Teresa Ruiz

For Immediate Release:

Contact: Daniel Beckelman

(201)-446-9889

October 27, 2009 

Bloschak: Arrest of Tucker Aide Demonstrates Need for Change in Urban New Jersey

Democrats Bankrupt in Governing Our Cities

Newark-The arrest of Eknow Ykney, a former drug dealer who serves as community outreach director for Assemblyman Cleopatra Tucker (D-Newark), for money laundering and illegal firearms possession shows that the political system is increasingly broken and that fresh blood is needed in Trenton and Newark to solve the short and long-term problems we face.

From left: Assemblyman Fred Scalera (D-Nutley), Gov. Jon Corzine, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-Paterson), Nutley Mayor Joanne Cocchiola, Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo, and Assemblyman Ralph Caputo (D-Belleville)

BELLEVILLE - The self-proclaimed party of diversity lined up at the start of the Columbus Day Parade today, and if the presence of a single woman packed into this brace of gray and blue suited would-be alpha males heartened Democratic Party onlookers, the downside was that Nutley Mayor Joanne Cocchiola is, in fact, a Republican.

"We're from every part of Italy you can imagine," cracked U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-Paterson) in an effort to explain the gender domination factor; indeed, they even had an Irishman in there, Essex County Clerk Chris Durkin, who made a point, in the midst of all the pre-march backyard chest-thumping, to compliment Celeste Caputo, wife of Assemblyman Ralph Caputo (D-Belleville), on the food.

Making an appearance here at arguably the area's most important Columbus Day event and forced to share a piece of the street with a Christopher Columbus lookalike in Genovese regalia who, when addressed, only responded in Italian, Gov. Jon Corzine relished a chance to inflate his wobbly image in this blue collar, Italian-Irish-Latino Catholic stronghold where Newark's white ethnics re-entrenched after the 1967 troubles.

Twenty-three days from D-Day, he leaned heavily on the locals.

"He opens up his home the way he opens up his heart," Corzine, affectionately gripping the back of Caputo's neck, told a crowd of local Democratic Party rivals who shelved their differences long enough to occupy the same patio with the governor moments before convening in the street at the head of any number of school marching bands, 1940s and 1950s cars, and party flotillas.

ATLANTIC CITY - Senate President Richard Codey (D-Roseland) walked out of the carpeted Trump Plaza Casino on Friday night leaving no doubt that he's ready for a fight, indeed in a fight.

"Take your best shot," a skeptic said to him and Codey good-naturedly did, playfully wrestling the challenger while telling his security escort, "It's all right, I can handle this."

The escort stood at parade rest.

"And I can handle Sweeney," Codey said moments later, referring to Senate Majority Leader Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford), who's challenging him for the Senate Presidency, who last week said, "I can take Codey with one hand tied behind my back." 

Designed to showcase base support for Gov Jon Corzine, the Democratic Convention in Atlantic City simultaneously served as a bicameral crucible for both Codey versus Sweeney intrigue and a brewing lower house leadership fight.

NEWARK - Stumping today for Gov. Jon Corzine, state Sen. M. Teresa Ruiz (D-Newark) said that's where she plans to concentrate her political energies.

"I want to focus on re-electing Gov. Corzine," Ruiz told PolitickerNJ.com when asked who she supports in another potential contest, between Senate President Richard Codey and his likely Democratic caucus challenger, state Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney (D-West Deptford).

A political product of the North Ward Democratic Organization, which has close ties to George Norcross III, leader of the South Jersey Democratic Organization and a Sweeney ally, Ruiz may find herself in a pro-Sweeney package.

But Essex County sources say she should not be considered a lock for Sweeney, considering hers - and Codey's - Essex County roots. 

Assemblyman Vincent Prieto (D-Secaucus) joins Gov. Jon Corzine for a rally in honor of the governor this morning at Workers United Union headquarters in Newark.

NEWARK - Gov. Jon Corzine stepped up to the podium at Workers United Union headquarters to accept the endorsements of Latino elected officials even as his GOP rivals in the governor's race loosed a counter list of private sector and former elected official Latinos backing Republican candidate Chris Christie.

"Because of Jon Corzine's failures, our communities, schools and cities are suffering," said Lydia Valencia, director of the Puerto Rican Congress of New Jersey and chairwoman of Hispanics for Christie.  "We need a governor who understands the reality facing real New Jerseyans struggling to make ends meet, especially when Corzine's taxes are taking a bigger and bigger chunk of our money. I am supporting Chris because he will bring jobs to our state, help small businesses and make sure our children receive a quality education."

Alert to Christie's efforts to woo Latino voters (he has campaigned in Union City, Perth Amboy and regularly in Jersey City, and has a "Christie-Guadagno" campaign song set to salsa), Democratic elected officials closed ranks around the governor.

U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-Hoboken); Assemblywoman Nellie Pou (D-Paterson, chair of the Latino Legislative Caucus; Paterson Mayor Jose Torres; Passaic Mayor Alex Blanco; Perth Amboy Mayor Wilda Diaz; West New York Mayor Sal Vega; state Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Newark), Newark North Ward Councilman Anibal Ramos; and many others, 17 total, rallied with Corzine at union headquarters in downtown Newark while an audience of mostly SEIU workers rained praise on the incumbent governor.

U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-Hoboken) is playing a key role in a statewide effort to increase voter turnout among Latino voters for Gov. Jon Corzine's re-election campaign.  This weekend, Menendez presided over a meeting in New Brunswick that was attended by over 200 statewide Latino leaders, including U.S. Rep. Albio Sires (D-West New York), State Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Newark), Assemblywomen Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D-Camden) and Annette Quijano (D-Elizabeth), Assemblyman Albert Coutinho (D-Newark) and Vincent Prieto (D-Secaucus), Perth Amboy Mayor Wilda Diaz, Paterson Mayor Joey Torres, and Passaic Mayor Alex Blanco.

RUIZ/COUTINHO/SPENCER: CHRISTIE'S REFUSAL OF $2 BILLION IN EDUCATION FUNDS WOULD SHATTER STATE’S EDUCATON SYSTEM, WORKFORCE & ECONOMY

(NEWARK) – Senator Teresa Ruiz, Assemblyman Albert Coutinho and Assemblywoman Grace Spencer today decried Bush Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie for his rejection of billions of dollars from President Barack Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to assist the State in its recovery from the current global economic crisis.

A fifth campaign worker in connection with state Sen. Teresa Ruiz's (D-Newark) 2007 campaign has been indicted on charges related to messenger ballot fraud, according to the state Attorney General's Office.

Rocio Rivera, 49, of Lebanon Township, an employee of the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, was charged in a state grand jury indictment with election fraud (2nd degree), absentee ballot fraud (3rd degree), tampering with public records or information (3rd degree), and forgery (4th degree), according to Criminal Justice Director Deborah L. Gramiccioni.

"We are continuing our investigation into allegations of fraud in the November 2007 general election in the 29th District," said Attorney General Anne Milgram. "We will prosecute anyone found to have tampered with the election and disenfranchised voters."

"This alleged voter fraud was brought to our office’s attention by the Essex County Superintendent of Elections," added Essex County Prosecutor Paula Dow. "Voting is a fundamental privilege that all American citizens have a right to exercise without any form of meddling. The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office will not tolerate any attempt to manipulate elections of any kind."

Gov. Jon Corzine meets up with state Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck) in erona.

VERONA - Selling his record on healthcare today with the latest poll showing him trailing his opponent by nine points in a head-to-head, Gov. Jon Corzine said back chatter about a ham-handed reelection campaign encumbered by too many chiefs is a "non-story."   

"Maggie Moran and Tom Shea are running the campaign," said the governor, where he appeared at a park in Verona with lieutenant governor candidate Loretta Weinberg.

Corzine has brought in former Bergen County Democratic Organization (BCDO) spokesman Bill Maer and Democratic Party strategist Jamie Fox, but the governor insisted the upper eschelon hierarchy of the campaign remains unchanged.