Matthew Milam

ASSEMBLY PASSES ALBANO/MILAM MEASURE TIGHTENING SEAT BELT LAW FOR REAR PASSENGERS

(TRENTON) - The General Assembly today passed legislation Assemblymen Nelson T. Albano and Matthew W. Milam sponsored to further strengthen the state's already tough seat belt laws.

Former Republican State Senator Nicholas Asselta’s appointment to the state Board of Public Utilities effectively takes him out of the race for State Assembly in the first district next year – something that substantially boosts the Democrats prospects for re-electing incumbents Nelson Albano and Matthew Milam.  Asselta, who hinted he might consider a 2009 Assembly bid following his loss to Jefferson Van Drew last November, would have been an extremely formidable challenger against Albano and Milam, and might have helped bring in a second Assembly seat.

It is possible that the only real contests in the 2009 State Assembly races will be the four seats in the first and second districts, where three freshmen who won competitive ’07 races will presumably be seeking re-election.

In District 1, Nelson Albano, re-elected to a second term last month, and freshman Matthew Milam, will compete in this politically competitive district without the benefit of newly-elected State Senator Jeff Van Drew at the top of the ticket.  If Nicholas Asselta, who lost his Senate seat to Van Drew, would be an extremely formidable candidate if he seeks a comeback as an Assembly candidate in 2009 – and could help bring in a second Republican.

The new class of legislators isn’t even seated yet, but that won’t stop us from speculating about the Assembly election in 2009.

Granted, two years is a political eternity, and which party will hold an advantage in that time depends most heavily on who’s at the top of the ticket. But when the new Assemblymen and women take their places in Trenton early next year, there will be 25 freshmen – several from competitive districts. Those represent the best opportunity for each party to knock off some incumbents.

Right now, however, from this great distance, it doesn’t appear as though any new districts will come into the fold, or that control of either legislative body is likely to shift. Indeed, it’s more likely that 2009 will see a smaller number of districts in play.

In his concession speech, State Senator Nicholas Asselta said that he would be back.  People who know him aren’t surprised by such a pledge; Asselta, his friends say, will be miserable when he’s out of office.  Don’t be surprised to see Asselta run for his old Assembly seat in 2009, when Jeff Van Drew isn’t on the ballot – he’d be a fairly formidable candidate against newly-elected Democrat Matthew Milam. Asselta could position himself for a Senate comeback if Van Drew falters – or moves on. 

He wouldn’t be the first politician to be forced to be happy with a consolation prize.