Joseph Roberts

A few hours after Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden) officially gave notice that he will not seek reelection, South Jersey AFL-CIO President Donald Norcross sent out a mass email announcing his candidacy to replace him. 

During a press conference today, Roberts said Norcross has his “full support."  Soon after that,  dozens of South Jersey elected officials endorsed Norcross, who is also co-chair of the Camden County Democratic Committee and brother of power broker George Norcross.  
Below is the full text of his letter:

Roberts announcing his retirement at the State House

Calling today “bittersweet,” Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden) formally announced that he will end a 22 year career in the Assembly by not seeking reelection.

“I think it’s, from my perspective, just time to take a break,” said Roberts, who added later that he always intended to serve as Speaker for “a couple of terms.”  
    
Roberts kept open the possibility that he would seek public office in the future.  He would not entirely rule out running for the state Senate seat of Dana Redd (D-Camden), who is favored to win the election to become mayor of Camden, but he heavily downplayed the possibility, saying that it wouldn’t give him quite the break he’s looking for.  

“I don’t want to mislead you. It’s highly unlikely,” he said.  “I want to take a break, and that would be jumping from one place to the other too quickly.”

News of Roberts’ decision broke last night, validating rumors about his political future that have circulated for over a year.  Although Roberts said he has anticipated stepping down for “at least a couple years, and maybe longer,” he purposely decided to make the announcement  between finishing the budget process and the November election.

“In November, the people of the 5th District are going to vote for somebody.  And if I had my name on the ballot on November 3rd and stood for reelection and then said to them a week later ‘guess what, I’ve had it planned all along, I’ve changed my mind,’ that would be disingenuous, and they deserve better than that,’ he said.

REDD STATEMENT ON SPEAKER ROBERTS

(CAMDEN) – Democratic State Committee Vice Chair Dana Redd today issued the following statement on Speaker Joseph J. Roberts’ decision not to run for re-election:

CRYAN STATEMENT ON SPEAKER ROBERTS

(TRENTON) – Democratic State Chairman Joseph Cryan today issued the following statement in response to Speaker Joseph J. Roberts’ decision not to run for reelection for the New Jersey General Assembly: 

When he leaves office in January, Joseph Roberts will become one of eleven living for Speakers of the New Jersey General Assembly. 

Living Speakers:

Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman says she'll run for Assembly Speaker

Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Trenton) is candid about her hope to succeed Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden), who will announce his retirement at a press conference this afternoon.  

“Having had the opportunity to serve the caucus in a leadership position in legislature, I believe ascending to the speaker’s position is a natural extension based on the work I’ve already been doing,” Watson Coleman told PolitickerNJ.com in a conference call.

Watson Coleman said that she was still waiting for official word of Roberts’ retirement, and that she would support him for another term if he wanted to run again.  

“Whatever he does I’m going to be happy for him. It’s just been a real honor and pleasure to be a part of his leadership team,” she said.

Watson Coleman said that her Trenton-based district is “like Switzerland” – neither north nor south Jersey, which traditionally split control of the two houses.  

“I believe that the legislators from the Mercer area have consistently looked at the needs of the state from north to south, east to west. We’re not north Jersey localized or south Jersey localized, and I think people appreciate that and understand that,” she said.  

Senate President Dick Codey (D-Roseland) said that the next Assembly Speaker will “have large shoes to fill” after Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden) retires.

“Joe Roberts’ leadership and commitment will be sorely missed in Trenton.  He has been one of the most steadfast and dedicated public servants that Trenton has seen in nearly a quarter of a century,” said Codey, who lauded Roberts’ record on legislation that dealt with property tax relief, affordable housing and autism.  

"While there were times when we had policy differences, they never became personal and Joe and I always got along.  Joe was the consummate legislator and a true gentleman to work with whose sole goal was always to help the citizens of New Jersey,” read the rest of Code’s statement.   “I have been very fortunate to be able to say that, like Congressman Albio Sires before him, Joe is a friend. The next Assembly Speaker will have large shoes to fill and I look forward to continuing the working relationship Joe and I forged as Speaker and Senate President with the next Speaker.”

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.

U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D-Haddon Heights) says that he is proud of what Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden) has accomplished during a political career that began as a school board member and borough councilman in the 1970's.

"Joe Roberts has been an outstanding speaker and public servant for New Jersey. As his constituent and colleague in government, I am sorry that he has decided not to continue in the Speakership," Andrews said.  "As his friend, I am glad that he will be able to move on to the next phase of his career and life, which I am sure will be successful. Joe has taught many of us how to be a true public servant and I am proud of his achievements."

Andrews and Roberts served together on the Camden County Board of Freeholders in 1987.  Andrews had won his first term in 1986 and Roberts left in 1987 after winning a special election to replace the late Francis Gorman in the State Assembly.

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.