State Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex)

JERSEY CITY - Asked about state Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex) as a potential candidate for lieutenant governor, U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-Hoboken) said he liked the idea.

"She is one of several people in our party who would be an excellent candidate," Menendez told PolitickernJ.com at an Obama rally on Saturday. "It's the governor's decision ultimately, of course, and I do not envy him, because there are numerous qualified people."

Other potential lieutenant governor candidates among the Democrats include Newark Mayor Cory Booker and Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing).

LESNIAK-RUIZ RESOLUTION CELEBRATING HISPANIC AND LATINO HERITAGE MONTH APPROVED IN STATE SENATE

TRENTON – A resolution sponsored by Senators Raymond J. Lesniak and Teresa Ruiz which recognizes September 15 through October 15 of each year as Hispanic and Latino Heritage Month in New Jersey was unanimously approved by the Senate today, receiving final legislative approval.

“New Jerseyans of Hispanic and Latino heritage have given our State and the nation at large so much, and have enriched the American tapestry,” said Senator Lesniak, D-Union. “It’s only fitting that we designate a month in which to officially recognize the contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans in New Jersey. This resolution would ensure that each year, we take the proper time to respect and appreciate the cultural contributions of our State’s large Hispanic- and Latino-American population.”

RUIZ-VITALE BILL TO GIVE DISABLED NEW JERSEYANS MORE CONTROL ON ASSISTANCE SERVICES ADVANCES IN COMMITTEE

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Teresa Ruiz and Joseph F. Vitale which would make changes in the “Personal Assistance Services Program” (PASP) to give disabled New Jerseyans more control over their own service plan was unanimously approved by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee today.

“New Jersey residents who live with disability and know the challenges they face every day are the most qualified to design a service plan that meets their needs,” said Senator Ruiz, D-Essex and Union. “However, right now, most disabled New Jersey residents enrolled in PASP are limited in who they can hire, because county agencies step in to determine the type, dollar amount and entities that will provide services. We need to have more faith in the service consumers to make the best choices for their own care, rather than have a government agency, no matter how well-intentioned, make choices for them.”

RUIZ RESOLUTION TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED STUDENTS TO RECEIVE COLLEGE TEXTBOOKS IN BRAILLE APPROVED

TRENTON – A resolution sponsored by Senator Teresa Ruiz, the Vice Chair of the Senate Education Committee, which would urge textbook publishers and institutions of higher education to work together to make it easier for visually-impaired students to have access to college textbooks in Braille was unanimously approved by the Education Committee today.

“One of the basic fundamental principles of our nation is that we are all given the same opportunities to excel, no matter where you were born or what disabilities or impairments you may suffer,” said Senator Ruiz, D-Essex and Union. “However, for many visually impaired college students, the simple higher education ritual of purchasing textbooks at the beginning of the semester can be difficult, if not impossible. Schools need to work with publishers to ensure that every student has access to the same learning materials, and is given the chance to succeed.”

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson in Newark: Obama campaign photo

The Obama campaign organized two big events over the weekend, including a Friday fundraising party in Middletown with the Democratic presidential candidate, that netted his campaign $4.1 million in one night, according to party fundraiser Al DeCotiis.

"The tremendous enthusiasm and support of Jon Corzine helped make this the most successful fundraising event ever," said DeCotiis, who along with fellow former Clinton fundraisers Bill Harla, Michael Kempner, and John Graham, organized the Obama event with the governor.

New Jersey rocker Jon Bon Jovi sponsored the bash at his home.

A day later, Gov. Bill Richardson stumped for Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) at the Flamboyan Manor in Newark's North Ward, making the Democratic Party’s case for an end to the Iraq War.

MINNEAPOLIS - Newarkers will welcome New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson to the North Ward on Sept. 6, to campaign for presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).

Set to appear at the Flamboyan Manor on Saturday afternoon, Richardson will be joined by U.S. Rep. Albio Sires (D-West New York), state Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex), North Ward Councilman Anibal Ramos, and other elected officials, according to Andrews Poag, spokesman for the Obama campaign.

U.S. Rep. Donald Payne (D-Newark): Politicker photo

DENVER - It was coming to an end in an Irish bar, only it wouldn’t actually end there. It would in another bar, a few blocks removed.

Two bars separated by one speech.

"It should be a walkover, of course," said U.S. Rep. Donald Payne (D-Newark). "These guys - Obama and McCain - are neck and neck. I think it’s perhaps the trepidation about race that makes it that way, but we'll see."

In a few hours, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) would take the stage and accept his party’s nomination.

Payne, and his elder brother former Assemblyman Bill Payne, mingled among a respectably large crowd of guests in this, the last big, pre-Obama speech bash in downtown Denver at the Celtic Tavern, thrown by U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-Long Branch) and U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-Paterson).

The Celtic Tavern is located near the light rail line, and soon the delegates and superdelegates and other guests would pile aboard and head out to Invesco Field to see and hear Obama.

In the meantime, the hosts brought Speaker Joe Cryan up onto the stage with the folk band to take a bow. Just as they were stepping over the microphone cords and getting ready to launch into the Irish songs, the bar door swung open and Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy walked in, prompting Pascrell to make a special introduction.

It almost looked staged, as if a staffer had sent Healy a text message. Healy's a good Irish tenor with a rich, well-modulated voice.

But the mayor’s stride-in would astoundingly prove a premature entrance to the main event, for on this afternoon, Sen. Robert Menendez (D-Union City) went to the front of the room.

DENVER - State Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex) hopes to help her team belt the GOP out of the ballpark on Nov. 4th, but so far Democrats remain uncomfortable in their own dugout.

Ruiz, Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo and Chief of Staff Phil Alagia all took turns at the plate at Coors Field on Tuesday, with DiVincenzo sending a couple of the pitches deep into the outfield, according to Ruiz and Alagia.

"I'm giving up my career in politics to try out for the Colorado Rockies," DiVincenzo said. State Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex) works on her batting technique with Dodger legend Steve Garvey.: Courtesy of Phil Alagia

State Sen. M. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex), North Ward Councilman Anibal Ramos, and Obama Campaign senior advisor Mark Alexander: Politicker photo 

DENVER - There persists a quiet agony among Hillary Clinton supporters who sit at the DNC events but pick at their food and squirm with a perpetual sense of loss, as thoughts of a Clinton coronation still dance vainly in their heads.

Don’t count Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex) among that crowd, insists the 30-something Latina, who represents the City of Newark.

Schooled as a precinct captain in the North Ward before launching her own career as an elected official in 2007, Ruiz supported Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) in the Democratic Primary.

But Ruiz is very clear about her long-term pride in the candidacy of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL).

Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo: Politicker photo

NEWARK - Joseph DiVincenzo knows the joke is coming, and he fields it with a grin - the one broadcaster Steve Adubato, Jr., has delivered for years about how DiVincenzo tried out for more than a half dozen NFL teams and got cut by every one of them.

The fact that Brett Favre is now taking snaps for the Jets sets up Adubato’s new punch line.

"He’s even older than Joe D," Adubato cracks and the roomful of politicians at the Breakers laughs, and DiVincenzo a moment later stands at the microphone, giving a nod to Essex County Democratic Chairman Phil Thigpen, who’s out there in the audience somewhere.

"I’m with Phil Thigpen, not Steve Adubato," DiVincenzo says, a playful poke at his leader, the junior Adubato’s father, who tried to oust Thigpen as chairman earlier this year but ran into a public objection by DiVincenzo, who wanted Thigpen to remain as chair.

DiVincenzo prevailed.