Paul Sarlo

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.

Newark Mayor Cory Booker, the front runner for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 2013, will headline a fundraiser next month for Senate Judiciary Chairman Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge).  The chairman of Sarlo's fundraising event is his boss, literally: North Jersey developer Joseph Sanzari.

"The jury has spoken," says Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge) about his onetime political mentor, former Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero.  Ferriero was convicted today on three of eight counts of corruption.

"I think it's a one day news story, and has no impact whatsoever on either the governor's race or the 36th District Assembly race," added Sarlo, who's backing his ticket mates, Assemblyman Gary Schaer (D-Passaic) and Assemblyman Frederick Scalera (D-Nutley).

"We have polled it, and people are concerned about the economy and education. Joe Ferriero has no impact on their lives and now it's time to move forward."

The Corzine campaign expects "that the margin will be tight" in the race for Bergen County Freeholder, and predicts that incumbent legislators from both parties will win re-election, according to a briefing memo prepared by the governor's re-election campaign. 

The Corzine campaign views District 36 as "reliably Democratic" and notes that the Republicans have targeted Assemblymen Gary Schaer (D-Passaic) and Frederick Scalera (D-Nutley) because "they think it will be more competitive without the popular Senator (Paul) Sarlo at the top of the ticket. 

"We do not expect the seats to change hands," the memo said.

The Democrats acknowledged the local 37th district split between State Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck), their candidate for Lt. Governor, and the Bergen County Democratic Organization, but said that Weinberg and Michael Kasparian, who became the County Chairman following Joseph Ferriero's indictment, "have been able to establish more harmony."

In District 38, "there was concern that the ticket would be held down by residual issues with former Senator Joe Coniglio's conviction on corruption charges," the memo said.  But "recent polling has been extremely positive, and we expect that both Assemblywomen will retain their seats."

In a blunt analysis, the Corzine campaign conceded that they will not win Republican Assembly seats in the 39th and 40th districts.  "Unfortunately, we expect the Republicans to win reelection this November," the memo said about District 39, and in District 40 said "we do not think they will be able to unseat the Republicans this fall."

HACKENSACK – PolitickerNJ.com’s Wally Edge pointed out this month that state Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge) had not donated any money to his two Democratic district mates who are up for reelection: Assemblymen Gary Schaer (D-Passaic) and Fred Scalera (D-Nutley).   

According to Sarlo, that was all part of a strategy.

“The strategy of the campaign we implemented in [District] 36 could not have been better.  We have pooled our resources as necessary,” said Sarlo, who added that a lot of his contributions to Schaer and Scalera have been in-kind, but that “it will probably be more than any other senator has given his assemblymen – I can guarantee you that.”

Upon hearing that, Scalera, who was standing next to Sarlo, turned to him, gave him a high five and said “my friend.”  

Republicans paid a lot of attention to District 36 early in the campaign season, but their candidates, Don Diorio and Carmen Pio Costa, raised a total of $7,753 as of the 29-day pre-election reports.  Schaer and Scalera, by contrast, raised $437,954.  

“The Assembly Republican leadership has abandoned this district, recognizing that this is a solid Democratic district,” said Sarlo.

If U.S. Rep. Steven Rothman (D-Fair Lawn) decides not to seek re-election next year, possible candidates for his seat include: State Sens. Robert Gordon (D-Fair Lawn) and Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge), retiring Englewood Mayor Michael Wildes, Assemblyman Gordon Johnson (D-Englewood), Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Englewood), and Bergen County Freeholder Bernadette McPherson.

If State Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck) loses her bid for Lt. Governor, she could emerge as a strong candidate for Congress.  If Weinberg wins, Huttle is the favorite to take her State Senate seat.  Sarlo, the Senate Judiciary Chairman, has not expressed a huge desire to go to Congress; he is a possible candidate for Senate Majority Leader next year, or to chair the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee. 

Wildes, who is not seeking re-election after two terms as mayor, has long been interested in Rothman's congressional seat.  A strong fundraiser, he has $642,983 sitting in a federal campaign account, just in case.

From left: Gov. Jon Corzine, former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo, and Assemblyman Fred Scalera (D-Nutley)

LYNDHURST - Toxic enough to give any outsider pause to ponder the consequences of venturing in here, Democrats tonight brought in an Italian immigrant's son, born in the back of a grocery store on the other side of the river, to make a case for Wall Street Illinois import Gov. Jon Corzine in a nationalized political environment.

Republicans spawned the worst economy in the country since the Great Depression, said former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo - and Democrats have to reelect Corzine to ensure the GOP doesn't inflict more damage.

"The Republicans' supply side economics have failed and they want to use New Jersey to try to come back after their failure," Cuomo told a packed banquet hall of Corzine supporters, corralled for the evening in San Carlo's Restaurant by state Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge) and company.

"Gov. Jon Corzine is a great governor, and he will be an even greater governor," added Cuomo, who said GOP gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie's proposed income tax cuts for wealthy New Jerseyans and corporate tax cut proposals reflect the trickle-down values of former President George W. Bush that again threaten the fiber of the state and should spur Democrats to action.

"We are the party of the whole community," said Cuomo. "We don't care what color you are or where you were born. But we do care most particularly about the poor and the disabled and the elderly and the infirm."

Corzine denied that the buck-up speech and arm hoist from the elder statesman tonight meant that if he gets re-elected he intends to back Cuomo's son, New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, for governor of New York in a Democratic Primary against fellow poll-beleaguered incumbent Gov. David Paterson.

Noteworthy in the race for State Assembly in District 36, State Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge) has not contributed to the re-election campaign of his two running mates, Assemblymen Gary Schaer (D-Passaic) and Frederick Scalera (D-Nutley).  The incumbents, who had a poll this summer showing Republicans ahead in this potentially competitive district, have spent over $425,000 on their campaign.  The GOP challengers, Donald Diorio and Carmen Pio Costa, have spent less than $7,500.

While Sarlo has apparently taken a walk on Schaer and Scalera, other Democrats have come through.  They have received $16,400 each from Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden), Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing), Budget Committee Chairman Louis Greenwald (D-Voorhees), and from Gloucester County Freeholder Stephen Sweeney's campaign fund.  Gov. Jon Corzine gave them a personal check for $5,200, and State Sen. Nia Gill (D-Montclair) gave Schaer $500.  The Democratic State Committee has spent $67,976 in the 36th, while the Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee has spent $43,381.

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.