Caridad Rodriguez

Assemblywoman Caridad Rodriguez (D-West New York), who served as Albio Sires' executive assistant when he was the Mayor of West New York, and as his office manager when he won election to Congress, is in line to chair the Assembly Human Services Committee.  The current chair, Sheila Oliver (D-East Orange) appears to have the votes to become the next Assembly Speaker.  Rodriguez, who is now the panel's vice chair, endorsed Oliver for the post yesterday.

Two Hudson County Democrats say they will support Sheila Oliver (D-East Orange) for Assembly Speaker.  That brings Oliver's hard count up to 20 votes.

Ruben Ramos (D-Hoboken) and Caridad Rodriguez (D-West New York) say that Oliver would be a groundbreaking choice who would bring passion and fresh perspective to state government.

"This is an exciting opportunity for the state of New Jersey to have someone of Sheila Oliver's background and vision in this important position," Ramos said. "She has been a champion for the average person who struggles every day and needs a strong advocate speaking for them in Trenton. It would be hard to imagine a better person to be our Speaker."

RODRIGUEZ/RAMOS/VAINIERI HUTTLE BILL PACKAGE TO IMPROVE CERTAIN HEALTH CARE SERVICES SIGNED INTO LAW

New Laws Improve Way Obstetricians are Paid by Insurers; Grant More Responsibilities to Nurse Midwives

(NEWARK) - A legislative package sponsored by Assembly members Caridad Rodriguez, Ruben J. Ramos, Jr. and Valerie Vainieri Huttle to improve health care services given by obstetricians and midwives was signed into law today by Governor Jon S. Corzine during a public ceremony at the Newark Community Health Center.

Mayor/state Sen. Brian P. Stack (D-Union City), left, in the ring with Gov. Jon Corzine.

UNION CITY - Gov. Jon Corzine campaigned here this evening with Mayor/state Sen. Brian P. Stack (D-Union City), his caravan pulling up to the blockade on New York Avenue moments after his rival, GOP candidate Chris Christie, departed with a contingent of Republicans who had just walked with Stack.

To Union City diehards like Henry Munker, Corzine's presence as a Democratic incumbent governor at the annual National Night Out street festival in a city where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans around 14,800 to 1,400 was less of an eye-opener than Christie's hour-long stride through with Stack.

"Never," was Munker's blunt response when asked when he last saw a Republican candidate for governor make the trek into Union City in search of votes. 

"I heard you had a vistor here," Corzine told Stack after the two men shook hands.

"Yes, we did," Stack said.

U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, shown campaigning with President Barack Obama, crushed Rudy Garcia, right, in a 2000 Union City political war.

Nine years after a civil war ravaged local politics in Union City and across Hudson County, there is no question who won and who lost.  Robert Menendez is now a United States Senator and Chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and Rudy Garcia is still working for a Trenton lobbying firm.  Arrested on racketeering charges in 2007, a Monmouth County grand jury decided last year not to charge him in connection to a gambling ring sting by the New Jersey State Police.

Menendez and Garcia were once close political allies, but their relationship developed into a civil war between two Democratic stars from the same hometown. Menendez, a former Union City Mayor and State Senator before his election to Congress in 1992, was the key backer of Garcia in his first Assembly victory in a February, 1993 special election, and following the death of Union City Mayor Bruce Walter in January, 1997, was responsible for Garcia's election as Mayor of Union.

ASSEMBLY LEGISLATION HONORING ISRAEL SIGNED INTO LAW

Measures Make Permanent New Jersey Israel Commission, Commemorate Israel’s 60th Anniversary

(TRENTON) – Gov. Jon S. Corzine today signed into law Assembly legislation honoring Israel, including plans to make permanent the New Jersey Israel Commission and to commemorate Israel’s 60th anniversary.

The New Jersey-Israel Commission was established in 1988 to honor Israel’s 40th anniversary and promote trade, science and technology, tourism and cultural and economic exchanges.

An executive order extended the commission to 2012, but legislation (A-3162) sponsored by Assembly members Gordon Johnson, Valerie Vainieri Huttle (both D-Bergen), Gary S. Schaer (D-Passaic) and Cary Rodriguez (D-Hudson) makes it permanent.

“Israel has been a steadfast friend and faithful ally of the United States over the past six decades, all the while showing immense bravery in the face of countless terrorist attacks,” said Johnson.

U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) and his niece, Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg: Getty Images Photo

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DENVER – Just before enjoying the Democratic delegates’ first breakfast, West New York Mayor and former Assemblyman Sal Vega told PolitickerNJ that  he doesn’t expect to ever seek to return to the Assembly seat he vacated last year to run a grueling and bitter long-shot primary against for state Senate against Union City Mayor Brian Stack.

That’s because he’d have to give up his mayoralty, which he prefers. 

“I enjoy being the executive of my municipal government,” said Vega, a Hillary Clinton delegate.  “When I left the Assembly, Assemblyman [John] Burzichelli, who I had gotten to know, said ‘Don’t feel bad, because there are only two people that citizens know and remember: the president of the United States and the mayor of their town.”

Congressman Albio Sires was a big winner in Tuesday's Democratic primary in Hudson County and the threat of a primary challenge in 2008 is likely over: his West New York hometown political rival, Sal Vega, was trounced by Sires' candidate, Brian Stack.  Vega -- with the backing of the Hudson County Democratic Organization -- won just 23% of the vote and lost every town in his district, including West New York.  Sires played a strong and very public role in support of Stack, and now sees his longtime staffer, Caridad Rodriguez, take Vega's seat in the State Assembly.

The beer wasn’t free at Brian Stack’s victory celebration, but the crowd loved it anyway.

Several hundred people turned up at Fomento Hall to see Stack give his victory speech, and were treated to the first minute or so of Queen’s classic song “We Will Rock You,” loudly looped over and over again for a good half an hour.  Leading up to Stack’s appearance, the audience grew so antsy that a cheer rose up when a balloon popped.

Stack had just trounced his opponent, Sal Vega, getting 77% of the vote.  He even beat Vega in his home town of West New York, where he’s mayor.  The two assembly candidates on his slate, Ruben Ramos, Jr. and Caridad Rodriguez, also won.