Frederick Madden

Voting yes on the Senate confirmation of New Jersey Supreme Court Associate Justice Barry Albin early this morning was the Republican leader of the State Senate, Thomas Kean, Jr. (R-Westfield).  Christopher Bateman (R-Branchburg) and Sean Kean (R-Wall) were also among a group of Republicans who voted to confirm Albin, who may now serve on the state's top court until he reaches the age of seventy in 2022.

The surprise retirement of freshman Assemblywoman Sandra Love (D-Gloucester Township) means that the fourth district, which had a Republican Senator and a Republican Assemblyman as recently as 2003, will get its fourth new legislator in four consecutive cycles. 

Traditionally, one Assembly seat goes to Washington Township (population 51,827) and the other to Gloucester Township (pop. 65,687) in this Gloucester-Camden district.  Paul Moriarty, a former Washington Township Mayor, won the other seat in 2005.

Love, who was Mayor of Gloucester Township for twelve years, was the top vote-getter in her 2007 race, edging out Moriarty by 62 votes.  She outpolled Republican Patricia Fratticcioli by nearly 4,000 votes.

The district was solidly Democratic until the Republican landslide of 1991, when Republican John Matheussen beat Democratic Assemblyman Anthony Marsella for an open Senate seat, and Republicans George Geist and Mary Virginia Weber won the two Assembly seats. 

Wally Edge's mea culpa to Senate President Richard J. Codey.

A report published two weeks ago in The Inside Edge that Senate President Richard Codey would pick Sandra Cunningham, not Frederick Madden, to chair the Senate Labor Committee if Paul Sarlo moved to Judiciary was just plain wrong.   Realizing that Madden was the most senior member of the Senate without a committee chairmanship, Codey promised to give the South Jersey Democrat strong consideration the next time a slot became available.  It is now apparent that Madden was always going to get Labor, and that Cunningham was not a candidate for this particular position.  Codey kept his word.

More on Codey’s word: on Sunday, the Senate President will read The Night Before Christmas during a performance of the Boston Pops at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.  Our sources, hopefully correct this time, say that Codey has edited the classic story to reflect some of his own views.  That ought to be fun.

New Jersey Senate Democratic Photo

Senate President Richard Codey administers the oath of office to State Sen. Sandra Bolden Cunningham (D-Jersey City) in 2007. Cunningham could wind up as Senate Labor Committee Chairman, if Codey picks Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge) to head the Judiciary Committee

If Paul Sarlo becomes the new Senate Judiciary Chairman when John Adler leaves for Washington in January, Senate President Richard Codey will need to name a new Chairman of the Senate Labor Committee.  The two other Democrats on the panel now are Frederick Madden and Sandra Cunningham.  Statehouse watchers say that one could be a no-brainer: Codey will pick Cunningham, his ally, and not Madden, who is aligned with Codey's rival, South Jersey Democratic Chairman George Norcross.  

Madden, elected in 2003, is the most senior Senate Democrat without a committee chairmanship, followed by Loretta Weinberg, who entered the Senate in 2005. 

Assembly Democratic Executive Director Bill Castner is short listed for Rob Andrews' House seatSixteen Democrats are under consideration for the first district congressional seat that Rob Andrews is vacating to run for the U.S. Senate, including Camille Andrews, the Congressman’s wife, according to a list sent out today by South Jersey Democratic leader George Norcross.

On the official Norcross short list:

George Norcross, one of New Jersey's most powerful Democratic insiders, has endorsed Barack ObamaBarack Obama today picked up the support of two super delegates from New Jersey as several major Democratic leaders in South Jersey announced that they would switch their endorsements from Hillary Clinton to Obama. Super delegates Donald Norcross, who had previously been uncommitted, and State Sen. Dana Redd, who had backed Clinton, are now for Obama. This is a net pickup of two super delegates for Obama and a loss of one for Clinton.

Obama also won the backing of one of the state’s most powerful political insiders, George Norcross, and was endorsed by Clinton backers, including Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney, Democratic County Chairmen James Beach (Camden), Rick Perr (Burlington) and Michael Angelini (Gloucester), Camden Mayor Gwendolyn Faison, State Sen. Frederick Madden, and Assemblyman Paul Moriarty

The Courier-Post has endorsed Shelley Lovett for state Senate, and Agnes Gardiner and Patricia Fratticcioli for Assembly in District 4, against incumbents Fred Madden and Paul Moriarty, and Democrat Sandra Love.  READ

The Philadelphia Inquirer has endorsed six State Senate candidates: Democratic incumbents Steve Sweeney in District 3, Fred Madden in District 4 and John Adler in District 6, Republican incumbent Diane Allen in District 7, Democrat Dana Redd in District 5, and Republican Phil Haines in District 8.  READ

The Gloucester County Times has endorsed the re-election of two Democratic legislators from the 4th district, State Sen. Fred Madden and Assemblyman Paul Moriarty.  For the open Assembly seat, they endorsed Republican Patricia Fratticcioli.  READ

Key South Jersey Democrats believe that they could emerge from the fall midterm elections with seven State Senate seats, giving them a formidable block if there leadership contests.  Four seats are locks: incumbents Stephen Sweeney, Frederick Madden, and John Adler, and Dana Redd, who is seeking Wayne Bryant’s seat in Camden County.   Democrats are very high on their chances to oust Republicans Nicholas Asselta and James “Sonny” McCullough, and see a possible pickup in the open eighth district, where their Senate candidate is Francis Bodine, a Republican Assemblyman until he switched parties last spring.