Joe Roberts

Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein (D-South Brunswick), left, campaigning in 2007.

Clarifying a release issued yesterday concerning the Middlesex County delegation's endorsement for Assembly Speaker of Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville), Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein (D-South Brunswick) said she has made no endorsement in that emerging contest, and does not intend to endorse anytime soon. 

"I'm focused on my election and the governor's election and I have made it clear that I wont issue any public endorsement until after the election," said Greenstein.

In addition to Wisniewski, sources say Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing), Assemblyman Joe Cryan (D-Union Township), Assemblyman Lou Greenwald (D-Cherry Hill), Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver (D-East Orange), and Assemblyman John Burzichelli (D-Paulsboro) are all potential candidates for the Speaker's chair to be vacated at the end of this year by retiring Speaker Joe Roberts (D-Camden).

ATLANTIC CITY - Senate President Richard Codey (D-Roseland) walked out of the carpeted Trump Plaza Casino on Friday night leaving no doubt that he's ready for a fight, indeed in a fight.

"Take your best shot," a skeptic said to him and Codey good-naturedly did, playfully wrestling the challenger while telling his security escort, "It's all right, I can handle this."

The escort stood at parade rest.

"And I can handle Sweeney," Codey said moments later, referring to Senate Majority Leader Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford), who's challenging him for the Senate Presidency, who last week said, "I can take Codey with one hand tied behind my back." 

Designed to showcase base support for Gov Jon Corzine, the Democratic Convention in Atlantic City simultaneously served as a bicameral crucible for both Codey versus Sweeney intrigue and a brewing lower house leadership fight.

LD 5 Assembly candidate Donald Norcross

PAULSBORO - Labor leader Donald Norcross, the brother of South Jersey Democratic Party leader George Norcross III and a candidate for the Assembly in District 5, wouldn't comment on speculation that he is poised to assume state Sen. Dana Redd's (D-Camden) Senate seat if she wins her mayor's race on Nov. 3rd, where she's heavily favored.

"My entire focus is on the governor's race," said Norcross, who announced his candidacy for the Assembly the day that Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts (D-Camden) formally declared his retirement from the legislature and his decision not to run for re-election this year.

"Joe's decision was made independent of (the Camden mayor's race," Norcross insisted. "The only thing we are focused on is getting this governor elected. We will have a mass mobilization on his behalf - over 1,000 people in the street."

SPEAKER ROBERTS: PRIVATE JOB GROWTH AN ENCOURAGING TREND

(TRENTON) – Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts Jr. (D-Camden) released the following statement today after new employment figures showed New Jersey created 2,900 new private sector jobs in August:

“The new employment numbers show we have more work to do to guide New Jersey through the global recession, but they also show we’re making real progress when it comes to creating private sector jobs. That’s encouraging for New Jersey workers and business alike..."

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.”

George Norcross, the leader of the South Jersey Democratic Organization, whose brother Donald has the organization's backing to run for the 5th District Assembly seat that Speaker Joe Roberts (D-Camden) will vacate at the end of this year, called Roberts's retirement a "sad day" for New Jersey.   

"He's the finest legislator in my lifetime to serve in the South New Jersey delegation," said the political boss who along with Roberts, U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D-Haddon Heights) and others built the party machine.

"Speaker Roberts's governmental legacy has to do with laws he's proposed and enacted augmenting services for those unable to provide them for themselves," Norcross said of his longtime friend. "On the political side, he led a South Jersey delegation from two assemblymen and a senator in the 5th District to 18 members strong. Most of those districts were occupied by Republicans and were Republican-leaning districts. Joe helped devise the blueprint for how Democrats capture suburban districts and helped elect Adler, Madden, Sweeney, and Van Drew."

Norcross's brother will have the party backing for Roberts's seat, and will attempt to occupy a place most Democrats say the 22-year veteran Roberts served with distinction.

GREEN’S REACTION TO ROBERTS’ ANNOUNCEMENT

Speaker Pro Tempore Calls Roberts ‘An Advocate for Every New Jerseyan’

(TRENTON) – Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Jerry Green (D-Union) issued the following statement after Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts, Jr. (D-Camden) announced today that he would not be seeking re-election:

“Speaker Roberts is one of the most passionate, thoughtful and detail-oriented legislators I have ever worked with.

“He fought to extend the American dream of homeownership to the widest cross-section of New Jersey residents possible. His efforts have given working class families across the state the opportunity to live in the communities where they work.

“Speaker Roberts’ work on housing reform is a legacy that will have a lasting positive impact on our state..."

SPEAKER ROBERTS ANNOUNCES HE WILL NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION

Will Leave Office in January after 34 years of public service

(TRENTON) – Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts Jr. today announced he will not seek re-election after serving 22 years in the Assembly. Roberts has served in elected office since joining the Bellmawr school board in 1976.

He was the Assembly Majority Leader for four years before becoming the Speaker in January 2006. During his Assembly tenure, he has authored laws to improve treatments for autism and developmental disabilities, tackle skyrocketing property taxes, reform ethics, repeal the death penalty and combat the spread of HIV and AIDS in cities.

"I’ve spent 22 years in this house, including four years each as majority leader and speaker," said Roberts (D-Camden). "They’ve been exciting years, and this has been an opportunity I will never forget, but I know that the time has now come to let someone else have their turn at this great job.”

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.