Dana Redd's victory in the Camden mayoral race was as easy as everyone expected, which means Democrats will need to fill her fifth district State Senate seat.  Possible candidates include Assemblymen-elect Donald Norcross and Angel Fuentes, outgoing Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts, Camden City Councilwoman Dana Burley, and Camden City Councilman Whip Wilson.  Redd will need to step down no later than January 1, when she takes office as mayor; a special election convention would be held 7-35 days after her resignation.  If it's Norcross or Fuentes, a second special election convention would need to be held to fill their Assembly seats.

Donald Norcross was endorsed for State Assembly by the Courier-Post.

The Courier-Post today endorsed South Jersey AFL-CIO President Donald Norcross for State Assembly in the fifth district, saying that Norcross is well versed on state issues and "would be able to hit the ground running in Trenton" even though he'll be a freshman. 

The Courier-Post also endorsed Norcross' running mate, Camden City Council President Angel Fuentes.  The two are seeking to replace Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden) and Assemblywoman Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D-Camden).  Neither are seeking re-election.

But the Gloucester County Times declined to back Norcross, instead supporting Fuentes and Republican Stepfanie Velez-Gentry, who has attracted national attention because she owns a company that sells sex toys to women

Norcross, the Camden County Democratic Co-Chairman and the brother of Democratic leader George Norcross, set a record this month for the single biggest fundraising event for a first-time candidate: he raised a reported $350,000. 

"Norcross has been a union leader, yet he understands that things cannot be the same for future government workers as they have been and are for current ones in terms of pay and benefits. He sees that Trenton can't afford to keep handing out fat pensions and loads of other expensive benefits and remain solvent," the editorial said.  "While Norcross and Fuentes likely won't be as independent from party-line politics as we'd like, in this race, they're clearly the best choices."

Norcross, according to the Courier-Post, would not deny that he'll quickly move up to the Senate after State Sen. Dana Redd (D-Camden) wins her race for Mayor of Camden.

LD 5 Assembly candidate Donald Norcross

PAULSBORO - Labor leader Donald Norcross, the brother of South Jersey Democratic Party leader George Norcross III and a candidate for the Assembly in District 5, wouldn't comment on speculation that he is poised to assume state Sen. Dana Redd's (D-Camden) Senate seat if she wins her mayor's race on Nov. 3rd, where she's heavily favored.

"My entire focus is on the governor's race," said Norcross, who announced his candidacy for the Assembly the day that Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts (D-Camden) formally declared his retirement from the legislature and his decision not to run for re-election this year.

"Joe's decision was made independent of (the Camden mayor's race," Norcross insisted. "The only thing we are focused on is getting this governor elected. We will have a mass mobilization on his behalf - over 1,000 people in the street."

REDD-STACK BILL TO ALLOW COUNTIES TO CREATE TRUST FUND TO AID HOMELESS SIGNED INTO LAW

CAMDEN – A bill sponsored by Senators Dana L. Redd and Brian P. Stack which permits county governments to create trust funds in order to provide assistance to homeless New Jerseyans living within the county was signed into law today by Governor Corzine.

“Particularly in this difficult economy, many New Jersey residents are falling through the cracks, unable to make ends meet,” said Senator Redd, D-Camden and Gloucester. “Many of these folks find themselves living on the streets, victims of the economic downturn and unable to find a helping hand. Now, thanks to today’s bill signing, I can say unequivocally to those who are suffering in the night that help is on the way.”

REDD STATEMENT ON SPEAKER ROBERTS

(CAMDEN) – Democratic State Committee Vice Chair Dana Redd today issued the following statement on Speaker Joseph J. Roberts’ decision not to run for re-election:

Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden) might not be seeking re-election, but that doesn't mean he'll be leaving the Trenton.  State Sen. Dana Redd is a shoo-in to win election as Mayor of Camden in November, and that means she'll have to resign her Senate seat by January 1, 2010 in order to assume her new office.  Roberts is considered a potential candidate to replace Redd in the Senate.

The new Legislature will organize on January 12, which is when Roberts' current Assembly term and leadership position expires.  His pending announcement tomorrow - officially, he will tell the Camden County Democratic Committee first - will be the start of the race for Speaker.  The outcome of the races for Governor and Senate President will be critical factors in picking the next Speaker. 

Rumors of Roberts' departure from the Assembly have been circulating for more than a year, and Democratic insiders say that the leading candidates will be Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing) and Assemblyman Joseph Cryan (D-Union), the Democratic State Chairman.  Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex) is also a potential candidate.

Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts will have no problem keeping his job, if Democrats hold the Assembly and if he wants it. But there is some speculation that Roberts is eyeing Dana Redd's State Senate seat, which is almost certain to open up in January.

Some Democrats think Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden) might be interested in moving up to the Senate in January, if Dana Redd wins her race for Mayor of Camden.  Roberts has been Speaker for nearly four years, and while he is fully engaged in the campaign to retain the Democratic majority in the lower house, more than a few Democrats sense that he's ready to move on.  Redd is an almost certain winner.

Roberts move to the upper house would trigger an election for Assembly Speaker, with Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing), Democratic State Chairman Joseph Cryan (D-Union), and Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville) as the leading contenders. 

Sources say that Louis Greenwald (D-Voorhees), Nellie Pou (D-Paterson), and Sheila Oliver (D-East Orange) are also possible Speaker candidates, although clearly in a third tier category.  Even below them on the list are John McKeon (D-West Orange) and Vincent Prieto (D-Secaucus), who fancy themselves as future Speakers, but appear to be just pretenders to the throne.  (Prieto's own Assembly seat could be in danger in 2011 if Democrats fail to win the Secaucus mayoral race following the arrest and resignation of Dennis Elwell.)

Part of the race for Speaker will be influenced by the results of the gubernatorial campaign and closely tied to the potential contest for Senate President between incumbent Richard Codey (D-Roseland) and Senate Majority Leader Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford).

CRYAN/REDD ANNOUNCE UNANIMOUS

DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT OF WEINBERG AS

LG CANDIDATE

    (ENGLEWOOD) – New Jersey Democratic State Committee Chair Joseph Cryan and Vice Chair Dana Redd today announced unanimous Democratic support of Governor Jon S. Corzine’s selection of Loretta Weinberg as the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor. 

State Sen. Dana Redd (D-Camden)

HOLMDEL - Not in the lieutenant governor mix anymore, State Sen. Dana Redd (D-Camden) accepts the role of emcee with President Barack Obama and Gov. Jon Corzine apparently in the wings. 

"We are going to re-elect Jon Corzine in 'O9," says Redd, a candidate for mayor of Camden, who proceeds to bash GOP gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie and his minions as bedraggled Bush cronies.

"George Bush's disastrous policies" is what Redd blames for the economic wreck, shifting to Vice President Joe Biden's comment on June 2nd about who he called when he wanted economic advice: Corzine.

"It was Jon Corzine who had the vision to get the state's fiscal house in order during his first three years in office," she says.

State Sen. Dana Redd (D-Camden) says she has not been asked about running for Lt. Governor on Jon Corzine’s ticket, and intends to continue her bid for Mayor of Camden.  The first term legislator and Democratic State Vice Chair won the Democratic primary for Mayor in June.

"While I appreciate the kind thoughts about my political future, let me put any speculation to rest: I am running full speed ahead for Mayor in the great City of Camden. I have not been asked by anyone about running for the office of Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey, nor have I ever pursued this position,” Redd said in a statement released today. “I have made my commitment to the people of Camden crystal clear. Moving our City forward is my number one priority -- from breaking the cycle of dependence to better schools and safer neighborhoods.”

“I remain steadfast in my support of Governor Corzine and his re-election bid. This Governor has been a true friend to Camden and the entire South Jersey region and for that he has my unequivocal support. I look forward to working with him in his second term as Camden's next mayor,” said Redd.