Donald Payne

There is considerable buzz in Essex County that Democrats will not back Freeholder Donald Payne, Jr. for re-election to a second term this year. The family of Congressman Donald Payne has suffered a reversal of fortunes in 2007: William Payne gave up his Assembly seat to run as an Independent candidate for State Senate, angering Essex Democrats; and Assemblyman Craig Stanley lost re-election in the Democratic primary.  Payne Jr. was elected Freeholder in 2005 and to the Newark City Council in 2006 – now he faces a loss of his county post at the request of some Newark Democrats who oppose dual office holding, and by some Newark political leaders who aren’t happy with Payne’s record as a City Councilman.

Newark Mayor Cory Booker will not make any endorsements for the tenth district congressional seat until after the February 5 presidential primary.  Booker has refused to say  if he will back Donald Payne for re-election to an eleventh term this year, although Essex Democrats seem to feel that Payne will avoid a primary challenge.  Booker is backing Barack Obama, while Payne has endorsed Hillary Clinton – although the political conflict between the two is entirely local and has little to do with the presidential contest.

Terrance Bankston, an aide to Newark Mayor Cory Booker, says he'll run for Freeholder in 2008
The 25-year-old Constituent Services Director for the city of Newark has formed a committee to explore a potential bid for Essex County Freeholder At-Large.

Terrance Bankston, a native Newarker who ran Mayor Cory Booker’s south ward campaign operations for the 2006 election, says he offers youth, education and experience.

Governor Jon Corzine met with New Jersey’s Democratic congressional delegation this morning at his Newark office to stress the importance of his financial restricting and debt reduction plan.  The only no-shows at the meeting were the two Congressmen from Newark: Donald Payne and Albio Sires.

Dispelling rumors that have persisted since he came into office, West Ward Councilman Ron Rice, Jr., on Wednesday said he would not challenge 10-term U.S. Rep. Donald Payne in 2008.

"I have a great deal of respect for U.S. Rep. Payne and I think he’s an outstanding congressman," said Rice, who has served a year and a half in office on the Newark City Council.

Donald Payne, the only African American to ever represent New Jersey in the U.S. Congress, announced his support of Hillary Clinton for President on New Year’s Day.  Payne’s endorsement is noteworthy because Newark Mayor Cory Booker, who has not yet committed to backing Payne for re-election to an eleventh term, is one of Barack Obama’s leading supporters in New Jersey.  If Clinton carries Newark in the February 5 New Jersey primary, it could be viewed as Booker’s second loss in eight months (the first was Ronald Rice’s victory in the District 28 State Senate primary; Rice is a Clinton supporter.)

U.S. Rep. Donald Payne endorsed Hillary Clinton for President today, becoming the latest member of the state’s Democratic establishment to back the New Jersey frontrunner.

Payne, the first black congressman from New Jersey and a former chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, said that he is confident in Clinton’s ability to be president because he’s worked with her while she was First Lady and in her capacity as a senator.

They hear it on the streets of Newark.

But on the first and third Wednesdays of each month, members of the City Council can be sure to receive a barrage of complaints from residents who are worried not only about the murders and gangs but about the cost of living and the threat of corporate interests upending local concerns.

"You're supposed to be standing up and fighting for us," the poet Amiri Baraka cried during the public comment forum of a meeting. "Until I see you fighting, then you're not a good council."

"You're giving tax abatements to developers," cried resident Frank Hertz. "You'd better justify this tax abatement."

And always there is the complaint about the scarcity of jobs.

U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman says that he's endorsing Barack Obama for a simple reason: he thinks he's the best candidate with the best shot of beating a Republican in the general election.

"I think he is an authentic agent for change, but not only that - he brings to that his extraordinary life experience, his brilliance, his vast history and his years as a community organizer as a legislator on both the state and federal level," said Rothman. But there's another important aspect to the endorsement: it makes Rothman unique.

Out of the five New Jersey Democratic congressmen who have endorsed a presidential candidate, four have gone for Clinton. Three of those four - Frank Pallone, Rob Andrews and Bill Pascrell - are, like Rothman, hopefuls to succeed 83-year-old Senator Frank Lautenberg in the unlikely event that he chooses not to seek another term. Or, for that matter, if Lautenberg wins another term and leaves office part way through it.

Donald Payne will have Joe DiVincenzo's backing in 2008 Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo says he will back Donald Payne for re-election to an 11th term in Congress next year.

Some Democrats say that 74-year-old Payne could face a challenge in the 2008 primary after his refusal to support the Democratic nominee for State Senate in Newark's 29th district this year.

Payne supported his brother, Assemblyman William Payne, who ran unsuccessfully as an Independent candidate for Senate against the party choice, Teresa Ruiz. Ruiz works for DiVincenzo and has the backing of power broker Steve Adubato and Newark Mayor Cory Booker.