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Who Will Get Andrews' Seat?

by: huntsu

Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 07:46:03 AM EDT

So now that Camile Andrews has won the terribly nail-biting election for the Democratic nomination she will not accept, the time has come to speculate over who the party power-brokers will pick to get the seat.

Camile Andrews says she will not accept the nomination she just won, but hasn't given an indication of whether she will see the party support for the nomination she resigned. I know, weird.

Assemblyman Lou Greenwald says he doesn't want it.

Others mentioned by Andrews in his heartfelt but strange defense of this strange arrangement include:

Assemblywoman Dana Redd, and African American woman and former Camden Councilwoman. She's also Vice Chair of the State Dems. It'd be nice to have two women (Go Linda Stender! Beat Lance!) represent NJ in the House after such a long, stupid drought.
Senator Steve Sweeney, a major power in South Jersey and business agent and treasurer for Ironworkers Local 399. He pissed off a lot of progressives when he called for union givebacks to balance the state budget using anti-worker language and arguments that sounded strange coming from a union leader's mouth;
Assemblyman John Burzichelli, one of many Assembly Deputy Speakers and a member of the budget committee;
and Lou Capelli, a Camden County Freeholder I know next to nothing about.

Are there others in the wings? Mahdi Ibn-Ziyad and John Caramanna just lost to Camille Andrews yesterday, and are not likely to get any support even if they do throw their hats in the ring.

For the next couple weeks this is one of the few things that we'll have to argue over. Put names and arguments over who is most likely to get the nod, and also who should get the nod.

huntsu :: Who Will Get Andrews' Seat?

Tags: Rob Andrews, Camille Andrews, NJ1, (All Tags)

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Who Will Get Andrews' Seat? | 9 comments

Rob Andrews (0.00 / 0)

In the end, despite his denial, he will be "convinced" to run.

by: 12mileseastofTrenton @ Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 13:41:50 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

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Not gonna happen (0.00 / 0)

http://www.bluejersey.com/show...

by: huntsu @ Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 00:28:15 AM UTC

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by: you @ soon

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so many insiders, how will the party choose? (0.00 / 0)

i suppose how they always do, here in camden county: behind closed doors.

from what i understand, camille is ready to serve, but is willing to step aside if asked.

by: wesley.hanna @ Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 14:24:28 PM UTC

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just some names (0.00 / 0)

Well, if we can't have Rob (and I don't think he should go back to his house seat), then another Andrews would be ideal, though it doesn't seem that Camille is going to get this seat. This process has been troubling.

I keep hearing John Burzichelli's name, though I admit not to know much about him besides that he's from the GlouCo side, and he's a reliable Democratic vote. Yet he's double dipper, like Sweeney, since he's also the mayor of Paulsboro; that said, we would have representation from the fastest growing county in the state, where we want to sustain Democratic advantages.

The other person may be Bill Castner, who works for the Assembly Majority Committee or something akin. Know very little about him and whether he's held elected office.

Camille Andrews' campaign manager, Ben Parvey, formed a congressional exploratory committee a few years ago when it looked like Rob Andrews was running for Corzine's seat upon his election to governor. He's an Obama coordinator and a talented, thoughtful person; but a Redd, Castner, or Burzichelli would get nominated before he would, in all likelihood.

One wonders if Sweeney is angling for another office...

by: Martin @ Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 14:34:52 PM UTC

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"This process has been troubling." (0.00 / 0)

I think that qualifies as simply stating the obvious. It appeared to be one of the things that wound up hurting Rob.

by: Creed Pogue @ Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 14:46:35 PM UTC

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parvey doesn't look or act like a typical politician (4.00 / 2)

but he's a very effective fundraiser and coalition builder, from what i've seen. he was two years ahead of me in law school, while he was class president. i ran for class president in my third year, partly on the premise i'd copy his fundraising model, and won.

so, as a rutgers camden alum, i know camille. she was a dean and taught a very popular evidence course. i don't know her politics, but i know she's capable. why she would step aside for anyone - especially somebody other than her husband - is beyond me.

by: wesley.hanna @ Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 14:52:58 PM UTC

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Forget Sweeney (4.00 / 1)

Why would he take a Congressional seat and have to go to Washington and sit around for ten years before he can even get on a decent committee?

After yesterday he has become the #1 Democratic Party elected official south of Trenton. He is in the catbird seat. When the North Jersey Democrats beging to fight between themselves he becomes the power broker.

No, Sweeney would be crazy to take that seat.

Burzichelli would be a good pick but that seat is looked on as a " Camden County" seat. It will not go to a Gloucester County Democrat.

Greenwald will move up to State Senator when Adler leaves.

No freeholders will be moving up to take a spot in Congress.

Dana Redd? Interesting but doubtful.

If Andrews asks for it back he will get it, but if he does not look for a non-politician to get a looking over. There are some strong labor leaders in Camden County who would fit right in and not disturb the " apple cart" too much.

My bet right now would be someone who is not a current elected official , a labor leader or just let Andrews take it back.

by: firstamend07 @ Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 20:25:21 PM UTC

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Roberts? (0.00 / 0)

#1 elected official south of Trenton?

by: huntsu @ Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 21:00:46 PM UTC

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1 and 1 A (0.00 / 0)

Two different types of people.

Obviously Roberts as Speaker is extremely influential ,but he is not looked upon as a power broker or deal maker . He is " the Speaker" and the role fits him perfectly. When you control the money ,you control a lot.

Is he the guy to " make things Happen?" Not as much as Sweeney in South Jersey.

But I do understand your point.

by: firstamend07 @ Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 21:16:18 PM UTC

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