Joseph Roberts

Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Princeton) is the new Chairman of the Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee.  He replaced Joseph Vas (D-Perth Amboy), who was removed following his indictment on state corruption charges last month.

“New Jersey has long been an economic engine for the rest of the nation and it’s an honor to be named chairman of this important committee at such a crucial time,” said Gusciora, who was not a member of the committee before today.. “As we work to stave off the global economic recession, this committee will play a key role in our continuing efforts to ensure New Jersey emerges strong and I look forward to finding new ways to attract and retain more businesses and jobs to our state.”

Camden County Democrats have picked Ian Leonard, the 31-year-old Chief of Staff to Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts, to run for Freeholder.  In past years, the organization has enjoyed considerable success by picking young staffers to run for Freeholder as a stepping stone up the political ladder.  Roberts was a 27-year-old aide to then-U.S. Rep. Jim Florio when he became a Freeholder in 1980.  He moved up to the Assembly after Francis Gorman died in 1987. Rob Andrews was 29 when he was elected Freeholder in 1986.  He went to Congress four years later, after Florio was elected Governor.

Camden County Democrats have picked Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts’ (D-Camden) chief of staff to become their freeholder candidate.

Ian Leonard, a Camden resident, will fill in for Joe Ripa, who was tapped to take over the county clerk seat of Jim Beach, who filled U.S. Rep. John Adler’s (D-Cherry Hill) spot in the state Senate.  

“The taxpayers of Camden County are incredibly fortunate to have someone of Ian’s ability and character as a candidate for freeholder,” said Roberts. “I have watched him develop into a first-rate talent with administrative and legislative skills that will be invaluable to our community.”

ROBERTS URGES CONTINUED VIGILANCE IN NEW JERSEY'S BATTLE AGAINST AUTISM  
Notes NJ's Efforts as World Autism Awareness Day Looms on Thursday

(TRENTON) - Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts Jr. today said Thursday's recognition of World Autism Awareness Day should stand as an opportunity for New Jersey to redouble its efforts against the developmental disorder diagnosed in one of every 94 New Jersey children - nearly twice the national average.

ASSEMBLY CELEBRATES SAINT PATRICK'S DAY

Annual Celebration Commemorates Contributions, Heritage of Irish-Americans

(TRENTON) - Assembly Democrats today issued a multimedia package commemorating the chamber's annual celebration of Saint Patrick's Day - a celebration of New Jersey's strong Irish-American heritage and its contributions to the betterment and advancement of the state.

Assemblywoman Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D-Camden), the first Hispanic woman to serve in the state Legislature, said today that she will not seek re-election in November to the seat she has held since 1995.

"Representing the people of the 5th District for so many years has been more rewarding than I could have ever imagined," said Cruz-Perez. "I have met many great people, and I am honored to have had the chance to be their advocate in Trenton.. I can only hope that my work on their behalf has improved the quality of life of the residents in Camden and Gloucester counties and throughout South Jersey."

Cruz-Perez, a former Army sergeant who was born in Puerto Rico, won a special election for the State Assembly to succeed Wayne Bryant, who moved up to the Senate after the death of Walter Rand.  She chairs the Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee and has served as Deputy Majority Leader.

Assemblyman Joseph Vas (D-Perth Amboy), who was indicted on Wednesday on state corruption charges, has notified Middlesex County Democrats that he will not seek re-election to a fourth term in the State Assembly this year. 

Democratic leaders, including Gov. Jon Corzine, Speaker Joseph Roberts, State Sen. Joseph Vitale (D-Woodbridge), and Democratic State Chairman Joseph Cryan, have called on Vas, the former Mayor of Perth Amboy, to resign his Assembly seat immediately.  Vas has had no public comment since his indictment.

Unless you're Speaker or Majority Leader, serving in the Assembly Democratic leadership is really nothing special. Just last week, 25 of the 49 Democrats in the Assembly held a leadership post.  Still, Joseph Roberts' decision today to strip indicted Assembly Deputy Majority Leader Joseph Vas of his leadership post means someone gets to move up - assuming Roberts believes in the importance of having six Deputy Majority Leaders, rather than just five. 

For Roberts, the easy decision would be to move John McKeon (D-West Orange) up from Minority Whip to Deputy Majority Leader, even though Minority Whip actually sounds more meaningful since there is just one.  Then he could promote Deputy Majority Whip Vincent Prieto (D-Secaucus), and pick one of the mere mortal legislators with no leadership post or committee chair to take his spot.

Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden) has removed indicted Assemblyman Joseph Vas (D-Perth Amboy) as Chairman of the Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee.  Four other Democrats serve on the panel, but two of them are not really contenders: Upendra Chivukula (D-Franklin) is unlikely to give up the chairmanship of the Telecommunications and Utilities Committee, and Sandra Love (D-Gloucester Township) is a freshman who is not seeking re-election.  That means Roberts will likely choose between Pamela Lampitt (D-Cherry Hill), a two-term legislator who represents a neighboring Camden County district, and Albert Coutinho (D-Newark), the panel Vice Chairman who was elected in 2007 after serving briefly in 1997.

Right Choices made to protect education, health care and most vulnerable

 
Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts, Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, Assemblyman Gary Schaer, Assemblyman Joseph Cryan and Evesham Mayor Randy Brown held a press conference at the Statehouse in Trenton today to discuss the effects of Governor Corzine’s FY10 budget proposal on New Jersey’s middle class. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}