Codey Statement on Weinberg Selection for Lieutenant Governor

ENGLEWOOD – Senate President Richard J. Codey, D-Essex, issued the following statement on Governor Jon Corzine’s selection of State Senator Loretta Weinberg to run with him on the ballot as his Lieutenant Governor candidate this November:

“With his selection of Loretta Weinberg as the first ever candidate for Lieutenant Governor under the Democratic banner, Governor Corzine is making a definitive statement about his priorities in this race.

Sweeney Statement on Weinberg Selection for Lieutenant Governor

ENGLEWOOD – Senator Majority Leader Steve Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem, issued the following statement today regarding Governor Corzine’s selection of State Senator Loretta Weinberg to be his running mate as the State’s first Democratic candidate for the position of lieutenant governor:

“In the years that we’ve served together in the State Senate, Loretta Weinberg has impressed me as a passionate and capable advocate for the issues that matter most to New Jersey’s citizens.

HOLMDEL -- The support among Bergen County Democrats for state Sen. Loretta Weinberg’s selection as lieutenant governor is strong, even from someone who once ran on a rival ticket.

Cid Wilson, a financial analyst who ran an unfinished campaign in 2007 against Weinberg Assembly allies Gordon Johnson (D-Englewood) and Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Englewood) in the Democratic primary – and who even considered running against them again this year --  said that Weinberg’s selection would help deliver the largest county in the state.

Of course, if Corzine wins and Weinberg ascends to the number two spot, her Senate seat will open up, giving Wilson another crack at it (Wilson said that it's "premature" to speculate about that, and that he wants to help with party building and the Governor's reelection).  

Other Democrats who used to feud with Weinberg privately say that they would be happy to "get rid of her." 

But Wilson professed genuine admiration for the Senator.

State Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck) never had a cozy relationship with the bulk of the Bergen County Democratic Organization, but County Executive Dennis McNerney says she’s by far his favorite choice for lieutenant governor.

“I think Bergen County definitely needs representation. It would be great if we had more representation in Trenton, and lieutenant governor --  since it’s the first one -- it should start off in Bergen County,” he said.  

McNerney was tight with the county’s former Democratic chairman, Joe Ferriero, whose feuds with Weinberg lasted until Ferriero's September indictment.  In 2007, McNerney's appointment by the Governor to a commission charged with studying small town consolidation was held up by Weinberg, who was upset at state Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-ridge) for refusing to support her preferred pick for the state Board of Education.  

But McNerney, who grew up in Weiberg's home town of Teaneck, said that he’s never had a problem with her.

Steve Lonegan doesn’t care much for the state's GOP establishment, but he has only nice things to say about Monmouth County Sheriff Kim Guadagno, who is said to be one of the leading contenders for lieutenant governor.  

“I think she’s a good pick,” said Lonegan, who lost the Republican gubernatorial nomination to Chris Christie last month but has not exactly gone quietly.  

“She’s central Jersey, she’s pretty solid.  She doesn’t have a lot of baggage, I don’t think,” he said.

When asked whether he views Guadagno as a conservative, Lonegan said he “believes so,” but has not discussed the issues with her enough to know for sure.

*UPDATE: The Governor's Office announced at 4:12pm today that Gov. Corzine signed the lieutenant governor legislation this afternoon.  Secretary of State Nina Mitchell Wells also certified the results after the publication of this story.  All gubernatorial candidates have 30 days from today to select a running mate.

The Secretary of State's office says that the deadline for picking a lieutenant governor has not yet been set, giving Governor Jon Corzine and Republican gubernatorial nominee Chris Christie almost a month longer than originally thought to pick their running mates.   

Since the primary, the buzz about who the major party candidates will pick for the number two spot has been based on the presumption that it will have to be done within 30 days of that election – on or before July 2.  After all, the 2006 amendment to the New Jersey State Constitution creating the new office reads that the selection “shall be made within 30 days following the nomination of the candidate for election to the office of Governor.”   

But when a candidate wins a primary – even by convincing margins, as both Corzine and Christie did – he or she is not automatically the nominee.  Before Corzine and Christie officially get that status, Secretary of State Nina Mitchell Wells has to certify the June 2 primary results.  That has not happened yet,  although she may certify them as early as today. 

A bill that won final passage in the legislature last night spells out the deadline more clearly.  According to the law, the candidate for lieutenant governor “shall be selected by the candidate of that party nominated for election to the office of Governor within 30 days following the certification of the candidate for election to the office of Governor.” 

“The clock has not started to run if [Wells] has not certified” said Department of State spokeswoman Susan Evans. 

SCUTARI LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BILL RECEIVES FINAL LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL

Bill Would Set Framework for Campaign Finance and Disclosure Rules, Establish Debate Between Publicly-Financed Candidates

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Nicholas P. Scutari which would establish campaign finance and disclosure standards and debate rules for New Jersey’s new Lieutenant Governor position was approved by the Assembly today by a vote of 66-12, with one abstention, receiving final legislative approval.

“This November, voters in New Jersey will go to the polls for the first time to vote for a leadership team, not just a Governor,” said Senator Scutari, D-Union, Middlesex and Somerset. “While past acting Governors have done an exemplary job to serve the people of New Jersey, the new Lieutenant Governor position will ensure consistency and predictability in the path of succession, and whoever’s elected will hopefully play a major role in shaping the direction of the State. We need to ensure that the candidates running under the Governor, this November and into the future, are subject to the same reporting, spending and contribution limits as other candidates for office in the Garden State.”

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ADVANCES QUIGLEY BILL TO IMPOSE ELECTORAL & CAMPAIGN FINANCE RULES ON LT. GOVERNOR CANDIDATES

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assemblywoman Joan M. Quigley sponsored to impose electoral and campaign finance requirements upon Lieutenant Governor candidates was released today by an Assembly panel.

The new post that will become effective in January when the state swears-in in its first lieutenant governor. Voters in 2005 approved a state constitutional amendment creating the new post.

“While creating this post was backed by voters and will help keep in line the historic checks and balances so valued in American democracy, we also must make sure candidates for this new position are held to high standards and expectations,” said Quigley (D-Hudson). “This bill will impose the same tough reporting, debating and disclosure requirements the public has come to expect from their gubernatorial candidates.”

With state agencies ready to cut back and homeowners potentially not getting rebate checks next year, Bergen County Clerk Kathe Donovan thinks it’s about time the state forces its two professional football teams to make some sacrifices.

But does she also think it’s about time to kick off a statewide campaign?

Donovan sent a letter to Gov. Jon Corzine asking him to consider forcing the New York Giants and Jets, who both play in Bergen County and receive millions in economic incentives from the state, to share part of their $800 million in windfall profits from the sale of Personal Seat Licenses.

“’Everything on the table’ means that Trenton’s commitment to return homestead rebates to hard pressed property tax payers may be broken. Aid for schools in suburban, rural and urban districts may be cut and state colleges will be forced to raise tuition costs to make up for reduced state aid,” wrote Donovan. “Hospitals here in Bergen County and elsewhere that rely on Medicaid and Charity Care payments will almost certainly see a significant reduction in state aid which could force a cutback in services. And this comes at a time when workers are being forced to switch from high paying to lower paying jobs without health care benefits which will add significantly to the Charity Care burden borne by hospitals at a time when Charity Care payments could be reduced.”