Governor Jon Corzine is set to undertake the historic task of selecting an individual to run as the Democratic candidate to become the first Lieutenant Governor in New Jersey history.
On Monday, we looked at the potential Republican picks for Lieutenant Governor. Today, below the fold is a diverse list of ten possible Democratic contenders. It is subjective and, more than anything, written to solicit the opinions of Blue Jersey readers on the strengths and weaknesses of each potential pick.
Congressman Rob Andrews may not represent Atlantic City, but he sure is a gambler. Even before challenging U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg in last year's Democratic primary, it was no secret that the south Jersey political icon had aspirations for statewide office. A moderate, he went to Washington in 1990 to take Jim Florio's old seat. In 1997, he made his own gubernatorial bid in a primary that saw him narrowly defeated by then Woodbridge Mayor Jim McGreevey. By choosing Andrews, Governor Corzine would not only add one of South Jersey's favorite sons but someone who could blunt Republican criticism that he is too far to the left of mainstream voters. Despite these advantages, some insiders and party activists remain bitter over Andrew's failed challenge to Lautenberg (even his own colleagues in the state's congressional delegation have questioned his word). A gambler, but perhaps one of the unluckiest in state politics, it's not likely Andrews will win a spot on the ticket.
Mayor Cory Booker
Mayor Cory Booker burst onto the political scene in 1998 with his election to the Newark City Council. Challenging Sharpe James' vaunted political machine, Booker lived in public housing and literally camped out in his adopted city's drug infested streets. In doing so, the Ivy League educated Rhodes Scholar raised his profile and impressed many political watchers. Yet he fell short in the 2002 campaign that saw him portrayed by James as a carpetbagging elitist. In the aftermath of that razor thin defeat, Booker worked hard to win over Latinos and other key groups. He won the 2006 mayoral election and has not looked back. Booker's ambitious agenda includes reducing crime, improving opportunities for young people, and enticing businesses (along with much needed tax dollars) to Newark's revitalized downtown. By his own admittance, Booker still has a long road to haul. That's why he has dismissed any interest in moving up, but his mayoral success and popularity throughout the state party necessitate his inclusion on any short list for Lieutenant Governor.
State Senator Barbara Buono
If New Jersey Republicans are itching for a fight in the coming campaign, State Senator Barbara Buono may be the perfect person to give it to them. The first woman to serve as Chair of the Budget Committee, she shares Corzine's determination to right New Jersey's fiscal ship and has aggressively defended his policies in the face of withering criticism from conservative colleagues. Buono would be a smart and articulate advocate of Democratic budget priorities who has proven she can hold her own against the opposition. There is speculation that the GOP may look to a woman legislator in the mold of Jen Beck to be their party's candidate for Lieutenant Governor. That, combined with the fact that the election may turn on the issue of New Jersey's economy, means Buono could be a valuable asset to Jon Corzine's re-election.
State Senator Dick Codey
Senate President Dick Codey is New Jersey's political rock star. The state's most popular and powerful elected official, he impressed New Jerseyans with his sense of humor and everyman approach during his fourteen months as Acting Governor following the resignation of Jim McGreevey. Although he briefly entertained a 2005 primary run against Corzine, Codey continues as Senate President where he remains a potent behind the scenes force in state policymaking. While polls show him continually earning high marks, his taking the witness stand in the recent Coniglio corruption trial could dovetail Christie's anti-corruption message. That said, Codey has indicated he has no desire to serve as Lieutenant Governor. There is work to be done in the Senate, and he intends to stay there.
State Senator Nia Gill
State Senator Nia Gill is one of the most liberal members of the Democratic Caucus. The first African-American and woman to serve on the poweful Senate Judiciary Committee, she wrote the law that criminalized racial profiling, championed legislation abolishing the state death penalty, and is a strong voice on issues that are important to New Jersey progressives. She also demonstrated her political acumen by taking on Essex Democrats and fending off a 2005 primary challenge. However, Gill did not win points with the Corzine Administration when she opposed the confirmation of Stuart Rabner as Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court. This, along with her liberal voting record, make her an unlikely choice for an election that may be decided by moderate independents.
Mayor Doug Palmer
Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer has long been considered a rising star in Democratic politics. In 1990, he was the first African-American elected to lead New Jersey's capital city. Frequently mentioned on the short list of possibilities for Lieutenant Governor, he recently ended his term as the longest serving President of the U.S. Council of Mayors since Fiorello LaGuardia. Palmer is one of the few contenders with a national profile, is well liked by party leaders across the state, and is well positioned to lobby for a spot on the gubernatorial ticket.
State Senator Teresa Ruiz
Teresa Ruiz's experience in state politics runs long and deep. Prior to her election to the State Senate she served as Chief of Staff to Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo. She faces one significant disadvantage in the fact that she was only elected in 2007. Republicans may question her lack of elected experience. Nonetheless, if New Jersey politics is a blood sport, Essex County is the main event. Ruiz is a fighter. She has held her own in worse fights than the coming campaign, and her addition to the ticket could provide the usually reserved Corzine with an effective messenger to hit back against Republican criticism.
State Senator Steve Sweeney
No one could accuse State Senator Steve Sweeney of being anything but his own man. As a labor leader he fought for higher salaries and better working conditions for the union members he represented. As State Senate Majority Leader, he has rankled some of those same members with tough talk on the budget and support of Governor Corzine's plan to enact a temporary furlough for state workers. In a campaign where Republicans may portray Corzine as a creature of Wall Street out of touch with the values of middle class New Jerseyans, Sweeney's blunt talk and working class roots offers an effective counterpoint. Moreover, he's from southern New Jersey and would provide balance for a region that often feels overlooked in state politics.
Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson-Coleman
Many in the media and political establishment have put Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson-Coleman on the short list for Jon Corzine's running mate. A veteran lawmaker, former state party chair, and the daughter of a well known political family, Watson-Coleman is a reliable progressive voice and the author of a number of laws ranging from the reduction of gang violence to the expansion of access to health insurance. She is an effective Assembly Majority Leader, and considering that the role of the Lieutenant Governor will largely be defined by whoever first occupies the office, her experience working with fellow lawmakers could provide Corzine with an important bridge between the Front Office and the Legislature.
State Senator Loretta Weinberg
In a year dominated by talk of defeating political corruption, State Senator Loretta Weinberg has already done it. When many said the odds were insurmountable, she took on the boss of the powerful Bergen County Democratic Organization and won. Beloved by progressives, she is frank, intelligent, and adept at forging legislative deals. She could also help Corzine in Bergen, a must win for the Republican campaign and where she has consistently performed well. Ironically, the only challenge to a Weinberg candidacy is that her presence may raise the specter of Joe Ferriero, the disgraced chairman she defeated. Although Weinberg long opposed him, she was a canary in a coal mine while the rest of the party establishment stood by his side. Conversely, Democrats could argue that she had the guts to oppose a political machine, a message that might counteract Christie's likely emphasis on corruption.
