Joseph Cryan

NEW BRUNSWICK - State Democratic Party Chair Joseph Cryan just pumped up the crowd here at the Heldrich Hotel.

"Yes, we can," he cried. "Yes, we can! And in New Jersey, yes, we did!"

The chant was a nod to the Garden State victory tonight of Sen. BArack Obama (D-Il.).

Cryan then intoruced Party Vice Chair state Sen. Dana Redd (D-Camden).

“You have already spoken,” said the short list candidate for lieutenant governor in 2009. “You do not want decisive politics.”

Rob Angelo in the hotel lobby of the Inverness: Politicker photo 

DENVER - Rob Angelo, executive director of the New Jersey State Democratic Committee, walked through the long, carpeted hallways of the Inverness Hotel on Friday afternoon, making preparations.

Angelo landed in town on Wednesday, and he’s been operating ever since to make way for the New Jersey delegation to the Democratic National Convention, which is steadily overtaking the hotel at this point.

"There’s a maximum occupancy here of 302 and we have 240 people from our delegation staying here," said Angelo. "The rest of the people booked to stay here are with the DNC (Democratic National Committee).

Just how powerful is Joseph Ferriero?   Barack Obama’s presidential campaign has no interest in telling the Bergen County Democratic Chairman to stay away from Denver next week, even though reporters are likely to focus on yesterday’s events – FBI agents appearing at Ferriero’s law offices and seizing documents from his personal files.  Democrat State Chairman Joseph Cryan says the decision is Ferriero’s.  Most others  -- even those who have not been accused of any wrong doing (see Coniglio, Joseph [Summer 2007]) would be told to stay home, with their invitation to the Democratic National Convention essentially revoked.  

Sources in Union County say Roselle Councilwoman Cecilia Dallas-Ricks did not muster enough support in Roselle to be a credible Democratic Party candidate and consequently will not be in nomination Tuesday night when the party votes for a successor to District 20 Assemblyman Neil Cohen (D-Roselle).

That sets up a showdown between Annette Quijano, assistant counsel to Gov. Jon Corzine; and Elizabeth Councilwoman Patricia Perkins-Auguste.

With Roselle out of contention, sources say Quijano is likely to summon more power-player support in a district where overall, registered Latino voters have a decided edge over African-Americans.

The governor’s assistant counsel has the backing of Union County Freeholder Director Angel Estrada and real estate agent and Hispanic party activist George Castro, both of whom retreated from their own pursuit of the vacated seat.

Democratic National Committeewoman Christine “Roz” Samuels said today that she was dumped from the New Jersey delegation last night because she flipped her support from Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama back in February. Samuels said she was called yesterday at 8:00 a.m. by Democratic State Chairman Joseph Cryan, who told her that Essex County Democratic Chairman Phil Thigpen wanted her off the ticket. “One day notice,” she said. “They called me yesterday morning and told me I was off the ticket. And I said ‘You mean for what I did way in February? This is retaliation for February?’”

Obama backer Michael Passante, right, and North Ward Democratic leader Steve Adubato, who supported Clinton in the primary.: Politicker photo

WEST ORANGE - A group of onetime Hillary Clinton fundraisers today committed to raising dollars for Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign, according to a release issued by Richard McGrath, spokesman of the Democratic State Committee.

"Democrats in New Jersey are unifying behind Barack Obama in every way under the leadership of Governor Corzine," said party chairman Joe Cryan. "We are supporting him with financial resources, political organization and grass roots activism. We are one party behind one candidate. This commitment from these top fundraisers is another big step towards victory in November."

Those who breakfasted with Gov. Jon Corzine and Cryan at Pal’s Cabin included Obama State Director Tricia Mueller, and Obama Policy Director Mark Alexander. Joining them were about ten former Clinton backers, each of whom pledged to raise $10,000 or more within the next few days, said Cryan.

Union County Republican Chairman Phil Morin today asked that funds for Assemblyman Neil Cohen’s reelection campaign be frozen, along with a joint campaign account Cohen held with Assemblyman and Democratic State Chairman Joe Cryan.

“As the investigation of child pornography allegations apparently continues against former Assemblyman Neil Cohen and election laws mandate that a special election be held this November as a result of the legislative vacancy, the Union County Republicans are calling for both his individual and joint legislative campaign accounts with Assemblyman Cryan to be frozen until the investigation is complete,” said Morin in a statement.

If the allegations against Cohen prove true, Morin said, he Cohen and Cryan should contribute the funds to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Office of Legislative Services (OLS) Executive Director Albert Porroni confirmed that his office had received a call from District 20 legislators about "salacious material" found on the office's computer system long before pornographic images of minors were allegedly found on Neil Cohen's legislative office computer.

Porroni said that he could not recall the exact time frame of the complaint, but sources tell PolitickerNJ.com that it was made approximately one year ago.

At least one pornographic web site was accessed from a District 20 legislative office computer, and State Sen. Raymond Lesniak and Assemblyman Joseph Cryan had suspected Cohen, sources say. The web site was not suspected of having child pornography, however.

As candidates begin posturing for Neil Cohen’s now vacant Assembly seat, there is one certainty to the democratic process that will result in selecting a new legislator: there are two voters – State Senator Raymond Lesniak and Assemblyman/Democratic State Chairman Joseph Cryan.  Elizabeth (142 votes) and Union (98 votes) represent 83% of the total votes that will be cast at a special election convention to be held within the next 7-35 days.  Lesniak controls Elizabeth, and Cryan is the party leader in Union. 

District 20 Legislative Office on Friday: Politicker photo 

UNION - The front door to the District 20 Legislative Office swung open but inside the place was almost barren.

"I’ve been instructed to refer all press to the statement on the front door," said Thomas Lynch, chief of staff to Assemblyman Joe Cryan (D-Union), chair of the Democratic State Committee.

A pair of sound trucks were parked on Stuyvesant Avenue and a handful of reporters stood in front of the office, studying the release taped to the door.

Cryan and state Sen. Ray Lesniak (D-Union) released the statement last night, which says they referred tbe actions of their colleague, Assemblyman Neil Cohen (D-Roselle) to the Office of Legislative Services.