Jose Torres

Paterson Council President Jeff Jones, right, and Ward 6 Councilman Andre Sayegh.

WAYNE - A cavalcade of definite and maybe Paterson 2010 mayoral candidates showed up at yesterday's swearing-in ceremony of new Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia Valdes, including incumbent Mayor Jose "Joey" Torres, Council President Jeffrey Jones, Ward 6 Councilman Andre Sayegh, and at-Large Councilman Rigo Rodriguez.

Of those four men, Torres and Jones are definitely running.

Sayegh appears close to getting in the race, while Rodriguez, who's at-large council seat is up this year, appears least likely to challenge Torres.

"No comment yet," Rodriguez said about next year's already unfolding contest.

Paterson Mayor Jose "Joey" Torres wants a third term in office and believes he can turn back the challenges of Council President Jeffrey Jones and whoever else tries to knock him out next year.

"Obviously, I'm running," Torres told PolitickerNJ.com. "I want to do everything I can to reelect this governor this year, but after November I'll put my own campaign hat back on."

To today's news that Ward 6 Councilman Andre Sayegh is mulling a run for mayor, Torres said, "We live in a democracy and whoever wants to run can run. That is the process.

"The thing about Andre is Andre wants to be president and everyone knows that," the mayor added. "This is about how fast he can climb up the ladder. I don't know the answer to that question. I dont know how fast he can climb. I just hope he doesn't burn himself out, because as you know, this business is beyond telling jokes and kissing babies. Andre - with just a year on the council - is not prepared to be mayor. He's still (wet) behind the ears."

Paterson Council President Jeffrey Jones

PATERSON - Elected last week by his peers to lead the governing body of the state's third largest city with a mayoral race on the horizon, Council President Jeffrey Jones said he cannot honestly give Gov. Jon Corzine a passing grade as governor and would entertain the possibility of backing former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie for governor.

"I'm not saying I'm backing Christie, I don't know Christie - but I've been bamboozled in the past by Democrats," said Jones, a Marine Corps vet and college professor who's emerged as a leading African American challenger to Mayor Jose "Joey" Torres, who sources say intends to run for his third term next year.

Jones formally launched his mayoral campaign last year on PolitickerNJ.com.

A staunch Corzine fan, Torres praised the governor's budget cuts earlier this year in a conversation with PolitickerNJ.

“When you look at the numbers, a majority of people are helped by the good things in this budget,” Torres said. “From my perspective – and I’ve been at this for a long time now – this is the first time a governor has come in with a coherent vision to get us out of a financial crisis, while also covering our educational needs.”

PERTH AMBOY – Although his blue collar campaign for governor never materialized this year, Councilman Ken Balut still nurses irritation over his city’s longstanding tendency to get gypped on state and federal aid and generally outmuscled by urban behemoths like Newark and Paterson. 

Balut’s through with Democrats who associated with former Perth Amboy Mayor Joe Vas, and that includes incumbent Gov. Jon Corzine and former Gov. James McGreevey, whom he lumps in the same failed era with Vas, indicted last month on state corruption charges amid rumors of forthcoming indictments connected to the old regime. 

It was Corzine’s state Attorney General Anne Milgram who goes into the books as the one who indicted Vas on theft and bid-rigging charges but, “I’m voting for (former U.S. Attorney) Chris Christie,” the disillusioned Balut told PolitickerNJ.com. “We need somebody in the governor’s office who’s going to go after corruption.” 

Mayor Wilda Diaz, who ran on a ticket with Balut, backs Corzine. 

Paterson Mayor Jose "Joey" Torres

PATERSON – In a hard knock news week, Mayor Jose “Joey” Torres, now serving his second term as mayor of New Jersey’s third largest city, said he would definitely be interested in the lieutenant governor’s job on a Democratic ticket, in part because he thinks he has the experience and in part because he could determinedly back up Gov. Jon Corzine.

Most of the residents in Torres’s city of close to $150,000 make under $75,000, so when he eyeballs Corzine’s $29.8 billion budget proposal and fixes on a controversial property tax rebate freeze for adults besides seniors making over that amount of money, he doesn’t blink.

“When you look at the numbers, a majority of people are helped by the good things in this budget,” says Torres. “From my perspective – and I’ve been at this for a long time now – this is the first time a governor has come in with a coherent vision to get us out of a financial crisis, while also covering our educational needs.”

Mayor Cory Booker, center, with Oscar winner Forest Whitaker, left, and jazz pianist Eric Lewis

NEWARK – On the city’s 21st anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, 72 hours before Obama’s presidential inaugural, Newarkers at Grace Episcopal Church rejoiced in a ceremony of blended Obama-MILK symbolism that apparently left no room or reason for last minute retaliatory elbows thrown at the outgoing Bush administration. 

In short, the most joyfully considered and relevant transition of power here was from King to Obama. 

“I’m a child of the 1960s. There are still a few of us around, right, Mildred?” said Gov. Jon Corzine, finding Council President Mildred Crump’s smiling face in the crowd. “King defined our aspirations, and what we could seek to find. When he was killed in Memphis he was talking about a living wage. We have a long way to go, but at this moment, when Barack Obama is sworn in, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream will become a reality. 

“God bless the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., and the presidency of Barack Obama,” added Corzine, and moments later, Crump cried, “That’s my governor,” as people in the crowd lurched to their feet.

Dominicans and allies celebrated Dr. Alex Blanco’s victory in the Passaic mayoral race last week as a first in the annals of American politics. As far as they know, he’s the first Dominican elected mayor in the United States.

“There’s an assemblyman in New York, but concerning mayors, none,” said Blanco, a product of the Passaic public school system who earned college and medical degrees locally and works in the city as a podiatrist.

“I was shocked when I found out I was the first,” added the mayor-elect, who figures to be sworn into office before the end of November.

Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today in Paterson 

PATERSON - It worked in 2006, and with time running out in which to prop up and target an upside-down President George W. Bush and his allies, senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez took a shot today in front of a Citgo gas station sign that read: Gas: $3.95, cash; $4.05, credit.

While station owner Fadi Sabbagh stood nearby with arms folded and the cars rumbled in and out on Chamberlain and Preakness, Lautenberg and Menendez laid siege to the Bush administration and their Republican helpmates over high gas prices.

"When you have two oil men in the White House, it’s not shocking to wonder where our energy policies are headed," said Menendez, who along with Lautenberg wants to reintroduce legislation that last week failed to reach the required 60 cloture votes (51-43) on the Senate floor.

The Consumer-First Energy Act of 2008 would roll back $17 billion in tax breaks to oil companies and green light the reinvestment of that money into renewable fuels and energy efficiency. It would also create a windfall-profits tax for the top five major oil-and-gas companies (25% on windfall profits), and make price-gouging for gasoline a federal crime.

At Large Councilman Jeffrey Jones 

PATERSON - Ward races will dominate the polling places tomorrow on Election Day, and one person who will watch the results come in but does not expect any surprises is At-Large Councilman Jeffrey Jones.

Jones already has his sights on 2010, and whatever happens Tuesday will not interfere with his plans.

"I have every intention of running for mayor," says Jones, a 50-year old native Patersonian who was first elected to the council in 1996.

PATERSON - Passaic County Sheriff Jerry Speziale jumped intoCouncilman Aslon Goow Paterson municipal politics over the weekend, publicly endorsing Ward 2 Councilman Aslon Goow, chair of the council's public safety committee and a vocal critic of Mayor Jose "Joey" Torres.

Speziale's picture and declaration of confidence appeared on a Goow mail piece that hits the streets in Ward 2.

"Goow is the only (council) candidate the sheriff is endorsing," said Goow campaign spokesman Ryan Yacco. 

Yacco says the endorsement is significant, particulalry in the Hillcrest section of the ward.

A two-term concilman, Goow is running against John Larko and Elizabeth Rosado.

Rosado has  the public support of Mayor Torres.