July 25, 2008 - 5:31pm
News
Spencer HQ up and running on Hawthorne Avenue
By Max Pizarro, PolitickerNJ.com Reporter
Assemblywoman Grace Spencer (D-Newark) officially opened her district office on Hawthorne Avenue in the South Ward on Friday in a well-attended event. U.S. Rep. William Payne (D-Newark), Essex county Party chairman Phil Thigpen, Sen. Ronald Rice (D-Essex), Assemblyman Thomas Giblin (D-Montclair), Assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker (D-Newark), Assemblyman Albert Coutinho (D-Newark) and local elected officials were among the 150 people who joined Spencer for the kick-off. "I plan to have a larger event in September," said Spencer. The office opening comes in the wake of a suggestion by former Assemblyman William Payne (D-Newark) that he wouldn't rule out a primary run against Spencer. Although he bucked the system last year and ran off the line, Payne remains in a powerful inner sanctum. He serves as deputy chief of staff to Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, a job title shared by Sen. M. Teresa Ruiz, who in 2007 topped the ticket with Spencer. For her part, Spencer, an ally of Newark Mayor Cory Booker but a lifelong South Warder in her own right and staffer to former Councilman Donald Bradley, isn't exactly cozy with the DiVincenzo wing of the party. West Ward Councilman Ronald Rice, son of the senator, recently told PolitickerNJ.com that he would help generate support for Spencer in the event party brass decides to run Payne against her next year. "If he challenges Assemblywoman Spencer (with organizational support), this would be the only community where the Democratic Party picked the grandfather over the grandaughter," Rice said. "We will send a message that if you don’t get off the stage, we will mobilize to keep you off the stage. We’ll galvanize Obama people this year for next year. "We won't go along like robots, and we don't forget that Wynona Lipman wanted Mildred Crump to have her Senate seat when Sharpe James took that seat for himself. It's dangerous in this era to mess around with an African American woman." 
Assemblywoman Grace Spencer (D-Newark): Politicker photo
Related topics: Teresa Ruiz, William Payne, Thomas Giblin, Grace Spencer, Joseph DiVincenzo, Ronald L. Rice, Ronald C. Rice
Contributors
Wally Edge
Assemblyman Michael Doherty seems to be playing out of the Bill Baroni playbook: Doherty is rapidly rolling out endorsements to scare the ... >
Bob Torricelli
There's nothing more difficult to see than the history before your eyes. It sometimes takes generations to understand the significance of ... >
Michael Patrick Carroll
OK, he didn't say precisely that, but when the Chairman of the Budget Committee informs us that governmental spending is the key to prosperity, ... >
Debbie Holtz
The Star Ledger got it right last April when it gave a thumb's-up to the NJN management plan to wean “the state's only public ... >
Steve Lonegan
The sub prime mortgage melt down and its ensuing financial “crisis” has tested the mettle of all of us who believe in and support the free ... >
Dr. Joseph Marbach
I am pleased to report the results from the first national poll conducted by Environmental Studies Program in the College of Arts and Sciences at ... >
Rob Tornoe
To view a larger version of this cartoon, click here. >
Michael P. Riccards
The media, which loves headlines and knows little history, is trying to sell President Elect Obama as another Franklin Delano Roosevelt. But that ... >
Joey Novick
Whenever I get the chance to visit my parents in Florida when working a comedy gig down there, it’s like living in a “Seinfeld” episode. They ... >
Juan Melli
In an election year driven by a hemorrhaging economy and an electorate hungry for an end to divisive politics, 7th Congressional District candidate ... >
Carla Katz
A couple of weeks ago, my mother, Angelina Katz, did her second debate on behalf of Barack Obama. A debate? My mother? If you knew her, you’d be ... >
Patricia Quattrocchi
A press release on the official Union County web site admittedly made me snicker just a bit today because it brought back to mind something my late ... >
Hot Topics
| Politicker INTERACTIVE | |
 |
Lawmaker Profile Follow the funding of your representatives |
 |
270 to Win See how Obama got to the magic number |
Most Active Stories
- Why is Levine running?
- Andrews won't rule out future statewide bid
- Hooker named new NJN anchor
- Bramnick backs Christie for governor; urges GOP to use Lance as a model
- Christie to resign effective Dec. 1
- Pennacchio calls on GOP state chairman to resign
- Spadea: Crowley decision won't hinge on Christie's plans
- Bryant guilty on all counts
- Lonegan gubernatorial announcement coming next month
- Wilson not certain whether he’ll stay on as GOP State Chairman after June
- Correction: Weiner departure was not his own idea
- Torricelli on COAH
- Two N.J. super delegates go to Obama; Norcross backs Obama; key Clinton supporters endorse Obama
- At energy policy meeting, Rose fights with cabinet and walks away
- Sixteen Democrats are on Norcross' short list for Andrews House seat
- Roughneen in court today on signature challenge
- Jackson will be Corzine's new Chief of Staff
- New Jersey's Most Powerful Law Firms
- Jersey City councilman makes it rain in Washington
- Torricelli on deer hunting
Recent Posts From Inside Edge
Quote of the Day
November 19, 2008
"The brazen arrogance of Wayne Bryant -- to believe that he was completely beyond the reach of the law, to extort state institutions for personal profit in return for the funding of good and worthwhile program that serve the poor, the disadvantaged and the needy of our state -- is simply the most disgusting conduct I've seen by a public official in my seven years as U.S. Attorney." -- U.S. Christopher Christie
-Star-Ledger, 11/19/08
Recent Press Releases
- Nov 18 2008
In the News
Read the expanded Wake Up Call, our summary of today’s news media coverage.
Today’s Must Reads:
Corzine for Treasury? Don't Bet on It.― WASHINGTON POST
Immigrants still in New Jersey― THE BERGEN RECORD
Now it's the Dems' chance to be dumb― PAUL MULSHINE
Corzine likely to go nowhere― THE DAILY RECORD
SILENT ON CHARGE; LIPSKI TELLS OF ALCOHOL BATTLE― STEVEN LIPSKI
Reclaiming the narrative of an enlightened nation ― CORY BOOKER
Gays don't 'got Milk' ― ALFRED DOBLIN
Shulman campaign receives boost ― 5TH DISTRICT
PolitickerNJ.com Jobs
Syndicate
"I plan on having a larger event in September"
This says it all. Why have a larger event? If its not to announce something grand like doing something on behalf of your constitents, please for the love of god, don't. We don't need another photo op for the Phil Thigpens of the universe. PULEAZEE. Do some good work and THEN have a party! Don't get sucked in lady-CHANGE IS GOOD!
For the sake of clarity lets flesh this story out....
This Assembly has been in session since January. Assemblywoman Spencer was sworn in seven months ago. Are we now supposed to be excited that she has opted, in a sadly lackluster way, to be available to the citizens of the 29th district? It is no wonder that there are serious discussions going on from Chancellor avenue to Heller Parkway on what to do with this poor example of a public servant. If this is emblematic of the "New", "Young" leadership we are being offered, it is rather old and quite stale and we are surely sick of it.