Grace Spencer

Taking a shot at the campaign run against him by the Laborers and the allies of Mayor Cory Booker, Central Ward Councilman Charles Bell at his swearing-on ceremony in City Hall last night noted gratefully that money and turkeys don’t vote.

The crack was a reference to Eddie Osborne campaign’s massive GOTV operation, which included the coordinated distribution to of hundreds of early Thanksgiving turkeys.

Officially assuming the seat left occupied by former Central Ward Councilwoman Dana Rone, Bell seized the opportunity to instruct the mayor, who was not in attendance.

The new councilman disapproved of the tone of the campaign, expressed in hand and pole signs with the words: “Charles Bell equals corruption and waste.”

Former lawmaker Bill Payne doesn’t know if he’s going to run for his old seat in the Assembly next year against Assemblywoman L. Grace Spencer (D-Newark), but he appears less inclined to make a move than he was this past summer.

Payne’s longtime friend, state Sen. Ronald Rice (D-Newark), told PolitickerNJ.com that he would urge the retired legislator not to pursue a run against Spencer.

“I’m supporting the re-election of every member of the Legislative Black Caucus,” said Rice, including the Mayor Cory Booker-backed Spencer, who won Payne’s South Ward-based seat in last year’s election.

North Ward Councilman Anibal Ramos

NEWARK – Among Newark elected officials, the election of Barack Obama last week sparked hope for healthcare reform, more federal aid, a re-invigorated sense of American leadership - and a special place on the president’s to-do list for the Brick City.

Inevitably, the Democratic victory also opened up questions about the future of Mayor Cory Booker, a supporter of Obama’s from the beginning of his campaign, who now serves on the president-elect’s transition team as it relates specifically to urban affairs.

As mayor of one of New Jersey’s biggest and one of America’s oldest cities with a battered infrastructure, Booker will join over 20 other New Jersey mayors in Newark on Wednesday for a conference to redefine urban needs for the new administration.

ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATS REACT TO VOTING SESSION FOCUSED ON PROTECTING RESIDENTS FROM ECONOMIC MELTDOWN

Assembly Passes Nearly 30 Bills Designed to Jumpstart State Economy & Help Insulate Residents, Businesses from Global Recession

(TRENTON) - Assembly Democrats today issued the following multimedia package following an Assembly voting session that considered nearly 30 bills to jumpstart the state's economy and help protect residents and businesses from the continuing global economic meltdown.

County Chairman Phil Thigpen: Politicker photo 

NEWARK - It was appropriate that their office should stand across the street from the War Memorial. Sized up as a group, they were the veterans of a lot of Essex County wars.

The office setting, too, underscored tough times, like a set-piece out of "Glengarry Glen Ross.".

A former Countrywide home loan office that went belly up in a bad economy, this storefront a few doors down from the Robert Treat Hotel now houses the county’s Obama campaign headquarters, which officially opened Monday.

"You could say we’re one good thing to come out of them going out of business," said West Ward Councilman Ronald C. Rice, county campaign coordinator, standing in the split level, nearly wallpapered over now with Obama campaign signs.

The tides have changed for freshman Assemblywoman Grace Spencer.  A few months ago, she was in danger of losing Democratic organization support in her bid for re-election in 2009 -- possibly as a way for former Assemblyman William Payne to return to the Legislature. But now, Spencer looks to be in good shape -- thanks to her political patron, Newark Mayor Cory Booker.  Booker has made it clear to Democratic officials that he'll do everything possible to save Spencer.  The primary with Payne may still happen, but key Democrats look increasingly less likely that they'll take on Booker.

QUIGLEY/SPENCER/SMITH INTRODUCE BILL TO REQUIRE PROPER BEDBUG EXTERMINATION IN MULTI-UNIT RESIDENCES

Measure Stems From July Outbreak of Bedbugs in Hudson County Apartment Complexes; Would Make Landlords Legally, Financially Responsible for Ending Infestations

(TRENTON) - Assembly members Joan M. Quigley, L. Grace Spencer, and L. Harvey Smith have introduced legislation that would make landlords entirely responsible for keeping apartment complexes free of bedbug infestations.

SPENCER\CHIAPPONE BILL TO HELP LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS PAY FOR ENERGY COSTS ADVANCES

(TRENTON) - Legislation Assembly members Grace L. Spencer and Anthony Chiappone sponsored to help low-income seniors and disabled persons pay their gas and utility bills was released today from the Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee.

Gary Schaer will replace Neil Cohen as Chairman of the Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance CommitteeAssemblyman Gary Schaer (D-Passaic) is expected to be named chairman of the Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee. The post became available in July when Neil Cohen resigned his Assembly seat after being caught with child pornography on his state computer.  A formal announcement from Speaker Joseph Roberts is expected to come later this afternoon.  

With jurisdiction over the banking and insurance industries, the committee is considered to be one of the most powerful assignments in the Legislature.  Schaer, a two-term Assemblyman, has a background and career in the financial services industry and has formed a solid relationship with Roberts.  For now, Schaer will retain his vice chairmanship of the Assembly Budget Committee.

LAMPITT, DeANGELO, SPENCER: GROWING 'GREEN JOBS'
KEY TO SECURING STATE'S ECONOMIC FUTURE
Legislators Plan All-Out Effort to Bring State, Business, Environmental Advocates
Together to Chart Course to Make New Jersey Leader in Green Jobs Movement

(TRENTON) - Following the release of a new report that shows New Jersey could create thousands of new jobs through an investment in clean-energy innovations, Assembly members Pam Lampitt, Wayne DeAngelo, and Grace Spencer said they are committed to bringing together a broad coalition of stakeholders to make the state a magnet in the burgeoning "green jobs" movement.