Nia Gill

State Sen. John Adler’s (D-Camden) win last week in the 3rd Congressional District leaves vacant the chairman’s seat on the state Senate Judiciary Committee, and right now at least three senators serving on the committee have quietly expressed interest in the job.

Sources say state Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Union), Sen. Nia Gill (D-Essex), and Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen), want to succeed Adler, while two other senators with legal cred say they’re satisfied with their present chairmanships and don’t want to make a play for judiciary chair.

“It would be an interesting chairmanship,” admitted state Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex). “But I can’t imagine a more challenging chairmanship than the budget committee, and right now with the economy what it is, I would like to stay focused.”

Out of the public eye since Jim Florio lost re-election in 1993, Stephanie Bush-Baskette returned to a prominent role in New Jersey politics with her election last night as a Democratic National Committeewoman.  She defeated Christine “Roz” Samuels, a Montclair Democratic official and former Newark Teachers’ Union leader.

Bush-Baskette was 34-years-old when she first won public office in 1987.  She was elected to the State Assembly in the old Oranges district (Richard Codey was the State Senator) when the Essex County Democratic organization decided to drop five-term incumbent Mildred Barry Garvin.  Held in fairly high regard as a legislator, Bush-Baskette was re-elected in 1989 and 1991 with little trouble in a heavily Democratic district.

One suggestion for politics watchers: keep an eye on State Senator Nia Gill, who is also Assemblyman Neil Cohen’s longtime law partner.  The word is that Gill’s role in the investigation – as an advisor to Cohen – may have created a huge conflict with the state Attorney General’s office.  Gill probably had trouble with the A.G.’s office before the Cohen problem, but sources suggest that is has become exponentially worse over the last few days.

The State Senate confirmed the nomination of David Katz to become a Superior Court Judge on Monday. He’ll give up his post as a Counsel to the Essex County Improvement Authority – a spot sources say will be filled by State Senator Nia Gill. Gill abstained on Katz’s nomination in the Judiciary Committee, but voted yes on during a full Senate vote.

Twenty-one Essex County women politicians formally endorsed U.S. Sen. Nia Gill (D-Essex)Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) today, including state Sen. Nia Gill (D-Essex).

"Sen. Lautenberg has a proven record of results and is committed to the vital issues affecting women, children and our communities in New Jersey," Gill said.

The full list of those female elected officials endorsing the incumbent: Gill, Assemblywoman Mila Jasey, Assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker, Essex County Freeholder President Blonnie Watson, Essex County Freeholder Carol Clark...