William Payne

The tides have changed for freshman Assemblywoman Grace Spencer.  A few months ago, she was in danger of losing Democratic organization support in her bid for re-election in 2009 -- possibly as a way for former Assemblyman William Payne to return to the Legislature. But now, Spencer looks to be in good shape -- thanks to her political patron, Newark Mayor Cory Booker.  Booker has made it clear to Democratic officials that he'll do everything possible to save Spencer.  The primary with Payne may still happen, but key Democrats look increasingly less likely that they'll take on Booker.

Assemblyman Albert Coutinho (D-Newark) on Adams Street in the Ironbound: Politicker photo 

NEWARK - Standing outside East Ward Democratic Party headquarters on Adams Street, Assemblyman Albert Coutinho (D-Newark) occupies that central part of the 29th Legislative District that encompasses north and south Newark.

Coutinho’s running mates, state Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex) and Assemblywoman Grace Spencer (D-Newark) come out of the north and south wards Newark respectively.

The East Ward, which is made up Portugese and Italians, and fits into the Ironbound neighborhood, is Coutinho’s home.

"We’ve always been an independent ward," says Joseph Parlavecchio, the assemblyman’s mentor, who on this day sits inside party HQ, giving an interview to a young woman who’s writing a book about city politics.

Assemblywoman Grace Spencer (D-Newark): Politicker photo 

Assemblywoman Grace Spencer (D-Newark) officially opened her district office on Hawthorne Avenue in the South Ward on Friday in a well-attended event.

U.S. Rep. William Payne (D-Newark), Essex county Party chairman Phil Thigpen, Sen. Ronald Rice (D-Essex), Assemblyman Thomas Giblin (D-Montclair), Assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker (D-Newark), Assemblyman Albert Coutinho (D-Newark), and local elected officials were among the 150 people who joined Spencer for the kick-off.

"I plan to have a larger event in September," said Spencer.

The office opening comes in the wake of a suggestion by former Assemblyman William Payne (D-Newark) that he wouldn't rule out a primary run against Spencer. Although he bucked the system last year and ran off the line, Payne remains in a powerful inner sanctum. He serves as deputy chief of staff to Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, a job title shared by Sen. M. Teresa Ruiz, who in 2007 topped the ticket with Spencer. 

Freshman Assemblywoman Grace Spencer, a protégé of Newark Mayor Cory Booker, is suddenly #1 on the list of most vulnerable legislators for 2009.  There is considerable speculation that the Essex County Democratic organization will dump Spencer and back incumbent Albert Coutinho and former Assemblyman William Payne in the Newark-based 29th district.  In turn, Payne, his brother, Congressman Donald Payne, his nephew, Newark City Councilman/Essex County Freeholder Donald Payne, Jr., State Sens. Ronald Rice and Teresa Ruiz, and North Ward Democratic leader Stephen Adubato will back a challenger to Booker – possibly North Ward Councilman Anibal Ramos, Jr. – for Mayor in 2010.

Former Assemblyman William Payne (D-Newark), right, with Gov. Jon Corzine today in the Ironbound 

NEWARK - Former Assemblyman William Payne (D-Newark) today wouldn’t rule out a return run for his old Assembly seat.

"If I ran, it would be for the Assembly," said Payne, who was in attendance at Governor Jon Corzine’s schools construction bill signing at the Oliver Street School in the Ironbound.

"But right now, I don’t have any intentions of running," Payne added.

Thrown off the line last year when he insisted on challenging for Sharpe James’s vacated Senate seat in the 29th District against establishment choice and eventual winner M. Teresa Ruiz, Payne would have to run against Assemblyman Albert Coutinho or Assemblywoman L. Grace Spencer.

Lionel Leach and Jackie Teel, working the phones in Clinton HQ in NewarkWhen Sen. Ronald Rice and North Ward Democratic Party boss Steve Adubato find themselves in the same political foxhole, something is either amiss, or it’s a presidential election year.

In certain company, the lead-up to Tuesday’s historic Democratic Primary contest looks like some incidental skirmish in Newark with here-today, gone-tomorrow alliances, played out as a backdrop to that more fervent chess war between local rivals angling for the real epic of some area city council and freeholder races later this year.

Lionel Leach, Rice’s former campaign field director, serves as spokesman for Sen. Hillary Clinton in her campaign’s week-and-a-half old Broad Street headquarters, even as North Ward Democratic Organization campaign firebrand Sen. M. Teresa Ruiz continues to steel the Latino vote for Clinton in rallies statewide. On the heels of his own family fight with Adubato, U.S. Rep. Donald Payne also intends to do some campaigning for Clinton this weekend.

Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, who had to preside over meetings with his two Deputy Chiefs of Staff – Teresa Ruiz and Bill Payne, both candidates for the same State Senate seat.

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PAYNE/STANLEY NEW JERSEY SLAVERY APOLOGY
APPROVED BY ASSEMBLY
Would Make State Fifth in Nation to Formally Apologize for State's
'Disgraceful Past Embrace' of Slavery

(TRENTON) - Legislation Assemblymen William D. Payne and Craig A. Stanley sponsored to authorize a formal state apology for New Jersey's role in slavery during the early years of our nation's history was passed today in the General Assembly.

PAYNE BILL TO EXPAND LEAD-BASED PAINT TESTING BECOMES LAW

Measure Keeps Residents and Children Safe from Dangerous Lead Poisoning

(TRENTON) - Legislation Assemblyman William Payne sponsored to expand lead paint inspections to single-family and two-family properties was signed into law today by Governor Jon S. Corzine.

PAYNE/STANLEY NEW JERSEY SLAVERY APOLOGY CLEARS ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE

Would Make State Fifth in Nation to Formally Apologize for State's 'Disgraceful Past Embrace' of Slavery

(TRENTON) - An Assembly panel today released legislation Assemblymen William D. Payne and Craig A. Stanley sponsored to authorize a formal state apology for New Jersey's role in slavery during the early years of our nation's history.