State Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Linden)

One of the last senators to announce publicly that he would support Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney (D-West Deptford) for leadership over Senate President Richard Codey (D-Roseland), state Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Linden) today said he intends to stick with Sweeney.

"That's not the first time I have heard that, but I don't think it changes my thinking," Scutari said to an argument made by East Orange Mayor Robert Bowser that Democrats should remain with the veteran Codey as senate president to ensure the toughest top legislative negotiator in the coming era of Republican Gov. Chris Christie.

"I certainly don't think Steve Sweeney is a poor negotiator and I believe he would do a fine job," Scutari explained. "Senator Codey would do a great job - and has. But with the new governor coming in I think there are real opportunities for change. Senator Sweeney has been a strong advocate for stabilizing our pension system and he will lend credence to our efforts."

State Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Linden) will become the new chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, a position that will take on increased clout for a Democratic-controlled Senate confirming appointments made by a Republican governor.  Scutari was no pushover for Gov. Jon Corzine’s appointees – he takes his advise and consent responsibilities seriously, and does not view Judiciary as a rubber stamp.  That’s something Gov.-elect Christopher Christie’s front office will need to take into consideration  And Scutari is intellectually superior to the current chairman, State Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge).

Sarlo is expected to become Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee when State Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Metuchen) becomes Majority Leader.

SCUTARI LEADS LOCAL OPPOSITION TO RE-CONSTRUCTION IN CONGESTED NEIGHBORHOOD

Says Community Cannot Support Development on this Magnitude in an Area Already Over-Developed

LINDEN, NJ – Last night, Senator Nicholas P. Scutari personally appeared at the meeting of the Linden City Planning Board and, along with more than 50 city residents, led the charge in opposition to a proposed variance allowing an expanded parking lot at 125 Lexington Avenue, which would allow for the formation of a new church in an already congested area.

“We have to look at the facts,” said Senator Scutari. “The neighborhood in question simply cannot support re-construction of this magnitude, and allowing the church project to move ahead would pose an undue hardship on the residents and businesses already in place.”

Democratic sources say that Barbara Buono (D-Metuchen) has the inside track on becoming Senate Majority Leader.  She committed to support Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford) for Senate President before Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge) did.  If Sweeney wins - he has fourteen of the 23 votes in the Democratic Caucus - and if Buono takes the number two post, it opens up the Appropriations Committee chairmanship.  There is some talk that Sarlo will take the Appropriations post and that Nicholas Scutari (D-Linden) will become Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman.

There is speculation among key Democrats that Senate Judiciary Chairman Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge) will endorse Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford) for Senate President, possibly as early as this week.  Sarlo had previously refused to publicly state his preference, but late last week supporters of incumbent Richard Codey (D-Roseland) had listed the Bergen County Democrat as one of their likely votes in the upcoming leadership fight.  Sarlo would represent a major defection from the Codey camp.

Sarlo's relatively early endorsement of Sweeney extends an alliance with South Jersey Democrats that began when he backed U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D-Haddon Heights) over incumbent Frank Lautenberg (D-Cliffside Park) in the 2008 U.S. Senate primary.  That alliance could help him win a race for Majority Leader, with Sweeney's backing.  Sarlo was Codey's candidate for Majority Leader in 2007, but was defeated by Sweeney.

***MULTIMEDIA PACKAGE***

STENDER/SCUTARI PROMOTE ADOPTION OF SAFER TECH FOR USE BY GOVERNMENTS AND UTILITIES

(LINDEN) - Assemblywoman Linda Stender and Senator Nicholas P. Scutari (both D-Union) today issued a multimedia package on their legislation (ACR-239) to urge governments, water utilities and chemical companies to use inherently safer technologies in their daily operations.

According to Scutari and Stender, the hazardous materials currently used by these entities represent one of the largest threats to public safety in the state, as hazardous chemicals - like chlorine - often are shipped in vulnerable, conspicuously marked containers and rail cars.

STENDER & SCUTARI UNVEIL MEASURE URGING GOVERNMENTS, UTILITIES TO USE SAFER TECH TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY

Resolution Aims to Reduce Chances of Unintended Hazardous Substance Release

(SCOTCH PLAINS) – Assemblywoman Linda Stender and Senator Nicholas Scutari today unveiled legislation urging governments, water utilities and chemical companies to use safer technologies to mitigate risks of terrorist attacks or the unintended release of hazardous substances.

Such hazardous substances often travel in vulnerable, conspicuously marked rail cars, and Stender described that practice as arguably one of the largest threats to public safety. Chemicals such as chlorine are purchased by governments and utilities for water purification.

“Transporting dangerous chemicals by rail when alternate solutions exist is a catastrophe waiting to happen,” said Stender (D-Union). “Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, there has been growing concern regarding the transport of chemicals by rail and the security of our rail cars. If a graffiti artist can get to a railcar carrying toxic chemicals, what is to stop a terrorist from doing much worse as the railcar travels past our homes, schools and hospitals?”

There are not many legislative districts that are expected to be competitive this year, but Republicans think they might have a sleeper in District 22.

Former Scotch Plains Mayor Martin Marks, a dentist who ran for state Senate in the district in 2003 and for the Republican 7th District congressional nomination in 2008, is running for state Assembly with political newcomer Bo Vastine against incumbents Linda Stender (D-Fanwood) and Jerry Green (D-Plainfield).

It's a traditionally safe Democratic district, containing cities like Plainfield and Linden that help give the party a registration advantage of more than two to one over Republicans.  But with an unpopular Democratic governor at the top of the ticket, and with Stender having been bloodied by two back-to-back congressional race defeats, state Republican officials are paying attention.

"I think we've got great candidates there. I think Marty Marks and Bo Vastine are putting together a nice campaign in a district that has some local issues at play in a year that will be Republican," said Republican State Chairman Jay Webber (R-Morris Plains), who's also an assemblyman.  "I think it is a race to watch."

Republicans also like the fact that there are no competitive municipal races in Democratic strongholds to help turn out their base there.

They also have a ready-made campaign issue: the closure of Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center in Plainfield, in part due to lack of state aid.

The Inside Edge made a mistake.

Six years ago, when Joseph Suliga dropped his bid for re-election to the State Senate following an incident in at an Atlantic City casino, the Union County Democratic leadership picked Freeholder Nicholas Scutari to run for the seat over Assemblywoman Linda Stender.  This website dismissed Scutari as a hack, calling him the "Senator from Gregorio," a reference to his association with then-Linden Mayor John Gregorio.  Upon reflection, that was unfair.  Since going to the Senate in January 2004, Scutari has emerged as a thoughtful and independent thinker.  The Inside Edge views the 40-year-old legislator as a rising star and regrets our earlier characterization of him.

Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D-Fanwood) is under consideration for a seat on the Board of Public Utilities, according to several Democratic sources familiar with her interest in the state post.  The speculation seems to have annoyed her Republican opponent, former Scotch Plains Mayor Martin Marks, who could face a replacement candidate for the second time in six years. There has been talk of Stender's interest in a pension boosting job since she lost a bid for Congress last year by nine percentage points for an open seat she nearly won two years earlier. 

Marks and his running mate, Bo Vastine, have asked Gov. Jon Corzine not to appoint Stender to the BPU.  "By being complicit in this quid pro quo to get a politician in danger of being voted out of office a cushy state job, you would directly contradict the two priorities you set for yourself upon becoming governor," Marks wrote in a letter to the Governor.  We ask you not to abet yet another end run around the electoral process, like those we saw in the 2002 Lautenberg for Torricelli U.S. Senate candidate switch and the 2003 Scutari for Suliga State Senate candidate switch that occurred right here in the 22nd district. If such a switch occurs again -- this time connected to the promise of a lucrative state job for Mrs. Stender -- the citizens of New Jersey and especially here in the 22nd Legislative District will not accept any reason other than New Jersey politics as usual."

Republicans can stop the appointment of Stender, if Senate Minority Leader Thomas Kean, Jr. (R-Westfield) refuses to sign off on her nomination.  Kean has senatorial courtesy over Union County appointments that require Senate confirmation.