Jim Whelan

Not thrilled with some of the budget provisions, Senate President Richard Codey (D-Essex) presided over its passage. 

TRENTON - With a majority arguing that the state pension system needs to get on better financial footing, the Senate tonight passed a package of state worker pension reforms by a vote of 30-8.

Sen. Stephen Sweeney of South Jersey introduced the controversial proposal in what he described as a bipartisan vein.

"I make my living as a union leader," Sweeney told the Senate chamber. "You can go out of business if you don't manage your funds properly. These are modest not major reforms."

Attorney Patrick Darcy won the election tonight to become Atlantic County's next Democratic chairman.

Darcy, who lives in Galloway Township, beat Egg Harbor Township municipal chairman Marc Ginsberg. He succeeds Ron Ruff, who is retiring from the post.

Darcy was tapped by state Sen. Jim Whelan and backed by Ruff.

Atlantic County’s minority party will elect a new chairman tonight.    

Democratic Chairman Ron Ruff will step down from the post tonight.  Running to replace him at tonight’s convention is Patrick Darcy, a lawyer from Galloway, and Marc Ginsberg, the Egg Harbor Township Municipal Chairman

Darcy appears to be the favorite, at least based on endorsements.  He’s was originally tapped for the position by state Sen. Jim Whelan, and has the support of Ruff. 

Rob Andrews finally got an answer from Frank Lautenberg about participating in debates, but it wasn’t the one he wanted to hear.

The Lautenberg campaign yesterday turned down a debate offered jointly by Richard Stockton College and the Press of Atlantic City, saying that the dates offered- May 5th and 6th – conflicted with Lautenberg’s Senate schedule.

“When I got into this race I challenged the incumbent Senator to a minimum of seven debates. He has danced, bobbed, weaved hidden and we really had no answer until yesterday,” said Andrews in a conference call with reporters. “Yesterday, for the first time, we have a definitive answer, and it’s the wrong one.”

State Sen. Jim Whelan (D-Atlantic) tonight called for U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews to challenge U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg in a Democratic primary.

"In light of today's news stories regarding Congressman Rob Andrews' interest in running for the U.S. Senate this year, I strongly encourage Rob to run," Whelan said in a statement.

"Rob has been an outstanding congressman and a part of our extended family here in Atlantic County," the senator added. "He has always been there for us throughout his tenure in the House and there's no doubt that his being at the top of our state's ballot this year would be a huge benefit to our local ticket. As Atlantic County's highest ranking Democratic official I urge Rob to consider getting in the race."

Chris Christie and Jon Corzine as The HoneymoonersRead PolitickerNJ.com's The Year in Review 2007, our annual lists of Winners & Losers of the Year, Politician of the Year, Best & Worst Campaigns, People to Watch, Rising Stars, and much more.

The list of Best Operatives of 2007 is headed by Raiyan Sayed, who managed Jim Whelan's Senate race, and Tom Fitzsimmons, who ran the campaigns of Jennifer Beck for State Senate and Caroline Casagrande and Declan O'Scanlon for Assembly.

Find out why Rodney Frelinghuysen is tougher than he looks, why Don DiFrancesco doesn't shock us, how Joe Roberts made the worst prediction of 2007, and what Jim Devine, Gerald Lange, Malik Cupid, Chris Daul and Chris Thieme have in common.

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HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM POLITICKERNJ.COM

Sen.-elect/Assembyman Jim Whelan supports the presidential candidacy of Sen. Hillary Clinton, a determination he made shortly after his Nov. 6th victory in district 2, he told PolitickerNJ.com.

"I think she's our strongest candidate," said the former mayor of Atlantic City and one-term Democratic assemblyman who challenged and defeated Sen. Sonny McCullough.

Whelan said the last eight years under the stewardship of President George W. Bush by comparison make the Clinton years in the 1990s look very good.

Atlantic County Republican Chairman Keith Davis today attacked Assemblyman/state Senator Elect Jim Whelan’s idea to get the state more involved with running Atlantic City’s troubled government. 

The Press of Atlantic City reported today that Whelan, a former Atlantic City mayor, discussed the prospect of increased state involvement with Gov. Corzine last month – an idea already likely to meet with resistance from the city’s Democratic mayor and council. 

State Sen. Ray Lesniak was the kingmaker in the race for Senate Majority LeaderThe surging south got a seat at the table today, with third district state Sen. Stephen Sweeney chosen as majority leader after a hard fought, emotional battle with state Sen. Paul Sarlo.

Although the decision-making process was closed and the official decision was unanimous, sources say that Sweeney had the support of 14 of the 23 member caucus. Backing Sweeney were the expected south Jersey contingent -- Jeff Van Drew, Jim Whelan, Fred Madden, Dana Redd and John Adler. But he also had support from Senators from the rest of the state -- Brian Stack, Sandra Bolden Cunningham, Barbara Buono, Nicholas Scutari, Bob Smith, Ray Lesniak, Joe Vitale and Loretta Weinberg.

A Zogby poll conducted for the Press of Atlantic City and Richard Stockton State College shows Democrat James Whelan leading GOP State Sen. Sonny McCullough by a 50%-37% margin, and the race between Republican State Sen. Nicholas Asselta and Democrat Jeff Van Drew to be a statistical dead heat.

Van Drew, a three-term Assemblyman, leads Asselta by a 45%-42% margin. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 5%.