Joseph Roberts

Dana Redd's victory in the Camden mayoral race was as easy as everyone expected, which means Democrats will need to fill her fifth district State Senate seat.  Possible candidates include Assemblymen-elect Donald Norcross and Angel Fuentes, outgoing Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts, Camden City Councilwoman Dana Burley, and Camden City Councilman Whip Wilson.  Redd will need to step down no later than January 1, when she takes office as mayor; a special election convention would be held 7-35 days after her resignation.  If it's Norcross or Fuentes, a second special election convention would need to be held to fill their Assembly seats.

Donald Norcross was endorsed for State Assembly by the Courier-Post.

The Courier-Post today endorsed South Jersey AFL-CIO President Donald Norcross for State Assembly in the fifth district, saying that Norcross is well versed on state issues and "would be able to hit the ground running in Trenton" even though he'll be a freshman. 

The Courier-Post also endorsed Norcross' running mate, Camden City Council President Angel Fuentes.  The two are seeking to replace Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden) and Assemblywoman Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D-Camden).  Neither are seeking re-election.

But the Gloucester County Times declined to back Norcross, instead supporting Fuentes and Republican Stepfanie Velez-Gentry, who has attracted national attention because she owns a company that sells sex toys to women

Norcross, the Camden County Democratic Co-Chairman and the brother of Democratic leader George Norcross, set a record this month for the single biggest fundraising event for a first-time candidate: he raised a reported $350,000. 

"Norcross has been a union leader, yet he understands that things cannot be the same for future government workers as they have been and are for current ones in terms of pay and benefits. He sees that Trenton can't afford to keep handing out fat pensions and loads of other expensive benefits and remain solvent," the editorial said.  "While Norcross and Fuentes likely won't be as independent from party-line politics as we'd like, in this race, they're clearly the best choices."

Norcross, according to the Courier-Post, would not deny that he'll quickly move up to the Senate after State Sen. Dana Redd (D-Camden) wins her race for Mayor of Camden.

Noteworthy in the race for State Assembly in District 36, State Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge) has not contributed to the re-election campaign of his two running mates, Assemblymen Gary Schaer (D-Passaic) and Frederick Scalera (D-Nutley).  The incumbents, who had a poll this summer showing Republicans ahead in this potentially competitive district, have spent over $425,000 on their campaign.  The GOP challengers, Donald Diorio and Carmen Pio Costa, have spent less than $7,500.

While Sarlo has apparently taken a walk on Schaer and Scalera, other Democrats have come through.  They have received $16,400 each from Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden), Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing), Budget Committee Chairman Louis Greenwald (D-Voorhees), and from Gloucester County Freeholder Stephen Sweeney's campaign fund.  Gov. Jon Corzine gave them a personal check for $5,200, and State Sen. Nia Gill (D-Montclair) gave Schaer $500.  The Democratic State Committee has spent $67,976 in the 36th, while the Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee has spent $43,381.

Secretary of the Senate Ellen Davenport (D-Maplewood), a political ally of Senate President Richard Codey

On the most likely to be unemployed list for 2010: Secretary of the Senate Ellen Davenport.  With the likelihood that Richard Codey (D-Roseland) will not return as Senate President, it look like Davenport, a close Codey ally who served as Mayor of Maplewood and as an Essex County Freeholder, will be a casualty of Codey's leadership fight with Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford).  The job pays $81,000-a-year, and the post traditionally changes along with the leadership.  Davenport, 67, got the job after Democrats won control of the Senate in 2003.

The Assembly Clerk is Dana Burley, a 44-year-old Camden City Councilwoman.  The retirement of her political patron, Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden), puts her at some risk.  But unlike the Senate, there is no real change of control in the lower house.  If Essex Democrats claim the $90,000-a-year position (as Camden did when Roberts succeeded Albio Sires in 2006 and named Burley), Burley won't have a problem finding a new gig; South Jersey Democrats are ruling the world these days, and Burley is a member of that organization.

All nine Essex County Democrats in the State Assembly have endorsed Sheila Oliver (D-East Orange) for Speaker.  Oliver now has endorsements from 35 Democratic legislators and likely winners of open seats, giving her a seemingly overwhelming lead in the race to succeed retiring Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden).

Oliver's rival, Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing) has just two votes, her own and Reed Gusciora (D-Princeton), her running mate.

Among Oliver's supporters are John McKeon (D-West Orange) and Mila Jasey (D-South Orange), who are running mates and political allies of Senate President Richard Codey (D-Roseland).

Also backing Oliver are Ralph Caputo (D-Belleville), Albert Coutinho (D-Newark), Thomas Giblin (D-Montclair), Frederick Scalera (D-Nutley), Grace Spencer (D-Newark), and Cleopatra Tucker (D-Essex).

"I am honored that our entire delegation is supporting Sheila Oliver for Speaker," said Essex County Democratic Chairman Phil Thigpen, "she will be a fighter for the taxpayers in New Jersey; her dedication to human services will insure that the individuals so often overlooked in government will now have a strong voice in Trenton.  I am so proud that Essex County is part of this historic election."

Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville) has dropped out of the race for Assembly Speaker and endorsed Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver (D-East Orange).

"After careful consideration, and in an attempt to strengthen the unity of the Assembly Democratic caucus, I have decided to end my bid to become the next Speaker of the General Assembly.  I will instead be supporting Assemblywoman Shelia Oliver to succeed Joe Roberts as our next Speaker," Wisniewski said in a statement released late this evening.

Wisniewski's withdrawal comes four days after four Democratic Assemblymen from Middlesex County said they would back his bid for Speaker.

Frank "Pat" Dodd (D-West Orange), above, wanted to serve as second two-year term as Senate President, but dropped out when Majority Leader Matthew Feldman (D-Teaneck) had the votes.

Post-Election Day politics in New Jersey might feature as many as five contested races for Legislative leadership positions: Senate President, Assembly Speaker, Senate Majority Leader, Assembly Majority Leader, and Assembly Minority Leader. 

Senate President Richard Codey (D-Roseland) faces a challenge from Majority Leader Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford).  Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden) is retiring; Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman is running for Speaker against John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville), and possibly against Democratic State Chairman Joseph Cryan (D-Union) and Sheila Oliver (D-Adubato).  Those races create openings for Majority Leader; perhaps more importantly, the contests create campaigns for Senate Judiciary Chairman and for Budget and Appropriations committee chairmanships in both houses.

Some of New Jersey's best leadership fights:

ROBERTS LAUDS INCLUSION OF AUTISM, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COVERAGE IN SENATE COMMITTEE VERSION OF HEALTH REFORM BILL

Praises U.S. Sen. Menendez for Key Progress

(TRENTON) - Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts Jr. on Monday said he was thrilled the Senate Finance Committee has included vital coverage for autism and behavioral health treatments in the latest version of the health insurance reform bill.

Assemblyman John Wisniewski received the endorsement of his home county delegation in his bid to become Assembly Speaker. Six Democrats live in Middlesex, and another legislator from Somerset says he'll also back the Sayreville Democrat.

The Middlesex County Democratic State Assembly delegation will back John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville) for Assembly Speaker, potentially giving him an early lead in the race to succeed Joseph Roberts.  Joseph Spicuzzo, the Democratic County Chairman, announced the unanimous support of the delegation in a press release issued this evening.

In January, New Jersey will need a new Assembly Speaker who will represent the middle class, the middle ground, as well as the middle of our state," Spicuzzo said.  "No one will do a better job of bringing people together for the good of New Jersey than Middlesex County's own Assemblyman John Wisniewski.

Roberts recently announced that he will not seek re-election to the Legislature, where he has served since 1987.  Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing) has said she will seek the post, and Assemblyman Joseph Cryan (D-Union), the Democratic State Chairman, is considered a leading candidate for Speaker. 

The Middlesex base could bring Wisniewski as many as ten votes in his leadership bid, depending upon the outcome of the general election.

Three Democrats who live in Middlesex are likely to win re-election to the Assembly in November: Peter Barnes (D-Edison), Patrick Diegnan (D-South Plainfield), and Joseph Egan (D-New Brunswick).  Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro) is favored to win re-election, as are Wisniewski and his running mate, former Judge Craig Coughlin in the 19th district.

Another legislator, Upendra Chivukula (D-Franklin), was included in Spicuzzo's release as endorsing Wisniewski.  Chivukula lives in Somerset County but represents a largely Middlesex district. 

Three other legislators, Wayne DeAngelo (D-Hamilton), Gerald Green (D-Plainfield), and Linda Stender (D-Fanwood), represent districts that include parts of Middlesex County.  They were not included in Spicuzzo's statement, which specifically said that "Middlesex County's Democratic delegation to the State Assembly unanimously supports John Wisniewski."

The uptick in the state’s unemployment rate from 9.3% to 9.7% in August -- matching the national rate – became further fodder for Republicans to use against Gov. Corzine today, although Democrats countered the criticism by pointing to private sector job growth.

Republican State Chairman Jay Webber (R-Morris Plains), an assemblyman, pinned the blame squarely on the Govenror, saying he “tries to shift the blame for his failures onto anyone but himself.”

“Governor Corzine needs to take responsibility for the highest unemployment in 32 years, and the pain he has caused millions of New Jerseyans,” he said.

New Jersey added 2,900 private sector jobs in August and lost 2,100 from the public sector, the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development (LWD) reported today.  But the LWD cut its private sector job growth estimates from July in half, showing a gain of 5,600 rather than the originally touted 13,000.  Webber seized on that, calling the original estimate a “complete fabrication.”