Former President Bill Clinton is running late, leaving more than 1,000 Democrats waiting on the Saturday before the election at a rally for Democratic congressional candidate Linda Stender.  The rally began at 12:30 PM, with Clinton expected about an hour later.  It's now 2:20 PM and the former President has not yet arrived.  That's tough on the master of ceremonies, State Sen. Raymond Lesniak, who is trying hard to come up with new material to keep the crowd engaged.

PREVIEW - SENATE PANEL TO DISCUSS OFF-SHORE WIND FARMS ON MONDAY

Committee Will Also Look at Bills Focusing on Energy Efficiency, Energy Cost Savings

BRICK – The Senate Economic Growth Committee will meet on Monday in the Township of Brick Municipal Building to discuss the future of off-shore wind farms in New Jersey, and vote on two bills which promote energy efficiency and cost savings for hard-hit energy consumers.

“Wind farms, as part of our State’s diversified energy portfolio, could generate cleaner energy and create hundreds, if not thousands of new green-collar jobs,” said Senator Raymond J. Lesniak, D-Union, the Chair of the Committee. “With the price of oil and other energy sources still high, we need to give very serious thought to alternative energy.”

The front runner to succeed Neil Cohen in the 20th district State Assembly seat is Cecelia Dallis-Ricks, a Roselle Councilwoman, according to Democratic sources familiar with the special election convention. But most Union County Democratic leaders suggest that front runner status in this race could change quickly, since the only voter that really matters is State Sen. Raymond Lesniak. Lesniak has not yet endorsed a candidate, but has said he plans to support a minority candidate.

State Sen. Raymond Lesniak doesn’t have as much trouble with a deal to keep Rutgers football coach Greg Schiano as he does with the “secrecy and lack of transparency” that surrounds the deal.  “Rutgers University, as the state's flagship higher education university, has an obligation to be accessible and accountable not only to the students attending the school but to the taxpaying public that subsidizes most of its operations,” Lesniak wrote in an op-ed that appeared in The Star-Ledger.  “In the case of Schiano's contract, not only should the terms have been disclosed, but they should have been touted by an administration seeking to find cost-effective ways to increase the national profile of Rutgers football. “  Click here to read Lesniak’s Op-Ed.

The Office of Legislative Services investigated pornography on Neil Cohen's office computer last year
Office of Legislative Services (OLS) Executive Director Albert Porroni confirmed that his office had received a call from District 20 legislators about "salacious material" found on the office's computer system long before pornographic images of minors were allegedly found on Neil Cohen's legislative office computer.

Porroni said that he could not recall the exact time frame of the complaint, but sources tell PolitickerNJ.com that it was made approximately one year ago.

At least one pornographic web site was accessed from a District 20 legislative office computer, and State Sen. Raymond Lesniak and Assemblyman Joseph Cryan had suspected Cohen, sources say. The web site was not suspected of having child pornography, however.

As candidates begin posturing for Neil Cohen’s now vacant Assembly seat, there is one certainty to the democratic process that will result in selecting a new legislator: there are two voters – State Senator Raymond Lesniak and Assemblyman/Democratic State Chairman Joseph Cryan.  Elizabeth (142 votes) and Union (98 votes) represent 83% of the total votes that will be cast at a special election convention to be held within the next 7-35 days.  Lesniak controls Elizabeth, and Cryan is the party leader in Union. 

Look for Elizabeth Democrats to claim the Assembly seat currently held by Neil Cohen, possibly sending the first minority legislator from this heavily Democratic Union County district. Possible candidates include: Union County Freeholder Chairman Angel Estrada, City Councilmen Frank Cuesta, Many Grova, Nelson Gonzalez, Carlos Cedeño, and William Gallman; City Councilwoman Patricia Perkins-Auguste; and Annette Quijano, an Assistant Counsel to Goveror Jon Corzine.

Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union): Politicker photo 

For the good of the country, a Republican with foreign policy smarts and gravitas would be a wise running mate choice for Sen. Barack Obama, in the view of state Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union).

In his NJ Voices blog over the weekend, Lesniak said he likes Indiana senior Sen. Richard Lugar, and today he told PolitickerNJ.com that Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) would also be good.

"It would show that Obama wants to bring this country together," said Lesniak. "I’m most impressed with Lugar’s ability to articulate a tough and reasoned approach to Iran.

Sen. Ronald Rice (D-Essex) won't vote "yes" for budget unless he can get passed $3.9 billion for schools construction. 

TRENTON - The vote on the budget today is expected to go along party lines in the Assembly, which means Democrats have the numbers to pass a $32.9 billion document over the objections of a Republican minority.

For at least one key legislator on the Senate side, however, his "aye" vote for the budget hinges on whether the governing body approves $3.9 in borrowing for schools construction in mostly poor school districts.

TRENTON  - Asked whom he supports to run on the ticket withSen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union) presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, state Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union) said he believes the natural pick is U.S. Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA.).

"It's not a question of neutralizing (Sen. John) McCain's status as a war hero, it's what Webb adds to Obama to balance the ticket," Lesniak told PoltickerNJ.com in the Statehouse as he manuevered out of the committee he chairs on economic growth this afternoon. 

A former Republican and secretary of the Navy under President Ronald Reagan, Webb opposed the war in Iraq and made a public show of his disdain for Presdient George W. Bush when he took office as senator.