Possible Corzine LG candidates: Redd, Ruiz and Diaz
By Wally EdgeThree women widely viewed as rising stars in the Democratic Party are likely to receive consideration for Lt. Governor next year when Jon Corzine picks a running mate: State Sens. Dana Redd (D-Camden) and Teresa Ruiz (D-Newark), and Perth Amboy Mayor Wilda Diaz.
Redd, 40, and Ruiz, 34, were both elected to the Senate last year and have ties to powerful political organizations -- Redd, a Camden City Councilwoman and Vice Chairwoman of the Democratic State Committee, is an ally of South Jersey Democratic leader George Norcross (with whom Corzine has had a long-standing fascination), and Ruiz is the Deputy Chief of Staff to Essex County Executive Joseph DiVicenzo and a protege of Newark Democratic leader Stephen Adubato.
The 44-year-old Diaz, a reformer who ousted eighteen-year incumbent Joseph Vas by a wide margin last May, could generate some interst as a statewide candidate. After a little more the 100 days in office, Diaz seems to have impressed Middlesex Democrats with her management skills, and her decision to cut her own salary by more than $30,000.
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Too green
I think although good at her job, State Sen. Ruiz, is too green for the Lt Governor position. If something would happen to Corzine, could Ruiz run the state? Unsure.
That being said Wilda Diaz, is also too green. She needs more time.
I think the best candidate I heard of so far is State Sen. Redd. She has the experience under her belt and has statewide recognition.
Bonnie Watson Coleman
Deserves the chance. She is the Assembly Majority Leaders afterall.
ashcroft, gonzalez, mukasey, goodling,sampson,rove.....
If John Ashcroft is not available, then it should be Dana.
Diaz would be a great choice
mayor diaz is the one corzine should pick. she's smart, she's got private sector experience, she's gutys, she's polished, and she doesn't owe anything to party bosses. she's dealing with a tough budget in P.A. after inheriting tons of problems from her predecessor and she's really trying to solve those problems, even when it means a tough decision. sound familiar, jon?
Sarah Palin issue
All of these presumptively adequate pols will suffer from the Palin symdrome if you throw them inthe deep end of the pool without being tested on issues facing ordinary NJeyans. Its the economy stupid! And now given the state of the national, regional and state economies and their interconnectedness, we should really insist Corzine make a pick that makes sense for the overall good of the state and not someone who has never run a business, managed a budget or understands what it means to lead change in these turbulent times. Have any of these ladies been tested in a crisis? Palin is charismatic and I'm sure an adequate enough leader for Alaska but she proved time and again on the stump that she wasn't ready for primetime nationally. Better to let these ladies, Redd, Ruiz etc, get seasoned where they are and not risk damaging Corzine's reputation any further.