Cid Wilson

If Loretta Weinberg is elected Lt. Governor in November, it would mean a January 2010 special election convention to fill her 37th district State Senate seat.  Democrats say the four leading candidates would be Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Englewood), Assemblyman Gordon Johnson (D-Englewood), outgoing Englewood Mayor Michael Wildes, and former Assemblyman Ken Zisa.  Huttle's husband is the Democratic candidate to succeed Wildes as Mayor.

"I intend to move up to the state senate, if the opportunity arises," Johnson told PolitickerNJ.com last month.

Zisa's fortunes could depend on the outcome of former Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero's federal corruption trial.  Zisa and Ferriero are longtime allies.

HOLMDEL -- The support among Bergen County Democrats for state Sen. Loretta Weinberg’s selection as lieutenant governor is strong, even from someone who once ran on a rival ticket.

Cid Wilson, a financial analyst who ran an unfinished campaign in 2007 against Weinberg Assembly allies Gordon Johnson (D-Englewood) and Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Englewood) in the Democratic primary – and who even considered running against them again this year --  said that Weinberg’s selection would help deliver the largest county in the state.

Of course, if Corzine wins and Weinberg ascends to the number two spot, her Senate seat will open up, giving Wilson another crack at it (Wilson said that it's "premature" to speculate about that, and that he wants to help with party building and the Governor's reelection).  

Other Democrats who used to feud with Weinberg privately say that they would be happy to "get rid of her." 

But Wilson professed genuine admiration for the Senator.

Updated
If Loretta Weinberg is elected Lt. Governor in November, it would mean a January 2010 special election convention to fill her 37th district State Senate seat.  Democrats say the four leading candidates would be Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Englewood), Assemblyman Gordon Johnson (D-Englewood), outgoing Englewood Mayor Michael Wildes, and former Assemblyman Ken Zisa.  Huttle's husband is the Democratic candidate to succeed Wildes as Mayor.

"I intend to move up to the state senate, if the opportunity arises," Johnson told PolitickerNJ.com today.

Should Johnson or Valerie Huttle go to the Senate, look for one of the Democrats on the Teaneck Township Council to move up to the Assembly, as well as Cid Wilson, a party leader from Leonia who backed off a primary challenge against Huttle and Johnson (D-Englewood) in 2007 and 2009.  That race would be decided in a subsequent special election convention.

Would-be candidate Cid WIlson with Gov. Jon Corzine

In the spirit of party unity in what promises to be a hard fought election year, Democrat Cid Wilson said tonight he does not intend to challenge District 37 legislators Valerie Vainieri Huttle and Gordon Johnson.

“While I believe that I would bring immediate leadership excellence to the New Jersey State Assembly during this period of economic crisis, I also believe that challenging the current Democratic Assembly incumbents, at a time when Gov. Jon Corzine needs a unified Democratic Party, may not be in the best interest of party-building this year,” Wilson said in a statement.

Wilson, a financial analyst, urged party members to coalesce behind Michael Kasparian, the new chairman of the Bergen County Democratic Organization (BCDO).

Cid Wilson

With Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero facing corruption charges, party leadership in flux and rivals on both sides of a party divide at least paying lip service to unity, there’s less appetite in the county’s Democratic organization for more intra-party fights.

But Cid Wilson, a financial analyst from Leonia who with Hackensack Police Chief Ken Zisa last year waged a Ferriero-backed primary campaign against incumbent Assembly members Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Englewood) and Gordon Johnson (D-Englewood), said that he is still leaning towards a re-match.

“That has not changed. I am exploring all my options, and that includes exploring my options to possibly be a candidate,” he said.

DENVER -- Former Assembly candidate Cid Wilson, who ran and aborted a primary campaign against District 37 Assembly members Gordon Johnson and Valerie Vainieri-Huttle, said today that he may run again.

“The answer is that I’m exploring all my options, and I very much believe that regardless of what I decide to do, I’m going to be an active leader in Bergen County, because I’ve always cared about the issues affecting Bergen County,” he said.  “I’m giving it a very strong look, and I am leaning towards running.”

If Connie Wagner is successful in her bid for the State Assembly, there will be no shortage of potential candidates to replace her in January.  A short list includes: Bergen County Improvement Authority Commissioner Cid Wilson, who was seeking an Assembly seat in the 37th district earlier this year, but withdrew when the party united behind the incumbents; Fort Lee Council President (and Acting Mayor) Ila Kasofsky; Rev. Vernon Walton, a former Englewood Councilman; Little Ferry Councilman Thomas Sarlo, the brother of State Senator Paul Sarlo; Bergen County Improvement Authority Chairman Ronald O'Malley, and former Assemblyman (and Hackensack Police Chief) Ken Zisa.