Controversy has been brewing this past week between the N.J. Democrats over whether Sheila Oliver will remain Assembly speaker for a second term
Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver in this June, 2011 Star-Ledger file photo. Sources say a private battle has been waged within the Democratic party as to whether Oliver will remain speaker for a second term.TRENTON — The shadow war over who will be Assembly speaker has been waged by phone over the past week as Democratic power brokers dial their allies and party brethren to lock down support for their chosen candidates, party sources say.
Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. has been lighting up the phone lines to secure Sheila Oliver’s second term as speaker, while Sen. Nicholas Sacco (D-Hudson) is seeking a coalition between Hudson and Bergen counties to back the largely unknown Assemblyman Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson), according to Democrats familiar with the political maneuvering.
Assemblyman Joe Cryan (D-Union) is also eyeing the speaker’s gavel, the sources said.
But on Tuesday, the behind-the-scene battle will go public at the Robert Treat Hotel in Newark, where ministers and politicians will hold a news conference to reaffirm their support for Oliver (D-Essex).
Reginald Jackson, executive director of the Black Ministers Council, is headlining the event in hopes of staving off the attacks on Oliver, the first black female speaker.
“We have heard that there is some effort to counter the speaker,” Jackson said. “I don’t think she’s done anything to not deserve another term.”
The sources requested anonymity to discuss the backroom conversations, and few Democrats were willing to speak publicly about disputes within their own party.
Battles over legislative leadership are often likened to three-dimensional chess, complicated by regional power struggles, race and political vendettas. And the stakes are high: The speaker is one of the most powerful positions in state government, controlling what bills make it to the Assembly floor and how billions of taxpayer dollars are spent.
The next speaker will also stand at a critical crossroads in the future of education in the state, as Gov. Chris Christie seeks to overhaul the school system, including weakening teacher tenure and increasing the roles of charter schools. Thus far, Christie has managed to get his agenda through the Democratic-controlled Legislature, but that could change under new leadership.
“This is the ultimate political game,” said Assemblyman Ralph Caputo (D-Essex).
Rumors about political threats and deals have swirled for days, but alliances can change until the final vote is cast in a closed-door caucus meeting, likely soon after the Nov. 8 legislative elections. Some lawmakers are even pushing for a parliamentary tactic known as a silent vote, which would allow lawmakers to select leadership without the fear of being identified, sources said.
Other names being mentioned for possible leadership positions include Assemblymen Lou Greenwald (D-Camden) and Gary Schaer (D-Passaic).
Democratic sources say one key player has yet to make any commitments: South Jersey power broker George Norcross, who helped install Oliver as speaker two years ago but has privately expressed disappointment in her leadership.
While many expect Oliver will have enough support to serve another two-year term, discontent with her leadership grew after she circumvented her party’s majority to back an overhaul of public worker benefits in the summer. Disaffected Democrats have said she has done little to repair bridges that were set on fire during the worker benefits debate.
Oliver, who will be at Tuesday’s news conference, said she is focused on the Nov. 8 legislative election. Asked if she was concerned about a leadership challenge, she said, “Concern is not a word I would use.
“There’s no one Democrat and no one legislator who owns the right to be the leader of the caucus,” she said. “It’s who the members of the caucus want to cast their vote for.”
Now that Prieto, an assemblyman since 2004 and a construction code official in Secaucus, is being discussed as a possible speaker, Essex County has been under increasing pressure to show a united front behind Oliver.
The county has faced its own internal divisions, but the Essex Democratic chairman, Phil Thigpen, has been trying to rally people to Tuesday’s news conference.
DiVincenzo said in a statement that he’s backing Oliver and Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) for second terms as legislative leaders.
“They have guided our state Legislature through some very difficult issues and have been vocal advocates for our residents,” he said. “It is our legislators in Trenton who have the power to vote and I hope they have the same confidence in Sheila and Steve that I do.”
Caputo said local leaders realize that keeping the speaker’s position in Essex hands allows the county to remain in a position of statewide power.
“It would be a loss to Essex to lose a leadership post,” Caputo said. “That causes a lot of concern here.”
Jackson has criticized Oliver for not pushing a school voucher bill but has consistently supported her as speaker. “Part of our responsibility is to provide leadership for our community,” he said. “It’s important for us to be aware and be active.”
Democrats are expected to maintain their majority in the Assembly after the Nov. 8 election, giving the party control over who will serve as speaker. But the exact number of Democrats who win seats will be important, as party leaders count heads to see which candidate for speaker has the most support.
“This world of politics changes minute to minute,” Caputo said. “The full puzzle will be laid out soon.”
Matt Friedman contributed to this report.
By: Chris Megerian and Jarrett Renshaw/The Star-Ledger