Redd could challenge Faison

State Sen. Dana Redd (D-Camden) is leaning toward running for Mayor of Camden in the May municipal election, South Jersey Democratic sources say.  Octogenarian incumbent Gwendolyn Faison, whose actual age varies among different news outlets, is expected to run again but has not yet announced her intentions.  The Camden mayoral post has been the one prize to elude powerful South Jersey political leader George Norcross. 

Redd, a City Councilwoman and Vice Chair of the Democratic State Committee, is viewed as a rising star in State Democratic politics.  She won Wayne Bryant's State Senate seat in 2007 and has just finished her first year in the Legislature.   Because she went to the Senate prior to February 1, 2008, the new state law banning dual office holding does not apply to her Council and Senate seats.  But if she were to be elected Mayor, she would be forced to give up her Senate seat. That would create a January 2010 Special Election Convention to replace her in the Legislature, and a November 2010 Special Election to fill the remaining 14 months on her term.

If Redd runs for Mayor, she would effectively be taking herself out of the running for Lt. Governor.  It would be hard for Jon Corzine to pick her a week after winning the June Democratic pirmary.

City Councilman Whip Wilson, who unsuccessfully challenged Faison in 2005, is considering another run.  City Council President Angel Fuentes and Assemblywoman Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D-Camden) are not expected to run.