By Wally Edge | May 29th, 2009 - 11:07pm
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Corzine considering Chamber leader for LG
New Jersey Chamber of Commerce President Joan Verplanck is reportedly under consideration to become Jon Corzine's running mate

Democratic sources say that Gov. Jon Corzine is seriously considering Joan Verplanck, the President of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce for the last fourteen years and a Republican, for Lt. Governor.  Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Barbara Buono (D-Metuchen) is also reportedly in contention to become Corzine's running mate.

Verplanck and the business advocacy group she heads have become closely allied with Corzine over the last few years.  She angered Republicans by endorsing Corzine's plan to raise tolls, causing some GOP legislators to call on local businesses to leave the group. Earlier this year, GOP gubernatorial candidates skipped the organization's annual train trip to Washington, D.C., criticizing the traditional event that offered access to the state's political leaders.  Verplanck called the GOP protest "stupid."

A career association executive, Verplanck ran the Morris County Chamber of Commerce for eight years before taking her state post.  Prior to that, she ran chamber of commerce organizations in Rhode Island.

If Verplanck, a Pennington resident, is Corzine's pick, she would become the first woman to be nominated by the Democrats for statewide office since Thelma Parkinson ran for a two-month unexpired term in the U.S. Senate in 1930.

Trenton Mayor Douglas Palmer and Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing) had been prominently mentioned as possible Corzine running mates, but sources say neither in under active consideration.  Watson Coleman is focused on becoming Assembly Speaker when Joseph Roberts (D-Camden) retires in the future.

The Back Room

Source: Menendez unhappy with O'Donnell as chair

Add U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez's name to the list of Democrats around the state unhappy with the choice of Assemblyman Jason O'Donnell as state party chairman. 

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Wake-Up Call

Morning News Digest - May 22, 2013

Shavar Jeffries launches 2014 mayoral campaign in Newark NEWARK - The Boys and Girls clubs hosted the professionally staged announcement for Shavar Jeffries’ Mayoral candidacy announcement. Over 400 supporters packed the gym, some of whom had already committed to the candidate, while others were still undecided. Max Pizarro-PolitickerNJ.com http://www.politickernj.com/65777/shavar-jeffries-launches-2014-campaign-mayor-son-newark...

Op-Ed

Time to have the talk we hope to avoid but can’t

By Tedford J. Taylor No topic is a less likely conversation-starter than our eventual deaths. Still, there is a lot to talk about. When polled, about 90 percent of people presented with end-of-life scenarios prefer the prospect of dying at home with... Read More >

Contributors

(5-22-2013) All Ethics Bills are Not Ethics Priorities -In New Jersey it remains OK for state legislators to make money from towns they represent, but it is... more »
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Quote of the Day

Quote of the day

"I'm beyond disgusted by his choice." - Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly on Paterson Councilman Anthony Davis' decision to back Gov. Chris Christie.

- PolitickerNJ.com

Poll

What do you think of Christie walking into Paterson and landing the endorsement of Councilman Anthony Davis?
A. It just shows the governor's capacity to work with people. By the way, this election's over.
33%
B. BIG mistake. Christie just became the Steve Rothman of 2013. Why go into that hornet's nest??
17%
C. Meaningless theatrics.
50%

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