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Despite being linked to a federal probe of no-bid contracts at the University of Medicine and Dentistry, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Wayne Bryant does not appear to have any major obstacles in his bid for re-election to a seventh term next year. It appears that the Camden County Democratic Committee is prepared to support him for re-election, and the backing of the powerful party organization (there last seriously contested primary in Camden was in 1979) would virtually assure his re-election. "There isn't any groundswell against him here... just in the editorial board room at Gannett and at Bob Ingle's keyboard," said one key Camden Democrat.

Embattled Assistant Commissioner of Community Affairs DeAnna Minus-Vincent is out of a job when Jon Corzine takes office in January, Democratic sources confirmed. Minus-Vincent is in hot water for taking free tickets to Sesame Street Live at the Continental Arena earmarked for needy children for her daughter and members of her family. Minus-Vincent apparently used four special backstage passes. Codes of ethical standards used by the state prohibit the acceptance of gifts from firms or organizations their department does business with. Last year, Minus-Vincent got in trouble for approving a $10,000 grant for her father's organization and for $55,000 in grants to her sister's organization. The stories on Minus-Vincent's problems was broken by Gannett's Sandy McClure.

If you take Jon Corzine's transition office at their word, Assistant Commissioner of Community Affairs DeAnna Minus-Vincent won't be asked back when the new administration takes office in January. A spokeswoman for the department told Gannett reporter Sandy McClure earlier this month that free tickets to Sesame Street Live at the Continental Arena earmarked for needy children went to DCA employees, including Minus-Vincent, who took her daughter and members of her family. Minus-Vincent apparently used four special backsage passes. Codes of ethical standards used by the state prohibit the acceptance of gifts from firms or organizations their department does business with.

Last year, Minus-Vincent got in trouble for expediting "a $10,000 government grant for her father's organization and was directly involved in two grants totaling $55,000 for a nonprofit organization where her sister is an officer," according to another McClure story.

An Asbury Park Press editorial today calls on Corzine to "put an end to this nonsense." Corzine's transition director, Richard Leone, says that applicants for state positions will face "intensive vetting and should be prepared to serve an administration with 'zero tolerance' for placing private interests above the public good."

Two daily newspapers covering New Jersey endorsed candidates for Governor this weekend: the New York Times is backing Democrat Jon Corzine, while the Courier-Post, a Gannett newspaper out of Camden County, supports Republican Doug Forrester. In 2000, the New York Times endorsed Bob Franks over Corzine in the U.S. Senate race.

For anyone who thinks Jon Corzine's endorsement of Loretta Weinberg in last month's special election convention for State Senate was not a calculated shot across the bow at party bosses, consider Corzine's comments at his Gannett editorail board debate last night, as covered by Gannett New Jersey's Jonathan Tamari:

In a statement tied to ethics reform and possibly distancing himself from one notorious political boss, Corzine said he would consult with Republican U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie, who has made a reputation as a corruption buster, when he appoints his attorney general, if he is elected.

Corzine flatly said he would not appoint Sen. John Adler, D-Camden, to the post as the state's top law enforcement man. Adler, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has been associated with South Jersey power broker George E. Norcross III.

"John Adler will not be my attorney general," Corzine said. "We will pick the very best individual with the skills to make sure we carry out an executive order to clean up politics in this state."

Adler has spent more than a year visiting with Democratic leaders across the state and raising money in anticipation of a U.S. Senate bid if Frank Lautenberg does not run in 2008. Adler, the Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman, clearly won't be happy with Corzine's comments.