Joseph Spicuzzo

There is much speculation that State Sens. Barbara Buono (D-Metuchen) and Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck) could wind up as Gov. Jon Corzine's running mate, but their home county Democratic chairmen are staying clear of making endorsements in the race for Lt. Governor.

Each recognizes the benefits of fielding the woman from his own territory in the number two spot behind Corzine.

"Any politician with a solid base in Bergen County should be considered," said Bergen County Democratic Organization Chairman Michael Kasparian, scanning his home turf of 497,444 registered voters, including 162,488 registered Democrats and 105,488 registered Republicans, where 10.65% of registered Democrats gave Corzine 87% of their vote last Tuesday.

"You lose Bergen, you lose Trenton," he added.

In Middlesex, where a total 410,185 registered voters includes 160,476 Democrats and 52,464 Republicans and where Corzine received 67% of the vote last Tuesday with 18.04% of registered Democrats voting, Middlesex County Democratic Organization Chairman Joseph Spicuzzo likes the idea of Buono to bolster a ticket with Corzine.

"I know she's on the short list," Spicuzzo said. "I don't know whether the governor has committed to her, but it would be a feather in the county's cap to have a lieutenant governor. Of course, it's the governor's choice, but Barbara is a very committed woman who brings a lot of savvy to state government."

Gov. Jon Corzine has dumped former Senate President Raymond Bateman from his seat on  the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and has replaced him with Joseph Spicuzzo, the Middlesex County Sheriff and Democratic County Chairman. Bateman was the Republican nominee for Governor in 1977, and is the father of State Sen. Christopher Bateman (R-Branchburg).

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.

Middlesex County Democratic Party Chairman Joseph Spicuzzo knew the late Freeholder Director David Crabiel going back to when Spicuzzo became mayor of Spotswood in 1976.

“The taxpayers lost a true friend today,” Spicuzzo told PolitickerNJ.com.

“He first of all had the taxpayers in mind whenever he made a decision,” Spicuzzo added of the 27-year freeholder veteran who died today at age 78. “He ran Middlesex County government like a fine-toothed machine. He was Mr. Middlesex.”

The county will be issuing a statement shortly, according to the Office of the Administrator.

Middlesex County Democratic Party Chairman Joseph Spicuzzo said he will award the organization line to the winners of the March 5 party convention – including U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg.

“I am bound by the decisions made by our Democratic committeemen and committeewomen during that nominating convention,” said Spicuzzo. “I am aware, of course, that there is a significant difference of opinion being expressed by several of our party leaders. However, at least during the years of my chairmanship, we have awarded the line and its slogan, ‘Middlesex County Democratic Organization,’ to those winners.”

It looks like Frank Lautenberg will have the organization line in Middlesex County, despite support for Rob Andrews by three Democratic State Senators and a large group of local elected officials.  Andrews backers had sought an open primary in a county that had previously endorsed the 84-year-old incumbent for re-election to a fifth term.

Four more Democratic County Chairs today endorsed Hillary Clinton for President: Charlotte DeFilippo of Union, Sheriff Joseph Spiczuzzo of Middlesex, James Pickering of Cape May and Louis Magazzu of Cumberland. Clinton was in New Jersey today, speaking to the annual Democratic State Committee conference in Atlantic City.