Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Cryan (D-Union), who is weighing a challenge to Speaker Sheila Oliver, says the votes are not there
Assemblyman Vincent Prieto, pictured in a 2010 photo, says he has the votes to become the next chairman of the Assembly Budget Committee.Assemblyman Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson) says he has the votes to be the next chairman of the Assembly Budget Committee, while keeping Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex) in the lower house’s top post.
“I am looking forward to the opportunity of chairing this important committee and becoming part of the assembly leadership,” said Prieto.
But Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Cryan (D-Union), who is weighing a challenge to Oliver, said not so fast.
“As I speak, they don’t have the votes. And members of the Assembly, just like I am, should focus on next Tuesday’s elections and not anything else,” said Cryan.
The current chairman of the budget committee, Lou Greenwald (D-Camden) would be majority leader, according to Prieto. Greenwald could not immediately be reached for comment.
Prieto outlined the new alliance formed between Democrats from Hudson and Essex Counties, as well as South Jersey, to keep Oliver in power and fend off potential challenges from other Democrats. He claims the support of five of six members of the Hudson County delegation, five of eight members of Essex County and all the Democrats from South Jersey, which will likely be made up of between nine and 12 members after the election next week. He said he has commitments from several other Democrats as well.
Prieto wanted to be speaker himself, but said he compromised for the good of the party. His political mentor, state Sen. Nicholas Sacco (D-Hudson), has met with Camden County insurance executive George Norcross, one of the most powerful Democrats in New Jersey.
Cryan said the deal is far from sealed.
“The George Norcross style of politics is to create a sense of inevitability, whether it’s Rob Andrews for United States Senate or any number of elections. Their style is get on board or be out,” he said. “The southern strategy of inevitability of taking over the entire state of New Jersey is wrong.”
The intra-party fight for the speakership burst into public view Tuesday, when Oliver held a press conference to denounce unnamed Democrats thinking about challenging her and showcasing the support of African-American clergy members.
Prieto, who has served in the Assembly since 2004, chairs the Regulated Professions Committee but has kept a low profile. He does not currently serve on the budget committee.
By Jarrett Renshaw and Matt Friedman / Statehouse Bureau