Craig Stanley

Expect a recount in the 28th district Democratic primary, where Assembly Education Committee Chairman Craig Stanley trails Cleopatra Tucker by 110 votes, with just one of the 143 voting districts not in the tally.  Stanley, the nephew of Congresman Donald Payne and Assemblyman William Payne, was a casualty of the Essex County Democratic Civil War between the Payne's and Newark Mayor Cory Booker.

District 29 Assembly candidates Albert Coutinho and Grace Spencer this week received the endorsements of SEIU Local 32BJ, UniteHere! and CWA Local 1081, according to a news release isued by campaign spokesman Phil Alagia.

The New Jersey Education Association and the Newark Teachers Union -- longtime rival unions -- have joined forces to support the re-election campaigns of State Sen. Ron Rice, Assemblyman Craig Stanley and Assemblywoman Oadline Truitt in the 28th district, and Assemblyman Wilfredo Caraballo in the 29th.

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE RELEASES STANLEY MEASURE
CREATING TASK FORCE ON SCHOOL-UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS
Bill Seeks to Identify Best Practices to Ensure Success of Educational Collaborations

(TRENTON) - The Assembly Education Committee today released legislation Assemblyman Craig Stanley sponsored to establish a task force to study and promote best practices for school-university partnerships that seek to improve the education of public school students in low-income communities.

STANLEY MEASURE ADDRESSING STUDENT-ATHLETE
HEAD INJURIES CLEARS COMMITTEE

(TRENTON) -- Legislation Assemblyman Craig A. Stanley sponsored to create a special task force to develop guidelines on the most appropriate and effective means of dealing with student-athletes who sustain concussions and other head injuries was released today by an Assembly panel. 

Assemblyman Craig Stanley (D-Essex) files to run for re-election with Division of Elections worker Elise ManfrediMoments before filing to run again in the 28th district, Assemblyman Craig A. Stanley said he supports his uncle, Assemblyman William Payne, for State Senate in district 29.

Payne never showed up Monday to file to run as a Democrat, and the word is he will run as an independent in the November general election against State Senate candidate Teresa Ruiz.

LAMPITT/DIEGNAN/STANLEY BILL CREATING SEAMLESS
COLLEGE CREDIT TRANSFERS RELEASED BY COMMITTEE
Credit Acceptance Agreement Would Help Students with Associate Degrees

(TRENTON) -- The Assembly Higher Education Committee today released legislation Assemblywoman Pamela R. Lampitt and Assemblymen Patrick J. Diegnan, Jr. and Craig Stanley sponsored to create a new system to allow county college credits to be seamlessly accepted by other New Jersey colleges and universities.

This Inside Edge item starts with a disclaimer: the information on the 28th and 29th district legislative races is believed to be accurate at the time it was being written. But things could change before the publish button is hit. That's how fluid these Newark-based districts are right now.

William Payne took his mini-campaign for the Democratic State Senate nomination on the road today, stumping for votes on the Chamber of Commerce train trip to Washington, D.C. His push for the Senate seat that Sharpe James may or may not give up appears to have annoyed several factions within the Democratic Party, placing his Assembly seat -- and the one held by his nephew, Craig Stanley, in the 29th district -- in jeopardy. If Payne continues his campaign for the Senate, it could cause some groups of Democrats to create alliances with other groups of Democrats, and leave no room for him to jump back into the Assembly seat he has held since 1995. Stanley could be a casualty of Payne's effort, says one Newark political insider.

North Ward Democrats -- which means powerful insider Stephen Adubato, Sr. -- are supporting Teresa Ruiz, the 32-year-old Deputy Chief of Staff to the Essex County Executive, as their candidate for State Senate. That likely means City Councilmen Luis Quintana and Anibal Ramos are not Senate bound, at least right now.

Booker would like to send his Deputy Campaign Manager, Grace Spencer, to the State Assembly in the 29th district. The 36-year-old Spencer is a former Assistant Newark Corporation Counsel, Newark Special Prosecutor, and aide to the City Council President. She would take the seat of incumbent Wilfredo Caraballo, who is expected to be dumped from the Essex Democratic line. If Payne is replaced, two possible candidates are former Assemblyman Albert Couhtino and former Essex County Surrogate Maria Vizcarrondo-De Soto, who serves as Newark Mayor Cory Booker's Director of Child and Family Well Being.

In the 28th district, some Democrats are expressing concern that Essex County Freeholder and Irvington Councilman Bilal Beasley isn't strong enough to defeat longtime State Senator Ronald Rice, even with the organization line and the backing of Booker. Booker is sticking with Beasley at this time. The plan seems to be for Stanley on the Beasley line with Essex County Freeholder (and former Assemblyman) Ralph Caputo, who would replace incumbent Oadline Truitt. If Stanley is replaced, Booker seems inclined to support Cleopatra Tucker, whose late husband held the Assembly seat, and a seat on the Newark City Council, until his death in 2005. Stanley could run with Rice, setting up an alliance with Congressman Donald Payne's powerful political family.

ASSEMBLY PASSES STANLEY/STENDER/CONAWAY MEASURE
TO LIMIT KIDS' ACCESS TO JUNK FOOD IN SCHOOLS
Bill to Combat Increasing Rates of Childhood Obesity Heads to Governor

(TRENTON) -- The General Assembly today passed legislation aimed at curbing the increasing rate of childhood obesity by prohibiting most "junk" foods -- including candy bars and sodas -- from being sold in public elementary and middle schools in New Jersey.

GOVERNOR CORZINE SIGNS LEGISLATION ENHANCING
FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS
Also Signs Bills Allowing Prepaid Lunch Programs and
Protecting Consumers Facing Foreclosure
TRENTON – Governor Jon S. Corzine today signed legislation bringing enhanced accountability to school districts’ finances. Corzine also signed legislation permitting boards of education to establish prepaid lunch programs and requiring residential mortgage lenders to provide debtors with contact information in foreclosure notices.

STANLEY APPLAUDS CORZINE BUDGET PROPOSALS AIMED AT COMBATING RISING GANG VIOLENCE

(TRENTON) - Assemblyman Craig Stanley, who represents the gang-ravaged communities of Irvington and Newark, today applauded Governor Corzine for advancing a budget proposal that includes increased funding to combat rising gang violence in New Jersey's urban neighborhoods.