Craig Coughlin

"Republicans Richard Piatkowski and Peter Kothari are the kinds of rough-edged underdog candidates that don't typically get much attention from voters outside of the most dedicated of party loyalists," the Home News Tribune said in endorsing them for State Assembly in District 19 against incumbent John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville) and former Municipal Court Judge Craig Coughlin.

Perth Amboy Mayor WIlda Diaz

PERTH AMBOY - When her ally lost his bid to be the replacement Assembly candidate in the 19th Legislative District, Mayor Wilda Diaz didn't immediately back the Democratic Party ticket consisting of Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville) and Woodbridge attorney Craig Coughlin.

But after more than a month of silence, she finally decided to declare her public support for them.

"I came to the conclusion a week ago to support the District 19 Democratic candidates," Diaz told PolitickerNJ.com. "The county committee fight taught me a lesson, but it's politics. The good thing is I supported my candidate until the very end."

With the backing of the Woodbridge party power base, Coughlin administered a beating to Diaz's candidate, retired Superior Court Judge Mathias Rodriguez, an early favorite to replace embattled South Amboy Mayor Jack T. O'Leary on the 19th District Democratic ticket before Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac, O'Leary, and Carteret Mayor John Reiman front-ended Coughlin in the 11th hour - along with all the county committee votes from their respective towns to scuttle Rodriguez.

Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville), right, with Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver (D-East Orange)

PATERSON - Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville) won't deny that he's the missing link from Middlesex as part of a new legislative leadership package that would make him the next state Democratic Party chairman and successor to Assemblyman Joe Cryan (D-Union).

"'If there's anyway I can augment that team, let me know,'" is how Wisniewski sums up his communications with the power brokers, describing the ins and outs of those talks as "internal party politics."

Appearing tonight at the Brownstone in Paterson at a fundraiser for Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver (D-East Orange), he said he would be interested in the job.

"One of the things that the state party chair needs to do - and this goes for whoever holds that position - is to build the roots of the party and encourage among young voters and new voters an identification with the Democratic Party," said Wisniewski.

Assemblyman John Wisniewski received the endorsement of his home county delegation in his bid to become Assembly Speaker. Six Democrats live in Middlesex, and another legislator from Somerset says he'll also back the Sayreville Democrat.

The Middlesex County Democratic State Assembly delegation will back John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville) for Assembly Speaker, potentially giving him an early lead in the race to succeed Joseph Roberts.  Joseph Spicuzzo, the Democratic County Chairman, announced the unanimous support of the delegation in a press release issued this evening.

In January, New Jersey will need a new Assembly Speaker who will represent the middle class, the middle ground, as well as the middle of our state," Spicuzzo said.  "No one will do a better job of bringing people together for the good of New Jersey than Middlesex County's own Assemblyman John Wisniewski.

Roberts recently announced that he will not seek re-election to the Legislature, where he has served since 1987.  Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing) has said she will seek the post, and Assemblyman Joseph Cryan (D-Union), the Democratic State Chairman, is considered a leading candidate for Speaker. 

The Middlesex base could bring Wisniewski as many as ten votes in his leadership bid, depending upon the outcome of the general election.

Three Democrats who live in Middlesex are likely to win re-election to the Assembly in November: Peter Barnes (D-Edison), Patrick Diegnan (D-South Plainfield), and Joseph Egan (D-New Brunswick).  Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro) is favored to win re-election, as are Wisniewski and his running mate, former Judge Craig Coughlin in the 19th district.

Another legislator, Upendra Chivukula (D-Franklin), was included in Spicuzzo's release as endorsing Wisniewski.  Chivukula lives in Somerset County but represents a largely Middlesex district. 

Three other legislators, Wayne DeAngelo (D-Hamilton), Gerald Green (D-Plainfield), and Linda Stender (D-Fanwood), represent districts that include parts of Middlesex County.  They were not included in Spicuzzo's statement, which specifically said that "Middlesex County's Democratic delegation to the State Assembly unanimously supports John Wisniewski."

District 19 Assembly candidate Craig Coughlin

19th District Republican candidate Peter Kothari demanded that his Democratic Party opponents tell the voters in the district how much money they make and have made as public sector legal eagles.

Kothari speculates that Assemblyman Jon Wisniewski (D-Sayreville) and Woodbridge attorney Craig Coughlin have prospered by holding multiple public jobs as lawyers, while residents stuggle to pay their bills each month.

"People who are not political insiders know how difficult it is to pay bills, maintain a home and educate a family in New Jersey," said the challenger, a Republican businessman running on a ticket with Perth Amboy real estate broker Richard Piatkowski. 

State Sen. Bob Smith (D-Piscataway) today in New Brunswick.

NEW BRUNSWICK -  State Sen. Bob Smith (D-Piscataway) believes local contests will drive Democratic Party turnout in Middlesex County and improve Gov. Jon Corzine's opportunity for victory, particularly local fights in Woodbridge and New Brunswick.

"I'm on the hustings every night, and I can feel the momentum turning our way," said Smith, appearing with Corzine at an event to promote the governor's Return to Work program.

But talk to Democrats privately about the gubernatorial race and their worry inevitably runs to Middlesex, where Corzine scored 67% in the Democratic Primary, and where Republican Chris Christie signs make front lawn statements everywhere in the sprawl of blue collar towns here.

Sensing opportunity, Christie and his running mate, Kim Guadagno, campaigned avidly in Middlesex this summer, hitting the fairgrounds and street parades in places like Edison and Sayreville and generally stirring more enthusiasm for their candidate than a comparatively moribund Democratic Party effort.

On learning of the Middlesex County Democratic Committee's overwhelming vote Wednesday night in favor of Woodbridge attorney Craig Coughlin to complement Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville), Republican Peter Kothari denounced the Democrats' newly formed 19th District ticket as a model of imminent bad government.

"Tonight we have seen the Middlesex County democratic (sic) party is a party of political insiders and deal makers who are controlled by the same party bosses who have led New Jersey into the greatest recession since the Great Depression," said Kothari in a press release, complete with small "d" designation outrage for his rivals.

"Just like his running mate John Wisniewski, Coughlin has been making money for years from his political appointments and jobs," added the Republican candidate, a Woodbridge businessman and community activist.

Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac, left, and state Sen. Joe Vitale (D-Woodbridge) tonight at the Forge.

WOODBRIDGE - When the doors of the Forge flung open, the two groups went in separate directions: the mostly Puerto Rican contingent from Perth Amboy headed drearily back to the bay town, while Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac, South Amboy Mayor John O'Leary, Carteret Mayor Dan Reiman and their man for the 19th District, Craig Coughlin, headed straight for the Shannon Rose Pub and a raucous celebration.

State Sen. Joe Vitale (D-Woodbridge) showed up - Coughlin's wife is his campaign treasurer. There's a bond there.

So did Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville), but the sitting 19th District lawmaker from the lower house wasn't a core circle player in this celebration of Coughlin's resounding win over retired Superior Court Judge Mathias Rodriguez and health care professional Jean Pierce tonight at a special party convention at this manor on the northbound side of Route 9.

"Craig was a great candidate with experience in all five towns and all three branches of government," said McCormac, whose county committee allies from his hometown were well-organized in getting out and providing the foundation for Coughlin's 170 winning votes, compared to 75 for Rodriguez and 25 for Pierce.

State Party Chairman Joe Cryan blew in for the hoopla, which had actually started earlier in the evening, back at the Forge, when people looked around and saw Woodbridge out in force and couldn't contain their glee. Those were going to be Coughlin votes.

19th Legislative District Democratic Party nominee Craig Coughlin, right, with Carteret Mayor Dan Reiman

WOODBRIDGE - On first ballot, Woodbridge attorney Craig Coughlin has won the three-way race for the backing of the party to run in the 19th Legislative District, Middlesex County Democratic Committee Chairman Joe Spicuzzo just told the crowd at the Forge Manor. 

The final vote tally: 170 votes for Coughlin; 77 for Mathias Rodriguez, and 25 for Jean Pierce.

"I was very fortunate to win," Coughlin told the crowd.

His running mate, Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville), and LD 19 state Sen. Joe Vitale (D-Woodbridge) towered over him at the front of the room.

"I'm trying to break the barrier and prove you don't need to be 6 ft. 4 to represent this district," Coughlin said.