William Payne

Assemblyman Craig Stanley (D-Essex) files to run for re-election with Division of Elections worker Elise ManfrediMoments before filing to run again in the 28th district, Assemblyman Craig A. Stanley said he supports his uncle, Assemblyman William Payne, for State Senate in district 29.

Payne never showed up Monday to file to run as a Democrat, and the word is he will run as an independent in the November general election against State Senate candidate Teresa Ruiz.

Sen. Ron Rice said Monday it's his understanding that veteran Assemblyman William Payne would not be filing to run in the 29th district Democratic Party primary, but would instead be running as an independent in the general election come November.

Payne has not returned phone calls last week or today amid rumors that he would not be running as a Democrat.

The filing deadline to run in the June primary is Monday, and Assemblyman William Payne is in China with his brother, Congressman Donald Payne.  His absence lends credibility to speculation that he will not file for State Senate.  Some insiders say that Payne is considering a November bid as an Independent -- which would put his brother in the tough spot of not supporting his party's choice for the 29th district Senate seat.

This Inside Edge item starts with a disclaimer: the information on the 28th and 29th district legislative races is believed to be accurate at the time it was being written. But things could change before the publish button is hit. That's how fluid these Newark-based districts are right now.

William Payne took his mini-campaign for the Democratic State Senate nomination on the road today, stumping for votes on the Chamber of Commerce train trip to Washington, D.C. His push for the Senate seat that Sharpe James may or may not give up appears to have annoyed several factions within the Democratic Party, placing his Assembly seat -- and the one held by his nephew, Craig Stanley, in the 29th district -- in jeopardy. If Payne continues his campaign for the Senate, it could cause some groups of Democrats to create alliances with other groups of Democrats, and leave no room for him to jump back into the Assembly seat he has held since 1995. Stanley could be a casualty of Payne's effort, says one Newark political insider.

North Ward Democrats -- which means powerful insider Stephen Adubato, Sr. -- are supporting Teresa Ruiz, the 32-year-old Deputy Chief of Staff to the Essex County Executive, as their candidate for State Senate. That likely means City Councilmen Luis Quintana and Anibal Ramos are not Senate bound, at least right now.

Booker would like to send his Deputy Campaign Manager, Grace Spencer, to the State Assembly in the 29th district. The 36-year-old Spencer is a former Assistant Newark Corporation Counsel, Newark Special Prosecutor, and aide to the City Council President. She would take the seat of incumbent Wilfredo Caraballo, who is expected to be dumped from the Essex Democratic line. If Payne is replaced, two possible candidates are former Assemblyman Albert Couhtino and former Essex County Surrogate Maria Vizcarrondo-De Soto, who serves as Newark Mayor Cory Booker's Director of Child and Family Well Being.

In the 28th district, some Democrats are expressing concern that Essex County Freeholder and Irvington Councilman Bilal Beasley isn't strong enough to defeat longtime State Senator Ronald Rice, even with the organization line and the backing of Booker. Booker is sticking with Beasley at this time. The plan seems to be for Stanley on the Beasley line with Essex County Freeholder (and former Assemblyman) Ralph Caputo, who would replace incumbent Oadline Truitt. If Stanley is replaced, Booker seems inclined to support Cleopatra Tucker, whose late husband held the Assembly seat, and a seat on the Newark City Council, until his death in 2005. Stanley could run with Rice, setting up an alliance with Congressman Donald Payne's powerful political family.

PAYNE BILL TO EXPAND LEAD-BASED PAINT TESTING CLEARS COMMITTEE HURDLE
Legislation Would Keep Residents and Children Safe from Dangerous Lead Poisoning

(TRENTON) - The Assembly Housing and Local Government committee today released legislation Assemblyman William Payne sponsored to expand lead paint inspections to single-family and two-family properties.

PAYNE PARTICIPATES IN U.N. CONFERENCE
ON INVESTMENTS IN UNSTABLE COUNTRIES
Assemblyman Touts Landmark New Jersey Sudan Divestiture Law

(NEWARK) -- Assemblyman William Payne, the author of New Jersey's landmark Sudan divestiture law, today joined with international business leaders, investors and broad array of government officials at a United Nations conference on corporate investing in war-torn and unstable counties.

PAYNE TAKES LEAD ON SUDAN DIVESTITURE DISCUSSION

(NEWARK) -- On 10 December 2006, Assemblyman William D Payne served as a panelist for the 'Divestment Strategy for Human Rights' workshop at the 10th Annual Summit of the States in Washington DC.

PAYNE MEASURE URGING DESIGNATION OF EAGLE ROCK AS NATIONAL PARK ADVANCES
Calls on Congress to Designate Site as Part of National Park System

(TRENTON) -- The Assembly State Government Committee today approved legislation Assemblyman William Payne sponsored to urge Congress to designate the Eagle Rock September 11th Memorial in West Orange a National Park.

PAYNE: MORE VIGILANCE NEEDED TO PROTECT URBAN FAMILIES, CHILDREN FROM ENVIRONMENTAL HARM

(TRENTON) -- Assembly Regulatory and Oversight Committee Chairman William D. Payne today said his panel gained valuable new insights on environmental justice issues impacting urban communities throughout the state.

O'TOOLE EXPRESSES DISAPPOINTMENT AT PAYNE'S COMMENTS ABOUT REPUBLICAN SPENDING CUT PROPOSAL

ONLY TARGET OF REPUBLICAN SPENDING CUTS IS WASTEFUL OR UNNECESSARY SPENDING