Former Assemblyman Michael Panter, who lost his bid for re-election to a third term in 2007, is expected to play an active role raising money for Democratic legislative candidates in 2009. Assembly Democratic sources say that Panter won’t run again next year, but instead hopes to pick up a series of political IOU’s that he can use in 2011 as mapmakers redrew legislative districts. Panter wants to see the twelfth district become more Democratic and then challenge Republican Jennifer Beck for the State Senate.
One question for Democrats: will Senate President Richard Codey sign off on Panter for Senate ’11? Codey is a close ally of Ellen Karcher, who lost her State Senate seat to Beck last year, and the relationship between Panter and Karcher has been notoriously shaky.
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Panter doesn't need Codey
Codey doesn't get to "sign off" on Panter's candidacy. Panter would win any 12th District primary easily.
But, Codey will (obviously) have some play in the re-districting. He'd be happy enough to put Panter's Shrewsbury and Beck's Red Bank in the 13th, and draw a new 12th that gives a Codey ally an uncontested primary.
Monmouth trending blue
Monmouth County could be solidly blue by then. That has to help a potential Panter candidacy.