability any day.
loyalty, honesty and reliability
are also for spaniels and those who ride the short bus.
Please, not Wisniewski
Someone needs to investigate how he got his friend Joe Bober appointed Cfief of the NJ Transit Police without a test being given or other candidates being considered. The same Joe Bober who was forced to quit after a jury found that he discriminated against a female cop and has assault charges pending after he punched an officer in the gut in front of witnesses. Wisniewski has demonstrated poor judgement and is part of the Dem's 'good ole boy' network. Nellie is a far better candidate.