Donald Norcross

Assemby Speaker Joseph Roberts (C-Camden), above, is not seeking re-election to the State Assembly. South Jersey Democrats picked labor leader Donald Norcross to replace him.

Southern Jersey AFL-CIO President Donald Norcross, the brother of one of the state's most powerful political insiders, won the Democratic nomination for State Assembly in the fifth district today.  He ran unopposed at a special convention of Camden County Democrats to replace Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden), who announced last month that he would not seek re-election.

"I believe we must change the way business is done in Trenton," Norcross told Democrats today.  "We must put our partisan differences and the special interests aside to do what is best for the ordinary, hard-working taxpayers of this state. The status quo is not working. The state government is wasting too much of our money."
 
Norcross, the Camden County Democratic Co-Chairman and the brother of George Norcross III, called for a state-government spending freeze and a moratorium on tax increases.

A few hours after Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden) officially gave notice that he will not seek reelection, South Jersey AFL-CIO President Donald Norcross sent out a mass email announcing his candidacy to replace him. 

During a press conference today, Roberts said Norcross has his “full support."  Soon after that,  dozens of South Jersey elected officials endorsed Norcross, who is also co-chair of the Camden County Democratic Committee and brother of power broker George Norcross.  
Below is the full text of his letter:

Members of the South Jersey Democratic Organization this afternoon officially closed ranks around Donald Norcross as their candidate to fill the 5th District Assembly seat being vacated by Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden).

An assistant business manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 351 and president of the Southern New Jersey AFL-CIO Central Labor Council, which represents an estimated 85,000 workers, Norcross is the younger brother of South Jersey Democratic Party leader George Norcross III and a resident of Camden.

“I have known and worked with Donald Norcross for many years, and I can’t imagine a more capable, caring and determined person to represent the hard-working people in this district,” said Roberts. “I am gratified to know that with Donald’s election in November, our citizens will have a voice in Trenton with sound judgment, a solid record of achievement and a bold vision for the future.”

South Jersey sources say the organization intends to back labor leader Donald Norcross for the Assembly seat to be vacated at the end of the year by Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts (D-Camden).

The brother of South Jersey Democratic leader George Norcross, Donald Norcross is the President of the South Jersey AFL-CIO and the Camden County Democratic Co-Chairman. 

As a superdelegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention, Norcross endorsed Barack Obama for president two weeks after Hillary Clinton won the New Jersey primary.

Mayoral candidate/state Sen. Dana Redd (D-Camden)

CAMDEN - Ensconsed in the trappings of Democratic Party power, hometown hero state Sen. Dana Redd (D-Camden), whose parents were the victims of a double homicide when she was eight years old, today announced her candidacy for mayor with a promise to bring a crime-beleagured city back to waterfront glory. 

"Let's put an end to the petty, counter-productive bickering, no more fighting, ward against ward, black against Hispanic. I'm declaring it today, it is over," said Redd in an atmosphere still energized by President Barack Obama's Jan. 20th swearing-in and his call for national unity.  

The 40-year old Camden native entered the race with the blessing if not official backing of incumbent Mayor Gwendolyn Faison, 82, who stood briefly onstage and appeared to be just bucked up enough to make some “Camden first” comments in the face of party leaders who respectfully acknowledged Faison’s service before firmly throwing whatever heft they have behind rising star Redd. 

"I'm the mayor that made Camden work," an almost defiant-sounding Faison said. "I'm here today because the city is bigger than me. My heart is with Camden. ...I am here to support anyone who will help the City of Camden. That is my statement."

She said she had intended to declare her intentions regarding her political future at a Feb. 23rd press conference, and gently made it known that Redd's presser today pre-empted her own plans somewhat.

Applications are now being accepted for the post of Camden County Clerk, which has been vacant since Jim Beach resigned last month to take a seat in the State Senate.  Beach and Donald Norcross, the Co-Chairmen of the Camden County Democratic Committee, have sent an e-mail to Democrats looking for candidate suggestions: "We are now seeking potential candidates for the County Clerk position.  We are looking for people with a commitment to public service, an interest in helping our community through tough times, and a willingness to roll up their sleeves and go to work for residents across the county.  The person chosen will be a county-wide candidate on the ballot this year."

Individuals seeking consideration should "send a cover letter and resume to christy@ccdems.org or (856) 424-5511 (fax).  The deadline for nominations is Friday, February 6th at 5pm."

State Sen. Dana Redd (D-Camden)

TRENTON - State Sen. Dana Redd (D-Camden) will run for mayor of Camden and plans to kick off her campaign this Saturday, Feb. 7th, she told PolitickerNJ.com.

Now serving her first term as senator, Redd, 40, is concurrently serving as vice president of the Camden City Council. She said she hopes to be able to work out a deal with Mayor Gwendolyn Faison, 82, who has served as Camden's chief elected official since 2000.

"I've had discussions with Mayor Faison and we're trying to put together a unity slate," said Redd. "I'm hoping she endorses me."

Faison's office issued a statement this afternoon.

The mayor has not officially made a decision about whether she intends to run for re-election.

"It's time to stop fighting and serve the people," Faison said.

Camden County Clerk James Beach is headed to the State Senate. He is expected to replace John Adler in January.

Camden County Clerk James Beach will replace John Adler in the State Senate, according to a Camden County Democratic source who spoke with George Norcross, the South Jersey Democratic leader who decides who serves in the Legislature.  Beach must still win a special election convention, but he is not expected to face any opposition.

Gov. Jon Corzine will appoint a nominate a new County Clerk -- presumably after consulting with Norcross -- who must be confirmed by the State Senate.  Both Beach and the new Clerk must run in a November 2009 special election.

An image from Pamela Lampitt's 2007 campaign website. The two-term Assemblywoman from Cherry Hill is not expected to seek John Adler's State Senate seat.

Assemblywoman Pam Lampitt is privately telling friends that she will not seek the 6th district State Senate seat that will be vacated by Congressman-elect John Adler.  Lampitt, entering her fourth year in the Assembly, has a strong relationship with Speaker Joe Roberts and sources suggest she would be a frontrunner for a committee chairmanship next session. 

Four key South Jersey Democratic officials today asked Assemblyman Louis Greenwald to reconsider his decison not to seek the 6th district State Senate seat that will be vacated in January by U.S. Rep.-elect John Adler.  Camden Couny Democratic Co-Chairmen Donald Norcross and James Beach, Cherry Hill Mayor Bernard Platt, and South Jersey Democratic leader George Norcross want Greenwald to run in a special election convention to replace Adler.  Greenwald has opted to remain in the Assembly, where he is chairman of the powerful Budget Committee.