John Wisniewski

District 19 Assembly candidate Craig Coughlin

19th District Republican candidate Peter Kothari demanded that his Democratic Party opponents tell the voters in the district how much money they make and have made as public sector legal eagles.

Kothari speculates that Assemblyman Jon Wisniewski (D-Sayreville) and Woodbridge attorney Craig Coughlin have prospered by holding multiple public jobs as lawyers, while residents stuggle to pay their bills each month.

"People who are not political insiders know how difficult it is to pay bills, maintain a home and educate a family in New Jersey," said the challenger, a Republican businessman running on a ticket with Perth Amboy real estate broker Richard Piatkowski. 

State Sen. Bob Smith (D-Piscataway) today in New Brunswick.

NEW BRUNSWICK -  State Sen. Bob Smith (D-Piscataway) believes local contests will drive Democratic Party turnout in Middlesex County and improve Gov. Jon Corzine's opportunity for victory, particularly local fights in Woodbridge and New Brunswick.

"I'm on the hustings every night, and I can feel the momentum turning our way," said Smith, appearing with Corzine at an event to promote the governor's Return to Work program.

But talk to Democrats privately about the gubernatorial race and their worry inevitably runs to Middlesex, where Corzine scored 67% in the Democratic Primary, and where Republican Chris Christie signs make front lawn statements everywhere in the sprawl of blue collar towns here.

Sensing opportunity, Christie and his running mate, Kim Guadagno, campaigned avidly in Middlesex this summer, hitting the fairgrounds and street parades in places like Edison and Sayreville and generally stirring more enthusiasm for their candidate than a comparatively moribund Democratic Party effort.

WISNIEWSKI: NJ ON RIGHT PATH TO IMPROVED TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE

(TRENTON) - Responding to a recent report that rated New Jersey's roadways as the nation's worst, Assemblyman John S. Wisniewski (D-Middlesex), the Assembly Transportation, Public Works and Independent Authorities Committee chairman, issued the following statement on Tuesday:

"Any comparison of New Jersey's roadways to those in other states that doesn't take into account the heavy use of our highways and federal underfunding of transportation work in our state is simply an unrealistic analysis..."

Assembly Human Services Committee chair Sheila Oliver (D-East Orange) is mulling a bid for Assembly Speaker

Look for a fourth candidate in the race for Assembly Speaker: Sheila Oliver (D-East Orange) has spent the last two days testing the waters to seek the post.  Oliver is the Assistant Essex County Administrator, which means strong ties to County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo and Newark Democratic leader Stephen Adubato.  Essex County has the state's largest Assembly delegation - nine votes.

Oliver would become the second African American woman to run for Speaker, joining Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing).  Watson Coleman said on Wednesday that she would run.  Assemblyman Joseph Cryan (D-Union), the Democratic State Chairman, and Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville) are also looking at the race.

Oliver's chances of becoming Speaker could be boosted by a leadership change in the upper house, where Senate Majority Leader Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford) is considering a challenge to Senate President Richard Codey (D-Roseland).  It is unlikely that Essex Democrats would get both slots, and more likely that they would if the Senate Presidency goes to South Jersey.

The 57-year-old Oliver is seeking her fourth term in the State Assembly this year.  She represents District 34, which includes East Orange, Montclair and Clifton.  She is a former Essex County Freeholder and East Orange Board of Education President, and lost her bid for Mayor of East Orange in the 1997 Democratic primary by just 51 votes.  She is currently the Assembly Speaker Pro-Tempore and the Chair of the Assembly Human Services Committee.

On learning of the Middlesex County Democratic Committee's overwhelming vote Wednesday night in favor of Woodbridge attorney Craig Coughlin to complement Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville), Republican Peter Kothari denounced the Democrats' newly formed 19th District ticket as a model of imminent bad government.

"Tonight we have seen the Middlesex County democratic (sic) party is a party of political insiders and deal makers who are controlled by the same party bosses who have led New Jersey into the greatest recession since the Great Depression," said Kothari in a press release, complete with small "d" designation outrage for his rivals.

"Just like his running mate John Wisniewski, Coughlin has been making money for years from his political appointments and jobs," added the Republican candidate, a Woodbridge businessman and community activist.

Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac, left, and state Sen. Joe Vitale (D-Woodbridge) tonight at the Forge.

WOODBRIDGE - When the doors of the Forge flung open, the two groups went in separate directions: the mostly Puerto Rican contingent from Perth Amboy headed drearily back to the bay town, while Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac, South Amboy Mayor John O'Leary, Carteret Mayor Dan Reiman and their man for the 19th District, Craig Coughlin, headed straight for the Shannon Rose Pub and a raucous celebration.

State Sen. Joe Vitale (D-Woodbridge) showed up - Coughlin's wife is his campaign treasurer. There's a bond there.

So did Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville), but the sitting 19th District lawmaker from the lower house wasn't a core circle player in this celebration of Coughlin's resounding win over retired Superior Court Judge Mathias Rodriguez and health care professional Jean Pierce tonight at a special party convention at this manor on the northbound side of Route 9.

"Craig was a great candidate with experience in all five towns and all three branches of government," said McCormac, whose county committee allies from his hometown were well-organized in getting out and providing the foundation for Coughlin's 170 winning votes, compared to 75 for Rodriguez and 25 for Pierce.

State Party Chairman Joe Cryan blew in for the hoopla, which had actually started earlier in the evening, back at the Forge, when people looked around and saw Woodbridge out in force and couldn't contain their glee. Those were going to be Coughlin votes.

WISNIEWSKI: SPEAKER ROBERTS’ LEADERSHIP JUST WHAT NEW JERSEY NEEDED IN DIFFICULT TIMES

(SAYREVILLE) – Assembly Deputy Speaker John S. Wisniewski (D-Middlesex) today released the following statement after Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts Jr. (D-Camden) announced he won’t be seeking re-election:

“Joe Roberts and his outstanding leadership have been exactly what New Jersey needed in these difficult times.

“His constant focus on property tax relief, improving the lives of our most vulnerable residents and combating the global recession will improve the lives of New Jerseyans in more ways than can be measured. His foresight and service have been tremendous..."

Assemblyman Joseph Cryan (D-Union) does not want to address the prospect of running for Speaker just yet.

“I’ve got a job that I’m going to focus on as chairman of the party, working to get Democrats elected,” he said.  “I’m as accountable as anyone for making sure we retain the Assembly majority, so I’m just going to keep my focus there and see where things go.”

The Star-Ledger reported last night that Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden) will not seek reelection after over a year of speculation about whether he would remain.   Cryan’s name has frequently surfaced as a potential replacement.   

Cryan has led the Democratic State Committee since 2006 and has been in the assembly since 2002, where he currently serves as Deputy Majority Leader.  He is also an undersheriff in Union County.

Today is Election Day in Middlesex County.  Democratic County Committee members from Woodbridge, Perth Amboy, Carteret, Sayreville and South Amboy will meet tonight to choose a new State Assembly candidate in the 19th district.  Embattled South Amboy Mayor John O'Leary dropped out last month.  Democrats will choose between former Superior Court Judge Mathias Rodriguez of Perth Amboy, former Edison Municipal Court Judge Craig Coughlin of Woodbridge, and Jean Pierce, a health care professional from Woodbridge.

The seat is currently held by Joseph Vas, who decided not to seek re-election after his indictments on federal and state corruption charges.  Vas was defeated for re-election as Mayor of Perth Amboy in 2008, a post he had held for 18 years.

Rodriguez, who resigned from the bench in August to run, has the backing of the new Mayor of Perth Amboy, Wilda Diaz.  Sources say that Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville) is also backing Rodriguez, while O'Leary is quietly pushing Coughlin.

Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden) might not be seeking re-election, but that doesn't mean he'll be leaving the Trenton.  State Sen. Dana Redd is a shoo-in to win election as Mayor of Camden in November, and that means she'll have to resign her Senate seat by January 1, 2010 in order to assume her new office.  Roberts is considered a potential candidate to replace Redd in the Senate.

The new Legislature will organize on January 12, which is when Roberts' current Assembly term and leadership position expires.  His pending announcement tomorrow - officially, he will tell the Camden County Democratic Committee first - will be the start of the race for Speaker.  The outcome of the races for Governor and Senate President will be critical factors in picking the next Speaker. 

Rumors of Roberts' departure from the Assembly have been circulating for more than a year, and Democratic insiders say that the leading candidates will be Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing) and Assemblyman Joseph Cryan (D-Union), the Democratic State Chairman.  Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex) is also a potential candidate.